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I've been listening to Leonard Cohen for years now. When I listen to him, he takes me to a place inside myself, that no one else can.

I am interested to hear what people here think of Janis Ian. I only came across her music very recently and fortunately she was touring at the same time, so I was lucky enough to attend a concert a few weeks ago.

Like Leonard and a few others I listen to, she has that reputation of being 'depressing', which I think is ludicrous. Just because music is introspective and makes us look at ourselves and the world and people around us, it doesn't make it depressing. The world might be depressing, but the music certainly is not.

Anyway, I am really looking forward to the CD next week, I've played Ten New Songs to death over the past few years.

I only have Janis Ian's first CD, but I still play it regularly. It has the same ring of truth to it that Leonard's songs have.

AT SEVENTEEN
(Janis Ian)

I LEARNED THE TRUTH AT SEVENTEEN
THAT LOVE WAS MEANT FOR BEAUTY QUEENS
AND HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WITH CLEAR SKINNED SMILES
WHO MARRIED YOUNG AND THEN RETIRED
THE VALENTINES I NEVER KNEW
THE FRIDAY NIGHT CHARADES OF YOUTH
WERE SPENT ON ONE MORE BEAUTIFUL
AT SEVENTEEN I LEARNED THE TRUTH

AND THOSE OF US WITH RAVAGED FACES
LACKING IN THE SOCIAL GRACES
DESPERATELY REMAINED AT HOME
INVENTING LOVERS ON THE PHONE
WHO CALLED TO SAY - COME DANCE WITH ME
AND MURMURED VAGUE OBSCENITIES
IT ISN'T ALL IT SEEMS AT SEVENTEEN

A BROWN EYED GIRL IN HAND ME DOWNS
WHOSE NAME I NEVER COULD PRONOUNCE
SAID - PITY PLEASE THE ONES WHO SERVE
THEY ONLY GET WHAT THEY DESERVE
THE RICH RELATIONED HOMETOWN QUEEN
MARRIES INTO WHAT SHE NEEDS
WITH A GUARANTEE OF COMPANY
AND HAVEN FOR THE ELDERLY

SO REMEMBER THOSE WHO WIN THE GAME
LOSE THE LOVE THEY SOUGHT TO GAIN
IN DEBENTURES OF QUALITY AND DUBIOUS INTEGRITY
THEIR SMALL-TOWN EYES WILL GAPE AT YOU
IN DULL SURPRISE WHEN PAYMENT DUE
EXCEEDS ACCOUNTS RECEIVED AT SEVENTEEN

TO THOSE OF US WHO KNEW THE PAIN
OF VALENTINES THAT NEVER CAME
AND THOSE WHOSE NAMES WERE NEVER CALLED
WHEN CHOOSING SIDES FOR BASKETBALL
IT WAS LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY
THE WORLD WAS YOUNGER THAN TODAY
WHEN DREAMS WERE ALL THEY GAVE FOR FREE
TO UGLY DUCKLING GIRLS LIKE ME

WE ALL PLAY THE GAME, AND WHEN WE DARE
WE CHEAT OURSELVES AT SOLITAIRE
INVENTING LOVERS ON THE PHONE
REPENTING OTHER LIVES UNKNOWN
THAT CALL AND SAY - COME ON, DANCE WITH ME
AND MURMUR VAGUE OBSCENITIES
AT UGLY GIRLS LIKE ME, AT SEVENTEEN

I remember that very well from the Janis Ian album I have. Was it her first? It's also quite appropriate as I prepare to go on a high-school reunion cruise to Jamaica, et al in late November. [NEVER been a 'cruise' type ~ but my best friend from high school will be going, and a dear friend from Kindergarten through senior year, who lives in San Francisco, will be, as well. The company justifies the venue.] Interesting how people 'turn out' after high school. It's not always as it appears during those years. If we could only impart that fact, to those feeling so insecure during that vulnerable time. Janis captures the angst.

After a 20 year break from her music, I caught up with Janis Ian again at our East Coast Blues & Roots Festival a couple of years ago and was so impressed that I saw her again a couple of weeks later in Brisbane

Not only is she a great performer but someone who seems prepared to break down that (sometimes carefully maintained) barrier between the artist and the audience, being prepared to become a real and somewhat vulnerable person in the process. I'm sure not everyone could or should do this, but I couldn't help admire her for this.

The other thing that struck me about her show was the humorous banter and stories that she introduced her songs with - she was quite the comedian!

Dylan, you may also be interested to know (if you don't already) that Janis did some backing vocals on one of LC's albums. I think there is a definite affinity between them and their music.

Cheers
Andrew (Darby)

lizzytysh wrote:I remember that very well from the Janis Ian album I have. Was it her first?

That's the one I was talking about, and it was not her first by a long was. I've just checked the discography on her website!

Ah, well, thanks for checking. First, third, fifth, last, whatever ~ it's a good album .

Between The Lines, which features At Seventeen, is a classic album recorded in the 1970s. Janis started recording music in the early 60s though.

Her most recent album, Billie's Bones, is certainly worth investigating and, in my humble opinion, features the best song Janis has ever written or recorded, Matthew.

Andrew, I didn't know Janis had recorded backing vocals for Leonard. I'll have to check all my CDs now.

Janis Ian is one of the artists I have been meaning to catch up with for a long time, so I ordered her live album from Amazon this afternoon, to get a feel for what she has been doing. Interestingly, the title is 'Working Without a Net', which seems to imply that she shares Leonard's feeling that performing live is in some way dangerous.

I have just discovered that she is performing live near here in November. The gig is already sold out, but I shall see if they have any returned tickets available.

If you can manage to get seats, go. She was in Manchester a few weeks ago, and enraptured me the whole evening. One of my best experiences in a concert.

Working Without A Net is a very good CD, and contains an excellent rendition of Take No Prisoners.

Janis Ian is a delight and a real treasure - as a songwriter, performer, raconteur, activist+++ - an all 'round truth-seeker and truth-teller.

Along with her songs and music, already noted in this thread, her journalism is well-worth absorbing, Her series of columns for Performing Songwriter magazine, The Advocate and other publications will, literally, make you laugh, make you cry and all the while impart a wisdom that is rare and unique (and, in the music industry, practically undeard of...) Quite a few of Janis' articles are to be found collected on her website http://www.janisian.com

She's one of the genuine people in the music biz, a hero and role model for anyone, particularly a young artist starting out in today's environment, that aspires to build a career with artistic and personal integrity.

And, as folks have pointed out - she's very funny - which makes the lessons she imparts all the more enjoyable.



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that last post was mine - I had not logged in!

and to repeat, Janis Ian is terrific!!!

Janis is fantastic.

Funny thing, I haven't played her music for a few weeks. Then last night I dreamed that I was at one of her concerts. I put Billies Bones on this morning and then logged on here and came straight to this thread which I had forgotten about.

Funny things dreams.

I've been a fan of Janis Ian almost as long as I've been a fan of Leonard's. Back in the "old days", I wore out LP after LP of Janis' music, gettin' stoned and listening to music.. like we did back then.. like we still do sometimes... I've seen her a couple of times in concert (is she still playing small, intimate venues?). Once, a few years ago, when she was signing a cd, I asked her what she thought of Leonard.. she perked up, smiled, and replied that he was one of the most influential singer/songwriters of our time, that she loved him, and that I had just reminded her that she must look him up, as it had been awhile. I wonder if she ever did. Janis' music is wonderful, timeless, and always sounds fresh. I will never tire of it.

Bobbie

Janis is a favorite of mine also. She is one of the few artists that both my mother and sister discovered without my help. I've got to get more of her material.

Joe

P. S. Bobbie, nice to see ya, but you've got to change your location now! Hi to Marc!