In societys child she describes great triumphs, devastating betrayals of every kind, and. Bursting upon the scene in with the grammy hall of fame song society s child during the turbulent sixties, continuing through her reemergence with the grammywinning record of at seventeen, right up to her presentday work with artists like willie nelson, society s child. Each chapter begins with an evocative lyric, and in this audio, read and sung by ian, listeners are thrust into the moment. Cd best of janis ian the autobiography collection, released to coincide with and link to the publication of the book. The song climbed the charts despite the fact that many radio stations across the country refused to play it because of its controversial subject matter. Janis ians controversial societys child march 2, 2009 societys child, made the singersongwriter a star at 15.
An intimate portrait of an interracial relationship, societys child climbed the charts despite the fact that many radio stations across the country refused to play it because of its controversial subject matter. Janis ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at the age of fifteen when her soulwrenching song societys child became a national hit. My autobiography by janis ian grammy award winning singer and songwriter janis ians memoir of her more than forty years in the music business. In a conversation with nprs robert siegel, ian says getting attention for her first song, societys child, was.
Janis ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at the age of fifteen, when her soulwrenching song. Society s child by janis ian pdfread society s child. Her songs at 17 and societys child are in the grammy hall of fame. Societys child 110114 why did it take so long for me to discover this autobiography finished reading in 4 days.
In an erathe mid1960swhen people of her parents generation didnt speak about ugly things like interracial romance, prostitution, and war, janis ian was opening her big mouth and getting hounded offstage for singing her taboobusting lyrics. Janis ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at age fifteen, when her soulwrenching song about an interracial relationship, societys child, became a hit. It was 1966 and the country responded with both hostility and accolades. A songwriters songwriter famous for the hits societys child and at seventeen. In society s child, janis ian provides a relentlessly honest account of the successes and failuresand the hopes and dreamsof an extraordinary life. Winner of the 20 grammy for best spoken word album janis ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at age fifteen, when her soulwrenching song about an. With brutal honesty, ian recounts life as a multiple grammywinning musician, as well as her dramatic life between. Janis ian, recorded at red clay theatre, duluth, ga on october 10, 2012. Societys child by janis ian pdfread societys child. Excerpt from societys child my autobiography by janis ian read more praised by everyone from oprahs magazine to joan baez, this is the story of a lifetime. Janis ian american songwriter, singer, musician, author and multiple grammywinning writer of at 17, jesse and societys child.
In 1975, she won her first grammy award for the selfpenned song, at seventeen. From the fbi haunting her parents lives and her own childhood, to true love conquering all, ians long awaited autobiography spans mroe than a half century or music and change. A year later, the same pop song about interracial romance won her a grammy. Janis ian is a survivor, and her book is an illuminating and inspiring read. Just totally absorbed by janis ians stories, tales and events. In societys child she describes great triumphs, devastating betrayals of every kind, and her extraordinary strength of. An intimate portrait of an interracial relationship, societys child climbed the charts despite the fact that many grammy award winning singer and songwriter janis ians memoir of her more than forty. At seventeen is a bittersweet commentary on adolescent cruelty, the illusion of popularity and teenage angst, from the perspective of a narrator looking back on her earlier experience. Janis ian american songwriter, singer, musician, author and. A year later, that same pop song about interracial romance won her a grammy nomination, but it also resulted in death threats.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Janis ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at the age of 15, when her soulwrenching song societys child became a hit. Grammy award winning singer and songwriter janis ians memoir of h. In societys child she describes great triumphs, devastating betrayals of every kind, and her extraordinary strength of spirit shines through every page.
Oct 02, 2012 janis ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at age 15, when her soulwrenching song about an interracial relationship, societys child, became a hit. Janis ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at age 15, when her soulwrenching song about an interracial relationship, societys child, became a hit. An intimate portrait of an interracial relationship, society s child climbed the charts despite the fact that many radio stations across the country refused to play it because of its controversial subject. Sep 03, 2009 janis ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at the age of fifteen, when her soulwrenching song society s child became a hit. Janis ian is songwriter, performer, and author with 9 grammy nominations. Fifteenyearold ian became a cause celebre in the 1960s as the composer and performer of societys child, a folkpop song that daringly addressed an interracial romance between teenagers. Janis ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at the age of fifteen when her soulwrenching song society s child became a national hit. Mar 02, 2009 janis ian s song, society s child, made her a star at 15. The lyrics focuses on the subject, thus keeping the tradition. The sad life and hard times of the queen of mopey folk. Excerpt from society s child my autobiography by janis ian read more praised by everyone from oprah s magazine to joan baez, this is the story of a lifetime. The story of a lifetime, janis ians autobiography spans more than half a century of art and politics. Societys child tarcherpenguin is the hugely readable autobiography of an artist. From the fbi haunting her parents lives and her own childhood, to true love conquering all, ian s long awaited autobiography spans mroe than a half century or music and change.
Grammy awardwinning songwriter, singer and author, janis ian took the stage at age fifteen with a revolutionary song about interracial relationships, society s child. Janis ian wrote societys child, a song about an interracial couple in the 1960s, when she was 15 years old, a song that she says everyone hated her for. The next day it was announced that the audio version of her book, societys child. Our next book club will be on sunday, july 28, at 10. Janis ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at the age of 15, when her soulwrenching song society s child became a hit. Just go to your local amazon uk, germany, italy etc and search under janis ian societys child then look for the. Fans will love the book, of course, but many nonfans, too, should find this. My autobiography by janis ian grammy award winning singer and songwriter janis ian s memoir of her more than forty years in the music business. Janis ian began her career as a singersongwriter in the 1960s with society s child. Now in her fifth decade of writing songs and performing, janis has earned a total of 10 nominations over the years in 8 categories, and includes two wins the first for at seventeen and the second for best spoken word album for her audio book societys child.
A good book, and a good film is one that you do not want to end. In calm, lucid prose, she charts the bumpy path of her life and career since then as an embattled lesbian singersongwriter with, apparently, worse. Janis ian is a survivor, and her book is an illuminating and inspiring. The lyrics focuses on the subject, thus keeping the tradition of the song preserved. Winner of the 20 grammy for best spoken word album janis ian was. Janis ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at the age of fifteen, when her soulwrenching song societys child became a hit. Ian began her mostly stellar, sometimes stormy, professional life at. Janis ian american songwriter, singer, musician, author and multiple grammywinning writer of at 17, jesse and. An intimate portrait of an interracial relationship, society s child climbed the charts despite the fact that many radio stations across the country refused to play it because of its controversial subject matter.
From the fbi haunting her parents lives and her own childhood, to true love conquering all, ians long awaited autobiography spans more than a half century or music and change. Janis ian american songwriter, singer, musician, author. Anne mccaffrey janis ian is at once largerthanlife and excruciatingly human. This is folk song which revolves around its primary subject that is, societys child. Its lyrics were centered on the thentaboo subject of interracial romance. An intimate portrait of an interracial relationship, society s child climbed the charts despite the fact that many grammy award winning singer and songwriter janis ian s memoir of her more than forty. Bursting upon the scene in with the grammy hall of fame song societys child during the turbulent sixties, continuing through her reemergence with the grammywinning record of at seventeen, right up to her presentday work with artists like willie nelson, societys child.
Grammy awardwinning songwriter, singer and author, janis ian took the stage at age fifteen with a revolutionary song about interracial relationships, societys child. Society s child, or baby ive been thinking, was a song written, composed, and recorded in 1965 by janis ian. Society s child stigmatized ian as a onehit wonder until her most successful us single, at seventeen, was released in 1975. Societys child is ians fascinating personal account of her more than 40 years in the music business. The story of a lifetime, janis ian s autobiography spans more than half a century of art and politics. Her songs at 17 and society s child are in the grammy hall of fame. Ian was years of age when she was motivated to write and compose the song, and she completed it when she was 14. Societys child my autobiography by janis ian jeremy p tarcherpenguin usa, 2008. Societys child, or baby ive been thinking, was a song written, composed, and recorded in 1965 by janis ian. Grammy winner audie winner her mesmerizing memoir transports us back in time with both words and music. Janis ians song, societys child, made her a star at 15. Janis ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at the age of fifteen, when her soulwrenching song society s child became a hit. Janis ian american songwriter, singer, musician, author and multiple grammywinning writer of at 17, jesse and society s child. Jul 23, 2008 janis ian wrote society s child, a song about an interracial couple in the 1960s, when she was 15 years old, a song that she says everyone hated her for.
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