-Writing About Our Generation
Folksinger Janis Ian was propelled onto the national stage at the age of 15 when Leonard Bernstein featured her in a 1967 television special, “Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution,” along with songwriters Lennon, McCarthy, Jagger, Dylan and others. Her controversial song “Society’s Child” about interracial dating had been banned on many radio stations, but Bernstein’s advocacy turned it into a Top 20 hit.
In 1975, Ian returned to the pop charts with her achingly beautiful ballad of teenage angst, “At Seventeen.” which became her signature song. Since then, major artists across genres, such as Nina Simone, Roberta Flack, Cher, Bette Midler, John Mellencamp, Barbara Cook, Nanci Griffith and Joan Baez have covered her songs. Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Mel Tormé recorded duets with her. Charles Aznavour and Shirley Bassey championed her work in Europe. Celine Dion included “At Seventeen” in her Vegas shows.
Throughout a kaleidoscopic career, Ian continued writing laments and affirmative anthems through bankruptcies, health emergencies, failed relationships and the vagaries of the recording industry. The artist in Ian always prevailed as she sang of perseverance and resiliency for legions of fans worldwide. And she is an accomplished writer of essays, science fiction and an acclaimed autobiography.
In late June, she was profiled on PBS’ American Masters series. In this wonderfully produced program, “Janis Ian: Breaking Silence,” we learn about her amazing career from archival material and interviews with such artists as Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Lily Tomlin and Jean Smart.
I urge readers to see this wonderful program but also want to call attention to a concert video I produced and co-directed in 2008, “Janis Ian: Live From Grand Center” in St. Louis which aired for nine years on various PBS stations. Ian performs 15 songs augmented with archival footage, including Bernstein introducing her to a television audience singing “Society’s Child.”
Here’s where to find it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW87XbfVlck
And here she is singing “At Seventeen” in my 2008 program: