Description
Breathtaking live performance on October 4, 2004, recorded at the "Sendesaal" in Bremen (Germany) by Radio Bremen - fun fact: Janis Ian was the first musical guest on the legendary US sketch comedy "Saturday Night Live" which celebrated their 50th anniversary this year!.
When you think of American singer-songwriters, you inevitably think of artists like Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Melanie or Tracy Chapman. But don't forget Janis Ian. After all, she is a two-time Grammy winner. "Between the Lines" (1975), her second album for Columbia Records, was number one on the US Billboard album charts for weeks, spent a total of 64 weeks on the charts and went platinum. The foundation of her unprecedented career was laid in 1967 with her single "Society's Child", a very controversial song about an interracial love that was not tolerated by parents and the community. Janis hit the nail on the head with her lyrics, which echoed the themes of the girl groups that were popular at the time: A girl falls in love, parents and society are against it. Society's Girl" was covered several times, among others by Spooky Tooth, Judy Stone and Foreigner's Lou Gramm.
Of course, the song was also on the program when Janis Ian performed in the studio of Radio Bremen on October 4, 2004. Solo, just the artist, her guitar, her voice and her unique charisma. And a captivating entertainer and storyteller. That's all she needs. When she thinks back to that night, there is a bit of melancholy in her voice, but also a lot of hope: "Nights like this reinforce my belief that this world could be a peaceful place. In the end, it comes down to kindness. Empathy. Understanding. In the context of different cultures, different languages, even different beliefs, music is the great unifier.