A song where the story behind it is as fascinating as the song itself. In her own words, "she conceived the song when she was 12, wrote it at 13, published it at 14, became known at 15, and was a has-been at 16"(the age she is in the video). Radio stations and others were so successful in suppressing the song that it took almost 2 years to chart. The Smothers Brothers caught a lot of heat for letting Janis sing this (some of it from a 30 year-old Bill Cosby no less) and advertisers threatened to walk. An interesting time to be alive. And a courageous and talented woman.
MY GRAND PARENTS FORBID "DATING " OUTSIDE OUR RELIGION", BUT NOT OUTSIDE OUR RACE. TOOK YEARS, & SOME LEVEL OF GUTS(COLLEGE) TO DATE "OUTSIDE RACE & RELIGION. MARRIAGE , ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS RESERVED FOR " OUR OWN KIND". I FOLLOWED THEIR WISHES, YET NEVER BELIEVED THEIR TENANTS. MY "KIDS" R TRULY "FREE"OF THOSE ARCHAIC PREHISTORIC BELIEFS & PRACTICES. LOVE "JANIS IAN" 4 EVER.
OMG, racism is so wrong, I was not raised that way and I grew up in Idaho in the 60's and 70's,we are all the same, living and breathing beings, beautiful song!!!
At the age of 16, Ian met comedian Bill Cosby backstage at a Smothers Brothers show where she was promoting "Society's Child". Since she was underage, she was accompanied by a chaperone while touring. After her set, Ian had been sleeping with her head on the lap of her chaperone (an older female family friend). According to Ian in a 2015 interview, she was told by her then manager that Cosby had interpreted their interaction as "lesbian" and as a result "had made it his business" to warn other television shows that Ian wasn't "suitable family entertainment" and "shouldn't be on television" because of her sexuality, thus attempting to blacklist her.
Janis Ian was wise and way ahead of her time. Brave, multitalented, courageous and more power to her for writing this song and singing it with passion and conviction! What 16 year old could write a song with such a powerful message like this one today? She was absolutely amazing! 👍👍👍
A song where the story behind it is as fascinating as the song itself. In her own words, "she conceived the song when she was 12, wrote it at 13, published it at 14, became known at 15, and was a has-been at 16"(the age she is in the video). Radio stations and others were so successful in suppressing the song that it took almost 2 years to chart. The Smothers Brothers caught a lot of heat for letting Janis sing this (some of it from a 30 year-old Bill Cosby no less) and advertisers threatened to walk. An interesting time to be alive. And a courageous and talented woman.
She got hell for this. But she had amazing guts. Truly an amazing woman. Great song.
MY GRAND PARENTS FORBID "DATING " OUTSIDE OUR RELIGION", BUT NOT OUTSIDE OUR RACE. TOOK YEARS, & SOME LEVEL OF GUTS(COLLEGE) TO DATE "OUTSIDE RACE & RELIGION. MARRIAGE , ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS RESERVED FOR " OUR OWN KIND". I FOLLOWED THEIR WISHES, YET NEVER BELIEVED THEIR TENANTS. MY "KIDS" R TRULY "FREE"OF THOSE ARCHAIC PREHISTORIC BELIEFS & PRACTICES. LOVE "JANIS IAN" 4 EVER.
The most underrated singer songwriters of all time. I saw her live a few years ago. She’s still amazing and a fantastic guitar player too.
OMG, racism is so wrong, I was not raised that way and I grew up in Idaho in the 60's and 70's,we are all the same, living and breathing beings, beautiful song!!!
Janis Ian was clearly gifted. To think she wrote this haunting song at age 14. A prodigy.
Great song. And kudos to the Smothers Brothers. They were at the cutting edge of everything at the time.
At the age of 16, Ian met comedian Bill Cosby backstage at a Smothers Brothers show where she was promoting "Society's Child". Since she was underage, she was accompanied by a chaperone while touring. After her set, Ian had been sleeping with her head on the lap of her chaperone (an older female family friend). According to Ian in a 2015 interview, she was told by her then manager that Cosby had interpreted their interaction as "lesbian" and as a result "had made it his business" to warn other television shows that Ian wasn't "suitable family entertainment" and "shouldn't be on television" because of her sexuality, thus attempting to blacklist her.
One of the greatest songs of the 1960s. And, she had such a haunting and beautiful voice...
We Are Still Fighting the Same Battles Today WTF ??
I was only 16yo at the time , I loved the song then , and still do .
It totally fascinates me that a young girl of 14 could write a song of this magnitude, A musical Genius !!
this song is 100 years ahead of its time.
No one has guts like this these days..boy, what bravery..beautiful..
Clearly, Janis Ian was wise beyond her years. Such a thoughtful, meaningful lyrics.
I remember this song and Janis like it was yesterday. So glad to have been born in 1952. I came of age in the 60s and 70s. What a time…
That this beautiful woman ever considered herself ugly as in her song "at 17 " amazes me .
Still like this song 50 odd years later....
Still overwhelmingly powerful 50+ years later. This woman had guts.
Janis Ian was wise and way ahead of her time. Brave, multitalented, courageous and more power to her for writing this song and singing it with passion and conviction! What 16 year old could write a song with such a powerful message like this one today? She was absolutely amazing! 👍👍👍