Sadly, the alienation and anguish she shared is felt by many. They can be 17, younger, or older - male or female. Unfortunately to all those people, it is part of the human condition. Janice so eloquently put in words that anguish. Hopefully such sharing allows those suffering to know they aren't the only ones to feel that way. For those who do feel overwhelmed by the hurt, please do know to talk with others about it. They will understand.
I was approximately 17 when this song was a hit - all of us loved this song, because it voiced so many of the doubts, problems, fears, realities that we faced as teenage girls, becoming young women. This is a truly great song that speaks directly to young women. Was extremely rare at the time, and is still somewhat rare, I think, for its articulate genuineness.
I'm a male and I know very well that alienation and anguish. This is the first time I hear Janis' song, when it came out (year 1975, wikipedia says) I was 20, but I already knew that feeling of being discarded, I knew it since I was 15 and it haunted me all my life...I never got out.
God love you guys. There’s one above that will never reject you, make fun of you, or ignore you. Just let him inside and all that has hurt you will melt away.
As an "ugly duckling girl" heading into puberty when this song came out, it was like she was revealing my soul. Still one of my all-time favorites all these decades later.
Exactly. She described me perfectly. From the eye color to the name that no one could pronounce. I still cry when I listen to this. It’s like I’m reliving it.
@@christinewaide5249 I was one of 4 of us in our class that Had no group...we all had something that set us apart. yes I still cry to .. Seems like so many years feeling that way... Age gives perspective and I focus on as much joy as possible in this messed up world
@Tony Herrera reminds me of the famous first interracial kiss on tv from Star Trek. Shatner and Nichols were still not allowed to actually kiss. A head was turned slightly to conceal it and they never actually touched.
I first heard this as a teen. I wondered how she knew so much about me. I was bullied all through school although it wasn’t referred to as being bullied. You were just unpopular. The two lines that always hit me the hardest are the one about Valentines that never came. And the ones whose names were never called when choosing sides at basketball. I’m 65 now you’d think that it wouldn’t hurt so much anymore. I still can’t listen to this song without the tears flowing. Life is better now, but I wish that kids were able to realize the possible long term damage they could do to another person when they choose to be a bully. My love of music was my saving grace. Music was my solace, both singing it or just listening to music. Music became my world, especially listening to The Monkees. Even to this day if I’m feeling sad or anxious or even happy, listening to The Monkees always makes it better. Please just be kind to others you never know what that other person may be going through! Happy New Year to all. Choose kindness. 🤗
My experience was the same , the chubby little dark eyed Italian girl in a predominantly Scottish / Irish school. I too found solace in music and books….they took me to a place that didn’t hurt and are still great friends to this day. God Bless!
@@DonnaBarrett-y4q Thank you for sharing some of your experiences. I am glad that music provided some solace. I also hope that your life is happier now and that you’ve found some inner peace. Be good to yourself and treat yourself with kindness & respect. Best wishes to you and may God Bless.
@@melodyin Ironically I blossomed in my last year of high school and the same people who laughed and bullied me either wanted to date me or disliked me because I was now better looking than they were. It was a long time ago but the experience made me a strong woman. And yes, I now have a lovely family that I cherish. Cheers! 😊
Janis Ian! She didn't have many hits, but her influence was undeniable. This is her signature song. For other glimpses into her genius, you can do "Society's Child" or "Fly Too High". Great choice! FYI - she was 24 when she recorded "At Seventeen" in 1975. From Wiki - She was inspired to write the single after reading a The New York Times article about a young woman who believed her life would improve after a debutante ball and her subsequent disappointment when it did not.
Actually this single was her second hit, and it won her the Grammy in 1976 for best female pop artist. It topped the charts at #3, but yeah she’s seriously under appreciated today imo.
This song is timeless, no matter what era you're in when you listen to it and gives an honest account of being an awkward teen. There will always be those who seem to have it easier because of their looks, social status, family name, wealth, etc, and those who don't have any of that do try to fit in somehow, even if they're rebuffed or looked down upon by the so-called popular crowd. Trying to maneuver through the daily life of being a teen and all the pitfalls of high school isn't easy and this song speaks to that. I heard this as a teen in the 70's when it first came on the radio and it made me cry then and when I hear it today it still brings tears to my eyes. But kids today have the internet and social media to navigate, so I think it's even harder to be a teen than it was back then.
She is SO amazing. She has so many other songs. She wrote a song at 15 years old called Society's Child that was a huge hit that Amber could totally relate to after hearing her story. She has been around for a long time. You should listen to that song, then Tea & Sympathy and then Boots Like Emmy Lou. She has such a range of songs and the poetry she uses in her songs expresses our feelings so well.
Last year my grandson turned Seventeen, and he found this song. He wants to be a musician like his grandfather and mother, and this song hit him hard as a deep-feeling, poignant reflection all young people feel 'At Seventeen' Thank you Janis Ian.
She bops alot of people on the head with Society's Child, and that came out in the 60s where she eloquently lyricises the taboos of the times. The girl had alot of courage encountering these barriers way back then.
"Almost makes you sad"?????? This song is heartbreaking. It's raw yet articulate. And told from the first person, it's just a brutally honest account of reaching puberty and young adulthood only to find you're simply invisible.
Oh my God, Rob. You hit on it. Every school teacher should play this song in their class and then have a long heartfelt discussion on the meaning of this song, as it is as relevant a topic today, as it was 40+ years ago. Thanks.
@@RobSquadReactions There has to be a live video of her performing this. For your own pleasure, seek it out. She paints my life with her unique vocals.
@@Keedeeg There is a live version that is all acoustic th-cam.com/video/VMUz2TNMvL0/w-d-xo.html . I was hoping Amber was going to do the interview sessions . There is a fantastic one about her first hit "Societies Child" that she wrote at the age of 14. The song is performed on tv 1967
This song is still as heart wrenching today as when it came out in 1975. The loneliness and feelings of despair as a teenager are palpable in this hauntingly beautiful song.
She was such an influence on so many artists, who were way more concerned with the "art" than commercial success...."Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman has a very similar sound and packs as big a punch!
I was 9 in 1975 and I remember this song. It’s been with me my entire life. Today, at 56, I will still burst into tears when listening to this song. I still feel it to my core. Also from a small town.
Jordan: I noticed that line about 'those whose names were never called when choosing sides for basketball' hit you in the heart. I think maybe that's why you want to play it for your students and I hope you do. It's a very long time ago for me, but I remember that kid whose name wasn't called or got called last for whatever team sport we were playing that day in gym class. That line cuts deep.
Janis Ian is an American singer-songwriter from the 60's-70's. At the age of 14 Ian wrote & recorded her first hit single "Society's Child" (1966/67) about an interracial romance forbidden by a girl's mother & frowned upon by her peers & teachers. Another big hit was "At Seventeen" in 1975 which is a bittersweet commentary on adolescent cruelty, the illusion of popularity & teenage angst, from the perspective of a narrator looking back on her earlier experience.
I was around 17 when this song came out and I was one of those "unpopular" girls. Picked on and giggled at by the "pretty" girls. Thank goodness I found band and chorus.
I love this song. Trust me, this is relatable to boys as much as it is girls. I remember being an awkward 15 year old in high school and watching from the outside, and this was before social media.
I grew up as the gay boy in town and no one would dare to be friends with me. I kept asking God, why are you putting this burden on me. In my later years, I found that my “bravery” for being my true self, was to help open the minds of straight people and make a hard process easier for each gay persons in my home town to live their own truth. People were seeing how exiled I was, beaten, set on fire… and kept my head held high all the while. The year after my graduation, 9 boys came out. I’m grateful they had a way smoother experience than I did. It was worth it.
I remember first hearing this song back in the 70s, I was a teenager then. As a guy much of what the song talks about did not apply but as a skinny, awkward boy I did the song spoke to me. Years later after 30 years being married to a wonderful wife I felt I had not had as bad a life as I once felt I did. This is one of those beautiful but sadly depressing tunes that is timeless in it's message. For some life and youth are a sad time that never seems to get any better. I feel lucky I was able to grow out of that awkward phase and have a good life and family but am so sad to know how many never do. This is a haunting tune that stays with you long after hearing it
She was such a influence to this brown eyed girl. She was about 14 or so when I first heard her song, Society's Child, I was a few years younger. It never occurred to me that someone her age could write and sing her own music. My view of women in music was forever changed. Janis is still singing, I am happy to say.
All I can add is that it wasn't just girls whose names were never called when choosing sides for basketball, lacking in the social graces. I was terrible at sports in highschool and I talked funny (Scottish accent) so in 1975-76 (my senior year) I totally got this song. This is also when I discovered Rush and their music would make up a large portion of the soundtrack to my life and times. The theme of the outsider looking in was one that appealed to me, even then.
It went both ways, it wasn't just the girls that felt this, or were treated that way, the ugly duckling guys learned the truth as well. This is a beautiful song, and one of the saddest songs ever !
A boy I knew in college who was a bit of an "odd duck" was amazed that I liked this song. He said it wasn't for pretty girls like me. But we we were friends and he was willing to listen again about how in a small town, beauty traps you young too. That it's all painful in different ways. And that a lot of people can relate to being lonely.
This song was so sad for me. I could see those girls with acne and braces who never got picked to dance or be on the team. It does give a person compassion.
I am 52 and this song still makes me cry. I feel the pain for all the young people today that suffer. I agree having students listen to this is a great idea! It can teach some of them empathy as well as helping those who feel isolated knowing they are not alone
This isn’t sad, it’s about depression to the point of wanting to commit suicide. I grew up in a VERY small town and I have felt every emotion she described. It’s such an important song. The alliteration of each word resonates so deeply, you can hear each lash she received and see every scar that will always remain. I choreographed this for my high school winter guard (flags, rifles, sabers and dance from marching bands go in the gym, make their own shows and compete) because I knew some of my students were living this song. I wanted to teach them self-love, self-worth, self-dignity and hopefully they would look around the corner of life and perchance, they might like what they see. Thank you for doing this honest song and reaction.
"Society's child" a powerful song that she was let play on a national show. Took a lot of guts at the time for the show to let her sing it .Janis did well in Australia and out side the united states but this song "Seventeen" became a hit to many young women in the 70s and young men not in the clicks of popular people! Thank you !!!!!
I love Janis Ian. I heard this song a lot when I was a kid. This whole album actually, as my mother would play it frequently. Every song on this album is melancholy and wonderful. I highly recommend you listen to it in it's entirety. Her more recent work is just as wonderful. I especially love the song House Without A Heart. I love melancholy music though. My friends frequently give me a hard time over it. I still have this album (a digital edition) and I pull it out on gray and rainy days. You can tell Janice understands the pain we don't always talk about.
LoL, my dad brought home a small reel to reel (you may not know what this is) before cassetes,, the only things were 8 tracks and you couldn't record on them. But I could record on the little reel to reel and have to sit by the radio and wait for a song to come on the radio. My parents knew how much i loved music and the next Christmas, Santa brought me my first little stereo with headphones and three albums...my parents had no clue. They were Jethro Tull, Steve Miller and Cat Stevens! I may be old but man, I've lived with some great music!
Took me 40 minutes to get through watching your reaction. This song really hits me pretty hard, every time I hear it. Amber, don't think that your reactions were not noticed during this song. I Saw You Smile, with a knowing smile, about what is going on. I was weeping the whole time. Jay, when you brushed a tear from your eye, I lost it. Just absolutely lost it. Thank you for doing this reaction.
I was 17 when AT SEVENTEEN ,came out in 1975. It made me stop and think about the hurtful words being used at that time, and that is what great artists do, they make you stop and think. The line about ravaged faces always got to me. Amber, I could hear the pain in your voice, I am sorry you went through that, you are such a beautiful person inside and out. Jordan, I think it would be great to let your students listen to this, let us know how they react. Happy New Year guys!!!
This was me at seventeen. I was not ugly. I was short, insecure, shy, and looked like a twelve year old. At 69, I can still pass for twenty years younger and occasionally still turn heads. I'm still the one for whom the Valentines never came. It's not always the ugly ones who suffer rejection. Some of us are just naturally social misfits wondering why!!!
One of the best songwriters you'll ever listen to. "Between the Lines" was an outstanding album and she won a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for "At Seventeen."
I wore that album out when I first brought it home that when I went back to the record store I bought two more copies! It took all my babysitting money but was well worth it!!
Her biggest hit from 1975. Her other big hit was 1967's Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking) She will be releasing her last solo studio album(The Light at the End of the Line) next month.
I have loved this song from the time it was released. So much emotion. I had the pleasure of seeing Janis live about 20 years ago, the emotion of this song is intensified when performed live.
You guys were pretty casual about this. It's a devastating song. It's not just about typical awkwardness but being shunned and soul-crushing loneliness. That is not everyone's experience. This is the kind of pain that can define a person - for good or bad.
I'm 73 and had not heard this song for years. Because of the truth Janis relates for my generation, I got chills. The reactions you had were really great!
I love how the songs from those times always had a message. Sometimes the message is hidden, other times the message is bold and in your face. Janis Ian had a beautiful voice.
What a movingly profound song. Not only is she a wonderful lyricist, but her melody making is stellar. A memorable artist for the ages! You have to check out her other classic "Society's Child."
Such a beautiful and eloquent song...Janis Ian definitely knows how to pull in the listener and this resonates today just as it did so many years ago! thx for sharing Rob Squad :)
YAAAASSSS!!!! Queen Amber thank you for sharing your story. This song resonates so true not just for girls but guys as well. It's the reality of the real world vs. Hollywood and it's sad that 30 to 40 years after this was released self esteem and self praise is lower than ever and taking lives EVERYDAY as a 52 y/o man I thank God that I'm not 17
One of the saddest songs ever written, but also timeless. Unfortunately might be more relevant today than when it was released. Unfortunate because it shows that we haven't come as far as we should have as a society.
Several years ago, I had the incredible joy of seeing her in concert. It was one of the absolute best shows I have had the pleasure to see. She was charming, extremely humorous, and sounded exactly like she did on her albums. When she played this one, absolutely everyone joined into a standing ovation that lasted so very long. Just amazing. Even if you don't do videos for it, I can't suggest exploring her other music just for the beauty and power of her work.
I can’t believe that the iconic Carole King hasn’t been featured on Female Friday! 🤷🏻♂️ She has sung, wrote, and composed MANY hits! …especially thru the 70’s Try Carole King’s ‘Too Late’…among others ❤️
The way she sings this is so sensitive and honest that it feels raw. Great song about the tortures of youth and 'beauty' and the social pressure of what it means to pass the acceptance grades.
"And those whose names were never called when choosing sides for basketball." Great line. So many can relate to that. What some wouldn't have given to be the first or second chosen.
The overall impact of this song is powerful, but just looking at the songwriting alone, it's so well-crafted. To "cheat ourselves at solitaire" and "when payment due exceeds accounts received" are just brilliant lyrics.
I am 61, and this song came out a month before my 15th birthday in 1975. I have cried to this song forever! I was an awkward, overly shy redhead, with freckles, and this song epitomizes my life growing up. Regardless of all that, it’s a beautiful song, and even though I still get choked up when I hear it, I love it all the same.
I cried when I first heard this song. As a teenager myself, I never had to go thru what she and many others did have to endure. This song definitely taught me to make sure to always be kind to others, especially the loners.
Janis had two big hits. This was her second, and it came in 1975. Seven years earlier in 1968, she burst on the scene with "Society's Child." Definitely worth a listen.
Please play this for your class, Jordan. The lyrics spoke to my soul at 17. "The valentines that never came." Please tell your class that college is such a growing place of acceptance. High school will totally be in the rear view mirror.
I found two of her albums in my mother's records... I was hooked...started listening in the 80's and still listen to her today. She is still writing and performing. Another amazing song released much later than this is called Billie's bones.
This song came at an opportune time for Ian. She told us: "I had to move back into my mom's house because I was broke and I couldn't make any money on the road. I was sitting at the kitchen table with a guitar one day, and I was reading a New York Times article about a debutante, and the opening line was 'I learned the truth at 18.' I was playing that little samba figure, and that line struck me for some reason. The whole article was about how she learned being a debutante didn't mean that much. I changed it to 17 because 18 didn't scan."
Janice wrote this song herself, at age 23. She was reading an article in the paper about a girl (age 17), who thought her life would change tor the better after going to the debutante ball. But sadly it did not. 😔
My high school English teacher printed the lyrics and had everyone read it. After she asked if anyone ever felt like that everyone raised their hands even the popular people. I was shocked. It’s universal and devastatingly true
She was my sister’s favorite artist (with Barbra Streisand). We lost my sister this year so hearing both of these artists today really touched me. Thank you! Janis Ian is a great singer/songwriter. She is also an activist for women’s rights. She is still doing her thing!
Love this song, can relate a little to it. A lot of us buried ourselves in music when faced with some of these obstacles. It's how we are so versed in songs and artists cause it's what we had to fall back on, and what kept us going.
I was a teenager when this came out and high school was not the best experience for me. I felt as though she wrote this song about my life. There’s a live version of her singing this which is beautiful.
When this came out a group of us listened to it and the girls cried. The guys just walked away. It hit home. I love your channel. I am a bit older but love to watch these!
The sophistication of her songwriting is on another level. The vocabulary, the eloquence, the production -- it's all top-notch. Janis, as mentioned by everyone else -- has so many great songs to choose from and they're not all sad & sweet. But they're usually pointed and poignant.
I'm a big Janis Ian fan and wore out the album "Between The Lines". Every song on this album is good. Every Janis song is a hit to me. She interacts with fans on Facebook and has even commented on reaction videos. She's a beautiful person with a beautiful soul. Her music is so relatable.
My wife and I raised two daughters and the oldest daughter didn't fit in for various reasons. I always understood this song in relation to her, because at that age kids believe that is all there is to life and overreact at the smallest things. Other kids can be especially cruel and make the outcast feel worse about themselves. This was also before internet, and cellphones and we lived in a secluded area. As parents you try any, and everything, which often makes it worse. I grew up in poverty and wore patched hand me down clothes. I was always clean, but I was never accepted by others. The fact I am male was a benefit for me because I didn't care and got tough from the abuse. This has always been a very good song.
As an ex teacher, kids have an instinctive pack mentality & will attack those they perceive as 'weaker'. Weaker usually equals quiet, sensitive, easy to upset or different ( clothes , low income home etc).
Seeing you two feeling this so deeply and with so much empathy made me cry. At the same time I know your girls are blessed and will be able to navigate life with you to guide them. God Bless and hold your beautiful daughters tight.
You can feel this song whether you're a guy or girl at just about any age.. Most of us can relate to these feelings over sometime or times in our lives. That's what makes this song so powerful.
This song always reminds me of a horrible memory from junior high school. A very ugly duckling girl in our class had somehow found the courage to write me a love letter. Which is incredible in itself. But one of the bully jocks tore it away from me and proceeded to share it with his jock buddies, embarrassing me but mortifying the poor girl. I was at a loss but a couple of the girls in class told me to go apologize to the girl. I went right over to tell her how sorry I was that this had happened but she just stared at the floor saying nothing. How she had the courage to do what she did, I'll never know. She only had one friend ever in all those years. I have thought about that poor outcast misfit lonely girl a million times over the years. I don't know what ever became of her but I hope she found happiness in her adult years.
This is an awesome song, so was her first hit"Society's Child". The subject matter was considered controversial. Her manager took the song to 22 record companies before they found one that would release it. Then many radio stations refused to play it. It got a big break when the New York Philharmonic Orchestra conductor, Leonard Bernstein, featured her playing it on a TV special he did about popular music, pointing out there was actually some excellent popular music at the time. After she performed it, he talked about what a beautiful song it was and called out the radio stations for not playing it and even called the disc jockeys who wouldn't play it because of the controversial content cowards! After that the song quickly climbed to #14 in the top twenty charts.
So glad you picked this song. Janis Ian is an awesome lady - super nice with a wicked sense of humor & very down to earth. I follow her on FB & she genuinely interacts with her fans. Like Bob Dylan, she has always touched on social issues in her songs, but in a way that, I think, is more relatable. I would also suggest you listen to her song "Society's Child" about an interracial relationship. She just recently released a new album & her songs "Resist", "Better Times Will Come" & "I'm Still Standing" show she is still kicking butt in her own unique way. I just love her!
Oh, yes...this prejudice against anyone who wasn't up to par with what the media was presenting, is nothing new!! It has been going on for a very long time! The difference was then, no one knew the adverse effects it was having on young girls' self-esteem!! I was one of those over-weight, without social status...I could have written this song!!
This was my theme song as a young girl. I know other girls felt the same. I was going on 13 when this song came out. I was the poor girl with frizzy hair and the Polish name that no one could pronounce. I still feel this song to this day..
Everyone's heart inside is the same color, so don't judge a 'book by its cover.' Definitely check out her 1967 hit Society's Child. She was 13 when she wrote it. Amber, given your comments, I think you'd relate to that song as well. Other female Friday suggestions in this similar genre (singer/songwriter) include Judy Collins (Send in the Clowns) Joni Mitchell (Help Me) Phoebe Snow (Poetry Man) and of course Carole King (It's Too Late).
Sadly, the alienation and anguish she shared is felt by many. They can be 17, younger, or older - male or female. Unfortunately to all those people, it is part of the human condition. Janice so eloquently put in words that anguish. Hopefully such sharing allows those suffering to know they aren't the only ones to feel that way. For those who do feel overwhelmed by the hurt, please do know to talk with others about it. They will understand.
I was approximately 17 when this song was a hit - all of us loved this song, because it voiced so many of the doubts, problems, fears, realities that we faced as teenage girls, becoming young women. This is a truly great song that speaks directly to young women. Was extremely rare at the time, and is still somewhat rare, I think, for its articulate genuineness.
Even 40 years plus that 17 some are still going through it.
I'm a male and I know very well that alienation and anguish. This is the first time I hear Janis' song, when it came out (year 1975, wikipedia says) I was 20, but I already knew that feeling of being discarded, I knew it since I was 15 and it haunted me all my life...I never got out.
@@giuliogrifi7739 I know that one my rejection started at birth with my parents and it didn't stop there either.
God love you guys. There’s one above that will never reject you, make fun of you, or ignore you. Just let him inside and all that has hurt you will melt away.
As an "ugly duckling girl" heading into puberty when this song came out, it was like she was revealing my soul. Still one of my all-time favorites all these decades later.
EJ Tappan Same here, it felt like me talking.
Exactly. She described me perfectly. From the eye color to the name that no one could pronounce. I still cry when I listen to this. It’s like I’m reliving it.
Ditto.
@@christinewaide5249 I was one of 4 of us in our class that Had no group...we all had something that set us apart. yes I still cry to .. Seems like so many years feeling that way... Age gives perspective and I focus on as much joy as possible in this messed up world
@@proudgrannyjoanfleming8860 Same. 💕
"Society's Child" is another deep song by Janis you must listen to.
That song was blocked from airplay by many stations back in the day. Watch the live video of it if you haven't seen it.
@Tony Herrera reminds me of the famous first interracial kiss on tv from Star Trek. Shatner and Nichols were still not allowed to actually kiss. A head was turned slightly to conceal it and they never actually touched.
Definitely! And look for the live version from the Smothers Brothers show; she's 16 performing it, 14 when she wrote it!
And she recorded Society's Child when she was 15.
@Tony Herrera One of my favorite songs of all time, I did see her live when Seventeen was first playing on the charts in a small club in California.
I’ve cried every time I’ve heard this song for 45 years
One of the most remarkable, truth-telling songs ever written. Imagine the depth of courage needed to expose herself in this way.
I cried the first time I heard that song and I cried again today hearing it again. I’m 64. Very powerful lyrics. Happy New Year y’all!
I first heard this as a teen. I wondered how she knew so much about me. I was bullied all through school although it wasn’t referred to as being bullied. You were just unpopular. The two lines that always hit me the hardest are the one about Valentines that never came. And the ones whose names were never called when choosing sides at basketball. I’m 65 now you’d think that it wouldn’t hurt so much anymore. I still can’t listen to this song without the tears flowing. Life is better now, but I wish that kids were able to realize the possible long term damage they could do to another person when they choose to be a bully. My love of music was my saving grace. Music was my solace, both singing it or just listening to music. Music became my world, especially listening to The Monkees. Even to this day if I’m feeling sad or anxious or even happy, listening to The Monkees always makes it better. Please just be kind to others you never know what that other person may be going through! Happy New Year to all. Choose kindness. 🤗
My experience was the same , the chubby little dark eyed Italian girl in a predominantly Scottish / Irish school. I too found solace in music and books….they took me to a place that didn’t hurt and are still great friends to this day. God Bless!
@@DonnaBarrett-y4q Thank you for sharing some of your experiences. I am glad that music provided some solace. I also hope that your life is happier now and that you’ve found some inner peace. Be good to yourself and treat yourself with kindness & respect. Best wishes to you and may God Bless.
@@melodyin Ironically I blossomed in my last year of high school and the same people who laughed and bullied me either wanted to date me or disliked me because I was now better looking than they were. It was a long time ago but the experience made me a strong woman. And yes, I now have a lovely family that I cherish. Cheers! 😊
Janis Ian! She didn't have many hits, but her influence was undeniable. This is her signature song. For other glimpses into her genius, you can do "Society's Child" or "Fly Too High". Great choice! FYI - she was 24 when she recorded "At Seventeen" in 1975. From Wiki - She was inspired to write the single after reading a The New York Times article about a young woman who believed her life would improve after a debutante ball and her subsequent disappointment when it did not.
Actually this single was her second hit, and it won her the Grammy in 1976 for best female pop artist.
It topped the charts at #3, but yeah she’s seriously under appreciated today imo.
This song is timeless, no matter what era you're in when you listen to it and gives an honest account of being an awkward teen. There will always be those who seem to have it easier because of their looks, social status, family name, wealth, etc, and those who don't have any of that do try to fit in somehow, even if they're rebuffed or looked down upon by the so-called popular crowd. Trying to maneuver through the daily life of being a teen and all the pitfalls of high school isn't easy and this song speaks to that. I heard this as a teen in the 70's when it first came on the radio and it made me cry then and when I hear it today it still brings tears to my eyes. But kids today have the internet and social media to navigate, so I think it's even harder to be a teen than it was back then.
She is SO amazing. She has so many other songs. She wrote a song at 15 years old called Society's Child that was a huge hit that Amber could totally relate to after hearing her story. She has been around for a long time. You should listen to that song, then Tea & Sympathy and then Boots Like Emmy Lou. She has such a range of songs and the poetry she uses in her songs expresses our feelings so well.
You HAVE to listen to Society's Child. It's like Part 1 to this story and this is part 2. Not really, but it could be...
Totally agree with your recommendations! I recommended From Me to You.
Last year my grandson turned Seventeen, and he found this song. He wants to be a musician like his grandfather and mother, and this song hit him hard as a deep-feeling, poignant reflection all young people feel 'At Seventeen' Thank you Janis Ian.
She bops alot of people on the head with Society's Child, and that came out in the 60s where she eloquently lyricises the taboos of the times. The girl had alot of courage encountering these barriers way back then.
"Almost makes you sad"?????? This song is heartbreaking. It's raw yet articulate. And told from the first person, it's just a brutally honest account of reaching puberty and young adulthood only to find you're simply invisible.
I was thinking the same thing! "Almost makes me sad" is like seeing "Old Yeller" and saying, "I don't think that was a comedy." 😄
They are a bit young.....
But the "for ugly duckling girls like me" line shows she knows she has grown up to be a swan - she has come through it to be positive about herself.
That's what I thought, ALMOST ???????? Is your made made of stone or what?
Oh my God, Rob. You hit on it. Every school teacher should play this song in their class and then have a long heartfelt discussion on the meaning of this song, as it is as relevant a topic today, as it was 40+ years ago. Thanks.
Did anyone mention the gorgeous melody and voice?
Pinning this because yes! So very worth mentioning!
I love acoustic guitar, and I can't hold a note on pitch..lol ! That was talent here 🎵🎻🎶🎸
@@RobSquadReactions There has to be a live video of her performing this. For your own pleasure, seek it out. She paints my life with her unique vocals.
@@Keedeeg There is a live version that is all acoustic th-cam.com/video/VMUz2TNMvL0/w-d-xo.html . I was hoping Amber was going to do the interview sessions . There is a fantastic one about her first hit "Societies Child" that she wrote at the age of 14. The song is performed on tv 1967
It's easy to get lost in the message on first listen with this one - it is very engrossing.
This song is still as heart wrenching today as when it came out in 1975. The loneliness and feelings of despair as a teenager are palpable in this hauntingly beautiful song.
I graduated high school in 1975. I had exactly 1 date (prom) in HS and she wasn't from my own school. This song is about me.
She was such an influence on so many artists, who were way more concerned with the "art" than commercial success...."Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman has a very similar sound and packs as big a punch!
This would be a great reaction.
They should do Tracy’s whole debut album.
I was 9 in 1975 and I remember this song. It’s been with me my entire life.
Today, at 56, I will still burst into tears when listening to this song. I still feel it to my core.
Also from a small town.
Jordan: I noticed that line about 'those whose names were never called when choosing sides for basketball' hit you in the heart. I think maybe that's why you want to play it for your students and I hope you do. It's a very long time ago for me, but I remember that kid whose name wasn't called or got called last for whatever team sport we were playing that day in gym class. That line cuts deep.
She is telling the truth in herself, In my truth she was always beautiful and the best voice I ever heard.
Damn Amber, you really felt that. Jay, give your girl a hug!
Janis Ian is an American singer-songwriter from the 60's-70's. At the age of 14 Ian wrote & recorded her first hit single "Society's Child" (1966/67) about an interracial romance forbidden by a girl's mother & frowned upon by her peers & teachers. Another big hit was "At Seventeen" in 1975 which is a bittersweet commentary on adolescent cruelty, the illusion of popularity & teenage angst, from the perspective of a narrator looking back on her earlier experience.
She still tours.
I was around 17 when this song came out and I was one of those "unpopular" girls. Picked on and giggled at by the "pretty" girls. Thank goodness I found band and chorus.
I love this song. Trust me, this is relatable to boys as much as it is girls. I remember being an awkward 15 year old in high school and watching from the outside, and this was before social media.
I grew up as the gay boy in town and no one would dare to be friends with me. I kept asking God, why are you putting this burden on me. In my later years, I found that my “bravery” for being my true self, was to help open the minds of straight people and make a hard process easier for each gay persons in my home town to live their own truth. People were seeing how exiled I was, beaten, set on fire… and kept my head held high all the while. The year after my graduation, 9 boys came out. I’m grateful they had a way smoother experience than I did. It was worth it.
Every 17 should hear this song it would make the world a kinder place
I remember first hearing this song back in the 70s, I was a teenager then. As a guy much of what the song talks about did not apply but as a skinny, awkward boy I did the song spoke to me. Years later after 30 years being married to a wonderful wife I felt I had not had as bad a life as I once felt I did. This is one of those beautiful but sadly depressing tunes that is timeless in it's message. For some life and youth are a sad time that never seems to get any better. I feel lucky I was able to grow out of that awkward phase and have a good life and family but am so sad to know how many never do. This is a haunting tune that stays with you long after hearing it
She was such a influence to this brown eyed girl. She was about 14 or so when I first heard her song, Society's Child, I was a few years younger. It never occurred to me that someone her age could write and sing her own music. My view of women in music was forever changed. Janis is still singing, I am happy to say.
All I can add is that it wasn't just girls whose names were never called when choosing sides for basketball, lacking in the social graces. I was terrible at sports in highschool and I talked funny (Scottish accent) so in 1975-76 (my senior year) I totally got this song. This is also when I discovered Rush and their music would make up a large portion of the soundtrack to my life and times. The theme of the outsider looking in was one that appealed to me, even then.
It went both ways, it wasn't just the girls that felt this, or were treated that way, the ugly duckling guys learned the truth as well. This is a beautiful song, and one of the saddest songs ever !
Well said, Kevin.
A boy I knew in college who was a bit of an "odd duck" was amazed that I liked this song. He said it wasn't for pretty girls like me.
But we we were friends and he was willing to listen again about how in a small town, beauty traps you young too. That it's all painful in different ways. And that a lot of people can relate to being lonely.
I was 15 and I REMEMBER 'WOW" she GETS ME!
This song was so sad for me. I could see those girls with acne and braces who never got picked to dance or be on the team. It does give a person compassion.
I am 52 and this song still makes me cry. I feel the pain for all the young people today that suffer.
I agree having students listen to this is a great idea! It can teach some of them empathy as well as helping those who feel isolated knowing they are not alone
This isn’t sad, it’s about depression to the point of wanting to commit suicide. I grew up in a VERY small town and I have felt every emotion she described. It’s such an important song. The alliteration of each word resonates so deeply, you can hear each lash she received and see every scar that will always remain.
I choreographed this for my high school winter guard (flags, rifles, sabers and dance from marching bands go in the gym, make their own shows and compete) because I knew some of my students were living this song. I wanted to teach them self-love, self-worth, self-dignity and hopefully they would look around the corner of life and perchance, they might like what they see.
Thank you for doing this honest song and reaction.
"Society's child" a powerful song that she was let play on a national show. Took a lot of guts at the time for the show to let her sing it .Janis did well in Australia and out side the united states but this song "Seventeen" became a hit to many young women in the 70s and young men not in the clicks of popular people! Thank you !!!!!
So touching. Her sincerity is so sublime.
I love Janis Ian. I heard this song a lot when I was a kid. This whole album actually, as my mother would play it frequently. Every song on this album is melancholy and wonderful. I highly recommend you listen to it in it's entirety. Her more recent work is just as wonderful. I especially love the song House Without A Heart. I love melancholy music though. My friends frequently give me a hard time over it. I still have this album (a digital edition) and I pull it out on gray and rainy days. You can tell Janice understands the pain we don't always talk about.
She sang for all of us young girls that thought we weren’t pretty and would never be so. She sang the truth, much as it hurt.
This takes me back to actually being an ugly 17 year old outcast listening to this on repeat. This song speaks to my soul
Brandy, I was right there with you!! Same story!! You are loved now!
@Beverly Nelms aww, thank you so much for that! Your words mean a lot to me
Well, that's hard to believe as looking at you now, you're really beautiful!
I was 16 when this song came out and it just sang my life at the time . Someone understood.
LoL, my dad brought home a small reel to reel (you may not know what this is) before cassetes,, the only things were 8 tracks and you couldn't record on them. But I could record on the little reel to reel and have to sit by the radio and wait for a song to come on the radio. My parents knew how much i loved music and the next Christmas, Santa brought me my first little stereo with headphones and three albums...my parents had no clue. They were Jethro Tull, Steve Miller and Cat Stevens! I may be old but man, I've lived with some great music!
Took me 40 minutes to get through watching your reaction. This song really hits me pretty hard, every time I hear it. Amber, don't think that your reactions were not noticed during this song. I Saw You Smile, with a knowing smile, about what is going on. I was weeping the whole time. Jay, when you brushed a tear from your eye, I lost it. Just absolutely lost it. Thank you for doing this reaction.
I was 17 when AT SEVENTEEN ,came out in 1975. It made me stop and think about the hurtful words being used at that time, and that is what great artists do, they make you stop and think. The line about ravaged faces always got to me. Amber, I could hear the pain in your voice, I am sorry you went through that, you are such a beautiful person inside and out. Jordan, I think it would be great to let your students listen to this, let us know how they react. Happy New Year guys!!!
Amber thank you for being so Vulnerable and sharing today. ❤️
Another female Friday gem: Maria Muldaur - "Midnight at the Oasis."
Happy New Year, Rob Squad!!!
This was me at seventeen. I was not ugly. I was short, insecure, shy, and looked like a twelve year old. At 69, I can still pass for twenty years younger and occasionally still turn heads. I'm still the one for whom the Valentines never came. It's not always the ugly ones who suffer rejection. Some of us are just naturally social misfits wondering why!!!
A TRUE CLASSIC FROM A YOUNG LADY AT A TIME WHEN WOMEN WERE LOOKING FOR A VOICE
This is Crazy 2 people reacting to songs that are legendary,,,,,,,,,,blows my mind
One of the best songwriters you'll ever listen to. "Between the Lines" was an outstanding album and she won a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for "At Seventeen."
I wore that album out when I first brought it home that when I went back to the record store I bought two more copies! It took all my babysitting money but was well worth it!!
"Society's Child" is another good song by Janis. Well worth a listen.
Her biggest hit from 1975. Her other big hit was 1967's Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking)
She will be releasing her last solo studio album(The Light at the End of the Line) next month.
I have loved this song from the time it was released. So much emotion. I had the pleasure of seeing Janis live about 20 years ago, the emotion of this song is intensified when performed live.
You guys were pretty casual about this. It's a devastating song. It's not just about typical awkwardness but being shunned and soul-crushing loneliness. That is not everyone's experience. This is the kind of pain that can define a person - for good or bad.
I'm 73 and had not heard this song for years. Because of the truth Janis relates for my generation, I got chills. The reactions you had were really great!
"Inventing lovers on the phone" is such a magnificent line. So powerful. A great, great song.
I love how the songs from those times always had a message. Sometimes the message is hidden, other times the message is bold and in your face. Janis Ian had a beautiful voice.
In 1965, she recorded "Society's Child" which was very controversial because it dealt with an inter-racial relationship...
What a movingly profound song. Not only is she a wonderful lyricist, but her melody making is stellar. A memorable artist for the ages! You have to check out her other classic "Society's Child."
The lovely and talented Janis Ian is still active today and still a beauty. Thanks for tripping me down memory lane.
Such a beautiful and eloquent song...Janis Ian definitely knows how to pull in the listener and this resonates today just as it did so many years ago! thx for sharing Rob Squad :)
Every girl/woman felt this song was them. Amazing talent at such a young age.
I remember this song , storytelling ! Amber you will like it ! 😍😍
YAAAASSSS!!!! Queen Amber thank you for sharing your story. This song resonates so true not just for girls but guys as well. It's the reality of the real world vs. Hollywood and it's sad that 30 to 40 years after this was released self esteem and self praise is lower than ever and taking lives EVERYDAY as a 52 y/o man I thank God that I'm not 17
One of the saddest songs ever written, but also timeless. Unfortunately might be more relevant today than when it was released. Unfortunate because it shows that we haven't come as far as we should have as a society.
You should check out her song, "Society's Child."
A lot of us can relate to Janis she is brave to write and sing this song not everyone has that courage she's awesome
This song strikes a chord for just about everybody, hence its value to society.
Several years ago, I had the incredible joy of seeing her in concert. It was one of the absolute best shows I have had the pleasure to see. She was charming, extremely humorous, and sounded exactly like she did on her albums. When she played this one, absolutely everyone joined into a standing ovation that lasted so very long. Just amazing. Even if you don't do videos for it, I can't suggest exploring her other music just for the beauty and power of her work.
I can’t believe that the iconic Carole King hasn’t been featured on Female Friday! 🤷🏻♂️
She has sung, wrote, and composed MANY hits! …especially thru the 70’s
Try Carole King’s ‘Too Late’…among others ❤️
The way she sings this is so sensitive and honest that it feels raw. Great song about the tortures of youth and 'beauty' and the social pressure of what it means to pass the acceptance grades.
This is the quintessential theme song for those of us in the ugly duckling crowd!! Quack, quack!!
"In the Winter" is another great Janis Ian song
"And those whose names were never called when choosing sides for basketball." Great line. So many can relate to that. What some wouldn't have given to be the first or second chosen.
That was me, 50 years later it still bites🙄
The overall impact of this song is powerful, but just looking at the songwriting alone, it's so well-crafted. To "cheat ourselves at solitaire" and "when payment due exceeds accounts received" are just brilliant lyrics.
I am 61, and this song came out a month before my 15th birthday in 1975. I have cried to this song forever! I was an awkward, overly shy redhead, with freckles, and this song epitomizes my life growing up.
Regardless of all that, it’s a beautiful song, and even though I still get choked up when I hear it, I love it all the same.
I love her song SOCIETY'S CHILD!!!
I cried when I first heard this song. As a teenager myself, I never had to go thru what she and many others did have to endure. This song definitely taught me to make sure to always be kind to others, especially the loners.
Great choice!! Please do her live performance. You can really feel her emotions.
Janis had two big hits. This was her second, and it came in 1975. Seven years earlier in 1968, she burst on the scene with "Society's Child." Definitely worth a listen.
1965 SC was released, when she was 15
Please play this for your class, Jordan. The lyrics spoke to my soul at 17. "The valentines that never came." Please tell your class that college is such a growing place of acceptance. High school will totally be in the rear view mirror.
I found two of her albums in my mother's records... I was hooked...started listening in the 80's and still listen to her today. She is still writing and performing. Another amazing song released much later than this is called Billie's bones.
This song came at an opportune time for Ian. She told us: "I had to move back into my mom's house because I was broke and I couldn't make any money on the road. I was sitting at the kitchen table with a guitar one day, and I was reading a New York Times article about a debutante, and the opening line was 'I learned the truth at 18.' I was playing that little samba figure, and that line struck me for some reason. The whole article was about how she learned being a debutante didn't mean that much. I changed it to 17 because 18 didn't scan."
I really appreciate the creative inspiration for the songs that I love to listen to.
Janice wrote this song herself, at age 23. She was reading an article in the paper about a girl (age 17), who thought her life would change tor the better after going to the debutante ball. But sadly it did not. 😔
So glad you did this. She's an Icon.
This is why the 1970s was a great era for music and movies. Janis sang of real pain. There wasn’t any phony sentimentality attached.
My high school English teacher printed the lyrics and had everyone read it. After she asked if anyone ever felt like that everyone raised their hands even the popular people. I was shocked. It’s universal and devastatingly true
The whole album this is from-"At Seventeen "-is one of my fave albums 💜🎩👍
Ooops tge album's actually called "Between the Lines"🎩
"I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy is a perfect song for Female Friday!!!!!!!!!!
You guys should have done the live version, it's fantastic.
That's exactly what I said. I believe she performed it on SNL?
She was my sister’s favorite artist (with Barbra Streisand). We lost my sister this year so hearing both of these artists today really touched me. Thank you! Janis Ian is a great singer/songwriter. She is also an activist for women’s rights. She is still doing her thing!
Love this song, can relate a little to it. A lot of us buried ourselves in music when faced with some of these obstacles. It's how we are so versed in songs and artists cause it's what we had to fall back on, and what kept us going.
I was a teenager when this came out and high school was not the best experience for me. I felt as though she wrote this song about my life. There’s a live version of her singing this which is beautiful.
When this came out a group of us listened to it and the girls cried. The guys just walked away. It hit home.
I love your channel. I am a bit older but love to watch these!
The sophistication of her songwriting is on another level. The vocabulary, the eloquence, the production -- it's all top-notch. Janis, as mentioned by everyone else -- has so many great songs to choose from and they're not all sad & sweet. But they're usually pointed and poignant.
I'm a big Janis Ian fan and wore out the album "Between The Lines". Every song on this album is good. Every Janis song is a hit to me. She interacts with fans on Facebook and has even commented on reaction videos. She's a beautiful person with a beautiful soul. Her music is so relatable.
I have heard this song a 100 times and I cry ever time.
My wife and I raised two daughters and the oldest daughter didn't fit in for various reasons. I always understood this song in relation to her, because at that age kids believe that is all there is to life and overreact at the smallest things. Other kids can be especially cruel and make the outcast feel worse about themselves. This was also before internet, and cellphones and we lived in a secluded area. As parents you try any, and everything, which often makes it worse. I grew up in poverty and wore patched hand me down clothes. I was always clean, but I was never accepted by others. The fact I am male was a benefit for me because I didn't care and got tough from the abuse. This has always been a very good song.
As an ex teacher, kids have an instinctive pack mentality & will attack those they perceive as 'weaker'. Weaker usually equals quiet, sensitive, easy to upset or different ( clothes , low income home etc).
Seeing you two feeling this so deeply and with so much empathy made me cry. At the same time I know your girls are blessed and will be able to navigate life with you to guide them. God Bless and hold your beautiful daughters tight.
You can feel this song whether you're a guy or girl at just about any age.. Most of us can relate to these feelings over sometime or times in our lives. That's what makes this song so powerful.
This song always reminds me of a horrible memory from junior high school. A very ugly duckling girl in our class had somehow found the courage to write me a love letter. Which is incredible in itself. But one of the bully jocks tore it away from me and proceeded to share it with his jock buddies, embarrassing me but mortifying the poor girl. I was at a loss but a couple of the girls in class told me to go apologize to the girl. I went right over to tell her how sorry I was that this had happened but she just stared at the floor saying nothing. How she had the courage to do what she did, I'll never know. She only had one friend ever in all those years. I have thought about that poor outcast misfit lonely girl a million times over the years. I don't know what ever became of her but I hope she found happiness in her adult years.
This is an awesome song, so was her first hit"Society's Child". The subject matter was considered controversial. Her manager took the song to 22 record companies before they found one that would release it. Then many radio stations refused to play it. It got a big break when the New York Philharmonic Orchestra conductor, Leonard Bernstein, featured her playing it on a TV special he did about popular music, pointing out there was actually some excellent popular music at the time. After she performed it, he talked about what a beautiful song it was and called out the radio stations for not playing it and even called the disc jockeys who wouldn't play it because of the controversial content cowards! After that the song quickly climbed to #14 in the top twenty charts.
So glad you picked this song. Janis Ian is an awesome lady - super nice with a wicked sense of humor & very down to earth. I follow her on FB & she genuinely interacts with her fans. Like Bob Dylan, she has always touched on social issues in her songs, but in a way that, I think, is more relatable. I would also suggest you listen to her song "Society's Child" about an interracial relationship. She just recently released a new album & her songs "Resist", "Better Times Will Come" & "I'm Still Standing" show she is still kicking butt in her own unique way. I just love her!
Oh, yes...this prejudice against anyone who wasn't up to par with what the media was presenting, is nothing new!! It has been going on for a very long time! The difference was then, no one knew the adverse effects it was having on young girls' self-esteem!! I was one of those over-weight, without social status...I could have written this song!!
*I've always loved this one by Janis. She is a special one ♥.* LOL...Ya mighta heard of another Janis if you watched the TV show; Friends.
This was my theme song as a young girl. I know other girls felt the same. I was going on 13 when this song came out. I was the poor girl with frizzy hair and the Polish name that no one could pronounce. I still feel this song to this day..
Everyone's heart inside is the same color, so don't judge a 'book by its cover.' Definitely check out her 1967 hit Society's Child. She was 13 when she wrote it. Amber, given your comments, I think you'd relate to that song as well. Other female Friday suggestions in this similar genre (singer/songwriter) include Judy Collins (Send in the Clowns) Joni Mitchell (Help Me) Phoebe Snow (Poetry Man) and of course Carole King (It's Too Late).