Janis Joplin : iSOUND.COM™

Biography

White people really can have soul, if Janis Joplin is considered in evidence. Rather than recap her whole career, beginning with the familiar story of manager Chet Helms' 1966 phone call from San Francisco to Joplin in Austin, TX (after which she hitchhiked all the way out to the audition with Big Brother and the Holding Company), I propose that we look at her unique vocal character simply via the example of the posthumous hit, Kris Kristofferson's "Me And Bobby McGee".

"McGee" is a perfect example of how Joplin and her several collaboration bands brought together two components of late 60's hard rock more effectively than ever: the soulful singing and the keyboard inclusions. Joplin's gravel-throated power was well-suited for subjects of raw emotion, and a matter of instrumentation heightened the serious connotations at work: not only was the Hammond organ augmented by a rotating speaker unit known as a 'Leslie', thus thickening the sound, but the use of the organ in the first place flew in under the audience's radar screen. Organs weren't typically heard in popular music - but they were indeed typically heard at least once a week for most American listeners; that would have been in church. With the screams, moans and right-on-key sustains of Joplin in front and the dead-serious backing of the Hammond right behind, the result suggests what might have happened if Mahalia Jackson had gotten hold of some rock 'n roll lead sheets and said to her band, "We ought to be able to handle this". Kristofferson's words were united with a naturally relaxed yet powerful vocal delivery plus a gospel-infused bed, all to lasting effect.

It's often said that Frank Sinatra could sing so naturally that he could make every guy in the world think he could sing at least a little bit like Frank. Now, consider every version you've ever heard of "Bobby McGee" and consider if the memory of Janis's performance is making that suggestion to us all even today. So many people think that they can do "McGee"... it's the lazy siren effect of Janis with Big Brother, Full Tilt Boogie Band and others that makes them think so. Listening to them, it seems so easy.

But the Janis "McGee" is the only version for me.

Bio written by: Pete_Jamison

Artist Forum


Discussion Topic	Creator
Janis Lives!!!! You know I really hate it when someone posts in one of my favorite artists' forum something like "If you like this artist you will really like XXXYYY" since it seems like just PR to me. BUT!!!!! I totally love Janis Joplin. I was alive when she first hit the scene years ago (yeah, I am an OLD dude! hahaha) and have really missed her all these many years. Then the other day I saw Joss Stone for the first time and just about fainted!!!! Holy crap, she is like a reincarnated Janis Joblin!!!! She sings like her, moves like her, and even looks a lot like Janis did before the drugs wrecked her body. The singing resemblence is so remarkable that when I listen to Joss I actually feel like I have time traveled back to my younger days and am listening to Janis!!!! So if you idolize Janis like I do, then do yourself a favor and go listen to Joss Stone.	GrayBeard

Replys	Listener
I wish she came onto stage drunk, but could really sing. not really my type though	devilweed
Ya well Janice was a close friend of mine for many years,and nobody does it like she did!Nobody!She did her"own"thing.	eslider
i love and luv and love and love n love her.cause shes so cool and so hot and so ...........................................	bernaz
I'll try Ms Stone, and I'm sure I'll enjoyher, BUT.........I already know that no one can do it like Janis did...not for me:)	lovesleemichaelstx