Janis Joplin was a very good singer and most of it was just raw talent. Had she lived and taken better care of herself she would have likely become a great singer.
There are so many terrific soul singers (and, no, they don't gotta be black) that it's pretty nearly impossible for me to settle on less than a very large handful--any of whom could be the best.
FatWhiteMan is right on the money about the drugs. Janis didn't die, directly, from a drug overdose (according to reports that were written then). She actually died because she tripped and hit the floor, face first, smashed her nose and broke other bones in her face and bled out. No less horrific way to die, for sure.
I also read something around the same time that said her backing band, Big Brother and the Holding Company were not "professional" enough for her label and that it was a source of discontent.
Janis, like many artists, had a fragile ego and a fucked up sense of self-worth. That sort of stuff is what actually causes people to do crazy, risky shit.
Aretha was the Queen. That is not taking anything away from Janis. She certainly had soul, but she simply was not a soul singer.
ReplyDeleteDrugs are bad news for idiots. Do you need more examples?
ReplyDeleteJanis Joplin was a very good singer and most of it was just raw talent. Had she lived and taken better care of herself she would have likely become a great singer.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many terrific soul singers (and, no, they don't gotta be black) that it's pretty nearly impossible for me to settle on less than a very large handful--any of whom could be the best.
FatWhiteMan is right on the money about the drugs. Janis didn't die, directly, from a drug overdose (according to reports that were written then). She actually died because she tripped and hit the floor, face first, smashed her nose and broke other bones in her face and bled out. No less horrific way to die, for sure.
I also read something around the same time that said her backing band, Big Brother and the Holding Company were not "professional" enough for her label and that it was a source of discontent.
Janis, like many artists, had a fragile ego and a fucked up sense of self-worth. That sort of stuff is what actually causes people to do crazy, risky shit.
Janis Joplin was the best at singing pain. It's an interesting question as to whether it takes personal pain to express that in music.
ReplyDelete