Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Little Girl Blue

For over two months now I've taken a liking to Janis Joplin.

(Chad would say I am absorbed).

We just happened to watch an American Masters premiere showing of the documentary Little Girl Blue.

I was hooked.

I'm consumed with her life story. Every biography that was written on her is stacked on my bed stand. I'm enthralled by who she was, her path and what she became. I'm also kind of tormented by it all.

The funny thing is, the more I know about her, the more I can relate to what kind of person she was, what she was like as a teenager, what she did, why she did it, what she thought about, how she felt about things and I feel for her.

(I, too, am made fun of by the way I cackle when I laugh).

I could have been her friend. I would have been her friend.

The book I'm getting the most out of is "Love, Janis", written by her sister, Laura Joplin. It's precisely and lovingly written with all the details one would beg for. Her story is bittersweet. When I look at pictures of that young woman, dressed in her beatnik clothes and layers of beads, her wild hair, cackling with laughter, she was always smiling. I've grown so fond of Janis that now, her music is constantly playing in the car and on my stereo.

When I pull on my bell bottoms and throw strings of beads around my neck, silver bracelets up my arm; when I never brush my hair and talk a little bit too loud, I am not copying her.

I am being myself.

This is the way I've always been.

When I was a teenager I never listened to her music. She had this raspy, shrieking voice that I wasn't attracted to. Janis wailed the psychedelic blues. I did however listen to Jimi Hendrix.

I was into playing Joni Mitchell and James Taylor records. Folk music.

But, after watching that documentary and learning about what that girl went through,

I would say she had every right and reason to yell and scream her songs.

She was shouting out to the world "Listen to THIS!"

And she had soul. A whole lotta soul.

 

28 comments:

  1. What a great compilation of pictures! Sounds like you found a soul sister:-)
    I love Me and Bobby McGee (I REALLY love Bobby McGee!) and Take Another Little Piece of My Heart. Mercedes Benz is a good one as well. I didn't necessarily enjoy Janis while she was alive. I think I was around 10 or so when she passed. But I latched onto Bobby right away even at that age. My restless soul understood that one even back then. I felt so bad when Bobby slipped away...
    I love the way you dig in and have to find out every little thing about someone you want to get to know. That's so cool.
    Have fun with your reading!
    BTW I received my latest treasures...I'm not sure why I've been blessed with your friendship, but I am one lucky girl! I'll shoot you a note soon! Gonna go pet my bison now;-) Freaking incredible!!!
    xxx Sheree

    La da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la la
    Hey, hey, hey Bobby McGhee, yeah!

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    1. See? That's why I dug her so much. (And you!) We were born restless gypsies...and doggone it, WHY did we let that 'ol Bobby slip away!!
      I'm like that...when I get a strong feeling about something, I go overboard!!
      Bison fur is magic. ;)
      x

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  2. I would to watch that documentary asap!

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    1. You must!!!!
      You and Greg will find it fascinating and you will be glued...all kinds of guests talking about her and the times they had. Really wonderful film. :)
      Love ya!

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  3. het is dan ook op jouw hart geschreven.

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    1. What a pe deftly sweet & thoughtful thing to say!
      I appreciate that very much, Bas.

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  4. I love this! I grew up listening to Janis (she was one of my mom's favorites.)
    Did you know the Grateful Dead do a beautiful version of Bobby McGee? Give it a listen. :)

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  5. Ha! Yeah, even though I was an infant when Janis was in high school, I still wish I had met her later on... When you said your mom listened to her I thought...well, I'm not that much older than Sagey! Hehe.
    I have heard that GD version of Me & Booby McGee. Of course! I'm a JG fan ;)
    I got my hands on the DVD of the Festival Express in 1970. The Grateful Dead and Janis and The Band and a few other bands did concerts while riding the train through Canada! It's a real treat to watch if you haven't seen it. Jerry & Janis are strummin & singin' and drinkin' and he adored her! Check it out. (Knowing you and your love of the GD, you've most likely seen it)
    Thanks for being here, Julie.
    x

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    1. Yes! I've seen the Festival Express DVD!
      And, deep down inside, aren't we all JG fans?
      ;)

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  6. Me and Bobby McGee is maybe the only song that I know every single lyric to and can sing from start to finish without missing a note (though I'm sure it would be painful to hear me do it, which is why it's the perfect solo road trip song!).

    I wasn't ever a huge Janis fan either (Bobby McGee aside) until I inherited my dad's car and found his huge Janis collection on his stereo. Listening to her, knowing my dad had been listening to her, made me feel connected to my dad in a way. It was in his collection that I discovered the song Call On Me, which is now my FAVORITE Janis song, and maybe one of my favorite all-times as well.

    I can totally imagine how you would relate to her, and I can imagine you swinging your wild hair and belting out songs right along with her :)

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    1. It took me awhile before I could listen to her voice and "accept" it. Since I discovered her life story it's been easy to listen to her music. I hear her pain and sadness and desperation in her words. Poor Janis :(
      I think everybody liked Bobby McGee! It was her biggest hit.
      And in one of the books I read, supposedly she had a brief thing with Kris Kristofferson.
      I think it's really cool how you feel connected to your dad through her music.
      I'm finding out that a lot of people's parents listened to Janis Joplin! Ha!
      Clare, I love it when you drop in. :)

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  7. You found a kindred spirit, for sure! Wish I could say I was into her music, but I'm not a huge music fan at all, alas... I love that when you discover something, Lynn, you get into it, heart and soul! I know what music you'll be listening to on your trip to Billings!

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    1. If you ever get the chance to see the documentary, do it!
      Every little detail stuck with me for days...and then I watched it again!
      I do get consumed and obsessed with some things. I remember studying the life of Grey Owl after watching a movie (played by Pierce Brosnan of all people). I know everything there is to know about that! I hope to go up to Canada and see the little log cabin he lived in, with all the Beavers! Hahaha.
      Four more days and I'll be target shooting in Billings! Chad is coming with me. He's going to do some mountain biking while I'm in class.
      So, only a small amount of Janis on the car stereo... ;)
      x

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  8. Such fun photos ... yup, you do resemble her just from what I can tell. How fun!

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    1. Well, our paths were very similar in our younger days. I'm thankful I never was interested in shooting drugs and drinking whiskey!
      It has been fun discovering her.
      How I am taken by her! It's weird.
      And to think I almost didn't watch the show when I came on TV. Chad said, you should watch this...I bet you'll like it. And so, we watched it. And I couldn't stop sobbing afterwards... Aw.. ;(
      Thank you Mona!
      x

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  9. And we love you just the way you are. I strive to be as carefree as you, my lovey Lynnie-pooh

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    1. Ah Jenny Bear, you have a bohemian side to you...I see it everyday!
      Let's do blockprints of Janis when we do our class! Hahaha!
      Love you, girl! 💗

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  10. And we love you just the way you are. I strive to be as carefree as you, my lovey Lynnie-pooh

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  11. OK. you've got me. hook, line, sinker.
    i've always loved janis joplin's raspy singing....
    and now i'll be checking out more of her music, more of her story.

    love ya, red dirt.... xO

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    1. YOU have to watch that Janis Documentary!!
      I am still playing her music....I painted for a full two hours yesterday with her greatest hits on repeat! More, more, more! :)
      xO

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  12. *sigh* I love Janis Joplin!! :) "I'm one of those regular weird people." Me too, Janis, me too!

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    1. Haha! Did she say that?! Now I love her even more!!
      Thanks S!
      :))

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  13. I did not discover the genius of Janis Joplin until a few years ago...one of the most talented and interesting performers ever!

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    1. You are so right. I appreciate that lady...her talent, her outlook on life. I have so much respect for her...I'm sorry she's not here for me to tell her so! ;)

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  14. love watching a documentary or reading a story that leaves me wanting to learn more and more xo Such beautiful words and similarities felt for a kindred spirit ♥ Happy August Lynn!

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    1. Hey Deb!
      I went overboard, in deep, with my infatuation with Janis. I knew NOTHING about her until I saw that documentary.
      Another one I indulged in is the film BUCK. Buck Brannaman, the true horse whisperer. That is incredible...from his childhood to where he is today and everything in between.
      It's really nice to see you here. I'm not spending very much time on the net this summer...I need to see what the artist in Canada is up to!! :)

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  15. Ah, I love this post! There's just something about music and certain artists that can really get to you. I've never fully explored Janis' songs but whenever I see a photo of her I always start ot smile, because you're right, she just looks so happy and free, and that is how I'd like to be too. And now I'm gonna go and listen to all her stuff, and I'll have to find that documentary to watch too! - Tasha

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  16. Just came back across to say thank you for the kind comments! - Tasha

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