I have always thought the "ravaged faces" referred to acne that most of us at 17 were still dealing with. I was a teenager when this song was first released and I know many of my male friends related to it just as much as my female friends did.
Amen James. At 67 years of age, every time I watch this video, the long suppressed pain of "those whose names were never called, when choosing sides for basketball," comes roaring out from the depths, and stabs at the soul...and I breakdown.
Me too, James. I was in my teens when this came out, and although I was a male, I definitely related to the words and the hurt in her voice. I was not a jock, not friends with any jocks or popular kids, and definitely not friends with any of the cheerleaders, and generally pretty miserable. Thank God for college, where I blossomed. And to Beth, though her face is not ravaged, she possibly thought she was ugly. I suffered from that
I was a teenager in the 70's and this song was an anthem to me. It felt like she could see into my soul. It was somehow comforting to know that someone else felt the same as you.
I was born a few years after Janis Ian and had an older sister who told me to buy it, that she said I’d like it. Owing headed up the hill on my way to 60 and I still love this album.
Janis Ian is an absolute treasure that doesn't get mentioned nearly often enough these days. Her songs written 50+ years ago still echo so strongly today with things not really having changed that much. She needs to be heard more often in todays world.
I know right! Like those reaction videos for songs like Stairway To Heaven or Bohemian Rhapsody. It's like, how could you possibly be alive and not deaf and have NEVER heard these absolute chart toppers? 😂😂✌🇨🇦
The reason I watch reactions is to see how songs I love affect those who have never heard them. Then I get jealous because they are getting to hear them for the first time.
One of the best songs ever! What this song provides is an outlet, a way for those who live on the outskirts of popularity and privelege to be visible. Those who reside on the other end, and for whatever reasons, whether accurate or not (E.G. Janis Ian being ugly or pretty) they are felt to be ugly, small, discarded, not seen or heard. This song gives them a voice, to be heard and understood. And the way Janis sings it showcases the heartbreak that lies inside of those cast aside, not chosen, made fun of, etc.
Janis has been successfully touring to this day!!!!!😊 Her first song, that she wrote at 14, Society’s Child, is about a forbidden interracial romance between teens. Leonard Bernstein featured her on his Children’s Concerts because he was so impressed.
I don't think she's touring anymore. My wife and I had tickets to see her in Connecticut last year. It was supposed to be her final live performance but was canceled due to vocal issues. There was no rescheduled date, and patrons were allowed to trade in the tickets for another show at the venue.
Thank you Beth for reacting to this under appreciated, only slightly recognized talent. Her melodies, her lyrics, her sentiments, were resonant with meaning and thoughtfulness. I remember her well.
Her scope is indeed vast yet she has remained consistently true to herself. A very minor point of difference is that I would describe her collection of songs as a catalogue. Whichever spelling sits easier the collection is indeed "deep and wonderful". Please know that I am not picking a fight about spelling but trying to illustrate that the songs have broad relevance.
@@barrydouglas6276 Catalogue and catalog are both acceptable spellings. Catalog is most popular in American English. Catalogue is the most common form in other parts of the world.
I remember this song when it came out but didn't fully understand the lyrics at the time. Listening to it now places it in a new light. I was one of those kids that didn't fit in with the "cool/popular group" so I can relate to being bullied as it were. It is so sad that people of all ages, but especially teens, dismiss others so carelessly. It is no wonder that teen suicide rates are as high as they are. Thank you for affirming that she is beautiful because she is truly beautiful! Thank you Beth😇
I'm so glad you found this wonderful artist Beth. Janis is a superb lyricist, and don't be deceived by that whispering delivery - she could belt it out with the best when the occasion demanded. 'Between the Lines' still ranks for me among the finest 70s albums and is highly recommended. She strikes me as a very private person not comfortable with fame and adulation which may account for her low profile over the years. I liked your point especially about the masterful way she draws us in to her world
One of the great singer/songwriters, with numerous terrific songs in her very sizable back catalogue dating from the mid-60s until very recently. Is not so well known in the UK but is quite famous in the US and Japan. Saw her in Glasgow about 24 years ago at Celtic Connections. A real pro, masterful on lead guitar too. Very confident and accomplished. Thanks for reacting to one of her better known songs.
I admire the specificity of Janis Ian's lyrics. So many song writers try to get by with moon-June, miss-kiss generalities, and by doing so their songs miss out on the opportunty to really stick with their audience. Playing solitaire ... and then cheating? Inventing a lover on the phone on a dateless Friday night? Those whose names were never called when choosing sides for basketball? Those are all ultra specific, concrete emotional memories that so many people can respond to. Writers of all genres should take a lesson from Janis Ian's solid, relatable writing.
Totally agree, so much. Lyrics don’t always have to be profound or complex-even the Fab Four had, in their earliest songs, some banal lyrics (though allied to catchy music and great singing)-but it seems as if that’s ALL I hear in music anymore. I’m not saying there weren’t plenty of songs in the old days with banal lyrics, and often that was just fine because the music and singing were just damn good and catchy-but there were other options too. Even other topics besides romance or sometimes spurious hopping on to a social cause. I look at songs from this era-the subject matter is broad, things you just won’t hear now. Gordon Lightfoot-a song about a shipwreck. Or John Denver’s song “Calypso” about Jacques Cousteau’s famous ship “Calypso” (sorry, been listening to yacht rock today so have ships on the brain lol-and yes I know that neither of the aforementioned songs are even remotely yacht rock, just related to yachts and ships:)) Many YES songs-who knows what they were about lol, Jon Anderson often doesn’t really know himself, so he says. Even bubblegum pop songs-“Billy Don’t Be A Hero” about a young man eager to join the Civil War. Just subject matter of all kinds. I agree with Paul MacCartney in that I love a silly (or serious) love song as much as the next person. But there’s a big world out there, and imagination is even more limitless. So many interesting things, people, history. Why isn’t anyone interested in things outside themselves or romance/sex tropes anymore? Or if you want romantic without banality-listen to some Cole Porter songs-witty and sophisticated word play, making the timeless topic of romance fresh, surprising, and clever:)
so much emotion contained in this song...one of my favorite songs of the 1970's...and I love those heavy rock band sounds...but even I can't deny how powerful this song is...beautiful, sad, perfect.
Great song, One of my wife's favorites. The story with of the tune is very similar to Paul McCartney and Yesterday. He also went around playing it for people to see if they knew it. Very interesting. I also love her singing Fly too High.
I was 17 in 1975. I'm a guy, but I connected with this song on such a strong level. And I was a ladies man. Still, this was so powerful. Janis Ian was...is...a beautiful person.
I was seventeen also when this was a hit and related to it so well. I had the pleasure of meeting Janis Ian after a concert and told her how much the song meant to me. She was very appreciative. A truly brilliant soul and incredible songwriter.
What a song! Timeless. As a young man I very much felt the feelings this young songwriter felt and honestly, the pain of those times never disappears completely but fades over the years. Now with a face full of tears I am there again. It was a tough time - glad I made it out.
Since you listened to this song by Janis Ian, you absolutely must listen to a song she wrote at age 14..."Society's Child"...it was a very controversial song at the time...Janis is still performing at age 72 and is currently working on what she says is going to be her final album...she is an accomplished musician who can play several different instruments and who also is one of the best story tellers thru her songs...Thank you for reacting to this amazing lady...this would also be a good rabbit hole to go down...she doesn't disappoint... Thanks again...
My older sister got the record when it came out. I remember Listening to this song from her Bedroom alot . Only years later she explained how bad high-school was for her. Powerful simple song. Great break down as usuall
Janis didn't get her name called to play basketball but got the gift of being a great musician and songwriter a lot more longevity in the gift she has and you can't get a serious knee injury being a musician so Janis won in end
Good point. But, I'm thinking that in addition to being ugly at 17, she also didn't have any basketball skills at 17 ... and that's the reason she wasn't picked. Just sayin'.
@Rob Hoskins I've always interpreted as a song about isolation even good looking girls can get frozen out socially we all know how females can be viscous with each other the good looking ones often have false rumours spread about them being accused of being promiscuous which brings about the same result of isolation especially with social media these days
Great song that even reached through the emotional armor of the 17 year old punk kid that was me when this was released. For a next step, I'd read up on and then listen to her song, Society's Child. A hard hitting social justice song written and recorded by her when she was still a teenager.
Great song from the 70's...and a well-deserved hit for a very talented lady. She's apparently living in Nashville today...happily married and still writing music/books. Happy for her.
One of the saddest songs.... ever. Beautifully written and performed. Beth - I think Janis is saying that she felt she was "ugly" when she was 17... but that feeling changed - as she matured out of those awkward teen years.
@@1thomson As she hinted at ... "at ugly ducklings like me" in the song, you need to remember, "what do ugly ducklings do" ??? They realize, one day, that they've turned into swans.
It is such a wonderful song. The pain of being seventeen is so real. Still a child, but not quite an adult, the fear of the future to come. For me that was 60 years ago & I still remember the uncertainty.
I went to one of her concerts at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, where I worked, when this song had just begun to get some radio play. She was a tiny girl dwarfed behind a giant guitar. She stole my heart with this song. Teen angst.
Remember when she calls herself an "ugly ducking" ... she is referencing the fable about the 'duckling' that turns into a beautiful swan. But at 17, you don't know that you will transform or even if you knew it, it would seem to be unbearably long in the future.
Exactly what I was going to say. She refers to herself first as an "ugly girl like me," then switches to "ugly duckling girl like me," presaging the beautiful swan - who never knew she would be a swan.
Janis Ian sometimes comments on CZcams reactions to her music. Maybe she'll show up here. Ms. Ian has said that she intends this to be a hopeful song. She compares herself to an ugly duckling, but remember that in Hans Christian Andersen story the duckling became a swan.
Sung so beautifully and heartfelt. I was a fat teen and related to this song so much. It's hard being a teen who is considered plain or ugly. Those memories stay with us for a lifetime.
Beth - in 1976, this song was 9 years old, from her first album in 1967. In this same concert, she did a song from her 1974 album, the title song "Stars". You are going to adore that song, for every reason you liked this one - especially a gorgeous melody. Best news, it's a nice long story, you get an extended exposure to both her lyrics and her voice. Nina Simone liked it well enough to cover, there's a little trivia for you.
She has quietly making beautiful albums of music for 50 years. Just go on your streaming service and listen to any of her albums, old or new. You will be astonished at her range.
I recently heard a much later version of this song, without the youthful pain and sung much more powerfully. The original was much more effective imo. Thanks so much for your reaction, I always learn something from you.
Beth, I have loved Janis Ian for many years since she had her first hit with Society's Child. She wrote a song called Jesse which is one of my absolute favourites. Joan Baez did a cover on her Diamonds and Rust album, which was very different but also beautiful. The guitarist who plays on this track is amazing but not better than Janis, who is a remarkable guitarist in her own right. On another matter, your cover of Wicked Games is very passionate and really shows your vocal chops. Your expert use of tension and release was really well done. Thanks for sharing.
I saw Janice Ian around this time in Birmingham (England, so probably this tour) … beautiful song, beautifully sung and great backing. The whole show was just excellent … and she has a great sense of humour and many of her songs were a bit more upbeat. I think she’s very underrated … even if it was only for this song. She had another big hit in the US that was banned on many radio stations.
I grew up listen to these artists on the am radio WLS ot of Chicago Illinois... the great song writers of the 70s n its why i love music and am a musician myself, songs, the stories... definitely dont make this wonderful folk style anymore.. James Taylor, his short time wife Carly simon.. joni mitchell, carole king cat stevens.. america, .carpenters, its endless but this song here was when really made me love great song writing, lyrics! And the story telling that let your mind dream, go on a journey in your mind... escape, heal. Music is so so powerful and it our ownd personal privet world of our secrets n our pain as well. Thank God for it!
This song brings me to tears every time I hear it. A lot of that is nostalgia, I remember my mother listening to and singing this song when I was young. I wonder if she just liked it because it was a popular song at the time, or if the song resonated with her on some other level?
Janis Ian replied to a reaction of this song by the Wings of Pegasus channel (Fil). The video was published on March 15, 2019 if you would like to see what she has to say about composing this song, details about its recording, etc.
Beth, thank you for reacting to this classic beautiful song! I never tire of hearing it. Another song by Janis I'd love you to react to is Society's Child which came out in 67. I believe you'll love it too!
I saw that Old Grey Whistle Test performance and immediately hunted down a copy of the album - not so easy out in the sticks in the UK at that time - and have followed her music ever since. So many wonderful songs. My favourite is probably "What About the Love".
Hey Beth, left field suggestion. There's a book by Andy Weir called Project Hail Mary. Unfortunately a spoiler but the MC meets an alien that sees with sound and speaks in notes and chords. The audiobook version is amazing. You might find it interesting and could possibly even do a short video exploring how the language sounds based on the books descriptions of words.
Beth, you should react to Janis Ian, singing "Society's Child" on the Smothers Brothers show. I think she was 16 or 17 in 1967(?) when she wrote and sang it. Since she is live her singing voice and technique are on display. I remember the song back then, it wasn't played that much, it was too controversial
You need to check out her in her 70s touring and still singing this song at shows...Janis is my idol. You could check out her other really big hit called Society's Child. My favorite song of hers is called Breaking Silence. She wrote Society's Child at age 14. I think you could see she holds her own with the band coming in and she starts not being so quiet and "whispery" and builds the song to a big conclusion. Isn't the universal what artists strive for when writing songs and when they get big hits they have usually hit it.
I've loved this song ever since it came out. I learnt guitar and ukulele to it, danced to it in my high school formals (from 1975 in Queensland, Australia), and it remains one of my all-time highlight songs. No covers have matched Janice Ian's emotion-filled performance.
I enjoy how cutting the lyrics get after the midpoint of the song. :) This song was on in the background when I was little and I discovered my dad's songbook for this album when I was 17 and had also become a person with a ravaged face (totally an acne reference). This is a karaoke go-to of mine for a lot of reasons, one of which being that the song is referenced in an episode of 30 Rock when Liz Lemon sings it and the other bar patrons get angry and accuse her of "bringing us down". :)
As to the melody and style of the song perhaps she was influenced by the hugely popular, "Girl From Ipanema", recorded by Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto in 1964.
I have always felt that Ian's _At Seventeen_ got so much attention and airplay because it was based on such a simple constructed folk-type voice and guitar riff that actually sounded quite good "unplugged" just as it was! It was refreshing to hear this amidst a time when most of the radio hits out featured heavier musical arrangements with multiple instruments (including emphasis on the synth, mellotron and Rhodes piano) and all kinds of backing vocal harmonies! The music artists were trying to outdo each other with complexities, and here comes this young curly-haired lady from NJ with only her voice and folk guitar, and nails it!
You def have to check out Kasey Chambers' version of Lose Yourself, its amazing. She totally transforms the song and makes it her own, and her style is unique.
Beth, yeah, as others have said, I believe she was referring to acne when she mentioned "ravaged faces", but I would love for you to listen to the studio recording. The vocal phrasing is a bit different and, I feel, much more pleasing to the ear. This song, quite often, makes me cry when I hear it. I know her pain, and she was writing about and to ALL of us less than perfect specimens but, of course, she was not only talking about acne, but also about looks, hairstyle, clothing, transportation and all of the things that makes one FEEL less than perfect when we are young and hitting that awkward stage in life. Fortunately, I was not in quite the same sort of circumstances as she was, since women are scrutinized more closely. However, even to a silly teenage boy, this still rang true enough for me to cry when I heard it. Even though I felt a bit of this in my own life, I cried, mostly for her, because I could empathize with her. BTW, she wasn't saying that she was ugly now ... she was laying out how kids, especially girls, feel ugly in their teen years (which I think you might have figured out). It as also true that a LOT of people either grow into their looks or learn how to accentuate themselves better as the grow up. You see the same in reverse as those who grow up being the center of attention who don't age well, getting old, fat and saggy, as well as guys (and some girls) losing their beautiful hair. So, this is not a song about an ugly person. It's a song about growing pains, being shy and feeling less than stellar looking. So, you can clap for her because she did a BRILLIANT job of explaining such a difficult subject.
I have that song on Vinyl now from a thrift store, But I have known this songs since I was small. My Parents must have had it on tape or something somewhere.
Hey, Beth! I'm glad that you've discovered Janice Ian. For some reason, all the lyrics in that song are readily accessible in my less-than-reliable memory. If you'd like to hear the lady in a much more upbeat mood, may I suggest listening to "Miracle Row"? I think you'd enjoy it.
I have always thought the "ravaged faces" referred to acne that most of us at 17 were still dealing with. I was a teenager when this song was first released and I know many of my male friends related to it just as much as my female friends did.
Amen James. At 67 years of age, every time I watch this video, the long suppressed pain of "those whose names were never called, when choosing sides for basketball," comes roaring out from the depths, and stabs at the soul...and I breakdown.
I think that is what it's referring to.
"Ravaged faces" is almost certainly a reference to this (the acne).
It clearly does, in contrast to the beauty queens with clear-skinned smiles.
Me too, James. I was in my teens when this came out, and although I was a male, I definitely related to the words and the hurt in her voice. I was not a jock, not friends with any jocks or popular kids, and definitely not friends with any of the cheerleaders, and generally pretty miserable. Thank God for college, where I blossomed. And to Beth, though her face is not ravaged, she possibly thought she was ugly. I suffered from that
Janis Ian is a national treasure.
She sure is.
I was a teenager in the 70's and this song was an anthem to me. It felt like she could see into my soul. It was somehow comforting to know that someone else felt the same as you.
"Between The Lines" is a true 10/10 album. An absolute masterpiece.
Yes it is!
I was born a few years after Janis Ian and had an older sister who told me to buy it, that she said I’d like it. Owing headed up the hill on my way to 60 and I still love this album.
I found it in a thrift store a few years ago, I knew the one song and that Is why I bought it.
I bought the album when it firsr came out and years later the CD which I listen to often
Janis Ian is an absolute treasure that doesn't get mentioned nearly often enough these days. Her songs written 50+ years ago still echo so strongly today with things not really having changed that much.
She needs to be heard more often in todays world.
It made me cry the first time I heard it and it just did again, 47 years later. 😪, PJ
Great songwriter. Great singer. Numerous rare recordings.
Always surprised when people haven't heard songs that, to me, are classics. Another result of getting old. Still better late than never.
I know right! Like those reaction videos for songs like Stairway To Heaven or Bohemian Rhapsody. It's like, how could you possibly be alive and not deaf and have NEVER heard these absolute chart toppers? 😂😂✌🇨🇦
The reason I watch reactions is to see how songs I love affect those who have never heard them. Then I get jealous because they are getting to hear them for the first time.
@@jerrywilliamson4045 I do like that as well, I particularly enjoyed a new generation discovering Kate Bush.
One of the best songs ever! What this song provides is an outlet, a way for those who live on the outskirts of popularity and privelege to be visible. Those who reside on the other end, and for whatever reasons, whether accurate or not (E.G. Janis Ian being ugly or pretty) they are felt to be ugly, small, discarded, not seen or heard. This song gives them a voice, to be heard and understood. And the way Janis sings it showcases the heartbreak that lies inside of those cast aside, not chosen, made fun of, etc.
Janis has been successfully touring to this day!!!!!😊
Her first song, that she wrote at 14, Society’s Child, is about a forbidden interracial romance between teens. Leonard Bernstein featured her on his Children’s Concerts because he was so impressed.
Gosh she must be in her 60s...
@@michaelasay8587 Not any more.
@@michaelasay8587 70’s.
I don't think she's touring anymore. My wife and I had tickets to see her in Connecticut last year. It was supposed to be her final live performance but was canceled due to vocal issues. There was no rescheduled date, and patrons were allowed to trade in the tickets for another show at the venue.
Thank you Beth for reacting to this under appreciated, only slightly recognized talent. Her melodies, her lyrics, her sentiments, were resonant with meaning and thoughtfulness. I remember her well.
She’s a bit more than only slightly recognised.
Slightly recognized..she got a Grammy got this song
Have seen Janis Ian a few times live, and each time was memorable. She has a deep and wonderful catalog of music.
Her scope is indeed vast yet she has remained consistently true to herself. A very minor point of difference is that I would describe her collection of songs as a catalogue. Whichever spelling sits easier the collection is indeed "deep and wonderful". Please know that I am not picking a fight about spelling but trying to illustrate that the songs have broad relevance.
@@barrydouglas6276 Catalogue and catalog are both acceptable spellings. Catalog is most popular in American English. Catalogue is the most common form in other parts of the world.
You should listen to her sing "Society's Child" which is at least as heart wrenching.
That was her first hit.
I remember this song when it came out but didn't fully understand the lyrics at the time. Listening to it now places it in a new light. I was one of those kids that didn't fit in with the "cool/popular group" so I can relate to being bullied as it were. It is so sad that people of all ages, but especially teens, dismiss others so carelessly. It is no wonder that teen suicide rates are as high as they are. Thank you for affirming that she is beautiful because she is truly beautiful! Thank you Beth😇
She played this song on Saturday Night Live in 1975 (episode #1), one of the best performances of those early years of SNL.
I'm so glad you found this wonderful artist Beth. Janis is a superb lyricist, and don't be deceived by that whispering delivery - she could belt it out with the best when the occasion demanded. 'Between the Lines' still ranks for me among the finest 70s albums and is highly recommended. She strikes me as a very private person not comfortable with fame and adulation which may account for her low profile over the years. I liked your point especially about the masterful way she draws us in to her world
@lifelover51 I wholeheartedly agree! My Mom's favorite!
One of the great singer/songwriters, with numerous terrific songs in her very sizable back catalogue dating from the mid-60s until very recently. Is not so well known in the UK but is quite famous in the US and Japan. Saw her in Glasgow about 24 years ago at Celtic Connections. A real pro, masterful on lead guitar too. Very confident and accomplished. Thanks for reacting to one of her better known songs.
I admire the specificity of Janis Ian's lyrics. So many song writers try to get by with moon-June, miss-kiss generalities, and by doing so their songs miss out on the opportunty to really stick with their audience. Playing solitaire ... and then cheating? Inventing a lover on the phone on a dateless Friday night? Those whose names were never called when choosing sides for basketball? Those are all ultra specific, concrete emotional memories that so many people can respond to. Writers of all genres should take a lesson from Janis Ian's solid, relatable writing.
Totally agree, so much. Lyrics don’t always have to be profound or complex-even the Fab Four had, in their earliest songs, some banal lyrics (though allied to catchy music and great singing)-but it seems as if that’s ALL I hear in music anymore. I’m not saying there weren’t plenty of songs in the old days with banal lyrics, and often that was just fine because the music and singing were just damn good and catchy-but there were other options too. Even other topics besides romance or sometimes spurious hopping on to a social cause. I look at songs from this era-the subject matter is broad, things you just won’t hear now. Gordon Lightfoot-a song about a shipwreck. Or John Denver’s song “Calypso” about Jacques Cousteau’s famous ship “Calypso” (sorry, been listening to yacht rock today so have ships on the brain lol-and yes I know that neither of the aforementioned songs are even remotely yacht rock, just related to yachts and ships:)) Many YES songs-who knows what they were about lol, Jon Anderson often doesn’t really know himself, so he says. Even bubblegum pop songs-“Billy Don’t Be A Hero” about a young man eager to join the Civil War. Just subject matter of all kinds.
I agree with Paul MacCartney in that I love a silly (or serious) love song as much as the next person. But there’s a big world out there, and imagination is even more limitless. So many interesting things, people, history. Why isn’t anyone interested in things outside themselves or romance/sex tropes anymore?
Or if you want romantic without banality-listen to some Cole Porter songs-witty and sophisticated word play, making the timeless topic of romance fresh, surprising, and clever:)
so much emotion contained in this song...one of my favorite songs of the 1970's...and I love those heavy rock band sounds...but even I can't deny how powerful this song is...beautiful, sad, perfect.
Great song, One of my wife's favorites. The story with of the tune is very similar to Paul McCartney and Yesterday. He also went around playing it for people to see if they knew it. Very interesting. I also love her singing Fly too High.
Her lyrics are astoundingly raw & honest!
I was 17 in 1975. I'm a guy, but I connected with this song on such a strong level. And I was a ladies man. Still, this was so powerful. Janis Ian was...is...a beautiful person.
I was seventeen also when this was a hit and related to it so well. I had the pleasure of meeting Janis Ian after a concert and told her how much the song meant to me. She was very appreciative. A truly brilliant soul and incredible songwriter.
Almost 50 years of hearing this song, and it still brings tears to my eyes.
What a song! Timeless. As a young man I very much felt the feelings this young songwriter felt and honestly, the pain of those times never disappears completely but fades over the years. Now with a face full of tears I am there again. It was a tough time - glad I made it out.
Since you listened to this song by Janis Ian, you absolutely must listen to a song she wrote at age 14..."Society's Child"...it was a very controversial song at the time...Janis is still performing at age 72 and is currently working on what she says is going to be her final album...she is an accomplished musician who can play several different instruments and who also is one of the best story tellers thru her songs...Thank you for reacting to this amazing lady...this would also be a good rabbit hole to go down...she doesn't disappoint... Thanks again...
My older sister got the record when it came out. I remember
Listening to this song from her
Bedroom alot . Only years later she explained how bad high-school was for her. Powerful simple song.
Great break down as usuall
Small-town eyes will gape at you in dull surprise when payment due exceeds accounts received ... at 17.
What a great line of poetry!
Janis didn't get her name called to play basketball but got the gift of being a great musician and songwriter a lot more longevity in the gift she has and you can't get a serious knee injury being a musician so Janis won in end
Good point. But, I'm thinking that in addition to being ugly at 17, she also didn't have any basketball skills at 17 ... and that's the reason she wasn't picked. Just sayin'.
@Rob Hoskins I've always interpreted as a song about isolation even good looking girls can get frozen out socially we all know how females can be viscous with each other the good looking ones often have false rumours spread about them being accused of being promiscuous which brings about the same result of isolation especially with social media these days
Great song that even reached through the emotional armor of the 17 year old punk kid that was me when this was released. For a next step, I'd read up on and then listen to her song, Society's Child. A hard hitting social justice song written and recorded by her when she was still a teenager.
Great song from the 70's...and a well-deserved hit for a very talented lady. She's apparently living in Nashville today...happily married and still writing music/books. Happy for her.
Pretty sure she is in Florida now.
@stevenmeyer9674 I didn't know she moved there. Thanks for update.
@@carolmartin4413 She is quite active on Facebook. And is very down to earth.
One of the saddest songs.... ever. Beautifully written and performed.
Beth - I think Janis is saying that she felt she was "ugly" when she was 17... but that feeling changed - as she matured out of those awkward teen years.
Agreed. One day, she must have looked in the mirror and realized that, actually, she was quite beautiful.
@@1thomson As she hinted at ... "at ugly ducklings like me" in the song, you need to remember, "what do ugly ducklings do" ??? They realize, one day, that they've turned into swans.
Love this song. I related to it so much at that age.
It would be a great song for you to do a cover of.
It is such a wonderful song. The pain of being seventeen is so real. Still a child, but not quite an adult, the fear of the future to come. For me that was 60 years ago & I still remember the uncertainty.
Check out Society's Child, which she wrote as a young teen about an interracial relationship. It's brilliant.
I went to one of her concerts at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, where I worked, when this song had just begun to get some radio play. She was a tiny girl dwarfed behind a giant guitar. She stole my heart with this song. Teen angst.
I so appreciate your sophisticated analysis of these great voices. Keep up the good work!
Remember when she calls herself an "ugly ducking" ... she is referencing the fable about the 'duckling' that turns into a beautiful swan. But at 17, you don't know that you will transform or even if you knew it, it would seem to be unbearably long in the future.
Exactly what I was going to say. She refers to herself first as an "ugly girl like me," then switches to "ugly duckling girl like me," presaging the beautiful swan - who never knew she would be a swan.
"At Seventy-Four" I still love Janis and this beautiful song. And yes, Janis is beautiful too.
Saw her live in the late 70’s she was amazing
Janis Ian sometimes comments on CZcams reactions to her music. Maybe she'll show up here.
Ms. Ian has said that she intends this to be a hopeful song. She compares herself to an ugly duckling, but remember that in Hans Christian Andersen story the duckling became a swan.
That would be sweet
Sung so beautifully and heartfelt. I was a fat teen and related to this song so much. It's hard being a teen who is considered plain or ugly. Those memories stay with us for a lifetime.
I've still got her LP !! Brings back so many memories......
Beth - in 1976, this song was 9 years old, from her first album in 1967. In this same concert, she did a song from her 1974 album, the title song "Stars". You are going to adore that song, for every reason you liked this one - especially a gorgeous melody. Best news, it's a nice long story, you get an extended exposure to both her lyrics and her voice. Nina Simone liked it well enough to cover, there's a little trivia for you.
A great classic song!!!!!
Loved this song when I was a kid, and it sounds even better now.
She has quietly making beautiful albums of music for 50 years. Just go on your streaming service and listen to any of her albums, old or new. You will be astonished at her range.
I recently heard a much later version of this song, without the youthful pain and sung much more powerfully. The original was much more effective imo. Thanks so much for your reaction, I always learn something from you.
Beth, I have loved Janis Ian for many years since she had her first hit with Society's Child. She wrote a song called Jesse which is one of my absolute favourites. Joan Baez did a cover on her Diamonds and Rust album, which was very different but also beautiful. The guitarist who plays on this track is amazing but not better than Janis, who is a remarkable guitarist in her own right.
On another matter, your cover of Wicked Games is very passionate and really shows your vocal chops. Your expert use of tension and release was really well done.
Thanks for sharing.
Love this song, Janis had such courage
I saw Janice Ian around this time in Birmingham (England, so probably this tour) … beautiful song, beautifully sung and great backing. The whole show was just excellent … and she has a great sense of humour and many of her songs were a bit more upbeat.
I think she’s very underrated … even if it was only for this song.
She had another big hit in the US that was banned on many radio stations.
one of the best written songs ever
I grew up listen to these artists on the am radio WLS ot of Chicago Illinois... the great song writers of the 70s n its why i love music and am a musician myself, songs, the stories... definitely dont make this wonderful folk style anymore.. James Taylor, his short time wife Carly simon.. joni mitchell, carole king cat stevens.. america, .carpenters, its endless but this song here was when really made me love great song writing, lyrics! And the story telling that let your mind dream, go on a journey in your mind... escape, heal. Music is so so powerful and it our ownd personal privet world of our secrets n our pain as well. Thank God for it!
I met Janis several years ago and got to talk to her for a few minutes. I won't say what we talked about but she is insightful and beautiful.
I think everything is created by everyone with shared thoughts and emotions without knowing❤So glad you found this song😊
This song brings me to tears every time I hear it. A lot of that is nostalgia, I remember my mother listening to and singing this song when I was young. I wonder if she just liked it because it was a popular song at the time, or if the song resonated with her on some other level?
Janis Ian replied to a reaction of this song by the Wings of Pegasus channel (Fil). The video was published on March 15, 2019 if you would like to see what she has to say about composing this song, details about its recording, etc.
Beth, thank you for reacting to this classic beautiful song! I never tire of hearing it. Another song by Janis I'd love you to react to is Society's Child which came out in 67. I believe you'll love it too!
I saw that Old Grey Whistle Test performance and immediately hunted down a copy of the album - not so easy out in the sticks in the UK at that time - and have followed her music ever since. So many wonderful songs. My favourite is probably "What About the Love".
This song is so sad and yet so beautiful. Always brings a tear. Guitar work is flawless.
I was just about 17 when this song came out. Janis spoke for a lot us.
I was close to 17 when this song came out. It spoke to me, and still speaks to that teenaged girl in me. And, it is still on my playlist!
Wow!! I have heard that song way back but I’ve never really listened to it. Thank you 🎸🎸
Hey Beth, left field suggestion. There's a book by Andy Weir called Project Hail Mary. Unfortunately a spoiler but the MC meets an alien that sees with sound and speaks in notes and chords. The audiobook version is amazing. You might find it interesting and could possibly even do a short video exploring how the language sounds based on the books descriptions of words.
This MASTERPIECE
It's about her at 17 not at the time of singing this........ many of us had a difficult teenage life ......she is 25 here and her face has cleared up
She is beautiful inside and out.
Janis is a gem!!
Beth, you should react to Janis Ian, singing "Society's Child" on the Smothers Brothers show. I think she was 16 or 17 in 1967(?) when she wrote and sang it. Since she is live her singing voice and technique are on display. I remember the song back then, it wasn't played that much, it was too controversial
I remember see her singing this in the early 70's at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach Calif.
It isn't just a female song but also male,there where lines I could relate to and even now still sit with me years later that I haven't moved beyond.
You need to check out her in her 70s touring and still singing this song at shows...Janis is my idol. You could check out her other really big hit called Society's Child. My favorite song of hers is called Breaking Silence. She wrote Society's Child at age 14.
I think you could see she holds her own with the band coming in and she starts not being so quiet and "whispery" and builds the song to a big conclusion. Isn't the universal what artists strive for when writing songs and when they get big hits they have usually hit it.
Brilliant song
Awesome song. I love Janis Ian.
Between the Lines is a great album.
@ Beth: "Being very, very tiny and making the audience step in and listen." Fabulous observation -- thanks for the reaction! (redhead to redhead)
Your comment about the plethora of whisper-singers now is exactly right.
I've loved this song ever since it came out. I learnt guitar and ukulele to it, danced to it in my high school formals (from 1975 in Queensland, Australia), and it remains one of my all-time highlight songs. No covers have matched Janice Ian's emotion-filled performance.
Dammit! Janis makes me cry whenever I hear this song.
Thank you so much for analyzing Janis Ian! She's one of my favorite singers. Such an emotional, vulnerable voice.
Growing up as a kid when this song played on the radio. GRATEFUL. Life Living Truly Blessed Today.
She has written a number of great songs.
I've loved this song for a long time. So touching.
I have been a Janis Ian fan since high school (class of '72).
This is a long time favourite of mine, studio version is utterly sublime. Be well.
Yeah, great production.
I enjoy how cutting the lyrics get after the midpoint of the song. :) This song was on in the background when I was little and I discovered my dad's songbook for this album when I was 17 and had also become a person with a ravaged face (totally an acne reference). This is a karaoke go-to of mine for a lot of reasons, one of which being that the song is referenced in an episode of 30 Rock when Liz Lemon sings it and the other bar patrons get angry and accuse her of "bringing us down". :)
Thanks. I was 17 when this song came out. They played it constantly on the radio. Yes, we used radios back then. 🙂
When I hear her sing it reminds me of my Mom & my Mom turns 80 next weekend. I know when my Mom's gone one day, she'll send me messages from Janis
As to the melody and style of the song perhaps she was influenced by the hugely popular, "Girl From Ipanema", recorded by Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto in 1964.
I have always felt that Ian's _At Seventeen_ got so much attention and airplay because it was based on such a simple constructed folk-type voice and guitar riff that actually sounded quite good "unplugged" just as it was! It was refreshing to hear this amidst a time when most of the radio hits out featured heavier musical arrangements with multiple instruments (including emphasis on the synth, mellotron and Rhodes piano) and all kinds of backing vocal harmonies! The music artists were trying to outdo each other with complexities, and here comes this young curly-haired lady from NJ with only her voice and folk guitar, and nails it!
You def have to check out Kasey Chambers' version of Lose Yourself, its amazing. She totally transforms the song and makes it her own, and her style is unique.
I love your sensibility!
That OGWT concert was amazing. She had a mesmerising presence.
Beth, yeah, as others have said, I believe she was referring to acne when she mentioned "ravaged faces", but I would love for you to listen to the studio recording. The vocal phrasing is a bit different and, I feel, much more pleasing to the ear.
This song, quite often, makes me cry when I hear it. I know her pain, and she was writing about and to ALL of us less than perfect specimens but, of course, she was not only talking about acne, but also about looks, hairstyle, clothing, transportation and all of the things that makes one FEEL less than perfect when we are young and hitting that awkward stage in life.
Fortunately, I was not in quite the same sort of circumstances as she was, since women are scrutinized more closely. However, even to a silly teenage boy, this still rang true enough for me to cry when I heard it. Even though I felt a bit of this in my own life, I cried, mostly for her, because I could empathize with her.
BTW, she wasn't saying that she was ugly now ... she was laying out how kids, especially girls, feel ugly in their teen years (which I think you might have figured out). It as also true that a LOT of people either grow into their looks or learn how to accentuate themselves better as the grow up. You see the same in reverse as those who grow up being the center of attention who don't age well, getting old, fat and saggy, as well as guys (and some girls) losing their beautiful hair. So, this is not a song about an ugly person. It's a song about growing pains, being shy and feeling less than stellar looking. So, you can clap for her because she did a BRILLIANT job of explaining such a difficult subject.
I have that song on Vinyl now from a thrift store, But I have known this songs since I was small. My Parents must have had it on tape or something somewhere.
As a kid from the 70s, this song truly is timeless. They don't make songs like this anymore.
I never thought Janis Ian was ugly. I’m a 69 yo guy and I still find her beautiful. Her singing is angelic.
We had great microphones for decades
this song always reminded me of hawai its only when you mentioned the familiar beat in the background i now know why
Still breaks my heart.
Hey, Beth! I'm glad that you've discovered Janice Ian. For some reason, all the lyrics in that song are readily accessible in my less-than-reliable memory. If you'd like to hear the lady in a much more upbeat mood, may I suggest listening to "Miracle Row"? I think you'd enjoy it.
Loved "She's not an ugly duckling, she's beautiful!"