I have one sure thing that cheers me up, regardless of what frame of mind I’m in, what my ever raging hormones are doing, or what bill I’ve just remembered I’ve forgotten to pay (baby brain is a real thing.)
I am hopelessly in love with Janis Joplin. Nothing lifts the weight of the world off my shoulders quite as well as kicking my shoes off and flicking my record player on. As soon as I hear the first notes, I can’t help but slip painlessly into a pleasure induced coma of the senses.
For that moment, life is good.
I do know that my bump can now hear me and recognize my voice from inside the womb. I should probably be kinder to her than to subject her to my best Joplin imitation…which really isn’t the best of anything at all. But I just can’t help it.
On a live version of Ball and Chain, Janis talks to the crowd. This is a favourite of mine. In that husky voice she implores the audience to live for today- ‘If you’ve got it today, you’re not going to wear it tomorrow.’
Despite her obvious and legendary destructive habits- you have to admire her lust and passion for life, her idealistic view of how we should live. She may not have taken her own advice, but she definitely left a resounding message. She turned life inside out. From the tone of her voice to the expression in her…well, just all of her.
I’m sure a lot of people would disagree with me and dismiss her as a misguided hippy. Well, take your ears elsewhere heathens- or watch this. Mama Cass’s face says it all.
Buddhas and Birds 