Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin | College Students' FIRST TIME REACTION!

[@andyandalex]

So excited to be checking out another Janis Joplin track!! Great great song, where do we go from here?! 🙌🏻🔥

[@ChrisLawton66]

Ball and Chain

[@barryshapiro3349]

"Down On Me" and "Piece of My Heart" ROCK HARD!!!! All time classics.

[@peterquinones3522]

Kristofferson (composer of this tune) and Barbara Streisand played in A Star is Born that wallops the piss out of the one Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga did.

[@alexstewart6125]

How Janis Joplin Recorded "Me & Bobby McGee" - Told by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mn_FnaucjLmKi5Y

[@denisemeredith2436]

Mercedes Benz - Janis singing alone with no band and just a foot tap for the beat.

[@Rob-eo5ql]

In Don McLean’s America Pie, the line “I met a girl who sang the blues...” is Janis Joplin

[@detritus8095]

In Leonard Cohen's "Chelsea Hotel No. 2", the line "Giving me head on the unmade bed" is Janis Joplin.

[@heathermackinnon9527]

@@detritus8095 I was just about to say that! :D

[@boosuedon]

It was Roberta Flack, not Janis. Roberta then wrote a song about Don McLean called; Killing Me Softly. Although Janis had a bluesy sound she was most definitely ROCK!

[@urbangrouse]

@@boosuedon Janis, at least in her early days, was totally inspired by earlier blues singers like Odetta and Bessie Smith.

[@DarkeningSkies1]

Albert King himself would proclaim Janis one of his favorite blues singers. Everything that came out of her was tinged by the blues.

[@briangroboski4751]

At some point, Carole King needs to be on your radar. She is one of the most prolific song writers of the sixties. Then when she was convinced that her own voice was not bad, she did an album called "Tapestry" which became one of the iconic albums of the era. I was in high school at the time, and I didn't know ANYONE who didn't own this album.

[@ArildTorum]

Absolutely. "You've Got a Friend", "Where You Lead", "It's Too Late", "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and the title track are all worth dipping into.

[@williambill5172]

Tapestry is still one of the top 5 albums of all time!

[@doplinger1]

Absolutely, far more than Joni Mitchell.

[@flubblert]

Absolutely. Groundbreaking.

[@dwc1964]

Janis Joplin and Joni Mitchell are on opposite ends of a spectrum, gritty and earthy and raw vs clean and ethereal and bright. Carole King fits somewhere in the middle there, probably more on the Joni end, imho. I love them all. I don't see any purpose or rationale in ranking them. They each do different things, and they do them beautifully. A&A definitely need to visit Carole King, and keep coming back to all 3 of these. And also more from Heart. And Patti Smith. And Joan Jett. And Blondie. And... it'll take awhile to get to them all.

[@michlkwitz]

And to think, her entire lifetime output consisted of just 3 albums, with the 4th being released after her death at age 27, and she's still counted as one of the greatest female artists of all time. Just imagine what she could have become.

[@Meandmymirror]

😞

[@peterjonas4971]

"I'd trade all of my tomorrows for one single yesterday to be holding Bobby's body next to mine." Kris Kristofferson wrote it, but Jamis owns it on her recording.

[@TigerRogersOfficial]

This was her swan song. She passed from an overdose just a few days after recording. Never got to enjoy its success

[@8766pensfan]

A lot like Otis Redding, he died in a plane crash shortly after recording Dock of the Bay. Never got to see it's success.

[@safespacebear]

Amazing to her last, what a note to end on but seeing where she and her band were at in this period it is sad to think of all the great songs that were soon to come

[@maxbrazil3712]

@@8766pensfan Otis was, and always will be the KING of soul.

[@TigerRogersOfficial]

BadKitty Robert Johnson started the club back in the 20s

[@sjw5797]

@BadKitty She was dying of a heroin overdose. It happens so slowly and quietly the person doesn't realize what's happening. Janis shot up and went down to the lobby, asked the clerk for change for a twenty, chatted with him for several minutes, and all the time she didn't know she was dying.

[@8766pensfan]

Written by Kris Kristofferson, one of the greatest songwriters ever.

[@kastnerr]

I like Kris's version but Janis version is difficult to endure.

[@careym3901]

@@kastnerr Pink's version is fire too. But she does it like Janis did it!

[@fredmulcahy2189]

Kurt, you took the words right out of my mouth. 👍

[@no2all]

...and a Rhodes Scholar.

[@8766pensfan]

@@no2all And a captain in the Army. He has led a super interesting life.

[@shootingstar3923]

Pearl is the second and final solo studio album by Janis. It was released on January 11, 1971, three months after her death on October 4, 1970. She made the blues her own and no one will ever match her. So special, so talented, so sad and lost. She gave intense passion, cries of pain and ecstasy, she gave all of herself when she was on stage and in her life. She will forever be in our Flower🌼Child Hearts!

[@Rigoletta53]

Yeah the arrangements improve 200% … BBHC never gave her justice …

[@teesiemom]

Janis was an intense person with a lot of emotion in her music, like she was pouring her entire soul into it. Amazing talent that burned out way too soon. RIP Janis. ✌

[@tommccafferty5591]

Kris Kristofferson, Rhodes Scholar, Army Ranger and Helicopter Pilot, Actor and Singer - Songwriter. A true renaissance man. And as you alluded to, this was actually written from a male's standpoint. Janis Joplin adapted it and reversed the sexes.

[@gunnerysgthartman9263]

You forgot janitor also

[@paulthomas1089]

I could be mistaken but didn't Kris say he wrote this song for Janis, or at least he had her in mind.

[@mph7282]

@@paulthomas1089 I don’t know if he had her in mind, as it was written from a male perspective, and there were a dozen or so people to record the song before Joplin, including Roger Miller, Roy Clark, Kenny Rogers, Charley Pride, the Statler Brothers, and Gordon Lightfoot.

[@rhinehold4268]

@@paulthomas1089 Roger Miller was the first person to record it in 69. Other people recorded it in the next two years, Kris did play it for Janis and the co-writer taught it to her, he didn't know she had recorded it until the day after she died.

[@kimdavidmorrow3227]

@@mph7282 I just watched and interview with Kris and he gave the backstory on this. His first recording contract and the head guy asked him to write a song about their receptionist a woman named Bobbie Mc(something) not McGee though. He was still a helecopter pilot at the time and wrote this while he was unable to fly due to weather.

[@keefmack]

“Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose” is one of the greatest lyric lines ever.

[@pl33]

Feeling good was good enough to me...

[@salinagrrrl69]

Right there with, "lve got my flower; lve got my power..."

[@Dreihme]

"I'd trade all my tomorrows for one single yesterday", ain't too bad, either...

[@KathySandru]

Kris Kristofferson wrote this song - another underrated singer & composer

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Yeah we know how it goes

[@cookingartguy2170]

This song shows that Janis Joplin was a brilliant song stylist. You can't teach this. This is pretty much in my top five favorite songs of all time and it always makes me tear up which can be very embarrassing in the grocery store or an elevator LOL, but I was in high school in art class when Janis died and this brings me right back to that time.

[@imtallpaul]

BEST ROCK LYRIC EVER: "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose!"

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Nope not even close

[@imtallpaul]

@@DENVEROUTDOORMAN "Nothing matters but the weekend, from a Tuesday point pf view"?

[@imtallpaul]

@@DENVEROUTDOORMAN "And every single meeting with his so-called superior Is a humiliating kick in the crotch"?

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

@@imtallpaul absolutely worse

[@imtallpaul]

@@DENVEROUTDOORMAN Worst rock lyric of all time?? That's harsh.

[@jeffcoat1959]

"I'd trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday...." Hauntingly prophetic.

[@claudiamooney5489]

Janis Joplin was a true legend, her death is so sad still to this day.

[@tristramcoffin926]

27 Club. :(

[@humboldtharry4248]

Yeah I would have liked to see her live

[@lesliesylvan]

Claudia. Yes. R.I.P. 🙏🏽 incredible Janis Joplin. Too soon, but left her legacy for future gens to enjoy, along with so many young Rock Stars of the period (and political leaders) . . . A tumultuous period in American History; heading toward another?! Sighs.

[@lorib360]

@@humboldtharry4248 I'd have liked that too. Both meanings.

[@markmurphy558]

I always thought of Janis as a little sister, vulnerable and in need of protection. You can hear the pain in her voice. When she died, I was not in the least surprised.

[@mercer402]

One of the all time great female singers is Carol King. Her Tapestry Album is a masterpiece. When Paul McCartney and John Lennon were asked about their writing song talents, they replied that they could only hope to be as good as Carol King and her then husband Gerry Goffin. She wrote music for Little Eva, James Taylor, Aretha Franklin and more. Check out her song, It's Too Late, You've Got a Friend, or You Make me Feel Like a Natural Women!

[@JoelWelter]

Raw, soft, angry, story telling. She was a master. The lyrics were telling. The vocals amplified this a thousand times. She left us way too young. Thanks for covering this!

[@robertbyers7697]

This song was written by American singer, songwriter, and actor Kris Kristofferson.

[@raynavarro7997]

Kristofferson earned a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, where he studied at Merton College. While at Oxford, he was awarded his Blue for boxing, played rugby for his college, and began writing songs.

[@patriciamorgan6545]

He indeed is a Renaissance man!

[@snorelacks7069]

@@raynavarro7997 He was also a Helicopter pilot in the US Army.

[@armadillotoe]

Also appeared in several movies.

[@wayneguess7946]

His version, is also AWESOME, and deserves a listen!

[@remedy9648]

Janis doing Ball and Chain live is a must, Patti Smith singing Gloria live at CBGB’s is a must.

[@salinagrrrl69]

Monteray Pop a must

[@Pcrimson1]

OK, don't laugh, but what about Kate and Cindy from the B52s? They are vastly underrated. Check out "Bring Me Back My Man" from the second album "Whammy". Seriously, they did a lot of party songs, but there are a lot of gems in their catalog. And for a top tier duet, Kate and Iggy Pop 's "Candy" is awesome. Let's give some credit where it's due, and for a change, a different decade.

[@parsleyqueen]

I would SO love to hear them do Gloria. Or Free Money by Patti Smith

[@ryanagee5540]

Thanx now I'm chanting G L O R I A!

[@remedy9648]

@@Pcrimson1 I adore the B52s and Candy is on my playlist! I absolutely love that song and Kate and Iggy’s voices together are on another level. Good call!

[@TrashWerewolf]

When you guys go down the Joni Mitchell rabbit hole, you'll NEVER want to come back out! Most amazing singer/songwriter ever! One question though guys, where's the love for Heart? One of the most rockin' bands fronted by women in history!

[@danielbly3539]

A great woman singer is Linda Rondstat. I highly recommend her.

[@timjester8555]

Oooooo yes!

[@melissa2688]

I just got done re-reading Just Kids by Patti Smith. She was at the Chelsea Hotel when Kris Kristofferson taught Janis this very song.

[@robertm8780]

Melissa Ann Nevin- I believe that was when Leonard Cohen wrote "Chelsea Hotel" about/to her. Great song for those of you who have never heard it.

[@greggary7217]

@@robertm8780 another superb lyricist, pretty sure that’s right, he wrote it about Janis. Guess Chelsea Hotel was the bomb 💣

[@lorin6673]

Such a great book.

[@burmajones803]

Good book. Patti Smith is just simply one of the best.

[@susanfontaine5214]

@Melissa Ann Nevin I am currently reading that book! Amazing so far. Another treasure, Patti Smith 💕

[@bjs301]

Kris Kristofferson wrote this. An even better song of his is Sunday Morning Coming Down. There have been a few recordings of that song, buy Johnny Cash flat out owns it.

[@CreepyJoeMustGo]

One of my favorites! There’s a video of Kris performing it just after Johnny passed away.

[@jeffreyjacobs3780]

Searching their videos, unless I am missing it they have not yet reacted to Johnny Cash. Perhaps the greatest story teller in music who ever lived.

[@bjs301]

@@CreepyJoeMustGo I've seen it. Great rendition. Kris's songwriting is way underrated.

[@denroy3]

I like Kris singing it better than Casdh.

[@bjs301]

@@jeffreyjacobs3780 Absolutely. As much as i like Sunday Morning Coming Down, they almost have to do Folsom Prison Blues first. Or maybe Ring of Fire

[@mikefannon6994]

Janis was one of a kind. I saw her twice when I was 18, never will I forget. Still in love with Janis. RIP precious sister.

[@Manageode]

Written by the great Kris Kristopherson, who's songs were sung by the likes of Johnny Cash. I had an album of his that also had Sunday Morning Coming Down on it. (Johnny Cash. Great song of being hung over, dragged out, not funny.) And this song is on it. My brain is accustomed to the Kristofferson versions, but Joplin and band are really great, and I'm glad you reacted. It's "Bobby McGee", because of the name of the reception at Kristopherson's publisher's office. It would later turn out that Kris would meet Janice Joplin, & move into her house. She took off for Europe, and then I think through someone else, she let him know she had recorded his song (wanting it to be a surprise) and of course hearing it, he was thrilled. Then she died, so he didn't get to see her again. He says "If it sounds country, it's because it is "

[@chrish926]

Her cover of Summertime will send a flock of geese up your arms. One of the most haunting vocals I’ve ever heard. You’ll need a bib for the sauce on this one A&A!

[@flubblert]

oh my... yes.

[@gomezaddams4347]

Absolutely, she owned that song.

[@markmurphy558]

They should play the Frank Sinatra version followed by Janis's

[@emilyflotilla931]

Yes, sauce for the sauce!

[@patriciashaw8321]

My favorite Janis song

[@johnbagley99]

Summertime is a really cool blues rendition of a song that made other artists have done but she puts her own spin on it which can’t be touched of course

[@toddjackson5131]

The Zombies and Buckinghams did it better im my opinion.

[@greggary7217]

Dunno if there is a “best” Janis track but “Summertime” is near the top for sure.

[@timmacsweet131]

@@toddjackson5131 if there’s a definitive cover of this song it’s Billy Holiday’s version.

[@toddjackson5131]

@@timmacsweet131 Seriously? You prefer her 1930's version to anybody elses? It sounds horrible to me.

[@timmacsweet131]

@@toddjackson5131 well there’s no accounting for taste.

[@highcurrent1125]

RIP Janis! For me, this is one of the most heart felt, gut wrenching vocals in Rock history....never fails to sends chills to the back of my neck!

[@delphi-moochymaker62]

Pearl was her alter-ego. The performer. The flamboyant part of her.

[@allanjuhl9574]

My absolute all time favorite lyric is "I'd trade all my tomorrows for one single yesterday, to be holding Bobby's body next to mine."

[@johndef5075]

That is a 💎

[@robny1461]

It's "Rocker Women Wednesday" - let's do it every week.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Nope Neil Young forever

[@donalddunlop401]

Her singing is deadly honest because she puts it all out there. They had a special crew that shoveled up all her guts off the stage after every performance.

[@ethanwalmark5621]

This song actually was released as a single after her death, and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971.... WITH A BULLET!!

[@piscator57]

I would suggest Ball and Chain live at the Monterey Pop Festival next....

[@raymondharris8814]

I don't think they could handle it lol

[@Drummingvulture]

The concert video version with Cass being blown away.

[@robertlavorna2968]

absolute goosebump moment listening and watching this.....great moment in rock/blues history!!!

[@salinagrrrl69]

I suggested that 1.5 yrs ago. Right now dozens of black youth reaction vids are digg'n on Janis.

[@lordbyron6293]

Best performance I've ever seen.

[@dorian3260]

Late one night in 1971, we were listening to a recorded Janis Joplin concert on the radio. She was doing her third encore when someone got on the PA and announced that the concert was over because the insurance company wouldn't take the liability. Janis got on the mic and said, "My friends and I are gonna party a little longer. If there are any problems, just send me the bill." She did another long set.

[@jayedilts8612]

Janis’ voice is so good I tend to forget how great the band is. Great reaction guys!

[@davewhitehead5116]

Kristofferson is known for his great lyrics. Many regard his “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” as his finest.

[@idaduncan6260]

Have you ever listen to Janice saying Mercedes Benz.It’s really interesting and I love it

[@loosilu]

Great song.

[@waynecox3958]

Her finest moment

[@CarltonNoles]

My fave by Janis

[@seed_drill7135]

While it's funny, it's a demo. She'd planned to add the band, but died beforehand.

[@momastone]

This is the song I used to sing to my baby to put her to sleep. Classic.

[@dmskon]

Patti Smith "Gloria" should be on the list.

[@michaelkeefe8494]

I agree but you should know, Gloria is a song Van Morrison wrote for the Them in the mid-60s... covered by pretty much everybody but Patti Smith's was truly unique.

[@robertreichle1]

There's a lot of Patti Smith that should be checked out.

[@burmajones803]

Amen! Patti makes the tune her own. She and her band are ferocious on that entire Horses album.

[@michaelkeefe8494]

@@robertreichle1 I wish someone could do babelougue/rock and roll ni**a but too un-pc ..

[@michaelkeefe8494]

Lenny Kaye was a force of his own

[@MrBuddybones]

The film “The Rose” was fiction, but also a thinly veiled biography of Janis. Great movie with a killer soundtrack.

[@craenor]

I feel like the eponymous Bette Midler song that closes out the film doesn't get enough credit. It's a beautiful song.

[@lloovvaallee]

"Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose" One of the greatest lines of all time.

[@bethkoch11]

The album Pearl was released after Janis died. There is a song on it called "Get It While You Can" that still gives me chills, in view of the fact that she sings these lyrics so soon before her death. And that song really showcases her vocals at their absolute best.

[@patrickmichaelrosser6287]

Seeing all the comments about Kris Kristopherson writing this, you guys should do a songwriters focus. Maybe play the original by the writer then the hit by the artist. Neil Diamond, Carol King, Joni Mitchel, Loggins and Messina. There's a ton of names that are known but people don't realize their songs are monster hits performed by others. Just a thought

[@goreyfantod5213]

That's a fantastic idea!

[@lisamorrison2149]

Great idea. Bob Dylan, Prince, Paul McCartney, the list goes on...

[@RoseyPosey545]

Yes!

[@lorib360]

Yes to the above, and add Lyle Lovett, Tom Waits, Rickie Lee Jones.

[@DavidBrianPaley]

Absolutely! Feature George Harrison and compare as examples both Eric Clapton and Nina Simone doing their versions of George's song "Isn't it A Pity". It would be awesome.

[@Sotto_]

This is when musicians and vocalists feel and read each other as they perform, and give a one of a kind performance each and every time. Janis begins telling her story, and her band listens to what she conveys and intuitively follows suit. Those are the most surprising and rewarding performances to watch or listen to because it takes you to a whole new level of understanding what makes the artist great.

[@umpdaddy1]

"Ball and Chain" live from the Monterey Pops Festival is where the fuse was lit for the sky rocket ride that ended with her untimely death just a few short years later. It's a chills inducing performance and well worth the time.

[@GorillaMansoon]

Kris Kristofferson wrote this. He's wrote many a great songs. Check out "Sunday Morning Coming Down". It's a song I'm sure you can both relate to.

[@jeannie177]

Next, completely different style: Linda Ronstadt, When Will I Be Loved. Amazing voice, catchy tune!

[@jasonremy1627]

She has so many good ones. "Silver Threads and Golden Needles", "Blue Bayou", and all the great cover songs she absolutely owns. Her version of Mike Nesmith's "Different Drum" is the definitive one, and her versions of Buddy Holly's "That'll Be The Day", The Eagles "Desperado" and Warren Zevon's "Carmelita" all compete with the originals. She sang pop, rock, country, opera, and owned ALL of them. She did those Spanish-language albums and they were great too. She's one of the all time greats.

[@andyb7942]

Great pick, Jeannie--recently read that her record company had a hard time deciding whether to release WWIBL or "You're No Good" for the first single (I actually think Andy & Alex should do that one first in part due to that timing). Also, WWIBL is so short (less than 2.5 minutes) that I think if they do a reaction to it, they should include "Willin'" because that is another one of her best songs, it's also quite short, it shows off one of her key traits (genre-hopping), and there is no gap between WWIBL and Willin on the album. Cheers!

[@flyboy53]

Linda was huge back in the day... not a songwriter, mostly covers, but she had an amazing voice!

[@jeannie177]

@@jasonremy1627 All great songs! I didn't know Carmelita was a Zevon tune.

[@jeannie177]

@@andyb7942 Yes!! They would both flip over Willin. WW is just one of my personal favs.....those beginning bass notes, her voice, backup vocals,....to me, it's a perfect song.

[@alanl7918]

I watch other first-time reaction videos, but none compare to you guys. I'm 62 y.o., and enjoy watching young folk react to music from my era. But its not just the reaction, but the musical knowledge, the breakdown of each aspect of the musicality that is so impressive. Others explain that they like a song...it made them feel something. You go far beyond and I LOVE IT!!!

[@nicholasmckibbin1510]

You guys are awesome. "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose" is such a cool lyric. Super stoked to hear that Joni Mitchell is coming up. Blue is one of my all-time favorite albums. California is great, Little Green is great, Case Of You is great, such a fantastic album. Court and spark is brilliant as well.

[@er5406]

The First Lady of Rock. Unbelievable pipes.

[@ClayLoomis1958]

First? I don't know. She's certainly ranked, but number one? Stevie Nicks, Ann Wilson, Tina Turner, Linda Ronstadt, and about a dozen others also have huge cred, and just about all of them have a larger body of work than Janis. It's all very subjective, of course, and everyone has their own opinion.

[@er5406]

@@ClayLoomis1958 Ask those ladies and see what they think. You might get a surprise.

[@ClayLoomis1958]

@@er5406 If I had the chance to speak to any of those women, I don't believe any of my questions would involve Janice. Again, that's just me.

[@matthewdrake4385]

I'd go with Tina more. Due to her having a longer career. Proud Mary is proof enough.

[@e.jamesshepard7183]

This song was written by Kris Kristofferson and performed originally by Roger Miller.

[@CycolacFan]

And all three versions are excellent.

[@dave123r]

Also performed by Gordon Lightfoot.

[@df5295]

And the Grateful Dead as a tribute to Janis who was friends with them.

[@andrew348]

No one cares

[@lakecrazy]

@@df5295 Bird Song...

[@otisdylan9532]

Gents, I'm glad that you'll be hearing Joni Mitchell, she's a great a songwriter, but the female artist that you should hear above all is Aretha Franklin, starting with "Respect", "Think", "Chain of Fools", or "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)".

[@kimmycook2698]

My beautiful Janice...her and Stevie Nicks are my heroes. She was such a beautiful soul.

[@johnbagley99]

She was making this album when she died. The band finished shining up their parts and put it to her vocals. Also you gotta see her live she’s even better. Way better

[@aesculapius5730]

It is unfortunate that she did not live to see the success of her rendition of this song. It was released posthumously in 1971 after her death in October 1970. It is one of only two posthumously released songs in history to reach #1 on the singles charts in the US.

[@stevenashe8900]

Good job analyzing the lyrics. For many years I have said if I had to pick a favorite song it would be this one. I think it’s still true.

[@andyb7942]

You need to hit the biggest female artist in the 1970s next - Linda Ronstadt and "You're No Good"

[@matthewdrake4385]

Good call.

[@trinstar1656]

YESSS

[@christiedennis1541]

Yes!

[@cattlejax]

You guys should be drinking Janis' go-to Southern Comfort when reacting to her

[@loosilu]

She drank so much Southern Comfort, the company gave her a fur coat.

[@Gravyballs2011]

Should be injecting heroin

[@JenaOhJena]

@@Gravyballs2011 Totally unnecessary!

[@sherryarflin726]

This is such a great song. It shows a different side of Janis and her vocals that we weren’t used to hearing. God, she was so good. Cry Baby , Ball and Chain, Live from the Monterey Pop Festival well worth he listen..

[@randyhodges8782]

Those lalala's will never leave you. Once you hear them, they are with you for life.

[@NoBSchannel313]

'Move Over' by Janis is a banger.

[@peterbarbera5485]

Definitely! “Move Over” next.

[@Zozo-K-]

Definitely!!

[@GothicGhost17]

Imma say it again: Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush. I think you guys will find it really interesting and have such a good discussion about it!

[@ArildTorum]

Great song, and a tie-in to classic literature as well. Amazing that she was just 18 when she made that song!

[@sukie584]

Red dress dance version.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

The difference in production you are hearing is that the other one was with her earlier band, Big Brother and the holding company, which were wonderful because they were incredibly raw and psychedelic. But then I also love her later stuff with the Full Tilt Boogie band because of exactly the things you mentioned. It truly is the best of both worlds.

[@USCanthony]

Sometimes the best things in life are simple. The production of this song was not necessarily simple but the final product came off as simple. Just her voice and instruments coming in one by one. That is the best way to present her voice. It comes off as simple story telling but story telling with so much power to it.

[@viclagina347]

When she starts scatting in any song is my favorite thing about JJ

[@goreyfantod5213]

Small note: the reference to a, "harpoon," is a harmonica.

[@bretthardin9239]

drug reference

[@parsleyqueen]

@@bretthardin9239 harpoon=mouth harp=harmonica

[@bretthardin9239]

@@parsleyqueen harpoon hypodermic needle no one calls a harmonica a harpoon harpoons dont make music. .upside down world around here

[@stevemercer6976]

@@bretthardin9239 look at the original lyrics. The next line is "I was blowin' sad..." Nobody blows a hypodermic needle. Looks like Kristofferson needed a word longer than harp and shorter than harmonica so he made his own slang.

[@williamlofthouse9691]

Playing her harpoon while Bobby sang the blues. It's about music....not drugs idiot!

[@gustavopanesso7297]

AGAIN, SHE'S RELATING HER LIFE EXPERIENCES, THAT'S WHAT MAKES HER SONGS SOO POWERFUL.😘❤

[@andychisarick6879]

Reminds me of Skynyrd in that way...

[@proudarmymom8657]

By the time this song came out which btw went to number 1 she was dead from a drug overdose she was only 27! She finally got a number one song and she didn’t live to see it which was such a tragedy because she had such a soulful voice which is why I absolutely love Janis Joplin!! Thank you for playing this!!

[@patrickmichaelrosser6287]

Cry Baby really shows off Janis's voice

[@DavidB-2268]

Especially the "Live in Toronto" video

[@moxielouise125]

That song melts me every time...so good.

[@DawnaJD]

Totally agree, so good.

[@susanfontaine5214]

YES YES 🙌!💕💕

[@maryarawson7921]

That’s a great song. She puts all her emotional energy into that one.

[@Fuphyter]

I'm glad to hear you're going to react to Joni Mitchell. She is an incredibly talented song writer, musician, singer and artist. Her lyrics are poetry and tell immersive stories. Bonnie Raitt is an amazing guitarist who doesn't get enough credit. I love her voice as well. She has played with Blues legends. I've seen her live 5 times, definately a fan.

[@donnas2482]

I do love me some Joni Mitchell lyrics. Was listening to All I Want this morning, and was still hearing new nuances after what, 1000+ listens in my lifetime? I personally think Help Me is pure pop perfection.

[@pattyg8464]

Just posted below about Bonnie Raitt before seeing your comment.. Love both Bonnie and Joni.

[@KawaTony1964]

Oh man - I love Joni Mitchell, too. Can't wait to hear which song you pick. She's very mellow - not alot of high energy songs - but beautiful songs with great lyrics. My favorites are "Chelsea Morning", "Both Sides Now", "Big Yellow Taxi", "Help Me", "Raised on Robbery" and "Free Man in Paris".

[@alanmusicman3385]

"Urge for Going" is a masterclass.

[@johndoyle2397]

It's so great to hear young guys appreciate this music

[@joeyrobison6629]

One of my favorite song verses "Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose".

[@joannasunday]

Yep! I love that line, too.

[@bobbyg7102]

Kiki Dee - I've got the music in me ( studio version ). She showcases her pipes in this song which is a banger in its own right.

[@matthewdrake4385]

Janis was amazing in just a short period of time. Cry Baby, Piece of My Heart, Ball and Chain all are classic. Her earlier songs are more jazz based, but she is better known as a blues artist.

[@alkronlage5236]

Hey guys, women that can really rock also: Heart - "Crazy on you" and "Magic Man" Pat Benatar - "Heartbreaker" and "Promises in the Dark".

[@ronaldbresselsmith1957]

Video of Heart doing Stairway To Heaven. I cannot watch it without getting emotional.

[@weedeater62]

Bonnie Raitt "Runaway".

[@AndrewLykins44]

If you’re gonna do any more Janis Joplin you have to do “Summertime” or “Try”

[@williambill5172]

Kris wrote the song from the perspective of a drug user and Janis was way into heroin at the time - it fits..."I pulled my harpoon and my dirty red bandana" (my needle and where I keep my heroin bags)...they meshed - she was missed immediately when she died at 27 before this album (Pearl) was released. Great job, guys!

[@lisamorrison2149]

Yes, Kris had been in Vietnam and heroin was his escape for awhile...sadly, it was Janis's ultimate escape.

[@jotoole129]

Um... I believe his harpoon was actually a harp (harmonica). “I pulled my old harpoon out of my dirty red bandana, and started blowing (playing) sad while Bobbie sang the blues...”

[@ipsurvivor]

“Maybe” is an awesome song...doesn’t get much radio play but awesome. The organ and horn intro gets me every time...so chill and so warm at the same time.

[@rickyrobertson8064]

Haven't cried in decades, like when I heard it this time. We were getting over hearing she was gone before we heard THE SONG. LUV you guys.

[@garykelly7422]

Pat Benatar"hell is for children" is a must if you truly want to explore women in rock and roll. ☮️

[@2869may]

Be a good little boy, and you'll get a new toy..... She had a few great songs, "Shadows Of The Night" is my fav.

[@jaybengston1164]

Agree! Maybe that shouldn't be the first PB reaction they do, though.

[@calgaryjimbo]

I think "You Better Run" would be the worthy first cut for Pat Benatar. If it was good enough to be the 2nd video ever to play on MTV, it's good enough for A&A. :) But "Hell is for Children" is a killer song, no doubt.

[@spicy321]

I’ve suggested this before. Treat Me Right and You Better Run would be a good listen as well.

[@stevewynter4519]

I agree, also some of her early covers like Heartbreaker and No you dont and my favorite PROMISES IN THE DARK, classic rock guys

[@RobtBlond]

Probably mentioned somewhere else in the comments already, but... He didn't leave her, Alex, she left him. She sings "He's looking for a home and I hope he finds it." He wanted to settle down, she wanted to stay free. Now she's free, and has nothing left to lose. Awesome song, guys, thanks. Now play some more punk.

[@foursticks100]

Gotta love the dynamics of all the musicians in the band Great guitar lick came out of nowhere near the end of the track Think most of the band are from my country Canada 🇨🇦 🍁 Funny watching A & A doing the bobble head groove too

[@bostonwhofan]

Watching this video brought back a very pleasant memory. It was either the late 80's or early 90's when I was on a business trip in Sunnyvale, California. It was actually a training class and the instructor invited all of the students (10 of us or so) to his house on the Thursday night before the last day of the class on Friday. His house was on a hillside overlooking San Francisco Bay. We were grilling and drinking beer and wine on his patio and he broke out a couple of acoustic guitars. I was familiar with Me and Bobby McGee but wasn't too into it at that point. But the instructor taught me the rhythm while he took the lead and he sang the lyrics to this great song. His wife then started jamming on the piano and everybody there got into it as we got wasted as all hell. Have loved this song ever since!

[@RevDrKillJoy]

Also, her cover of "Summertime" is in the top 3 versions of that song.

[@sjw5797]

Try Angelina Jordan's cover. A child prodigy on par with Mozart in terms of sheer musical genius at an astoundingly young age.

[@careym3901]

Bobby can be male or female, This was written by Kris Kristofferson who was dating Janis at the time. Kris says she recorded this song and he was unaware of it at the time, but when he heard the Demo after she had died he was blown away & he knew it was going to be huge. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWqlqKKDp7p0jrM

[@edford1693]

I was going to suggest that they look up the video of the story behind the song. Kris had a hard time talking about when he 1st heard her recording after hearing of her death.

[@thorsluter7835]

Most people today know Kris as an actor, but he was a great singer songwriter back in the 60's and 70's. I know it's outside the genre that A & A explore,, but would love to see a reaction to Kris singing "Sunday Morning Coming Down." I love Johnny Cash's cover, but there's something about the way Kris sings it.

[@vitodepietro6020]

Definitely check out Beth Hart covering Etta James', I'd rather go blind, with guitar great Joe Bonamassa

[@marcanglin7127]

Off the charts good. Beth is great, and Beth and Joe together are the bomb.

[@lesliesylvan]

Etta James. Oh yeah!

[@joshuayeager3686]

Please. And her song, “Am I The One”. The live version is available online as well. The best version by far

[@HappyOne3]

Gotta do Janis Joplin “ Ball and Chain at Monterey Pop Festival “ gotta be the Monterey festival

[@lanzknecht8599]

You guys are great: laid back with a drink in the hand and listening to the pearls of rock and pop music. Keep on the good work!

[@RADThird1]

Joni...."Coyote" with the immortal Jaco Pastorious on bass

[@michaelmalone3089]

Nice 👌

[@rogerpitcher6540]

The live version.

[@scifimonkey3]

The whole Hejira album is dope! My fave is Black Crow with more Jaco

[@parsleyqueen]

I hope when they get to Joni they do "Coyote." But what do you want to bet that it'll be "Big Yellow Taxi"?

[@michaelmalone3089]

@@parsleyqueen probably right ✅

[@zogger5281]

"freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose." Also implies that when you are completely free in your life, you have discarded everything so there is nothing to lose.

[@williammaddox3339]

The record came out after Janis died. "Piece of My Heart" was released about 2 years earlier and was recorded with a different band.

[@tymmgwayn302]

Guys... I just found you, like thirty minutes ago~~ your reaction to "The Boxer". I grew up on this song. One of my all time favourite songs ever! Janis Joplin was a goddess! I like that you two appreciate her genius. I've subbed and look forward to binge watching your reactions! Keep it all up.

[@TheBham54]

Great pick, glad to see you playing someone "women of R&R." You mentioned Joni Mitchell, I would also suggest Bonnie Raitt, great singer/slide guitar player. Maybe "Bluebird" or "I Thought I Was A Child." Can't go wrong with Bonnie.

[@jlsagely6892]

Kristofferson...This, is an “S”. Period.

[@briarpatch720]

A few more favorites from janis would be "move over", "mercedes benz" and "try just a little bit harder". Don't forget her performance at woodstock. legendary.

[@patriciagoodwin1922]

You have hit the jackpot!! Janis, omg epic!! Thank you for listening, forever eternal, miss her so much.

[@greypossum1]

This was after "Piece of my Heart". This was a matter of months prior to her passing.

[@zappafan-eu4wp]

You guys really should look into some early Robert Palmer "Sailin' Shoes-Hey Julia-Sneaking Sally through the alley". This is a great trio of songs. 9 minutes of studio bliss

[@quarterfriedwithdirtyrice8108]

I've been missing out on your channel for a bit and this fantastic song is what I returned to! Love the way the A&A Freedom Shack is evolving too!

[@adolfomcasasjr4668]

Her first public appearance the 1967 Monterey Music festival. The song Ball and Chain. That voice. A star was born.