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Singer-songwriter Janis Ian talks to Alan about winning a Grammy for her audiobook "Society’s Child".
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I welcome home welcome Janice.
Now your second Grammy right ninety development and test and then -- -- for the spoken word -- of society's child who don't know here's a little bit what you said that night.
It is just stunning upset would be an understatement god.
Thinking there's a -- landed somewhere next president is obviously three lesbians -- into a car.
If you have that prepared were you so unexpected in this that that you just and lived all this when you've been up there that night.
Well I'm not when effort whom the nominees where I thought that the punch line because that's ridiculous I mean me up against President Clinton and Rachel -- around.
On the -- and afraid that he could got you.
Well you got up there it seemed the horses flew out of you and -- what did you have a speech prepared or.
Was it like -- you know I'm just as -- it comes in my head you know I.
I I didn't have anything prepared for when I was content in the classical awards and I talked about being an artist because they told me that I have to -- thirty seconds about thirty seconds before it went on.
When he came to my own award I had it written down because I wanted to make sure -- I didn't deliberated less time but the grammys which -- forget everybody -- to thank -- just say thank you.
When I suspect some -- -- the -- today and is fast anyhow.
You your story the way you tell that you -- over the same passion with which you're saying and also the way the music -- -- in his -- makes -- so unique.
Well I think that's the only reason I want I mean really it's as ridiculous amount nominee apocalypse.
And that's my that was the only one that has -- that -- -- and I think that.
We are the type of thing that I'm not sure -- has been done before which is not the typical thing and I think that there -- -- and talked.
And that gave it the feeling I think -- -- audience seemed to happen.
I like -- is -- your New Jersey say you know used to be the underdog anyway so it -- Net through although you're -- of the Bronx right.
I learned about it probably -- that all of it to win that event tickets how many Yorker -- you were for awhile anyway welcome back and I mean you're.
-- the content of your.
Work your music has always been so personal and of course that the the the book societies to on the audio book also very personal -- you talk about.
-- is it difficult for you to be as intimate as you -- in your work -- his does that second nature to you at this point.
-- -- -- -- You know I think that the only thing that I maybe do little bit is that most of my contemporaries.
Talk about things that bother me that.
People find hard to talk about the bills like in in -- seventeen.
And in math and it's hard to write because any time I ran into something like that.
It's -- the choices OK in my honesty and humiliate myself for the first time to time but things in order to it and make it pretty.
It's one thing to do it as an adult would you do this at the age of fifteen that does -- did you you would say things that I want and I -- -- social conscious at that age that the notion of saying the things you said in lyric.
Would be almost unthinkable.
Well I think it went -- fifteen -- and unfortunately pretty cute you sort of one step removed when you get on states including.
The harder when was that the team because apparently so personal that.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Society's child was not about your parents -- right.
That's right in that -- be here talking to my parents have very liberal.
-- liberal as fact your father paid the price -- being liberal good enough.
He's Diddy was a teacher and he went on the FBI want to put up when he was popular -- in major -- because he's gone to -- the meeting about the price that they are evolving thoughts.
And probably were under surveillance -- the whole time I was growing up and leave later found out that.
That he had been denied tenure over and over again even though he's a great teacher because.
-- -- -- I would kill women and definitely he's been -- converting the Communist.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Yeah well thank you don't want people attempting something like that that kid you're standing there with a guitar I think -- -- -- you try to pretended to you -- to look at the safety -- We do you find the strength had such a young age even still never -- age to ever stand up and from an audience to withstand that and you left the stage.
But then were persuaded to come back to.
To really stand up to these people.
I think it would -- literally I realized that I couldn't -- my family my friends decide to go back from that would be it because.
I would I would really believe and read to get McAfee you know -- I believe that I would -- it helped.
People forget that back then interracial marriage was illegal a Georgia radio station was burnt down.
We're not -- for example the embrace of Leonard Bernstein.
You might not have.
Gone as far as that moment in your career.
I think that's absolutely true I think the Bernstein gave it -- -- legitimate authority that that really unnerved people.
It has lead to -- you guys obviously if your -- well.
You're asked to change the word black in the song always and sent to you just say is that when word I guarantee you'll have ahead.
It it was actually one of the -- production people stand -- -- different shadow and he you know he didn't want me to change it.
But I think what he thought was that I was fifteen and I might not really understand what it -- -- and of course I didn't put.
-- but I'm sure in retrospect no regrets that you did not change it.
We don't have that and again have the strength at fifteen to say to a big time producer -- -- I'm not gonna change the word.
Because as meaningful to me.
Well fortunately it I think it didn't fortunately depending make me -- I could befriend people that let you or one particularly important don't do it.
And -- not a -- -- may -- in -- the American and I thought you know let give companies time to make another record but there's not enough time to write another I'm -- Which are -- Genesee in her Grammy winning audio book is society's child.
You turned down both Woodstock in the graduate I'm not saying we're kind of anti Catholic -- -- you can -- and every wells by that but any regrets -- that.
Over the decisions and I guess with David Geffen were managing -- with the time and said don't do it don't do it.
Did -- mutilated and he's still a wonderful man I mean that -- think the world is David thank.
I was young and we voodoo propagated -- -- -- would become what it would have any regrets it would become that you know.
I think that would feel like these here on the right path and things fall into place and I don't think that rhetoric things from me -- -- so I do get a much better job.
Well one thing -- -- also we take for -- we almost take for granted today is the issue of gay marriage.
And and the issue of coming out and you're one of the first celebrities to come out.
I would but I got outed by ridiculously competitive and equipment that -- But not -- this is his.
So was not your decision.
And it.
We're very thankful that I consequently came out in 92 remaining he would break the violence came out.
And you know it's that's a different time now -- if you will -- Provide for people like me I think the coming out that you are important because.
Typically -- my wife of 24 years it was important because of it gave people.
May have had a reputation heard they might entail and not be able to -- relationships and it's important that the writers -- seventeen.
OK I am gay and put -- When you -- -- seventeen million were you conscious sexually in terms of your preference of that what you meant you're married of one point.
Greg Norman when you know what hell anyway to to -- -- -- I said that is if we take for granted married means to the opposite sex they should have done that to another -- particularly in.
Practice you're married now so yeah I went right but but.
I was married to demand that I had fallen in love with you -- I don't -- to -- my mom to.
My mom my credit currently -- but you're not enough with him when he was deprived of that I -- with a woman -- said.
He did not protect the identical.
But did you ever think to yourself I'm gay but I'm -- this guy was always that you were gay or maybe you were not thinking.
-- heard about it in the middle and I felt a little toward women.
Oh that's so it worked out at.
Me yeah left yet that whether I mean that's that's -- so it works for you your career has been so fascinating in that.
-- You've been up you've been down you've been all over -- and it's such a tough career you took out a second mortgage at one point went and your partner agreed to do that.
We do it I didn't I didn't want to do.
And -- and look and look where you are now.
How does one withstand the vicissitudes -- -- the controversy there you've you've done because -- pure artistry but the vicissitudes of of the career you've had.
But I'm beginning in Japan and it's probably on the failure you're -- feel a lot more time than you win that that case I have nine Grammy nominations which we thought I didn't get this.
-- But yeah that's a really good positive way to look at things I failed seven times of the grammys.
Yeah.
Saying I don't have a -- -- that has a smile on -- and -- and congratulations.
So what do you do now I mean -- hang up the -- maybe have you know dinner -- What what what's next for you career was.
I'm actually going until we're part of April all the things that are -- with -- I and then I'm picking the -- that is.
We're gonna children's book -- -- coming out into the tender but these kind of called the tiny -- -- -- -- really -- yeah.
Right a couple of more novel than he would have the future don't.
And the web -- would be Janis -- does tell me the opportunity after you -- so happy to talk you can Janice thank you so much of -- not quite that lucky again and well appreciated very much in.
