Born Janis Eddy Fink on 7th April 1951 to a Jewish family in New York City, she was primarily raised in New Jersey, initially on a farm, and attended East Orange High School and the New York City High School of Music & Art. Her parents, Victor (a music teacher) and Pearl, ran a summer camp in upstate New York, and, in that Cold War era, were frequently under government surveillance because of their left-wing politics. (Ian alluded to these years later in her song "God and the FBI"). Young Janis admired the work of folk pioneers such as Joan Baez and Odetta. At the age of twelve, Ian wrote her first song, "Hair of Spun Gold", which was subsequently published in the folk publication Broadside and was later recorded for her debut album.
At the age of thirteen she legally changed her name to Janis Ian, using as her new last name her brother Eric's middle name. Also in that year, Ian wrote and sang her first hit single, "Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking)", about an interracial romance forbidden by a girl's mother and frowned upon by her peers and teachers; the girl ultimately decides to end the relationship, claiming the social norms of the day have left her no other choice. Produced by George "Shadow" Morton and released three times between 1965 and 1967, "Society's Child" finally became a national hit on its third release, after Leonard Bernstein featured it in a television special: Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution. The song's content was taboo for some radio stations, and they withdrew or banned it from their playlists; in her 2008 autobiography Society's Child, Ian recalls receiving hate mail and death threats as a response to the song, and mentions that a radio station in Atlanta that played it was burned down. In the summer of 1967, "Society's Child" reached number fourteen on the Billboard Hot 100.
Her most successful single in the United States was "At Seventeen", released in 1975, a bittersweet commentary on adolescent cruelty, the illusion of popularity, and teenage angst, as reflected upon from the perspective of a twenty-four-year-old. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart. It won the 1975 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance - Female. The song's album, Between the Lines, reached number one on Billboard's Album chart. It was quickly certified gold, and later earned a platinum certification for sales of over a million copies sold in the U.S.
Ian finally became one of the first "indie artists", resurfacing in 1993, with the worldwide release of Breaking Silence and its title song about incest. She also came out as a lesbian with that release. Her most recent album, Folk Is the New Black, was released in 2006; it is the first in over twenty years for which she did all the songwriting herself.
Applause
Janis Ian Lyrics
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Give the singer a chance
Treat her right
Be polite
Maybe she will dance
Applause, applause
Give the singer a break
How much can you take
Give the singer a chance
Wanna give the singer a chance
Anything to buy your soul
And maybe she will dance
Applause, applause
She′ll stand upon her head
Applause, applause
She'll take you to her bed
And share with you the memories
Of dreams she can′t forget
Applause, applause
Let's give the prize
To the little lady
With the stars in her eyes
And I'll sell my soul for a song
Pay the price and carry on
And share with you the memories
Of dreams I can′t forget
Of lovers I have met
Applause, applause
Let′s give the prize
To the little lady
With the stars in her eyes
Applause, applause
Give the singer a chance
Treat her right
Be polite
Maybe she will dance
Applause, applause
Give the singer a break
How much can you give
How much would it take
Give the singer a chance
Give the singer a chance
Anything to buy your soul
And maybe she will dance
Maybe she will dance
Maybe she will dance
Janis Ian's Applause is a satirical commentary on the music industry and the obsession to please the audiences. Ian stresses that artists need to be given a chance to perform their music from their hearts while being respected and appreciated by the audience. The lyrics start by requesting the audience to give the singer a chance and treat her with respect, suggesting that this might lead to a better performance where she might even dance. She then goes on to ask the audience to give the singer a break, reminding them of the exhausting and demanding nature of performing. Ian suggests that performers frequently sell their souls for a song, and the audience should appreciate this by giving them applause. The lyrics depict how performers rely on the audience's approval and ovation to carry on performing, resulting in a never-ending cycle of applause and soul-selling.
Line by Line Meaning
Applause, applause
The singer is asking for applause from the audience to appreciate their performance.
Give the singer a chance
The singer is requesting an opportunity to showcase their skills & talent.
Treat her right
The audience is requested to respect the singer and their craft.
Be polite
The audience should be courteous and maintain decorum during the performance.
Maybe she will dance
If the singer is treated well and given a chance, they might be more enthusiastic and lively during their performance.
How much can you give
The audience is being questioned about how much appreciation and support they can offer the singer.
How much can you take
The singer is questioning the audience about their level of indulgence and engagement towards the performance.
She'll stand upon her head
The singer is willing to go to any extent to impress the audience and entertain them during their performance.
She'll take you to her bed
The singer is using a metaphor to showcase their confidence in their ability to captivate and win over the audience.
And share with you the memories of dreams she can′t forget
The singer is promising to leave a lasting impression on the audience and make them a part of their unforgettable experience.
Let's give the prize to the little lady with the stars in her eyes
The audience should recognize and applaud the deserving performer for their commendable efforts.
And I'll sell my soul for a song, Pay the price and carry on
The singer is willing to sacrifice anything to pursue their passion and succeed in their career.
Of lovers I have met
The singer has had various experiences in life and music that have inspired and shaped their artistry.
Maybe she will dance, Maybe she will dance, Maybe she will dance
The singer is reiterating their hope and desire for the audience to appreciate and engage in the performance, which will motivate them to be more expressive and lively during their act.
Writer(s): Janis Ian
Contributed by Adeline S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.