Tuesday, April 15, 2014

M is for...

Mercedes-Benz...Janis Joplin, 1970.


A Serenade of Seventies songs, from the soundtrack of my life, is my theme for the A-Z challenge this year.

If I had to pick the top three songs from the "road trips with my father" play list, this one right here shines. (I cannot tell you the others as they may still show up.) My father's cars typically did not have radios, so we just sang what we wanted, how we wanted. He taught me Mercedes-Benz very early on. I don't know what all of my five-year-old friends were singing back then, but I doubt it was being belted out with as much feeling as when we sang Janis.

EVERYBODY...
Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends
Worked hard all my lifetime no help from my friends
So oh Lord, wont you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?

That's it!

One take to record that song, and she was gone three days later.

Once again, I cannot limit this to one song for this letter. My mom is a fan of Janis Joplin as well, and often played her Pearl album. There were songs that found their way into tiny nooks of my brain. I did not even realize they were there, until hearing the songs years later, and being temporarily puzzled by their familiarity. This is one of those...


Me & Bobby McGee...Janis Joplin, 1970.

Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose...

Hey, hey, hey Bobby McGee!

28 comments:

  1. Me and Bobby McGee is a favorite to belt out. It's one of those songs you just can't help singing. What a great memory singing in the car with your Dad.

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  2. She was quite close to the Grateful Dead.....esp. to their keyboardist, Pigpen. I saw a great movie about their famous cross Canada train trip in 1970 and all the musicians were in the club car playing and singing for hours. A somewhat drunk/high Jerry Garcia is just gaga over Janis and you hear him say, 'I love you so much Janis!' It was adorable.

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    1. And here I find you talking about Canada again, Mizz JoJo. *giggling*

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  3. Great choices! I knew you would have Janis for Me & Bobby McGee, which is just timeless, but forgot about Mercedes Benz. I also didn't realize she died right after. Poor Janis. But her music lives on!

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    1. Believe it or not, it was the other way around! ;)

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  4. I just read a book with her in it, and I admit, I had never given her much thought until then. She was before my time, and not someone my parents listened to, but I'm curious now to go check out more of her music.

    True Heroes A to Z

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  5. Some people burn so brightly that their light goes out way too early. I think the body simply cannot sustain all that shining. Janis Joplin is one of those folks.

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  6. I have to admit, I never cared for Joplin. She was a bit before my time, and I just didn't get the appeal. It's probably just me.

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  7. Bobby McGee was written by Kris Kristofferson, but Janice sang it best, I think. Most people didn't understand Joplin, or her music, but she was a bright star while she shined in the night sky.

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    1. I can always count on you for knowing things about things! ;)

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  8. Oh man, I picture you and your family all belting out songs together. What a great time you must have had!

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  9. I still have Pearl and listen to it regularly.

    Love,
    Janie

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  10. Janis Joplin was an artist that was so part of my early college years. When she died, it was an instant and prolonged shock.

    Over from the A to Z.

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  11. LOL! This reminds me of a time when Janis came on the radio and the woman I was with said something like "Who is that skreetching ?" Oh man.... she lost major points that day! :D

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  12. Love me some Joplin on a sunny Saturday afternoon!

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  13. Oh my gosh, Andrea, I absolutely love Mercedes-Benz. I know Janis Joplin is more famous for other sings, but it's the Mercedes Benz song I find myself singing at the oddest times.

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  14. Classic songs! You have made my day :)

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  15. I've always loved Janis. THAT is what singing is all about.

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  16. Janis Joplin……I love her, and what a sad, tragic life! A waste of talent….

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  17. Janis Joplin's Mercedes Benz has to be one of my favourites! I tried to introduce son #2 to JJ one day and played this song for him. His puzzled comment was - did people really think she could sing? I was crushed :)

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  18. Both those songs are so familiar to me. People complain that she's just screaming, but I really like her voice! Man, lots of great artists died way too young. Reading all of these in one session is really driving that home...
    Tina @ Life is Good
    A to Z Team @ Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2014

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  19. A towering blues giant, and one that was built on another 27-year old who died young in 1938; Robert Johnson. If I thought I could stand at the crossroads with my viola and cut a deal with the devil, would I? So much great music and lore here; thanks for sharing!

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  20. Another one from my iPod (and I only have like 7 songs).

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