How Janis Ian became an unlikely cult star in 1967: “A life-changing moment”
Janis Ian became an unlikely cult favourite as a teenager after her song “Society’s Child” drew both public hostility and devoted support. The experience of being heckled while performing the song about an interracial romance became a turning point: Ian said it showed her that music could prompt people to stand up for their beliefs.
Ian had written her first song at 12, and “Society’s Child” was released three times between 1965 and 1967 before becoming a national hit. At 15, she released her debut album, Janis Ian, which Leonard Bernstein featured on a 1967 CBS television special; the album later earned her a Grammy nomination.
- “Society’s Child” brought Ian fame and racist abuse.
- A hostile concert became a life-changing moment.
- Leonard Bernstein’s support helped expand her following.
New here? Start with this
Janis Ian was a teenage American singer and songwriter who began writing songs at 12. In the United States of the 1960s, racial segregation and discrimination remained major public issues, and relationships between people of different races often drew hostility.
Her song “Society’s Child” told the story of an interracial romance and was released several times before reaching a national audience. The reaction to it ranged from heckling to strong support, showing how a song could bring a divisive social issue into public view.