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Women in Rock -- Then and Now: Janis Joplin / Amy Winehouse

Janis Joplin and Amy WinehouseRedferns, AP


Janis Joplin: 1960s Substance-Abusing Bluesy Belter
Amy Winehouse: Current-Day Substance-Abusing Neo-Soul Stylist

How History Repeats Itself: There's something particularly compelling about the character of a trainwreck savant – with genius comes madness? – so it's not all that surprising that both Janis Joplin and Amy Winehouse have become the objects of intense cultural fascination. Thanks to some well-publicized struggles with drug addiction, each woman represents the cautionary "Just say no, kids" tale of her time. That's not where the parallels between these two powerhouse performers stop: Both are possessed of raw, impossibly soulful voices that leave you flabbergasted at the thought that such a guttural, emotive instrument could emanate from a scrawny white chick. And it must be noted that for both Winehouse and Joplin, hair is a mode of communication: The outsize, untamed tangle atop their heads connotes the irrepressible wild streak in their hearts. (Joplin even flirted with a stylized beehive 'do in the mid-'60s.)

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anonymous

How in the world could they ever compare Taylor Swift to Doris Day!? Doris Day is amazing and a great singer from start to finish. Taylor Swift just isn't. She can hardly sing. I know this sounds biased but there really is no comparison to the two. I find this offensive.

April 02 2011 at 1:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bruce

I grew up in the '60s and to this day still love the greatness of Janis...who is Amy Whinehouse?
Nobody should ever be compared to such an icon as Joplin....ever. Maybe I missed your point..or maybe you need to take up knitting and leave the commentary to experienced professionals.

December 08 2010 at 1:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ev

get a knowledge person to write & compare / about REAL women rockers, you lost it!

December 07 2010 at 10:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ev

Duh? loose the scrub who wrote this article. She knows not and sad to say
she knows not she knows not.

December 07 2010 at 9:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
crmsoftware4us

oh please.. no way!

CRM Definition

November 27 2010 at 6:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Pandora

No comparison. An insult to Joplin's memory. She was a unique performer, never be another like her.

November 19 2010 at 7:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
BnThrDnTht

OMG what an insult to Janis Joplin and Eartha Kitt - two great, truly talented women - Amy Winehouse cannot begin to compare. She has no talent, no looks, and should engrave a big "L" on her forehead...

October 30 2010 at 5:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike K

The problem for today's generations is that it's all been done before - all of it. The older generation of stars mentioned here were pioneers and did it first, there had never been anyone like them before.

Poor youngsters, I almost feel sorry for them ;-)

October 30 2010 at 5:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
BIG BOB


Listen to Joplin sing "Cry Baby", “Me & Bobby McGee”, “Mercedes Benz” etc.

Then try and compare it to anything from Winehouse you will clearly see: -- Joplin is a Major Talent where Winehouse is a minor one at best.

Has any female artist produced a better album than Joplin’s “Pearl”? -- I don't think so.

October 23 2010 at 9:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sonia

I am a massive Joplin fan, she is a true inspiration and the first white woman to do it at a time when there was huge black talent, like Etta James etc. She is a one off.

Amy is nothing like Janis, although I respect the fact she has tried to bring back proper music and a proper unmanufactured voice, lets give her a break guys, she can sing! she just can't rock it like JJ.

October 23 2010 at 7:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply