Artists are taught to be humble about their impact, especially in folk music. It's so ingrained that I have a hard time even thinking I had any impact other than what a normal hit song would have.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes humility in the artistic community and the common perception that artists often underestimate their influence.
Janis Ian reflects on the importance of humility among artists, particularly in the realm of folk music. She expresses a belief that the impact of her work, like that of many artists, is often regarded as modest, akin to a commercial hit, rather than something more significant. This underscores a cultural norm where artists feel pressured to downplay their contributions and influence in the music industry.
In practice
This quote can be used during a panel discussion about the role of artists in society.
I was one of I think three white girls in my school. So, I was very much an outsider. And plus I was Jewish and all of my friends were black and Baptist because they listen to the coolest music. We were all listening to Ray Charles and what was then called race music.
It's what I do well - I write about things that make people uncomfortable. That's probably the only thing I do better than my peers.
I see interracial couples all the time in Nashville. I'm a Jew in Nashville. I'm a gay person in Nashville. It's a non-issue in most of the time. That's a huge leap forward.
'Society's Child' was a real hard record to start with. That's all you want is for you to put your first record out and have people screaming at you in the streets. But it taught me right away that what I was doing was valuable and important.
I had a vague idea of the song's impact in the '60s, but that was tempered by the hate mail and threats I was receiving. It was only about ten years ago, when I finally put it back in my show because so many people were asking for it, that I understood 'Society's Child' real impact.
It seems to be part of the human condition to need someone you can look down on. I still don't get that one.
So while you're imitating Al Capone, I'll be Nina Simone_x000D_ And defecating on your microphone.
I am very depressed and deeply disgusted with painting. It is really a continual torture.
Here's the thing with me and the religious thing. This is the flat-out truth: I find the religiosity and philosophy in the music. I don't find it anywhere else.
I did a lot of touring in my youth, and I learnt very quickly that giving is what it's all about. It's about the gift of making an audience feel great and forget their cares, if only for a few hours.
Whosoever knoweth the power of the dance, dwelleth in God.
There's one thing better than having a great actor, and that's having a great actor who's never done this kind of role before and is hungry to do it. They're testing themselves every day. They want to get out of their trailer and get to work.
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