Janis Joplin: Mercedes Benz
Current Knowledge: I already cover Bobby McGee, but I only learned it because, like this song, a ton of people asked me to do so. I'm pretty sure I know a lot more Janis Joplin songs than I think I do, but, like with Simon and Garfunkel, if you played them for me I couldn't pick them out. Plus, learning this is going to satisfy everybody and their brother once I can play it.
First Thoughts: Okay I kind of forgot that Janis Joplin has the coolest voice in all of history. That's a kind of tone that can never be taught, and can only be achieved through years worth of illegal substance abuse. Silver linings, I guess. This is originally totally a Capella? That's really odd. I never would have guessed that in a million years, but I actually really like it. I think it fits pretty well with the message she's trying to get across, at least. And you can hear her smoke-and-gravel voice so well this way! This explains why I've never heard it though. Who covers an a Capella song? It's not like they're gonna play that on the radio.
Verdict: I didn't expect pretty much anything I encountered listening to this, but it was a pleasant surprise, I think. My voice isn't anywhere near as gravelly as Janis Joplin's, not by a long shot, but with that aside, based on the range and phrasing and stuff I can see why people have requested it. I think I'd do a decent job. But does this mean I have to write chords for it?! I'm gonna do some looking for a version with a band, because I feel like that had to have been done at some point.... okay, I guess it never was. How odd. It was remixed in 2003?! That's super bizarre, too, although that sound is kind of more along the lines of what I expected. I'm totally perplexed as to how this could have become such an iconic thing. But it's a very cool song nonetheless, that I am now very much looking forward to covering and satisfying a lot of belligerent drunk people with.
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