Its easy to get tongue-tied when youre on the phone talking toJanis Ian.
Just face it: Nothing you say will ever be quite as penetrating asTattooorStarsorAt Seventeen.Its best not to try.
Bar-Kar tells this tale of love, loss, and life-altering lyricism with the same tenderness of Ians songwriting.
Janis Ian looks back on her remarkable life and career in a new documentary.Courtesy of Janis Ian
Even if youre not a fan, you might be moved to tears.
In fact, Ians aware that many have done so at recent screenings in New York City and Miami.
Shes gracious even if she doesnt totally get the waterworks just yet.
Im not sure why that happens, she tells me matter-of-factly.
My wife tried to explain it to me but she couldnt really make me understand it.
By Ians account,Breaking Silencewas a long time coming.
Ive had a lot of offers over the years and its not something thats ever interested me.
You have to remember, I was 15.
I was going to school, I had friends, I was getting to sing in clubs.
I had what I wanted.
She was just 16 years old at the time.
But I also knew I was attracted to men.
Being bisexual was not a general concept.
You just forgot to specify gender.
Its a funny thing, Ian says.
I didnt think it was as important.
But when I met Pat, I knew that it was forever, and there was no question.
Thats what we gave them, Ian says.
Thats why people like me dealt with being called names.
Once you normalize something, everybody should be able to enjoy the normalcy of it.
If she knew, she humbly jests that she would bottle it for sale.
I really dont know, and I dont look at it very closely, she says.
I feel like thats talent and I was born with that.
But theres a point where you write what you write, and your talent is what it is.
