There’s always a singer or a song that you remember hearing for the first time. You remember where you were, who you were with, the date and what you were wearing. I’ve got an atrocious memory, but when it comes to music; I remember more than I probably should. It’s a good job we can’t read each other’s minds because I’d probably be fucked.

One Christmas, my mum bought me a Janis Joplin album. She knew of my love for female singers with strong voices that made your whole body tremble. She used to play Janis Joplin around the house when I was younger, and to finally have my own Janis Joplin album made me insanely happy. I spent that Christmas morning sat in my room just playing it over and over. I probably would’ve spent the whole day in my room listening to her if I could.

Janis’ voice is one that, regardless of what genre of music you favour; you still have a place in your heart reserved for her. Her voice could warm the coldest of hearts; it could break the hardest of hearts. It had such power; you couldn’t believe a voice like this could come from someone who seemed so gentle and fragile.

As someone who is drawn to anything that seems vulnerable- I don’t mean it in a creepy way, I just love voices that project such fragility and vulnerability; I fell instantly with Janis’ voice, I can’t understand how anyone couldn’t. With every note that she sang, you could really feel it. You didn’t feel it in your heart, you felt it much deeper. You felt it in your soul. Thing is, you still feel the same way now which proves that Janis Joplin will ALWAYS be one of the greats, if not the greatest.

Of course you get those who are obsessed with the “Club 27” theory; they fail to see that a talent was well and truly lost 41 years ago today. During the 60s, the two most valuable and important women in music were Janis Joplin and Grace Slick. Both had a voice that had you in a chokehold. But the kind of chokehold that you didn’t mind to be in, you wanted them to grip you harder and for as long as possible. They were more than icons, and still are. They paved the way for how a front-woman should be; fearless but with a fragile side. I say front-woman, but it can apply to anyone who fronts a band. Her favourite drink was Southern Comfort, when I drink it, I lose my eyesight. This has nothing to do with any of this; I just felt you needed to know. Y’know, casually adding a personal touch and whatnot.

I don’t need to write hundreds or thousands of words to tell you just how greatly missed she is or how gorgeous she was or how wonderful her voice was; it’s obvious in every single performance and recording of hers. You can tell, even with album recordings, that Janis Joplin put her heart and soul into all she did. You felt every single word she sang because you knew she felt it too. Your heart broke because she was expressing your heartbreak and frustrations. Sure there are some semi decent singers around now, but none will ever have the power Janis had. None will ever be as inspirational. She set the trend, it’s just a shame the standard has declined since.

“Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got.“