Don’t Be a Janis « Baritones « Opera

I think I angered someone on Facebook when I did not react as I should to a photo of an obviously stoned Janis Joplin. The caption on the photo was “In a world of Kardashians, be a Janis.” The more I think about that photo and caption, the more disgusted I am by it. The person was ticked when I condemned the addict, expressing dismay that I thought her life was worthless because she was self-medicating due to depression. She also felt that Janis Joplin was an original, fighting against the commonality of others.

Unfortunately, having lived through the era, nothing could be farther from the truth. Janis Joplin died of a heroin overdose in 1970. Had she survived her music would be considered mediocre. Let’s be honest here. She was a junkie who destroyed herself. She was also following the crowd. In her time frame, a Kardashian would be the one who was a unique individual.

In the late 1960s, there was nothing unique about someone being drugged out of their minds, and dying of an over-dose. It was far more common in the music world than staying clean and sober. In less than a year, Jim Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison all died of drug over-doses.

Having lived through those years, I know people who became entrapped in the drug culture glamorized and popularized by celebs like Janis Joplin. With ONE exception, every single one of them destroyed their lives. The only reason one friend survived was due to the fact that she turned to Christ to fight her addiction. I saw promising lives totally ruined. Tens of thousands of people died. Lives were shattered.

There are some who contribute her death to depression or bi-polar disorder, and suicide or self-medication. Yes, it happens, but not as frequently as one might think. Perhaps it would help to be honest. The woman died from a drug overdose. She was a raging addict. She was an addict because drug use, in her era and where she lived was a fad. It was part of the culture. It was part of a culture that created a fad that inspired millions of young fans to copy their life-style. It was a culture that killed people.

Please, explain to me why that culture is superior to being a Kardashian? The bitter irony? There was NOTHING original about Janis Joplin when put into the cultural context of her life. Everyone was doing drugs. It was the era of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. People like the Kardashians would be the ones sticking out like the unique sore thumb.

Irony can be bitter.

As a footnote, this opera fan wants to mention during that same time frame, Beverly Sills was becoming an industry. Sherrill Milnes, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti were just starting their careers. Leontyne Price was a super-star. Joan Sutherland was an international star. Maria Callas, whose career was over, was still a diva. Robert Merrill and Richard Tucker ruled the Metropolitan Opera. The real irony, after all these years, looking back, Janis Joplin is nothing but a blip, a footnote in the history of Rock and Roll. Yet – these operatic super-stars have a legacy which will only grow brighter.

I guess opera does win. Fifty years from now, each and every one of these operatic legends will be remembered. I doubt if anyone but a trivia expert will have even heard of Janis Joplin. Golly gee, opera does win.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SJ Reidhead (aka The Pink Flamingo) is a writer based in New Mexico. The author of two published novels, both westerns: Dust Devil and The Second Mrs. Earp and two published works of non-fictions: TRAVESTY: Frank Waters Earp Agenda Exposed and A Church for Helldorado, Endicott Peabody's 1882 Tombstone Diary. One of the leading authorities on the life of Wyatt Earp and Tombstone during the Earp years, she is writing a series of murder mysteries set in modern day Tombstone. The author is also working on a book about fashion in the Wild West. When complete, there will be over 2100 unpublished antique photographs dating from 1855-1910.

The author's work has appeared in Wild West, True West, Blogcritics, and The Tombstone Times. Recently the author has had to deal with a father who succumbed to Alzheimer's Disease. This is leading to a book dealing with the frustrations of dealing with the frustrations of the disease, finance, legal, health-care, and things no one bothers telling families about it. A portion of the book will contain entries from a blog she kept, detailing the struggle with her father's AD. She is also working on a murder mystery series set in modern day Tombstone and Cochise County. Several books of essays on Christian living are currently in edits. A book of essays and revisions of articles about Wyatt Earp has been completed and will include her latest work detailing her theory about the murder of his second wife, Mattie.

SJ Reidhead has been involved in Republican politics since she was 'a little kid'. During the Reagan years she was a lobbyist working with various non-profit organizations who were attempting to salvage NASA and the American space program after the disastrous Carter years. In spite of ups and downs, and numerous disappointments, politically, it is obvious the only political hope for this country is via the Republican Party. Along with politics she is an opera fanatic, has been known to stalk baritones to the point of being a baritone junkie, and loves baseball.

The Pink Flamingo went on line on October 4, 2005.

THE PINK FLAMINGO STORY

It started out as a joke. During the seven years I worked with the girls of my parish, leading a youth group, one of the things that I stressed were manners. Part of having manners, the way I see it, is to know how to set a proper table, host a party, cater it, and clean up afterward. I was fortunate enough to have a group of very talented girls in my youth group. They learned how to plan for, and execute large church functions, very properly. During one such function I noticed there were several incredibly tacky pink flamingos sitting on the table. Knowing the girls were up to something, I said nothing. A few months later they did the same thing at a function I was hosting at my home. I said nothing. They had a birthday party for me. More pink flamingos appeared - and a joke was born.

Thanks to the girls, all of whom are now grown, I have a collection of pink flamingos. It has become an ongoing joke. When I began working on my political blog, I realized the only possibly title was The Pink Flamingo!