Talk:Janis Ian

Birthdate

Internet sources variously give April 7th, 1951 and May 7th, 1951 as Janis Ian's birthdate. AllMusic gives both dates on the same page. IMDb gives April 7th, 1951. On page 40 of my paperback copy of "Society's child: my autobiography" (ISBN 978-1-58542-749-9) Janis writes, "We did the session just after my birthday on April 7th." So I think April 7th is surely the right date. My apologies, but being new and unsure how to format and footnote that properly, I haven't attempted to make the change myself. Coises (talk) 08:36, 11 February 2015 (UTC)

Lesbian?

Janis Ian is bisexual, why is she listed under categories that describe her as "lesbian" when she's not and is bisexual. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.78.105.70 (talk) 23:41, 29 July 2015 (UTC)

I don't know her sexuality; the sources say "lesbian" rather than "bisexual", and on Wikipedia we go by what the sources say. If you have recent and reliable sources which say bisexual, you could bring them here to discuss the matter further. SilkTork ^{✔Tea time} 11:55, 30 July 2015 (UTC)

Adjusted origin of children

I've changed the line "Ian has a stepdaughter and two grandchildren by Snyder" to "Ian has a stepdaughter and two grandchildren with Snyder." This is not an NPOV move on my part; to have children "by" someone in English means "by the admixture of both participant's genetic material, resulting in pregnancy and birth." This is not yet possible for same-sex parents; to date, they can have children "with" each other, but not "by" each other. This post is meant to diffuse any fear that the change was an oblique political statement. Laodah 19:46, 27 January 2016 (UTC)

Verve years

This article seems to really downplay her Verve years, other than "Society's Child". Seems to me like that really deserves some expansion. The albums were (deservedly) pretty well-respected at the time, and are particularly remarkable when you consider that she was a teenager at the time. - Jmabel | Talk 07:04, 20 January 2018 (UTC)

Feel free to Be Bold and add in content you feel is lacking. Ckruschke (talk) 19:45, 22 January 2018 (UTC)Ckruschke

Radio station burned for playing Society's Child?

I believe that radio station should get named, and some credit. What were the call letters? Jeremy Lansman (talk) 09:43, 27 August 2022 (UTC)

The assertion is unsourced other than to her 2008 autobiography, which gives no details. Newspapers.com has nothing about any such incident in any Georgia paper, 1965-1967. --Orange Mike | Talk 14:42, 27 August 2022 (UTC)

"AI Overview

Based on the provided search results, there is no specific mention of a radio station in Atlanta that burned in 1967. " Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 03:44, 24 June 2025 (UTC) .

Removed after having been tagged since 2022. Editors who wish it to be retained can provide a source. DonIago (talk) 17:03, 24 June 2025 (UTC)

Jewish?

I hate to be a pedant, but nothing in the article currently asserts that Ian is Jewish, only that her parents were Jewish. Can a supporting source be provided and the article updated accordingly? DonIago (talk) 13:33, 16 June 2025 (UTC)

I guess your question relates to the seven "Jewish" Categories? Martinevans123 (talk) 13:52, 16 June 2025 (UTC)

Indeed. DonIago (talk) 17:43, 16 June 2025 (UTC)

This source says: "Born in 1951, Ian – who describes herself as a “cultural Jew” – grew up “all over New Jersey,”..."? Martinevans123 (talk) 17:51, 16 June 2025 (UTC)

Hm. I'm not entirely sanguine about that phrasing, but I'm not sure I care enough to make an issue of it either. DonIago (talk) 19:31, 16 June 2025 (UTC)

It's a bit subjective, isn't it. I was thinking of ethnic Jewishness and religious Jewishness, but then there's also Ian's own "cultural Jewishness". Maybe there are many more facets. I don't know how many boxes a person needs to tick to deserve those Categories. But I'm pretty sure they are currently unjustified as a "defining feature" of Ian's life. Martinevans123 (talk) 19:38, 16 June 2025 (UTC)

I was Bar Mitvah'ed, but I definitely describe myself as an "ethnic Jew" these days to prevent any misconception that I'm particularly religious (at least in the Jewish sense). It's unclear in what sense of the term "Jewish" the categories are meant to be applied, though I'd kind of assume either religious or at least more significantly ethnic than I would consider myself to be.

As such, if you feel it's best to remove the categories, I won't stand in your way, at least until a stronger source comes to light. DonIago (talk) 19:56, 16 June 2025 (UTC)

Missing albums

Billie’s Bones (2004) and Folk is the New Black (2006) are missing. I don’t know how to edit, or I would add them. Mmahamm1 (talk) 21:34, 23 June 2025 (UTC)

They are listed under "studio albums". Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 03:33, 24 June 2025 (UTC)

Her financial and tax disaster

Her financial struggles after her manager stole her money and so forth are well known, yet it’s completely missing from her story here. I don’t have the chops to do it justice, but surely somebody should.

Poihths (talk) 01:13, 5 December 2025 (UTC)

Can you provide sources at least? DonIago (talk) 04:11, 5 December 2025 (UTC)