Come on, come on, come on, come on... and TAKE IT....

take another little piece of my heart!

Janis Joplin singing her iconic version of PIECE OF MY HEART.

* sidenote -  love the reoccurring storyline on 30 ROCK where Jenna Maroney (played by Jane Krakowsi) is filming a Janis Joplin biopic.  They couldn't get the rights to the songs and can't use her name...  

... so this leads to "Janet Jopler" singing...

“Come on, come on, come on and Take it!
Take another little chunk of my love now, Mister!
You know you bought it if life makes you sweet food!
Chunk of my love! Chunk of my love!
And take it!
Chunk of my lung! Chunk of my lung!
Take it ! Take a big ol’ chunk of my lung now, baby!
Take a big ol’ chunk of my lung! Chunk of my lung!
You know you’ve bought it if it makes you buy it with thingsaahhh!”

brilliant!!

Now back to the "real" Janis.  Her version of PIECE OF MY HEART was actually a cover.

Here is the ORIGINAL version of PIECE OF MY HEART sung by ERMA FRANKLIN who happens to be Aretha Franklin's older sister.  

Love some Janis, but when I first heard this... it was a revelation.  It was like a whole different song.  

Cultural writer Ellen Willis wrote of the 2 different versions... 

"When Franklin sings it, it is a challenge: no matter what you do to me, I will not let you destroy my ability to be human, to love. Joplin seems rather to be saying, surely if I keep taking this, if I keep setting an example of love and forgiveness, surely he has to understand, change, give me back what I have given".

I really love both interpretations.

There have been many covers of the tune through the years.  One really sticks out in my mind.

On the 2005 Grammy's, MELISSA ETHERIDGE (who was going through chemotherapy for cancer at the time) boldly took the stage and sung her heart out in a very personal performance.  She was telling the world I have been fighting and made it through.  This performance was an inspiration to anyone fighting this horrible disease.

 

You can find a studio version here.