AT SEVENTEEN

Eddy McManus’ cover of Janis Ian’s “At Seventeen” is a powerful and introspective performance that delves into the emotions and experiences of a sad and misunderstood youth who realizes that others have more privileged lives.

Originally written and recorded by Janis Ian in 1973, “At Seventeen” was inspired by a newspaper article about a former teenage debutante who learned the hard way that being popular did not solve all her problems. Ian initially struggled with the idea of sharing such a personal and introspective song with the world, but eventually decided to record and perform it after adding the song’s final verse.

Promoting “At Seventeen” was no easy task, as it was longer than most radio hits and packed with lyrics. Along with the promotions team at her record company, Ian decided to focus on marketing the song to women, which was a challenge given that many radio stations were controlled by men. Despite the challenges, Ian persevered and did a grueling series of daytime talk shows for six months before finally being granted an appearance on The Tonight Show, where she performed the song and it took off.

Eddy McManus’ cover of “At Seventeen” captures the emotion and depth of the original song, and his emotive and powerful vocals perfectly convey the feelings of sadness and isolation that are at the heart of the lyrics. It is a truly moving and unforgettable performance, and a must-listen for any fan of introspective and emotionally charged music.

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