"Go ahead. Take another piece of my heart. I dare you."
Rolling in at no. 7 on my Top 10 list is Haley's tribute to the great Janis Joplin on Rock & Roll Hall of Fame week. Ever since Haley's Joplin-esque growl was inadvertently unleashed upon an unsuspecting world during her Hollywood Round 3 solo performance, Randy's been pestering her for some Joplin and Haley finally decided to shut him up on Top 9 week. 'Piece of My Heart' was Janis Joplin's biggest hit during her 3-year stint with the psychedelic rock group 'Big Brother and the Holding Company,' peaking at no. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968.
In deference to the '60's great, Haley maintained the style and arrangement of Joplin's version of this song (it was originally written for and sung by Aretha Franklin's sister Erma). Preserving the nihilistic, angry and defiant tone of the song, Haley channeled that Joplin vibe perfectly. It was as if Janis Joplin's spirit and essence reached across the gulf of time and touched Haley, imbuing her performance with a soulful and from-the-heart authenticity that is rarely seen in an artist as young as she. Of course, Haley is no stranger when it comes to singing songs from her parents' generation (I mean c'mon, she sang Jefferson Airplane's 'White Rabbit' at a yacht club once for chrissakes), but that doesn't make it any less remarkable.
Well, well, well big surprise! Randy loved it. As a matter of fact, all three judges did. Haley picked a great song and did it justice, showing the world that she has 'just the right amount of throwback.' And somewhere up in Rock & Roll Heaven, Janis Joplin smiled down on Haley Reinhart.
Well, well, well big surprise! Randy loved it. As a matter of fact, all three judges did. Haley picked a great song and did it justice, showing the world that she has 'just the right amount of throwback.' And somewhere up in Rock & Roll Heaven, Janis Joplin smiled down on Haley Reinhart.
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