janis joplin - mercedes benz

And now we're talking legends. Unfortunately, legends lived and died before my time. I see this song as a humourous-bitter comment and I can't say it doesn't still ring true after 30-something years. Some things never change.

Lyrics of this were in the forum signature of an online-acquaintance of mine, which recently re-brought the song to my attention. I've looked for a clip with actual Janis footage in it, but all those were rather twisted (am refraining hard from saying 'tormented' and 'slaughtered') versions of the songs or covers. I'd rather put up with a good song and a poor slideshow. Nice try though and thanks for using the original. Here is the commentary of one youtube user on the song:

This was recorded on October 1, 1970. If Joplin had lived, they may have added instruments to it before releasing it, but Joplin died 3 days later.
Joplin wrote this with a poet named Michael McClure. It is a social commentary on how many people relate happiness and self-worth with money and material possessions.
In the '90s, Mercedes used this in commercials for their cars. It was one of the great misappropriations of a song in a commercial, as Joplin's song was meant to convey the message that owning a luxury automobile does not make you a better person. Joplin's step-sister owned the rights to the song and allowed Mercedes to use it.
Janis Joplin never got a Mercedes Benz, but she did have a 1965 Porsche that was painted to become a piece of hippie art.