-Greatest Hurts-
~My Jann Arden Shrine~

THIS JUST IN: JANN's NEW CD WILL BE RELEASED JULY 22 2003!!
Hey hey! okay, Jann Arden is my FAVORITE singer in the entire world lol!
Her songs reach me on a very personal level, I can relate to every emotion in EVERY one of her songs.
Her music isnt the only thing that makes her my hero. I've wanted to be a singer all my life and Jann proves that
you don't have to be american, blond and 100 lbs to make it big. I also think what shes been through to become
famous is worth idolizing her over. Jann can take the most painful, sorrowful and horrific things in life and turn them into
the most beautiful songs, with the most beautiful words you'll ever hear! soo..
if you havent heard of her before I STRONGLY suggest that you read about her.. check out some pics.. some lyrics
even download some of her songs! HECK why not buy her CDS! its well worth it!!
The Midi below is playing "Insensitive" off of her CD "Living Under June"



~About Jann~
By now, the story of how Jann secured her first recording contract is well known.
Allan Reid, Senior Vice President of Universal Music Canada, confessed that he
had Arden’s demo tape in his car for weeks before finally hearing it. Experiencing
the emotional breakup of a relationship, Reid was surprised to have his feelings
expressed by this “unknown.” “It was like she was talking to me, about me, and
my situation.” TIME FOR MERCY was recorded later that year, and released in
February of 1993. This album eventually achieved double platinum status in
Canada and earned Jann two Juno awards.

It’s hard to know what emotions will be evoked by any of the songs chosen for
Jann’s GREATEST HURTS. “I Would Die for You” from TIME FOR MERCY illustrates
this potential paradox, “I wanted to write a happy song for a change, and I truly
thought this was it. My neighbor, however, thought it was the most depressing
thing she had ever heard.” “To me emotion is emotion,” states Arden “they are
all so closely connected that tears can come from laughter, and the greatest
growth comes from the most painful experiences. One extreme cannot exist
without the other.” “I Would Die for You” is a perfect example, as it remains one
of the most requested songs played at both weddings and funerals.

Many of Arden’s most successful songs walk this emotional tightrope. “Will You
Remember Me,” from the same album was the result of a particularly troubling
time, “One tends to really think about life and death when they get a pacemaker
installed at twenty years old. I kept wondering what people would say about me
at my funeral. I even wondered what I would say about myself.” The humility and
honesty conveyed through the lyrics result in the contained questions of
mortality, ‘i tried to be thoughtful/its hard not to be blind/will you remember me
after i’m gone.’

Released in August of 1994, LIVING UNDER JUNE demanded the attention of the
music industry: eight times Platinum in Canada, winner of four Junos including
Female Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, Video of the Year from
MuchMusic and numerous other industry awards. It was not ignored. This record
had so many hits that Jann was forced to choose only a sampling for inclusion on
her GREATEST HURTS. It goes without saying that the internationally renowned
single, “Insensitive,” would be part of the sample. Little needs to be said about
this hit written by fellow Calgarian Anne Loree. Reaching number one as far away
as Australia, and top ten in Italy, it can still be heard on the airwaves from Tokyo
to the Cayman Islands.

The song, “Good Mother” is one of the presents most often found with the roses
and runny eggs given on Mother’s Day. Many of the letters sent by fans mention
being brought to tears alongside their mothers at a live performance. This
intimate tribute contains the seemingly simple, yet poignant words that convey
the immense faith instilled in children by their parents, ‘Just be yourself.’

If the interpretation of “Good Mother” is simple and obvious, “Could I Be Your
Girl” is at the farthest end of that same interpretive spectrum. For some it
represents a conversation with God, for others, with a potential lover. Regardless,
it lends a voice to individual longings and desires of everyone that listens.

In Jann’s mind, the recording of “Unloved” with rock music icon Jackson Browne
remains one of the highlights of her career. She was always thrilled to use his
studio for production, and honoured by his contribution to this song. The
breathtaking blending of their voices in this duet was one more reason for music
lovers outside of Canada to notice Jann.

Of the albums that Jann has recorded with the knowledge and expertise of
Producer Ed Cherney (and he’s done them all) their collaborative talents are best
shown on the 1997 release, HAPPY?. Only a few of the songs from this much
overlooked album made it to the charts, yet it is considered one of the most
intimate of Jann’s recordings to date. “I think [“The Sound Of”] is the saddest of
all my songs, but it is so cleverly hidden behind Ed’s wonderful production. It
doesn’t seem sad at all.”

Not all of the songs selected for the GREATEST HURTS were chart toppers. This is
the case with the second selection from HAPPY?, “Saved.” The soothing strings
and sincere gratefulness of the lyrics have made it an all-time favorite. The
elation conveyed through the chorus celebrates a re-awakening to life’s simple
beauty, seen only on the other side of hardship.

The presence of guitarist and musical collaborator Russell Broom on last year’s
BLOOD RED CHERRY signaled a shift in Jann’s musical perspective, earning her
the 2001 Juno for Best Female Artist. The playfulness and sass that are an
ever-present part of Jann’s live-performances come through in many of the cuts
from this record. “Sleepless,” the first single from the album, appears in both the
original version as well as the fortified dance mix. “We checked the charts
regularly. It started climbing, and just when we thought it was done, it would gain
energy and scoot up the charts into the top 10 all over again.”

To Broom, “Sorry for Myself” includes “the finest lyrics [he has] ever heard.”
Arden comments, “It’s an indulgent little song that I wrote in the middle of a
really bad moment. That’s what I was feeling, and that’s exactly what I wrote.”
Frustration and exasperation permeate every word, ‘I can’t do anything/I don’t
need anybody else/I just feel sorry for myself.’

At this point in the collection, much of Jann’s self-portrait has been revealed
before the public. The love, longing, successes and pains have all been exposed.
What there is to know about the artist, is now known. However, ‘You can’t believe
every word that I write down’ the lyrics from the newest single “Never Mind”
caution listeners. Jann serves a dose of perspective with a hooky vocal chorus in
the first single, ‘What I am is too far in and can’t be found.’ Musically, this song
is unlike anything Jann has done in the past. Broom’s grinding guitar riffs
superbly contrast the gentle vocals, a combination that must be heard.

Debuted during the 2001 “One Night Only” Tour, the second new song on this
album, “Thing for You” received a swift and overwhelmingly positive response.
“This track is simply about being with someone that you absolutely adore,” states
Jann in her liner notes. When website fans were asked what songs they would
most like to hear on Jann’s greatest hits, the response for “Thing For You”
surprisingly equaled her other releases. With the assistance of Ivana Santilli,
(Bass is Base) on background vocals, the feelings of perfection that permeate
every aspect of a new relationship are re-created – life becomes completely
flawless. “I have no idea why it happens,” says Broom, “but every time I hear
this song I get goose bumps.”

During the mixing of the two newest singles, “Never Mind” and “Thing for You,” Ed
Cherney (The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton) was reminded of the
strength of Jann’s performances. “It occurred to me, looking back on all her work,
that Jann is the purest sounding female pop singer walking the face of the earth.
Her vocal performances are consistently stunning and the new songs are a
natural extension of her growth and self expression.”

One of the intriguing things about this record is the inclusion of rare recordings
such as the cover of Leonard Cohen’s, “If It Be Your Will” from the tribute album,
TOWER OF SONG; “You Don’t Know Me” from the soundtrack to the movie, MY
BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING; and the infectious groove of the dance mixed
“Sleepless” – the first bonus track. The second bonus track, a live version of
“Insensitive,” teases the uninitiated with the unpredictable humour found only on
stage at a Jann event.

From acting, to live comedy, to receiving the 2002 Best Songwriter Juno for the
singles 'Thing For You,' co-written with guitarist Russell Broom, and 'Never Mind,'
Jann’s unmatched talents are far greater than this meager list. Even with the
spectacular sampling in GREATEST HURTS, her many hits are far too numerous to
be contained on one album. This happens to be today’s greatest.

As Jann always says, “Two people can’t be wrong.”

+Links+

Too much Jann! go back home
More Jann (Discography ect.)
Lyrics to ALL of Jann's Songs!
I had the pleasure of seeing Jann in Concert!! Heres my REVIEW

Email: fake_plastic_superhero@hotmail.com