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Janis Ian's Controversial 'Society's Child' "Society's Child," made the singer-songwriter a star at 15. A year later, the same pop song about interracial romance won her a Grammy nomination, but it also resulted in death threats. Ian says the impact of "Society's Child" has remained with her; it's also the title of her recently released autobiography.

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Janis Ian's Controversial 'Society's Child'

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Janis Ian's Controversial 'Society's Child'

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Hear Songs Recorded In-Studio At NPR West

'Society's Child'

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'At Seventeen'

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Janis Ian's song, "Society's Child," made her a star at 15. A year later, that same pop song about interracial romance won her a Grammy nomination, but it also resulted in death threats.

Ian says the impact of "Society's Child" has remained with her; it's also the title of her recently released autobiography. Ian shares her story with Tony Cox.