Janis Joplin - Summertime May 2026

Originally an aria from the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess , "Summertime" was designed as a gentle lullaby. Under Joplin’s care, it became something entirely different: a raw, agonizing blues-rock lament that defined the psychedelic sound of late-60s San Francisco. A Radical Reimagining

The White-Hot Intensity of Janis Joplin’s "Summertime" When Janis Joplin took the stage, she didn't just sing; she offered up a piece of her soul. While she is often remembered for the high-energy wails of "Piece of My Heart," it is her 1968 rendition of George Gershwin’s that stands as perhaps the most visceral example of her ability to transform a classic. Janis Joplin - Summertime

Janis recorded the track with for their landmark album Cheap Thrills . The arrangement itself was a departure from traditional jazz versions: Originally an aria from the 1935 opera Porgy