I expected Miriam Clancy’s 'Janis, You’re Evil!' to be another Halloween-themed track, but the timing and title prove to be smoke and mirrors. There’s a much bigger story here, with considerably more substance than a few seasonal frights.
Opening with a slightly spooky intro before voice and guitar take centre stage, the song gradually builds until the power kicks in with an arsenal of guitars and percussion. All the while, Clancy’s strong, emotive vocals remain front and centre, not haunting in the usual sense, but delivering a deeply personal story of survival, victim-blaming and the injustices faced by women who dare to speak out.
As the arrangement swells, so does the defiance, turning painful experiences into a powerful statement about standing up for yourself and others. There’s plenty to get your teeth into here, and precious little that’s merely for show. Taken from, 'Final Girl', her forthcoming album; 'Janis, You’re Evil!' is a song which deserves to live well beyond Halloween - the music video is terrific, too!