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It's not that her music is sad, other, more sensible people say. It's just that it's so real. Rarely has an artist been so honest about conveying deep emotional pain, as can be heard again on her latest album, Blood Red Cherry.
She performs two sold-out concerts tomorrow and Tuesday in the Winspear Centre.
It should be a great show, she says - "It's all nude."
After struggling for years as a lounge singer trying to get her music heard by a record company, Arden hit the mark in 1992 and soon released her debut album, Time For Mercy and then straight into 1994's Living Under June, which yielded the hit song Insensitive. In 1997, she released Happy?, which wasn't, hence the question mark.
While she stubbornly refused to recognize her own growing celebrity, high praise followed Jann everywhere, for her music, of course, but also for her dry wit, which landed her a gig hosting the 1997 Juno Awards. She turned out to be the funniest Juno host ever, although that's not such a big stretch.
Jann's humour actually comes out on Blood Red Cherry, featuring such songs as I Only Wanted Sex: "The hardest part of goodbye is moving all your stuff," the lyric goes. "Hey, what's the name of that one guy? I sure could use his pickup truck." There's some personal baggage there, she admits, and offers the following advice: "Never date a comedian, a firefighter or a musician."
With that, here's a look at the secret life of Jann:
1. What was the last movie that you saw and loved?
Fried Green Tomatoes.
2. What was the first album you owned?
The Carpenters.
3. What was the last book you read?
The White Bone, Barbara Gowdy.
4. What's your favourite hangout?
My diner, the Arden, in Calgary. We serve the greatest burger ever.
5. Do you have a pet peeve?
Intolerance and mean people.
6. What's your idea of the perfect Sunday?
The Sunday New York Times, a pot of coffee, good bacon, my kitchen table and my cats.
7. What's your favourite junk food?
Where do ya start? I love it all, but I'd have to say ripple chips and dip.
8. What was the worst job you ever had?
Gutting fish. I worked on a salmon trawler off the coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands. I gutted 700 fish a day.
9. What gadget or gizmo can you not live without?
My blow-dryer.
10. Do you have a hobby or habit that you think would surprise people?
I love gardening and I love cleaning my ears.
11. What's your favourite piece of clothing?
This black Club Monaco T-shirt that I've had forever. It's got holes in it and it's almost paper thin at this point.
12. What would you change about yourself if you could?
I wouldn't change a thing. I feel fine the way I am. It took me this long to like this version of me. God only knows what another version of me would do.
13. Whom do you most admire?
My mom and dad.
14. What is your greatest extravagance?
This really expensive face cream. It costs $1,500 for a year's supply.
15. Have you ever been mistaken for another celebrity?
No. Never. People say, "Hey, you're that chick." They know who I am. They just don't know my name.
16. Do you have a favourite quotation?
"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds" - Albert Einstein.
17. What is your greatest weakness?
I can't say no to anybody.
18. If you are reincarnated, who or what will you be?
I hope I come back as a cat that lives in my house, because they're spoiled rotten bastards.
19. If you had to go back in time to live in another decade, which one would you choose?
I have this eerie fascination with the Second World War. I think I'd like to experience that horrible time.
20. If you had to pick, which is your saddest song?
Hanging By a Thread. It's sad because it's about looking inward and knowing that you've failed in your life and it will never, ever be the same.