¤ milky moon ¤

well, in reviewing HOOM, many critics have name dropped Joni as a comparison, and Joanna has called HOOM her 70s singer-songwriter album. Any thoughts on the legendary Ms. Mitchell?

Of course I've always been a huge fan so can only have a biased slant. My fav albums in order:
Blue
For the Roses
Ladies of the Canyon
Clouds

Hissing of Summer Lawns and after, I never could truly get into for their jazz experimentation.

It's easy to make a connection between the titles of "In California" vs. Joni's "California," but I noticed a similar lyrical line in "Go Long" and "The Gallery" (from Clouds).

"I have never seen such a terrible room, gilded with the gold teeth of the women who loved you..."
"When you leave me alone in this old palace of yours, it starts to get to me..."

"When I first saw you gallery, I like the ones of ladies/ But now their faces follow me, and all their eyes look shady..."
"I keep your house in fit repair, I dust the portraits daily..."

Ah, Joni! I felt like crying when a friend's reel-to-reel recorder chewed up my Clouds tape into a million little pieces while I was in Vietnam.

Her live demeanor sometimes reminds me of Joni
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q4foLKDlcE

I'm so shocked that the three of us are the only Joni fans on this forum; a woman considered to be one of the greatest musicians/songwriters in the 20th Century. Decades before Joanna showed us she has it all, Joni had all that and even some more: a crystalline voice, multi-instrumental capabilities, song-writing prowess, poetic lyrics, talented painter & visual artist, emotional depth, undeniable presence, physical beauty and sexual magnetism.

Polli, I trust you've replaced the copy of Clouds since Nam? My favorite song from that album is "That Song about the Midway"
Jessie, thx for sharing the video. I love watching her play that dulcimer.

Actually, I hadn't replaced it...until a few minutes ago. While listening, I find myself grinning in the same way that I do while listening to Joanna.

juniper, it isn't fair to assume because there are only a few posts that there are only 3 fans of an artist on these forums

I like just about all the artists listed in each thread here, doesn't mean I post in them all ;)

Joni is one of those recluse types and doesn't tour very often at all- her last being 10 years ago.
I have only had the opportunity to see her live once in 1998.

Blue is in my top 20 albums of all time easily

From Joni's FB page today:

JoniMitchell.com has an opportunity to acquire a number of untouched, original songbooks for Hejira and Hissing of Summer Lawns. We are trying to gauge interest in deciding to purchase them or not. We would offer both books for $12 total, including shipping to a US location. Reply if interested in the deal.

Joni is beyond most artists, she is an actual musical fixture in many of our lives(well us older folks), not sure there is anything to add after that, every new female artist is simply measured against this mean. don't think any will surpass her ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgMEPk6fvpg

dwain

I never quite understood all the fuss about Joni Mitchell. I think she's allright (I like the "Blue" album) but I really don't like her voice. I never really tried to understand her lyrics but I didn't feel "attracted" to what she was saying.

I suppose the fact she appeared at a time when female singer-songwriters were not so numerous has a lot to do with her recognition but I'm sure if she'd appear now, she wouldn't be such a great deal.
In comparison, I think Laura Nyro was far more interesting.

I'm probably wrong, and allthough I'm sure she influenced a lot of female singer/songwriters, I feel Joni Mitchell is kind of over-rated... Please don't owl, it's only my point of view...

sorta surprised about your perspective on Joni Mitchell
Since her debut in 1965 and having been a major influence on Kate, she is part of KT lore

She is more than a female singer-songwriter and one of the most influential and respected pop artists ever, have a read- and very few artists today can touch what she has done- male or female:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joni_Mitchell

Pierre, although I don't agree with your opinions about Joni, I do understand how you might not like her. With so many artists out there, and so many varying opinions about them, it just stands to reason that a lot of people are not going to like every artist that I do. I would be willing to bet that there are others about whom we would disagree. That's ok with me...as long as you don't try to convert me.

yeah Pierre, there pretty much were no other female singer/songwriters before Joni, she set the bar. I guess icons are not always loved and thats ok too.

dwain

Actually Pierre in Chapter 3 of "The Biography: Kate Bush" by Rob Jovanovic, 2006

There's a quote from Kate Bush stating that Joni Mitchell is one of very few female influences on her

I also have several out of print Kate books from the 80s, and one that mentions Joni as well

pick all the nits you want, the fact she brings Joni Mitchell up as the one female artist who stands on her own in relation to all the ever-mentioned male influences, is enough for me to state she was influenced by her.

Now you may choose to argue as to what degree that may be- lyrically, musically, as a woman, her fashion, the books she read, etc, etc, but it is right there in black and white.

Hounds of Love!