Wesley Morris

Nice to see you too.

Nice to see you too.

I'm Wesley Morris. I'm a critic at the New York Times. And back in 2022, this news broke that this amazing event had taken place at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island. Joni Mitchell had come out and played a concert for the first time in a long time.

I'm Wesley Morris. I'm a critic at the New York Times. And back in 2022, this news broke that this amazing event had taken place at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island. Joni Mitchell had come out and played a concert for the first time in a long time.

And it was a big deal because Joni Mitchell, the singer, the songwriter, influencer of generations of musicians, that person had virtually disappeared from public life. She'd sworn off touring. And then in 2015, a brain aneurysm almost killed her. She survived, but her ability to sing or even speak was gone.

And it was a big deal because Joni Mitchell, the singer, the songwriter, influencer of generations of musicians, that person had virtually disappeared from public life. She'd sworn off touring. And then in 2015, a brain aneurysm almost killed her. She survived, but her ability to sing or even speak was gone.

So you can imagine the shock when she appeared on stage at Newport surrounded by a bunch of musicians led by Brandi Carlile and including folks like Winona Judd and Marcus Mumford. Some of these same musicians had been convening at her house in L.A. and somebody started calling those gatherings Joanie Jams. And now, here they all were, taking her living room sessions public.

So you can imagine the shock when she appeared on stage at Newport surrounded by a bunch of musicians led by Brandi Carlile and including folks like Winona Judd and Marcus Mumford. Some of these same musicians had been convening at her house in L.A. and somebody started calling those gatherings Joanie Jams. And now, here they all were, taking her living room sessions public.

The Joanie Mitchell fans went crazy! She was back! And, I might add, back in that signature beret. But honestly, I had my doubts. Like, what was really happening here? Did Joni Mitchell even want this? Or were these adoring young musician fans making her do something for their own reasons? Was it elder care? I wasn't there! I don't know!

The Joanie Mitchell fans went crazy! She was back! And, I might add, back in that signature beret. But honestly, I had my doubts. Like, what was really happening here? Did Joni Mitchell even want this? Or were these adoring young musician fans making her do something for their own reasons? Was it elder care? I wasn't there! I don't know!

And then, earlier this year, I'm watching the Grammys at home in my living room. And in the middle of the show, the stage went dark and a familiar voice filled the room.

And then, earlier this year, I'm watching the Grammys at home in my living room. And in the middle of the show, the stage went dark and a familiar voice filled the room.

It was low, and it was deliberate. And slowly, part of the stage spun around to reveal Joni Mitchell. Seated in an armchair, one hand stirring a walking can, the other moving to the cadences of her own lyricism. And she was indeed surrounded by other musicians.

It was low, and it was deliberate. And slowly, part of the stage spun around to reveal Joni Mitchell. Seated in an armchair, one hand stirring a walking can, the other moving to the cadences of her own lyricism. And she was indeed surrounded by other musicians.

And I was like, okay, nevermind. I take it all back. Because so much about this performance was so moving. First of all, just the way the people on stage, these musicians, these great musicians were regarding Joni Mitchell. Like they were having the same experience that I was at home, except they were there and they were in awe of the beauty of this moment.

And I was like, okay, nevermind. I take it all back. Because so much about this performance was so moving. First of all, just the way the people on stage, these musicians, these great musicians were regarding Joni Mitchell. Like they were having the same experience that I was at home, except they were there and they were in awe of the beauty of this moment.

Like they were at the feet of a musical mother. And then there were the cutaways to musicians in the audience. One shot looked over Dua Lipa's shoulder at Beyonce, who was just swaying in thought. And then another shot caught Taylor Swift mid-standing ovation. And I just got the sense that a lot of people in that room were thinking about what 50 years from now looks like for them.

Like they were at the feet of a musical mother. And then there were the cutaways to musicians in the audience. One shot looked over Dua Lipa's shoulder at Beyonce, who was just swaying in thought. And then another shot caught Taylor Swift mid-standing ovation. And I just got the sense that a lot of people in that room were thinking about what 50 years from now looks like for them.

How is Antihero going to sound when Taylor Swift's 80 years old? What's that song going to be about then? But mostly, I was struck by how good Joni Mitchell sounded. She's lost an octave over the years, but there's still tremendous power in her lower register. She can still control. She can still wield it.

How is Antihero going to sound when Taylor Swift's 80 years old? What's that song going to be about then? But mostly, I was struck by how good Joni Mitchell sounded. She's lost an octave over the years, but there's still tremendous power in her lower register. She can still control. She can still wield it.