Joni Mitchell Never Lies
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What was the significance of Joni Mitchell's Newport Folk Festival performance?
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.
How did Joni Mitchell's health challenges affect her music career?
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!
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.
Rosen flows...
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.
I've looked at love from both sides now
What role do younger musicians play in Joni Mitchell's narrative?
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.
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. So when more of these Joanie jams got scheduled at the Hollywood Bowl, I knew I had to get myself on a plane to hear her with my own ears and see her with my own eyes. I also knew my friend Sasha Weiss was going. Sasha's a writer and my editor at The Times Magazine, and we talk a lot. And I wanted to ask her what it felt like to be there at one of these shows. We went on different nights.
She went on Saturday. I went on Sunday. And I wanted to talk about who Joni Mitchell is to her and how it feels to experience an 80-year-old in full command of her meaning. Hi, Sasha. Hi, Wesley. How are you? I'm good. I want to talk about the concert, obviously, but before we do that, I just, I gotta ask you what your relationship to Joni Mitchell is. Like, what's your first Joni Mitchell moment?
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What was the significance of Joni Mitchell's Newport Folk Festival performance?
0:55–1:22
2
How did Joni Mitchell's health challenges affect her music career?
1:22–3:05
3
What emotions did Joni Mitchell's comeback evoke for audiences?
3:05
4
What role do younger musicians play in Joni Mitchell's narrative?
2:17–6:52
5
How does Joni Mitchell's performance style reflect her artistic journey?
6:52–7:00
6
What is the meaning behind the set list choices in Joni Mitchell's concert?
7:00–8:49
7
How does Joni Mitchell's legacy influence contemporary artists?
8:49
8
What are the personal connections listeners have with Joni Mitchell's music?
5:36–33:14