Hi everybody,
I'm new to the list, so for all I know, the recent tenseness in some of the
political discussions may come and go in cycles -- nicely balanced, thank
you, by people recommending sites like wordscanheal and gratefulness -- but I
joined the list to hear news of joni, and also thoroughly enjoy accounts and
memories of the recent Jonifest; hope to make it next year, or whenever the
next one comes. All this tension -- and the recent spate of mad gunmen here
in California have made me afraid there may be an earthquake on the way.
(Half kidding.)
Speaking of Joni content:
Okay, this is old discussion to most of you -- but did anyone else wince even
slightly at Joni's choice of "Sex Kills"? I know I'm nitpicking, and she was
mostly attacking commercialism and bad vibes and behaviors, but I assume she
was referring to AIDS (what else?), and, well, we all know it isn't the sex
which kills. Of course, I'm at a loss to come up with a way she could have
fit any other wording into the song without ruining the flow. Still...
Sorry if this was discussed to death seven years ago.
Re: credits on the TtT album -- What exactly is a "guitar orchestra?" I
vaguely remember reading an article somewhere in which JM said she had been
introduced to/learned/picked up some kind of way of programming her various
tunings into a computer so that she wouldn't have to continually retune her
guitars manually. I assume that's what this refers to. Is it possibly
responsible for the somewhat "muddy" sound on some of the songs on that album?
(A meta question) Um, are we allowed to speculate/comment/ask questions about
JM herself and her personal life? This may have been specified when I signed
up, but I don't remember, and I've noticed it doesn't happen much, if at all,
here at (hopefully, soon, again?) Merry Olde JMDL.
That question having been posed, in the painting on the TtT album insert of
the man with reflective glasses reading a newspaper or mag, a bowl in the
foreground with a key, lightbulb and herbs, and a lightwsitch in the
background -- is that the mysterious (to me) Don(ald) Freed (of "Facelift")?
Speaking of the paintings on that album and on BSN, I do think she's getting
better and better, or, I should say, more to my taste. Although her lyrics
are sometimes chiding, I find her paintings peaceful, serene, sometimes
playful on those albums. I don't always get her symbolism (as in the first
painting I mentioned, with key, bulb, switch -- I know, shadows and light,
and maybe change... someone help me here -- I like the visual arts, but am
somewhat of a moron when trying to interpret them). Also, (really personal
here) is JM still with Mr. Freed? Was he one of the guys seated next to Joni
on that "Special Night" thingy last year? Also, was her daughter there --
one of the young women seated near her that night looked sorta like the one
picture of Kilauren I've seen.
In the title song on TtT, who are Sophia and Ana? Real people, or is she
referring to mythology? (God, I'm lazy.)
Did anyone else have trouble figuring out the rhythm pattern/time signature
in "Stay in Touch", or was it just kinda free with lots of fermate?
Still on TtT, that over-the-shoulder painting of herself with a deer in the
foreground, people in the distance, opposite "My Best to You" -- could that
have been a peace offering to her mother -- maybe it was/is one of her
favorite songs? Is JM's mom still alive? Her dad?
Again, my apologies if (a) y'all thrashed these things all out years ago, and
(b) if we're not supposed to dig into Joni's personal life here. If the
latter, ignore the offending questions/musings.
Peace, love and siquomb to all,
Walt
