I suppose that because I was introduced to Joni at the very beginning of her career I fell in love not only with her poetic prowess, but with the incredible range of her voice as well as her tunings and beautiful melodies. I do realize that her tastes have changed over the years and I have incredible respect for her bravery in the face of the obnoxious music industry. However, as far as I'm concerned she really did ruin her voice through smoking (and naturally through no fault of her own just by the aging process). And I guess my own tastes have changed as well so that I've lost patience with what I consider the sameness tempos of the new album and the general downbeat feeling. And hey, she can swing with the best of 'em!
To me, Diana Krall's version of "A Case of You" on the JM Tribute that was broadcast here in the States in April of 2000 just blows any other version away. Including Joni's original, even. Anyway, all in my humble opinion. Cheers, Arlene ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2003 10:09 AM Subject: Re: JMDL Digest V2003 #33 : I'd like to give a response to Arlene T. : : I'm 22 and am French and, here in France, Joni Mitchell remains mostly : unknown, above all amongst the young generation. However, everyone here knows : that song by Janet Jackson using a sample from Big Yellow Taxi (the chorus of : the song, actually), but no-one could say who sings it. Well, it is easy to : find her albums in record stores, but there's no diffusion at all. I first : got my attention to her when I watched the Isle of Wight concert, broadcast : on TV a few years go, and where Joni, dressed in yellow, cried before : singing. Then, I borrowed in a library the Blue album, then the Court & Spark : album. And that was it : I loved both. Then, I borrowed Both Sides Now (2000) : and did not liked it very much (like you, Arlene, that voice!). Then I bought : Hejira, Mingus, The Hissing of the Summer Lawns, Clouds, etc. She had such an : influence !! : I bought "Travelogue" and the least that I can say is that it is one of the : best albums I have ever listened to. The rearrangements of the three Hejira : songs (Amelia, Hejira, Refuge of the Roads) are so beautiful ! And The Sire : of Sorrow, Chinese Cafe, Woodstock, etc. !!! No upbeat tempo here, but 22 : great songs I can tell ! : At nearly sixty, she cannot swing like she used to do before. She turns to : philarmonic jazz, and that's all natural considering her career. : : Yours faithfully, : : Laurent. : : ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) :
