Part Two, Joni CBC Special

[Scott Price]

The second segment of this documentary was given an impossible task...to 
cram Joni's career from the early 1970s to present into a 50-minute TV show. 
Given the constraint, it pulled it off pretty well, but was forced to focus 
on only a few key elements. 

The show gave brief glimpses of live performances of songs from "Blue," "For 
The Roses," "Court and Spark," and "Hejira." Joni candidly referred to her 
own blue period and told of retreating to her Canadian hideaway for a year 
while she fought depression and a breakdown. The producers openly pointed 
out that "Blue" was a landmark for Joni, her fans, and the music world as 
she bared her soul like no one had done before and forever changed the rules 
for singer-songwriters by introducing an era of total openness and honesty. 

Joni's collaboration with Charles Mingus and her fall from commercial 
success was ably chronicled, and the big message here was that she has never 
compromised her muse, even as David Geffen and others were encouraging her 
to keep mining the pop music formula created with C&S, she was only 
interested in working with the Jacos and the Herbies and the Shorters of the 
world, believing these musicians were the only ones suited to produce the 
sounds and colors she was seeking. 

There are many touching moments, many great still photos and videos (JMDL's 
own Simon M. was mentioned in the ending credits), but I felt a definite air 
of finality at the close of the show. It was as if the show was saying 
Joni's had this long and fascinating and creative career but now it's gone 
full circle. Although not stated in so many words, it felt like they were 
saying her writing and performing and recording days are over. Of course 
we've been hearing this for years...I only hope it doesn't turn out to be as 
true as the rest of the "hour" program was. 

Still highly recommended, but to me not nearly as insightful as part one, 

Scott