"An actress is not expected to continue to play her ingenue roles. I've written roles for myself to grow into gracefully, but there is no 'growing into gracefully' in the pop world." - Joni
You all know I love Norma and all, but, this is gibberish. The pop world hasn't shut her out any more than the jazz world hated Mingus. People haven't stopped buying her titles. That's why she has a budget. If the pop world rejected her she COULDN'T hire Wayne and Herbie! How does she figure she's been shut out of the game when she a.) hires most of the London Symphony Orchestra to play in b.) Sir George Martin's room to perform c.) newly scored arrangements fleshed out by world-class cats including d.) Billy Preston, which is e.) presented so opulently that it is obvious that she *GOT* everything she asked for. No, her audience has emphatically not abandoned her. Even the business hasn't abandoned her. She hints at knowing that she's talking smack when she says "I've written roles for myself". That's exactly it. She's re-defining what she wants to give the world. Exactly as she always has. She's making her own rules even now. Let's dial back to the moment after "Ladies Of the Canyon". The world wanted only one thing from her: "Helium Girl, part IV: The Waif Fades Out". She reared back and gave the world, "Blue". Hello? Don't you think that was a departure? Holy cow! I don't know where the self-pity comes from but it certainly does not come from an external reality. What I see is that Joni is semi-retired. That's fine. That's her choice. Wouldn't it be neat to hear her say this? "I'm living proof that sticking to your craft pays off in a long career, ya dig? <off-mike a disposable lighter clicks> Keep at it Jewel, Dave Matthews, Tori. <megastar takes a puff> You rock. Be your own best critic and for heaven's sake don't pan yourself." For additional clarity, downbeat magazine's Leonard Feather rated "MINGUS" 5 stars out of a possible 5 stars. Read his words: http://www.jonimitchell.com/downbeat79.html Lama, setting the record straight 'cause I'm just the cowboy to do it, that's all. Shucks.
