Okay, Emily sent out this post in response to Marcel's posting about Joni's
music and songs and the men she may/may not have been involved with at the
time.
Emily felt that:
<< > i'm sort of dismayed by the way this list of men looks, by what it
assumes and presumes to do. is it really meaningful to reduce the albums to
which man she was with at the time? what does this kind of simplified
biographical shorthand reveal?
Marcel kindly forwarded his post to me and after reading it as thoroughly as
is possible when there are two kids hanging over your shoulders bugging you
to take them to the store for no good reason, I have to say that I see
absolutely nothing simplistic or disrespectful or "People" magazine-y about
the attempt to line up Joni's albums with relationships.
Marcel pointed out that most of her songs are about relationships; be it
love, the end of love, the flaws of love. For me, it is significant that in
her autobiographical "Song for Sharon," Joni writes that: "love stimulated my
illusions more than anything."
Make no mistake about it, Joni's songs stand alone and drilling down into the
more personal detail isn't necessary for full enjoyment and enlightenment.
However, she is a public personality as well, so we fall into the groove of
thinking we "know" her and within that, wanting to know her better.
I think that finding out which lover inspired which song shines less light on
the piece of art created and more light on the artist herself. And from
there, I guess a kind of trickle down enlightenment applies.
And that's the view from me
MG - steps away from melting into butter because Allie is brushing my hair
while I type.
np Amy Grant: Big Yellow Taxi
