In a message dated 03/21/2001 8:34:45 PM Pacific Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< I'm curious as to how many of us who saw Joni during last year's BSN tour
also saw her smoke on stage. I did not. >>
Coyote Rick responds:
I have an opinion about Joni's integration of performing and smoking. You
all (or y'all to my Southern pals) must remember Bette Davis' penchant for
smoking -- and how she worked it into her image. I think our own Joni may be
doing some of the same.
Case and point. At the Los Angeles (never resort to referring to my city as
simply L..A. around me, but El Lay is cool!) and the Chicago concert, she
integrated her habit at *exactly* the same time on stage - just before,
Troubled Man - her encore. At the Chicago concert, where I could see her
facial expressions much better, I saw her grin knowingly, as if we all
expected her to show up with a fag in her hand. Like she was giving us what
we expected. At the Los Angeles concert, my (non-Joni and semi antismoking)
boyfriend said, "She does this cigarette thing for the image, huh?" I
flashed on that in Chicago, and I think that's true. It seemed kinda
orchestrated to me. On some video, I saw her smoking as well. This was
sometime in the 1980s and I said to myself, "Oh no, Joni, you can hold off
till the cameras stop." Maybe, it's the Hollywood spin machine, image makers
coming out in her.
I certainly don't doubt she loves her fags, but I think it's a lot about her
public persona. It worked for Bette - set her apart.
Coyote Rick (who lit her cigarette once, last summer in a smoking prohibited
zone)
(stb) Casa Alegre
Hollywood, CA
