To: Bob and Wally
Sorry but there was no sexual inuendo in my line about the French pissing on
Main St.
Let's get clear: we see so much nudity on TV + beaches + everywhere in
everyday life that it is no big deal to do it in the street if one's got to
go. Nobody looks either.
I'll give you an example: I went to see a modern ballet at the Paris Opera,
now that is a very straight institution. Well I couldn't believe it but
there were about 25 fully naked men on stage along with dressed ones because
that was in the story. NOBODY thought twice about it, exept a gay friend of
mine who joked about missing that ballet.
The result of this lack of hypocrisy is that we have much less rape + serial
killers than in the US. Of course it happens too, but people who accumulate
less frustration have less steam to let go of.
Bob don't worry about your daughter spending a semester in Paris. Worse
that can happen is she'll go sunbathing topless in the backyard when she
gets back home. If you want me to check on her let me know.
Back to Joni: I feel I should defend DED which is low on most people's
list. Of course we all love "Bluejira".
But in my 2 cents opinion, DED had "light Rock" music to help people swallow
the hard pill of the MOST CAUSTIC lyrics about the american way of life. I
can already see people answering this way is not unique to america. True,
the 3 great stimulants are almost universal nowadays but I believe america
paved the way.
And I haven't seen any TV preachers in any other country.
No she also speaks about western world hypocrisy in general.
For example one could whistle the very catchy tune Ethiopia even though it
has a most poignant theme.
I think this light rock music was the only way to accompany the lyrics in
DED.
One of the things I like about Joni is she always SURPRISES you with her new
music.
She almost goes too far in delivering the unexpected. I once saw her at a
benefit concert in Orange County, CA in the 80's where she opened the show.
The headline was Willy Nelson. Well what do you suppose she did: intimate
songs on solo piano. Then after 3 songs she complained on the mike that the
chat of Willy Nelson fans was covering her music. She then resumed piano and
resumed complaining as the noise was still there.
No kidding, who would have guessed the audience would have been receptive to
solo piano?
Same thing at the Amnesty show in NY 86: playing the song Hejira (if my
memory is right) because, as she later explained, it had the same tuning as
the preceding song, was not the best choice to draw an audience that came
for Police and U2.
It was funny because at the end of the Orange County show there were a bunch
of people standing outside screaming "Joni we love you" as a consolation
cheer. But if you want to face the truth Joni asked for the treatment she
received from the audience.
I'd be curious to hear JMDLers' comments about whether Joni is often or not
a little or totally OFF in her performances?
Traders: come on I've got serious music for you, 25 years of collecting so
send your requests.
Laurent
