Hmmm...I found myself disagreeing with alot of this...so, respectfully:
Richard Rice wrote:
> Age, smoking, poor health and much more smoking have taken a toll on her
> voice. The clear highs are lost.
I agree with this
> She's gained much in her ability to interpret a song with heart and
> feeling. Her pitch has greatly improved over the years.
I disagree with this.
There's never been anything wrong with her pitch; and I scratch
my head that her reduced ability to physically sing is anything but
a liability. If greater experience in her life gives her a greater feeling
and expressiveness-wouldn't it be even better if her voice were in
better shape?
> Anyone fortunate
> enough to actually hear her in person can't help but admire the quality
> of her singing voice.
I saw her during the BSN tour at Concord CA. (And at least
5 different times over the years since '72). The thing about a
live show is that there is excitement, there is affection for the
performer, there is a suspension (hopefully, if you are there to
enjoy yourself) of critical thought. I had a great time, enjoyed the
music, etc. Later, a jmdler was kind enough to make me a copy
of her Camden, NJ show. Ouch - IMO the singing is not too good.
I wonder if the show I saw and completely enjoyed sounded
similar. I suspect it did.
> It's not the greatest in the universe.
Again I have to disagree- the singing on FTR, Blue, even
"Moon At the Window" is incredible, beautiful, as good as
anything in pop music. A pliant, expressive voice with lots of range,
flexibility....it's a testiment to her Goddess-given ability as a singer
that she has been able to smoke heavily for so long and sing
at all.
> And the legion of singers who 'sing' better can't hold a candle to the
> breath of creativity she has exhibited, then or now.
Celine Dion or whoever's creativity or lack of it has nothing to
do with Joni's ability to sing. They're two different things.
>
> And to all those so focused, including reviewers, on what she's lost, I
> pray you're not doing the same with your receeding hair lines, widening
> waist lines, or accumulating crows feet.
> My god, people grow old.
> No one is what they were in their youth. Get over it. Move through your
> life with grace and accept the things you cannot change.
Again, I have a problem with this...yes, time marches on, we grow
old...but there are certainly things you can to do accelerate aging,
or fend it off. You can exercise, eat right, take vitamins,
meditate, etc, etc. I have no intention of accepting that I have to
have aches and pains and take handfuls of presciption drugs as
I see many people in my age group (I'm 45) doing. The two things
a doctor will tell you is exercise and don't smoke. If you do these
things you can stay younger longer. Don't roll over and accept
senility, fight! Moving through your life with grace is easier when
you are not wracked by unneccesary health problems.
> She is not making products for consumers.
Yes, she is.
> You can measure her success from the point of view of a consumer... who
> creates nothing, can second guess everything with perfect hindsight, or
> lay any set of standards to what is created.
So if someone has an opinion, they are an uncreative consumer with
nothing to say? I am not putting words in your mouth, but it seems
like that's your point...?
> If you've done any creating in your life, other than consuming...
Since this seems aimed at listers who have less than enthusiastic
opinions about some of Joni's work, I would just point out that
my observation of this group is that it is full of creative people
who do more than just consume.
> she moved on to 'her' material. And I thought to myself, "I don't listen
> to Joni Mitchell because she's perfect. I listen to Joni because she's
> Joni Mitchell."
Me too. Perfect people are pretty boring.
But "My Joni, right or wrong" makes about as much sense to me
as "My country, right or wrong". If you're tired of the silent night,
Jesus, then you yell it.
Richard again:
Of course, if Joni were inclined, I'm sure there's one thread of her
life experience that would probably make for grand 'universal' appeal in
the great Joni Mitchell tradition: if she were to examine her
relationship with her daughter, grandson and son-in law. Such a moving,
emotion filled subject in the hands of so gifted an artist would make
for an experience that would rock the jmdl world to it's core.
Me again:
I wonder if such private and complex relationships always
translate well to a 4 minute song. "Facelift", for example,
makes me feel a little uneasy-like airing dirty laundry-I feel
for her mother having such personal stuff publicized. But you're
probably right, Joni could certainly continue to explore the
themes of maturity and getting older, and I hope she does.
And I agree with you also that the important thing is that she
has remained creative and restless. Whatever we think is
but a speck on the windshield. But we can still have opinions,
and be thankful if Joni ignores all that and keeps on doing.
RR
