From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2000 #160 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk JMDL Digest Wednesday, March 29 2000 Volume 2000 : Number 160 Ashara has set up a "Wally Breese Memorial Fund," with all donations going directly into the upkeep of the JoniMitchell.com website. Wally kept the website going with his own funds, and it will now be up to Jim to continue. If you would like to donate to this fund, please make all checks payable to: Jim Johanson and send them to: Ashara Stansfield P.O. Box 215 Topsfield, MA 01983 USA ------- The Official Joni Mitchell Homepage can be found at http://www.jonimitchell.com and contains the latest news, a detailed bio, original interviews and essays, lyrics, and much more. ------- The JMDL website can be found at http://www.jmdl.com and contains interviews, articles, the member gallery, archives, and much more. ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Joni in S'toon (njc) [evian ] More on American Beauty (NJC) [CarltonCT@aol.com] re: American Beauty (NJC) ["Alison Einerson" ] Re: American Beauty (NJC) ["Alison Einerson" ] Re: Oscar songs (NJC) (md) [MDESTE1@aol.com] Re: Both Sides Now, the song, Redux [SCJoniGuy@aol.com] Boston Info! ["Barnicle, Kathryn" ] Re: Brandon (was Re: Blame Canada) (NJC) [Jerry Notaro ] Re: E-Center seats [SCJoniGuy@aol.com] Mendel update [Phyliss Ward ] RE: American Beauty NJC ["H.D. Motyl" ] Re: joni/madonna ["Matthew Hall" ] "Boys Don't Cry" (njc) - real story on A&E tonight [Brian Gross ] Madonna NJC [catman ] More American Beauty NJC ["H.D. Motyl" ] Re: Tribute Tickets! [dsk ] Re: Got my tickets for E-Center [kb420@webtv.net (gr8fuldave)] Ticket info. [Richard Rice ] Re: Covers Project [SMEBD@aol.com] BSN Review from SonicNet [zapuppy2@webtv.net (Penny)] Joni on Ebay [zapuppy2@webtv.net (Penny)] Re: Joni in Boston [RickieLee1@aol.com] Joni L.A. Show Parties ["Kakki" ] Re: Joni-inspired movies (c/o "Magnolia") (SJC) ["Jamie Zubairi" ] Kevin Spaceman NJC ["H.D. Motyl" ] Creative Writing (SJC) ["Alan Lorimer" ] Re: BSN Review from SonicNet [SCJoniGuy@aol.com] Re: BSN Review from SonicNet [zapuppy2@webtv.net (Penny)] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 02:01:10 -0600 From: evian Subject: Joni in S'toon (njc) Someone asked the other day (can't remember who...it's been one of those weeks) if I found a way to get out of my family reunion this summer for the July long weekend and the Joni S'toon thing... Well, actually, I might actually HAVE gotten out of it... MAYBE... But, in typical Bridget Jones fashion, I almost screwed that one up. We go over to my folks on Saturday, about an hour late, as usual, for a family dinner and my Dad is telling my sisters some story. Of course, bigmouth that I am, I immediately act like a 4 year old and am repeatedly saying "what did I miss? What are you talking about?" and then my Dad gets off track as usual and says "See, I knew I should have waited, I don't want to tell all this again" and then we all get off topic, but then I find out that they might not have this reunion, because my one uncle is sick, and my one cousin is broke, and my other cousin is having marriage trouble and will most likely be separated by summer and he was supposed to bring all these relatives with him, but now he probably won't be coming because his wife is probably going to take off East with the kids because she's unstable, and blah blah blah....But, in my usual stupidity, I start arguing, saying "Well, uncle John might be better, you never know" and then I am insisting..INSISTING... that my broke cousin will make it no matter what, and it won't cost her much at all to come, and that just because the other two are breaking up doesn't mean that he will be tied up for the weekend, and on and on and on...and then... like a fool, I say "Well, even if 5 people come, it will still be a fun get together, what the hell is wrong with all of you?" and even as I am saying this I am thinking "But I don't want this damn reunion that weekend, it's Joni in S'toon" and I'm basically thinking "shut your frigging mouth, you're completely insane". Soooo, I finally shut up and then say "Well, I actually have other plans that I want to fit in anyway, so it will be better if we trash the whole thing" and then everyone is looking at me like "But you just said....are you on crack?" and my wife is rolling her eyes at all of us because she's seen us all at our insane best many times before. So, to make a long story shorter, I may actually HAVE the weekend free... no thanks to my big mouth.....but still.. it may just happen! I dunno, something about getting together with the family makes me even more loudmouthed and insane than I usually am.... Evian np: "The Screams of Passion" -- The Family ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 03:40:39 EST From: CarltonCT@aol.com Subject: More on American Beauty (NJC) In a message dated 3/28/00 6:22:06 PM, mark.travis@gte.net writes: << Sorry for the flippancy, Clark, but I really was disappointed by 'American Beauty'. Your defense was eloquent and it must have been thrilling to be involved with the film. But I still for the life of me can't see the point of the movie. The line about there being so much beauty in the world was the best moment in the film, imo, and the character speaking it was about the only character I could identify with in any way. And he was a drug dealer obsessed with window-peeping (using his video camera). And I don't understand what that line had to do with anything else that happened in the film. It seemed to me that the movie was about a lot of self-centered people who completely missed that particular point or anything else that is of value in life. And the one character who feels something is wrong in his life & tries to break free does so by returning to his adolescence and becoming obsessed with a teenage girl. What's the point? I understand that satire is a twisted, exaggerated view of reality but I really had a hard time relating to any of these characters or finding them to be believable at all. Attacking the upper middle class isn't anything new. Thematically this movie could have been made in the 60's or 70's except that Annette Benning's character would not have been a real estate agent, she would have been a housewife. And what was with the catatonic wife of the closet case drill sergeant? I thought those kind of people lived in trailer parks, not upscale suburban homes. But then what would I know about upscale suburbia? I guess my ultimate complaint is that I took nothing away from this movie besides knowing I saw a very well-crafted movie with some interesting images and some good performances. But ultimately it did not move me, I did not learn anything and I really could not see that any of it had much of a point. It tried very hard to convince me that it did have one. But it failed. >> Hi Mark - Well, I certainly don't believe that every movie should speak to everybody. A lot of people make a huge mistake by calling a film or book or a CD bad because it doesn't get through to them. As an example, I found THE ENGLISH PATIENT to be a three hour bore. I fell asleep after twenty minutes, and could have stayed asleep. I had no connection with that film on either an emotional or intellectual basis and remain utterly mystified as to why it swept the Oscars that year. Part of me feels that "the Emperor has no clothes" as no one has ever been able to explain to me why they liked THE ENGLISH PATIENT. All of my friends, as well as the Seinfeld gang, were as bored with it as I was. But it is obviously a film of power and beauty to many. I suppose THE ENGLISH PATIENT in some ways speaks to people who love someone else other than their wives or husbands, but I didn't care for either of the protagonists and neither of them had my sympathy. I think Kirsten Dunst is a good actress as long as she plays cold and remote. I couldn't possibly warm up to her and I have little compassion for people indulging in affairs -- just not a big part of my psyche. I am generally bored with any dramatic love story and prefer romantic comedies instead. What I loved about AMERICAN BEAUTY is that you get an insight into the unsympathetic behavior of all the protagonists which makes all of them sympathetic. Each and every character has failed the people they are connected to. Ricky Fitts has been physically and emotionally abused by his father his entire life. Ricky has a sensitivity and capacity for nonconformity which has made him terribly alienated. He suffered for years as a result of being drugged and institutionalized while a teenager. Why wouldn't he continue to medicate himself, and to lie to his father in order to remain close to and protect his mother? Why would he see a problem in selling pot (especially the kind that has no paranoia) when it has served him so well? He lives in a beautiful but lonely world. His love for Janie is illusory -- he thinks she is like him, but what she responds to in him is his total admiration for her, his obsession. She feels ignored and lesser than, and here is the hero who projects all of his idealized notions of womanhood onto her, who gets to rescue her as he rescued his own blank mother. Lester Burnham is like so many people who realize in their early 40s that their dreams have passed them by and they are now in some dull job they hate because they have "bills that bury you like an avalanche." For years, he has bought into the idea that he needs to drive a late model car and live in an area with an acceptable zip code and in doing so, he's forked over his life to something mundane and without passion or excitement. His wife (who is even more chained to elevating her status since she is a product of the working class) and his daughter think of him as a loser because he makes less money than his wife. And if he wasn't working this job for his family, who is he working it for? Certainly not himself. Lester feels unappreciated and is treated poorly -- why shouldn't he indulge in the things of his youth that make him feel alive again? He chooses poorly in getting interested in a teenage girl, but she is a teenage girl who sets out, like Amy Fischer, with every intention of having sex with this man. Beautiful, but empty on the inside, she is just smart enough to realize she is utterly ordinary, that she has nothing besides her beauty to sustain a sense of her self. Lester is unconsciously trying to annex her youth through a sexual association. Well, I could go on... and on and on. But that's why this film is so interesting, so multilayered. One of the best scenes among so many brilliant scenes is when Lester's wife comes home, punch drunk from her affair with Buddy, the real estate king. Suddenly, Carolyn is like the same fun and wild girl that Lester fell in love with. For a moment, the two of them are inches close to a potentiality for love and connection they haven't had in years when Carolyn panics about the fabric of her couch getting damaged. Mark, you hit the nail right on the head when it comes to what it's all about - -- Ricky Fitts is still in that place where he is alive, where he still perceives the beauty of the world, where it pours through him like water in a stream. That's the same place Lester is going back to, something he achieves with the help of some pot. So many of us do need come chemical aid to get us to turn off the noise in our minds and really see how beautiful it is, to get us "back to the garden." I get caught up in it myself when I have to worry about making my car payments or whether I should buy some new shoes. Maybe those people who have needed less prodding to take the road less traveled already know the lesson of American Beauty so the film may not speak to them. And Mark, it speaks very well of you, your friends, and your family if you don't know many people as fucked up as the characters in this film. It was not much, if any, exaggeration and I have lived in working, middle and upper middle class communities. - - Clark NP (in my head anyway) Harry's House ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 11:33:08 -0700 From: "Alison Einerson" Subject: re: American Beauty (NJC) well said, Carlton, and i agree totally and completely with you. the difference between an entertaining movie (titanic) and a truly amazing and meaningful movie (AB) is that instead of walking out of the movie wondering how they reconstructed that big ship and got all those people to fall the right way, etc etc, you leave the movie reflecting on the reality of your own existence. i was mesmerized by this movie. i couldn't get it out of my head for days. the complexity, the truth, the beauty was incredible. btw--pop does not always equal shit, and that tarzan song by phil collins is a good song!! i am not a phil collins fan, but the whole discussion about mann vs. collins is sounding a bit elitist, imho. my 2¢, alison e in slc. np: off night backstreet - ---------- >From: CarltonCT@aol.com >To: joni@smoe.org >Subject: American Beauty (NJC) >Date: Tue, Mar 28, 2000, 11:00 AM > >In the face of so many people calling AMERICAN BEAUTY "overrated," I have to >come to the defense of what is the best film in over two decades, ould >watch it all over again. but AMERICAN BEAUTY >came surprisingly out of the very system which should have watered it down >and destroyed it. Occasionally, Hollywood can get it very, very right too. > >- Clark > >"Sometimes, there's so much beauty in the world, I feel like I can't take it, >like my heart's going to cave in." > >- Ricky Fitts, AMERICAN BEAUTY ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 11:31:31 -0700 From: "Alison Einerson" Subject: Re: American Beauty (NJC) well said, Carlton, and i agree totally and completely with you. the difference between an entertaining movie (titanic) and a truly amazing and meaningful movie (AB) is that instead of walking out of the movie wondering how they reconstructed that big ship and got all those people to fall the right way, etc etc, you leave the movie reflecting on the reality of your own existence. i was mesmerized by this movie. i couldn't get it out of my head for days. the complexity, the truth, the beauty was incredible. btw--pop does not always equal shit, and that tarzan song by phil collins is a good song!! i am not a phil collins fan, but the whole discussion about mann vs. collins is sounding a bit elitist, imho. my 2¢, alison e in slc. np: off night backstreet - ---------- >From: CarltonCT@aol.com >To: joni@smoe.org >Subject: American Beauty (NJC) >Date: Tue, Mar 28, 2000, 11:00 AM > >In the face of so many people calling AMERICAN BEAUTY "overrated," I have to >come to the defense of what is the best film in over two decades, ould >watch it all over again. but AMERICAN BEAUTY >came surprisingly out of the very system which should have watered it down >and destroyed it. Occasionally, Hollywood can get it very, very right too. > >- Clark > >"Sometimes, there's so much beauty in the world, I feel like I can't take it, >like my heart's going to cave in." > >- Ricky Fitts, AMERICAN BEAUTY ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 07:48:22 EST From: MDESTE1@aol.com Subject: Re: Oscar songs (NJC) (md) In a message dated 3/28/2000 10:55:24 PM Pacific Standard Time, jase@iaw.on.ca writes: << I'm intrigued with her (Madonna) as a person and some of her ideas, but I haven't developed a real appreciation of her music yet. >> Mick jagger when asked about his opinion of Madonnas music "A thimbulfull of tallent in a sea of ambition". Marcels opinion of Madonnas music, "High tech Yoko Ono imitating a mouse singing on key looking great in a teddy and a tight sweater". ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 07:59:28 EST From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: Both Sides Now, the song, Redux <> Only about a bazillion, probably...I think the point is that any true artist will attempt to reinvent and reclaim the songs they've done to death to keep them significant. Joni's done it over and over, listen to "For Free" from her '83 tour, or "Song for Sharon" from the same tour, "Black Crow" from the '98 shows, BYT from the same shows... Dylan obviously turns his songs inside out, so much so that when you combine it with his mushmouth vocals it's a feat to keep up with what he's playing. I'm anxious to see what Jackson Browne is going to reclaim on his solo acoustic show... And in the case of Clapton & Layla, he *had* to re-invent the song because he's never been able to recreate the riff made famous by Duane Allman... Bob NP: Bruce, "For You" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 08:41:23 -0500 From: "Barnicle, Kathryn" Subject: Boston Info! Thanks RickieLee for the Boston Info. I have been searching the web to find where the fleet pavilion is. You have solved the mystery! Now, let's hope tickets will go on sale Monday. I hope to see you and other JMDLers in Section 2. I will be the one with the rice necklace, the Joni shirt, and a newborn hidden under the shirt. It's never too soon to introduce a baby to Joni, is it? Thanks for important info! Katie (from the Cape!) ********************************************************************** The information contained in this communication is confidential and privileged proprietary information intended only for the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. Any unauthorized use, distribution, copying or disclosure of this communication is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately. It is our policy that e-mails are intended for and should be used for business purposes only. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses. ENSR www.ensr.com ********************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 08:52:52 -0500 From: Jerry Notaro Subject: Re: Brandon (was Re: Blame Canada) (NJC) > Do you mean the > > guy with Hilary Swank? That's her husband, who's also an actor but whose > > name I forget right now. Chad Lowe, Rob's brother. Jerry np: Emmy Lou, Linda, and Dolly - Feels Like Home ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 09:10:44 EST From: Siresorrow@aol.com Subject: Re: More on American Beauty (NJC) In a message dated 3/29/00 3:43:23 AM Eastern Standard Time, CarltonCT@aol.com writes: << Lester Burnham is like so many people who realize in their early 40s that their dreams have passed them by and they are now in some dull job they hate because they have "bills that bury you like an avalanche." For years, he has bought into the idea that he needs to drive a late model car and live in an area with an acceptable zip code and in doing so, he's forked over his life to something mundane and without passion or excitement. > this morning i have a bunch more ideas about the movie than i mentioned last night. first, i'll say i'm sorry for such a nasty post i made about the movie last night. i was being a creep. i watched a lot of posts go by on this and resisted responding. so when i finally responded, well, you get what i am trying to say. for some reason, the movie brought out negative emotions from me. the only character i understood was kevin spacey. i like him in everything, and i did like him here as well. i never got to the part with the young girl because i turned it off, but if i had seen that, i wouldn't have liked it. but what you wrote above, i totally understand as i approach 40 myself. the wife i didn't like at all. the scene i remember is her and that creepy guy doing it in a motel room with her legs straight up in the air and them having some kind of dialogue about him being the prince or king or something and her repeating everything he said while he was banging her. it was demeaning to watch and that was about when i turned it off. not that i am a prude. it just was too dark. sad and pathetic. perhaps there was a sense of hopelessness about the movie and that was exactly what i reacted to so negatively. take away hope, and i die. and that movie must have threatened my sense of hope. so i shut it off! that better explains what i should have said last night. pat ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 09:33:06 EST From: CaTGirl627@aol.com Subject: Re: Got my tickets for E-center NJC I am going to the show as well..but of course ;o)!!! I am in section 104 row G seats 5 and 6. Let's make plans for dinner befor the show somewhere on Souith Street??? Catgirl so far there is..... Brian Walter Everret Dave Debbie Catgirl aka Debi Anyone else???? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 09:43:55 -0500 From: Dave Gertler Subject: E-Center seats Hi, I just joined the list and saw in Tuesday's digest some discussion of seating at the E-Center. I got my tickets for 6/2 on Monday, after a long, _frustrating_ experience with Ticketmaster. When I finally got through to them on the phone, I didn't even get to talk to a human; the whole thing is automated now, and I felt it was take-it-or-leave-it on the seats. (Next time, I think I'll go to a local store that is a Ticketmaster outlet; sounds like you get a better chance to select seats that way.) Anyway: my seats are section 100, row G (the first row of that section), number 13 and 14. From the seating chart, it looks like they're near (or at) the very outside edge of that row. So I basically have front-row seats, but the furthest ones from the stage. Any opinions on whether I should keep these or try to sell them and find better ones? Thanks, Dave Gertler (longtime fan but haven't seen her live yet) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 10:00:09 EST From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: E-Center seats <> Welcome to the list, Dave! I know what you mean with your parenthetical statement, as I was also a longtime fan but only saw her live for the first time on the '98 tour. Sounds like you E-Center folks are gonna fill up the center! Wouldn't it be cool if Joni acknowledged her JMDL fans at the shows?! Bob in South Carolina, still about a week away from buying his ticket... NP: Bruce Springsteen, "Point Blank" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 07:46:53 -0700 From: Phyliss Ward Subject: Mendel update This just in from the Mendel Gallery... Please note: _________________________________ VOICES: JONI MITCHELL Mendel Art Gallery P.O. Box 569 950 Spadina Crescent East Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7K 3L6 _________________________________ The dates of the exhibition have been extended. Voices: Joni Mitchell will still open on Friday, June 30th at 8 pm, but the exhibition will now be on display until SEPTEMBER 17th (extended from September 3rd). ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 09:53:49 -0600 From: "H.D. Motyl" Subject: RE: American Beauty NJC This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - --------------AFFD72D83637D87CF0E02516 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 3/28/00 3:02:19 PM US Central Standard Time, CarltonCT@aol.com writes: << Go and see the movie. It starts with Lester telling you that he is going to be dead in less than a year, that's a given. You still don't know which neighbor will shoot him. >> Besides, the movie isn't like an Agatha Christie play where the point is to decipher a whodunit...it's a beautifully crafted movie, brilliant writing, directing, acting, cinematography. Knowing how it's going to end isn't even the point. I'm sure I'll see it again and will enjoy it just as much! I mean geez, we all went to see "Titanic" and we sorta knew how *that* one was going to end! :~) Bob ** Can I point out that when Lester says he will be dead in a year, he doesn't say someone will shoot in him. He doesn't say it will be a neighbor. And while it isn't a whodunit, it is still nice to give people the pleasure of surprise and delight of discovery when watching the film. His death may be announced early on, but the details are left nebulous. Howard M. - --------------AFFD72D83637D87CF0E02516 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="howard_scptv.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for H.D. Motyl Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="howard_scptv.vcf" begin:vcard n:Motyl;Howard tel;fax:312-421-7714 tel;work:312-421-7711 x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:SCPTV Worldwide adr:;;400 North May Street, Suite 201;Chicago;Illinois;60622; version:2.1 email;internet:howard_scptv@interaccess.com title:Director, Creative Development note;quoted-printable:"Anytime you have the opportunity to accomplish something for someone coming behind you and you don't,=0D=0Ayou are wasting your time on this earth."=0D=0A Roberto Clemente x-mozilla-cpt:;1 fn:Howard Motyl end:vcard - --------------AFFD72D83637D87CF0E02516-- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 19:57:46 +0100 From: "Matthew Hall" Subject: Re: joni/madonna I've heard a lot about this picture from 'Vanity Fair' of Joni and Madonna a couple of years ago and I am desperate to see two of my favourite people together. Could anyone tell me if it's posted somewhere? I'd be eternally grateful. In fact, I already am. Matthew NP: Patti Smith 'Gung Ho' ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 08:25:14 -0800 (PST) From: Brian Gross Subject: "Boys Don't Cry" (njc) - real story on A&E tonight On A&E tonight, Wednesday at 10PM EST on American Justice, they are broadcasting the real story of Teena Brandon, the character played by Hilary Swank. Brian np: Shades of Scarlett Conquering - Christine Collister (thanks Bob!) ===== "No paper thin walls, no folks above No one else can hear the crazy cries of love" yeah, right __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 18:27:36 +0100 From: catman Subject: Re: American Beauty NJC > > Can I point out that when Lester says he will be dead in a year, he > doesn't say someone will shoot in him. He doesn't say it will be a > neighbor. > > And while it isn't a whodunit, it is still nice to give people the > pleasure of surprise and delight of discovery when watching the film. > His death may be announced early on, but the details are left nebulous. Thanks Howard-0I couldn't think how to say this without being rude! > > > Howard M. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Howard Motyl > Director, Creative Development > SCPTV Worldwide > > Howard Motyl > Director, Creative Development > SCPTV Worldwide > 400 North May Street, Suite 201 Fax: 312-421-7714 > Chicago Work: 312-421-7711 > Illinois Netscape Conference Address > 60622 Specific DLS Server > "Anytime you have the opportunity to accomplish something for someone coming behind you and you don't, you are wasting your time on this earth." Roberto Clemente > Additional Information: > Last Name Motyl > First Name Howard > Version 2.1 - -- "When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather - and unlike his passengers who were screaming in terror and hanging onto their seats!" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 18:30:34 +0100 From: catman Subject: Madonna NJC Whilst I do not agree with this, I couldn't help but think this was a deliciously bitchy comment made by some show maker: 'you have to really admire madonna. She hides her lack of talent so well.' !!! - -- "When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather - and unlike his passengers who were screaming in terror and hanging onto their seats!" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 13:45:12 -0600 From: "H.D. Motyl" Subject: More American Beauty NJC This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - --------------A0125EC86B4E48E1A0BDB228 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Clark wrote: >In the face of so many people calling AMERICAN BEAUTY "overrated," >I have to come to the defense of what is the best film in over two >decades, the best film since Bergman and Fellini and Kubrick at >the height of their creative powers in the late Sixties and early >Seventies. It is one of the great American films of all time Hmm. I say as I read this. The best film in over two decades? Hmm. Subjective? Oh, yes. Yes. Personally, I liked "The Insider" much better--of the nominated films. And there was no mention of "A Walk on the Moon" which I thought was one of the best films of the last year. And "Limbo" was amazingly good. And there's "All About My Mother". But again, that is subjective. I think of the 80s and 90s and wonder, American Beauty was the best film of the past two decades? No, the best film in *over* two decades. Hmm. I think of the past two decades and I think of Scorsese (Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino), Stone (Platoon), Kieslowski (Red, White, Blue), Ivory (Maurice, A Room with a View, Howards End), Altman (Short Cuts, The Player), Almodovar (Live Flesh), Coppola (Tucker: A Man and his Dreams) to name only a few. And I would put any of these films up against American Beauty as one of the best films of the past two decades. American Beauty was good, really good. But let's keep it in perspective. It may be one of the best films of the past twenty years, but *the* film? I don't think so. And I think a lot of people would agree with me. Even then, I think only time will tell. Howard M. - --------------A0125EC86B4E48E1A0BDB228 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="howard_scptv.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for H.D. Motyl Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="howard_scptv.vcf" begin:vcard n:Motyl;Howard tel;fax:312-421-7714 tel;work:312-421-7711 x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:SCPTV Worldwide adr:;;400 North May Street, Suite 201;Chicago;Illinois;60622; version:2.1 email;internet:howard_scptv@interaccess.com title:Director, Creative Development note;quoted-printable:"Anytime you have the opportunity to accomplish something for someone coming behind you and you don't,=0D=0Ayou are wasting your time on this earth."=0D=0A Roberto Clemente x-mozilla-cpt:;1 fn:Howard Motyl end:vcard - --------------A0125EC86B4E48E1A0BDB228-- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 15:14:25 -0500 From: dsk Subject: Re: Tribute Tickets! TanyerSCO@aol.com wrote: > Tickets for the Tribute to Joni Mitchell at the Hammerstein Ballroom to be > taped on April 6th will be available at 12:00 noon on March 30th (that's > really soon!) at any Ticketmaster outlet. You can call 212-307-7171 or go to > any HMV or Wiz or Tower Records (I'd call first to make sure they are > vendors). Or you can go directly to the box office at 311 West 34th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. Tickets go on sale at 12 noon (which is when the box office opens). Prices are $100 and $85. Person I talked to at the box office didn't say anything about the number of tickets, but the place only holds about 3,000 and probably 2,000 of that will be taken up with entourages and cameramen, so.... it's chancy, but I'm planning to go to the box office at about 10-10:30 tomorrow, with a cup of deli coffee and my currently fascinating Jack London book, Call of the Wild, to read while I wait, except I'll probably just end up people-watching. I'm counting my pennies now. If I see any other anxious-looking folks in line there, I'll say hi, JMDL anyone?. Debra Shea NP: Nick Drake's Way to Blue collection, which I know about because of this list. Thank you music-sharers so much, I love this! It keeps capturing me, so all I can do is listen. For such a simple sound, it's very swayie (as in, makes me sway :-), so it's kind of hard to type at the same time. Next up is Beth Orton's Central Reservation, another singer I've never heard but who's mentioned often on this list. And then XTC Skylarking. And then there's Dylan's Blood on the Tracks, a classic I'm told by the Bobists on the list. Thanks everyone for all the recommendations. It's great to have these new listening experiences. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 15:41:47 -0500 (EST) From: kb420@webtv.net (gr8fuldave) Subject: Re: Got my tickets for E-Center Deb asked: >So, I'm section 102, row J, seats 11 & 12. >By your criteria, are these ideal, albeit >expensive, seats? If so, I'm glad to hear it! >I lived through Ticketmaster hell to get >them! Absolutely. If I felt that this (or any) concert were worth more than $55, I would certainly pick your seats over Brian's. As it stands, this show now wins the dubious distinction of my 300+ concerts, as being the most I have ever spent on a concert ticket ($55) and sets a new personal limit for the rest of this year. It earns that spot by costing $1 more than the show I saw this past Sat. night, The Allman Brothers at the Beacon Theater in NYC. And here is a fun anecdote form that show that I'll be telling for years to come. I have seen the ABB 6 times now at the Beacon since 1996. In all the previous years I always sprung for floor seats but this year they were too expensive, IMO, so I payed $54 for an upper balcony seat. Not having any intention of placing so much as my big toe on the ascending stairway to balcony, before I left home I went through my 5 previous ABBeacon ticket stubs, finding one from Sat 3/22/97. I meandered in the floor lobby until the lights went down and those still in the lobby rushed to enter the floor and take their seats, at which time I handed my now three year old stub to the rocket scientist checking stubs at the door to the floor. Now, this stub did say ABB, Beacon, and March, but where it should have said 25, it said 22. And it read 1997! But the best part is that it was not even remotely the same color! Nevertheless, I was directed to my now three year old seat. Sweet. I then took a 7th row center aile seat right in front of Dickey Betts, where I remained through the entire three hour, two set show. No one ever came to claim this premium priced seat. HA! So don't be surprised, Deb, if you spot me in your row at the Joni show should I spot an open seat. I imagine there will be several, when those disillusioned and bored folks who did not expect an evening of "dinner music" call it a night. gdave - ----------------------------------------------------------------- DaveBase @ http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Stage/2349/index.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 15:07:44 -0500 From: Richard Rice Subject: Ticket info. Hi Ric, Saw your email to the Joni list and wanted to send along a comforting note (?) regarding tickets. Don't be too alarmed that Ticketmaster does not have any Joni info yet, but do keep an eye out for any confirming info you may see in a local paper, etc. I got my Chicago tickets at a ticketmaster. I was there 15 minutes before the 10 a.m. opening, and even then the computer punched up 'no information available on that event.' It wasn't until 5 min. before hand that Joni's date appeared on their terminal. Luckily, I was the first in line (the only person in line.) and got good seats!!! This is amazing that she is touring again so soon! Even more amazing that she wants to get back into the studio by August!!!!! Although, my partner, who does not care for her, is a Jazz 'traditionalist' and who particularly does not care for BSN, made the comment upon hearing the album and the news she wants to cover her stuff and a 'Christmas' album," It's obvious she just wants out of her record contract." Anyway, the world is clueless and luckly, thankfully, WE ARE NOT!!!!! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 16:42:45 EST From: SMEBD@aol.com Subject: Re: Covers Project In a message dated 03/29/2000 3:25:09 AM Eastern Standard Time, KakkiB@worldnet.att.net writes: << I think it would be great to come up with a Joni tune by the "original" Nancy. There must be something of Joni's she has recorded somewhere. I've always liked her going way back to when I was a kid in the 60s. I met a guy a couple years ago who lives in a very average condo building in Hermosa Beach here and he said that Nancy is his neighbor and that they are very friendly with each other! Maybe I should "cheat" and ask him to find out some scoop for us ;-) >> Kakki, When it comes to Joni, I'm not above cheating!! Are you? Consider this a challenge: may the best JMDL'er be the first to uncover a Joni cover by the "original" Nancy Wilson :-) Stephen ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 14:22:14 -0800 (PST) From: zapuppy2@webtv.net (Penny) Subject: BSN Review from SonicNet Under The Covers Something's lost, but something's gained. By Carol Cooper At New York's Madison Square Garden in November of 1998, Joni Mitchell gave an extraordinary 15-song concert that included the jazz standard "Comes Love." Opening for Bob Dylan, she'd embarked on her first full U.S. tour in decades, and time didn't permit her to showcase more than a handful of songs for an audience dying to hear her most popular tunes. It was, in fact, interesting that she chose to include any cover material at all, but "Comes Love" — previously recorded by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney and (perhaps most famously) Billie Holiday — came across every bit as wry and witty as the best of Mitchell's own compositions. Performed with a tight, rock-fusion combo, the song was an electrifying triumph — its subtle, deliciously ambient accompaniment only enhancing Mitchell's dark, reedy timbre and brisk phrasing. Mitchell's nuanced readings of Tin Pan Alley classics such as "Stormy Weather," "Sometimes I'm Happy" and "You're My Thrill" are firmly stamped with both '50s moral ambivalence and her own particularly mordant post-modern sensibility. Had all 12 tracks of Both Sides Now, Mitchell's new album of mostly covers of vintage torch songs, been performed with the same band she used on that tour, it probably would have been a far more enjoyable listening experience. As it is, overwhelmed by the 70-piece London Symphony Orchestra, her vocals here sound lost and colorless. Mitchell's intent is clear, part of this ever-restless artist's ongoing experiments with form and context. Her inclusion of rearranged versions of her own "Both Sides Now" (RealAudio excerpt) and "A Case of You" helps cast this album as a sort of "bridge" project — a way of explaining her fascination with unorthodox, blues-inflected tunings and wide jazz harmonies. By subtracting the pop-folk bounce and simple harmonies from these Mitchell touchstones, she places them in a different emotional and cultural universe. Citing Duke Ellington's tone poems and Charlie Parker's improvised solos as bigger influences on her contemporary style than the Irish and English ballads she mastered while first learning her craft, Mitchell told the Austin Chronicle's Jody Denburg, "I don't suffer in a pure minor. I just don't. I'm not happy in a pure major [either]; there's always some ... ever since the bomb dropped, ... there's always been a second note running through everybody's lives, whether they're sensitive to it or not." This album, then, seems to be Joni's attempt to better familiarize us with that "second note," and how it presaged the lean, moody melodies of recent works such as "Lakota" and "The Magdalene Laundries." Thus, her nuanced readings of Tin Pan Alley classics such as "Stormy Weather," "Sometimes I'm Happy" and "You're My Thrill" are firmly stamped with both '50s moral ambivalence and her own particularly mordant post-modern sensibility. Anachronistic? You bet. Disconcerting? Absolutely. But upon further reflection, one can think of no better way for an ambitious singer/songwriter to gamely try to transcend some of the most time-honored cliches of 20th-century pop craft. [Wed., March 29, :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Grace dies when it becomes us verses them......Philip Yancey ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 14:43:56 -0800 (PST) From: zapuppy2@webtv.net (Penny) Subject: Joni on Ebay Hi Gang! I don't know if everyone is checking this out, but along with some great seats for Joni's upcoming East Coast swing, also spotted was a BSN cover poster and a poster that looks like what will be showing up in the Tower displays Michael posted about a couple of days ago. Ha, personally I don't ever do ebay, but it is a good place to be tipped off on what might be available, real good for free, in the record stores shortly. The 18X24 BSN poster is what caught my eye, and usually a record store will let you put your name and phone number on the back and give you a call when they're ready to take it down. Penny PS Russell, mail me privately, and I'll put your name and phone number on the back of a poster if I come across these in Portland. ;-) :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Grace dies when it becomes us verses them......Philip Yancey ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 17:48:07 EST From: RickieLee1@aol.com Subject: Re: Joni in Boston robbert. there will, no doubt, be a big gathering of list fans, and i would love to join all of you. of course you would be welcome! roberto will be here, i think! it will be a grand, wonderful party, and i hope i can attend, stay up all night and cause trouble! i don't want to offend anyone's sensibilities, and no one needs to join me if they feel it might not be politically correct, but if circumstances allow, i have every intention of stalking joni's every move! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 13:08:35 -0800 From: "Kakki" Subject: Joni L.A. Show Parties Hi all, For those of you who will be attending Joni's concert at the Greek on May 12th and would like to meet up with a really great bunch of fellow jmdl'ers please let me know. There are 12 listmembers on the L.A. party list so far. We have some wonderful pre- and post-show party plans and don't want anyone interested to be left out, so please email me privately if you'd like to join us. Kakki ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 18:40:02 -0000 From: "Jamie Zubairi" Subject: Re: Joni-inspired movies (c/o "Magnolia") (SJC) I have seen a film called 'The Arrangement' which starred Kirk Douglas. Her song of the same name was meant to be the opening title theme. It never got used. It's about a businessman who goes through some troubles. Jamie Zoob ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 16:00:54 -0800 From: jan gyn Subject: Re: Oscar songs (NJC) (md) (snip) >tallent in a sea of ambition". Marcels opinion of Madonnas music, "High tech >Yoko Ono imitating a mouse singing on key looking great in a teddy and a >tight sweater". I like Bette Midler's comment: "The only way Madonna is like the real Madonna is that they were both born in a barn." - -jan ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 18:19:22 -0600 From: "H.D. Motyl" Subject: Kevin Spaceman NJC This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - --------------AF9AC3434558368A14564CE5 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit does it bother anyone else that Kevin Spacey is so insistent about his (supposed) heterosexuality? In the Oscar preshow, he was holding on to his date's (Diane, his girlfriend?!?) hand for dear life. He acknowledged her during his acceptance speech, and then, his mother--and tells the audience (not his mother, to be sure, even though he was addressing her) who have heard those god-awful (ahem) gay rumours that he doesn't care what people say about a (40 something) man (who has never had a girlfriend) who brings his mother to award shows. He will continue to bring her. And let him take her. Let him take whomever he wants. In fact, let him take what he really wants--some fine young man wearing beautiful shoes. He denies his gayness so vehemently, it is disgusting. I know of at least two stories of people having sex (one an affair) with him while he was filming here in Chicago. He was seen regularly dining with men and being "out". I know people in LA who have regularly seen him hanging out with young men and acting "out". So, why the pretense when the camera is on? Why the insistence? Listen, if he doesn't want to come out in a big way, that's fine. But I don't think it's fine to deny outright that he is gay, and claim he is heterosexual. I'd rather he just not talk about it at all. And another thing, When I heard Jodie Foster was holding hands with Russell Crowe at the Golden Globes and then read about rumours that she wanted Russell to father a baby--I was completely flabbergasted. Who doesn't know she's gay? (I know a woman who was a crew member on a film JF was directing and was sought by Jodie. They had an affair throughout the shoot.) And then I thought, ohmygod, maybe this means that Russell Crowe is gay, too and his hand holding was his way of deflecting, too. (I don't really believe that he is gay, but it was nice to think about for a bit.) I guess it's why they are called actors. - --------------AF9AC3434558368A14564CE5 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="howard_scptv.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for H.D. Motyl Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="howard_scptv.vcf" begin:vcard n:Motyl;Howard tel;fax:312-421-7714 tel;work:312-421-7711 x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:SCPTV Worldwide adr:;;400 North May Street, Suite 201;Chicago;Illinois;60622; version:2.1 email;internet:howard_scptv@interaccess.com title:Director, Creative Development note;quoted-printable:"Anytime you have the opportunity to accomplish something for someone coming behind you and you don't,=0D=0Ayou are wasting your time on this earth."=0D=0A Roberto Clemente x-mozilla-cpt:;1 fn:Howard Motyl end:vcard - --------------AF9AC3434558368A14564CE5-- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 10:55:15 +1000 From: "Alan Lorimer" Subject: Creative Writing (SJC) I really wish I could write creatively :-) What I am trying to develop (as an assignment) is a software package that can teach people to write creatively. The first part of this process is, of course, to be able to to learn from other people's creative writing. I'm basing this around Joni's writing and I'd love some feedback, *any* feedback. A great big thank you to those people who have already contributed, but for a sneak preview of what's going on, have a look at: http://www.users.bigpond.com/AlanLorimer/welcome.htm Have a look and see what you think :-) Alan Lorimer Hawley Beach Tasmania ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 19:59:42 EST From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: BSN Review from SonicNet << Had all 12 tracks of Both Sides Now, Mitchell's new album of mostly covers of vintage torch songs, been performed with the same band she used on that tour, it probably would have been a far more enjoyable listening experience. As it is, overwhelmed by the 70-piece London Symphony Orchestra, her vocals here sound lost and colorless. >> While I don't totally agree with this writer, can you imagine how sweet it would be to hear some of these with a simple jazz trio or quartet? Piano, Drums, Sax, Bass? Or even Joni singing with somebody else on a Steinway...awesome! Bob NP: Hejira, from Troubadour of Folk 6/5/93 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 17:22:40 -0800 (PST) From: zapuppy2@webtv.net (Penny) Subject: Re: BSN Review from SonicNet << Had all 12 tracks of Both Sides Now, Mitchell's new album of mostly covers of vintage torch songs, been performed with the same band she used on that tour, it probably would have been a far more enjoyable listening experience. As it is, overwhelmed by the 70-piece London Symphony Orchestra, her vocals here sound lost and colorless. >> Bob wrote: Oh yes, that would be sweet, eh! Just the possibility of this, was a determining factor for me to pick Joni's Mendel exhibit opening as my "Joni event of the spring/summer", when I realized it was happening at the tail end of the Saskatoon Jazzfest. The Jazzfest people are currently trying very hard to get Joni to sign on to play there. And Saskatoon does, in fact, have a 65 piece symphony, with their regular performance day being Saturday. (Joni's exhibit opens on Friday night.) Either way, small band or full symphony, just the possibility of Joni playing too, was too great to not make this event what I'm zeroing in on! ;-) Penny :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Grace dies when it becomes us verses them......Philip Yancey ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2000 #160 ***************************** ------- Post messages to the list at Unsubscribe by sending "unsubscribe joni-digest" to ------- Siquomb, isn't she?