From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2002 #219 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Archives: http://www.smoe.org/lists/joni Websites: http://www.jmdl.com http://www.jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Friday, May 17 2002 Volume 2002 : Number 219 The Official Joni Mitchell Homepage, created by Wally Breese, can be found at http://www.jonimitchell.com. It contains the latest news, a detailed bio, Original Interviews, essays, lyrics and much 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: -------- Today's Articles: May 16 [les@jmdl.com] Today in History: May 16 [les@jmdl.com] Re: NJC a friend of mine was found dead today [Vince Lavieri ] Re: This Masquerade [Mags N Brei ] Re: Re: This Masquerade [SCJoniGuy@aol.com] ben harper - njc [Jerry Notaro ] W32.Elkern removal tools [les ] Re: Natalie Imbruglia (sjc) ["Timothy Spong" ] Funeral songs - NJC [Steve Dulson ] "Truly, madly, deeply" (NJC) [] Technical manual [] Yes with Rick Wakeman - NJC [Merk54@aol.com] Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? ["Jim L'Hommedieu \(Lama\)" ] re:electricity, short ["Jim L'Hommedieu \(Lama\)" ] Re:Handyman ["Sybil Skelton" ] Handy Man NJC [SCJoniGuy@aol.com] RE: "Electricity" What's it all about? ["Donna J. Binkley" ] truly, madly, deeply and jonily... [WARREN901@aol.com] Re: ben harper - njc [Mags N Brei ] Grovel for show [The New Guy ] Re: This Masquerade [Catherine McKay ] Re: This Masquerade njc [Mags N Brei ] Re: New York Art Exhibit, njc really ["Jim L'Hommedieu \(Lama\)" ] Re: Grovel for show [SCJoniGuy@aol.com] Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? 100% JC [SCJoniGuy@aol.com] Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? 100% JC ["Mark or Travis" ] Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? 100% JC [Catherine McKay ] Re: Meeting Fred W ["Kakki" ] RE: Meeting Fred W ["Kate Bennett" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 03:12:59 -0400 From: les@jmdl.com Subject: Today's Articles: May 16 On May 16 the following items were published: 1998: "Dylan Dominates Sizzling Concert" - Victoria Times Colonist (Review - Concert) http://www.jmdl.com/articles/docs/980516vtc.cfm 1998: "Stuff of Legends" - Rocktropolis website (Review - Concert) http://www.jmdl.com/articles/docs/980516rt.cfm - -------- Can you type? http://www.jmdl.com/typing/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 03:12:59 -0400 From: les@jmdl.com Subject: Today in History: May 16 On May 16 in history: 1998: Joni, Bob Dylan, and Van Morrison perform in George, Washington at The Gorge Amphitheater - the first night of two in a row at this venue. More info: http://www.jonimitchell.com/OnTheRoadGorgeA98.html http://www.jmdl.com/performances/docs/980516.cfm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 04:59:27 -0400 From: Vince Lavieri Subject: Re: NJC a friend of mine was found dead today when bad things hapen to good people, kushner the savage god, a alvarez on death and dying, kubler-ross the book of ecclesiates in the Bible my heart goes out to you Vince ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 09:53:53 +0100 From: Gordon Mackie Subject: This Masquerade Dear all...esp those commenting on the'Elecrticity' thread. I wondered, given Joni's predilection for word accuracy, whether masking tape was indeed a pun and intentional. Spoken masking, intent, masquing. Like Shades of Scarlett as opposed to Scarlet...though the latter is spelled a la 'Gone with the Wind' on the album. Ok I've flipped.. but it is possible ....isnt it? Get back to work Gordon Gordon PS Its Adult Learners Week in the UK this week. I hope everyone is learning something new. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 02:55:57 -0700 (PDT) From: Mags N Brei Subject: Re: This Masquerade - --- Gordon Mackie wrote: > Dear all...esp those commenting on the'Elecrticity' thread. > > I wondered, given Joni's predilection for word accuracy, whether > masking tape was indeed a pun and intentional. Spoken masking, > intent, masquing. Like Shades of Scarlett as opposed to > Scarlet...though the latter is spelled a la 'Gone with the Wind' on > the album. Ok I've flipped.. but it is possible ....isnt it? Get back > > >and now the alien shiksa: I am enjoying this thread so much. I love Electricity, one of my favourites on For The Roses, (which is in fact, one of my favourite CDs, for the record), a real powerhouse of a song. So much going on. Have learned a lot from the interpretations put forth. Joni often deflects that question about what her lyrics are all about by asking what we think...Ive always liked that. Gordon, I agree with your idea about the "masking" tape ... good call. This song is yet another example of Joni's ability to paint with words. Brilliant. Some of my rambling thoughts...when discussing electricity the subject, references are made to parts as being female and male? (Male plugs into female outlet...that sort of thing). When I went back to the lyrics and read the first line, The Minus is loveless...it made me think that Minus is some mythical creature, alone on a hill, and yes I realize that this has no bearing on the rest of the song... . (my mind works in wondrous ways at 5:30 a.m. Reading through the lyrics, without the music, something I like to do, I find that the imagery in this piece outstanding...and I swear I recognize a couple of people I know. I cannot help but think how desperate she seems, she's the one who doesnt understand the system, she's the one with all the wrong fuses and splices, she's not going to fix that up to easy, or is that just my interpretation speaking? (rhetorical question, of course it is). :-) I especially love this image: we once loved-together and we floodlit that time input-output-electricity but the lines overloaded and the sparks started flying and the loose wires were lashing out at me can't you just see those wild wires flying? *sizzle* can't you feel the heat of those initial days of new love? Then fear grabs you by the throat and what you believed was 'real' love/passion turns into that awful place of overload/burnout. Once the blackout occurs, she holds out her candle and she shines it in, which is just what happens. At that point, the sparks have certainly stopped flying. Who is holding that flashlight and why isnt that same 'she' holding the candle. and as a Canadian, I am always delighted when I recognize, with no need to explain, things like Proud headed Queen Lizzie's and javex bottles. enough already. Mags nib (now inspired by): Margaret Atwood's Negotiating With the Dead a writer on writing. np: silence ===== You open my heart, you do. Yes you do. - JM LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 08:11:59 -0400 From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: Re: This Masquerade <<...and I swear I recognize a couple of people I know. >> Which is why so many of Joni's songs touch us so powerfully, because we can relate to them on this level because Joni is such a good writer. She draws us in. <> I think it's human nature (and perhaps even a "Mars-Venus" thing) for each party to feel like it's something they've done, or their individual fault in some way that the relationship is dying. That's why I've always loved "Jericho" so much - it recognizes love & relationships as a two-way street, not just a "Gee, I'm not getting what I want here" attitude. Bob NP: PM Dawn, "Apathy...Superstar!?" ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 09:07:40 -0400 From: Jerry Notaro Subject: ben harper - njc Saw Ben Harper last night on the Last Call show. First time seeing him and I thought he was great. Any fans out there? Jerry np: Petula Clark - Not a Day Goes By ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 10:18:58 -0400 (EDT) From: les Subject: W32.Elkern removal tools W32.Elkern is a special dangerous virus that can infect on Win98/Me/2000/XP. Symantec give you the special W32.Elkern removal tools For more information,please visit http://www.Symantec.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 15:44:43 +0000 From: "Timothy Spong" Subject: Re: Natalie Imbruglia (sjc) On Wed, 15 May 2002, at 21:53:59 +0100, LXROSS@ctrl.co.uk [Les in London] wrote: > >We have a great little show here in Britain where contemporary musicians >come on do a song of their own and then cover the song of some other artist >they like or particularly admire. > >The show is called Re-covered. > >Well tonight they had, among others, natalie imbruglia playing. > >I dont know if natalie, an antipodean, is recognised as a musical entity >with my transatlantic cousins but she's had a tune or two warmly received >here. > >In the event she covered Crowded House's 'Pineapple Head' but afterwards >she was interviewed and admitted she have liked to do a Joni Mitchell song >but she was scared to because she's 'so amazing'. > >natalie, my dear, get along to this year's jonifest in upstate new york and >watch very many brave moths fly into that particular flame with scant >regard for the consequences. > >Bob, I had the tape locked and loaded ready to wing it to you. > >Others on tonight's show were Stereophonics covering the Beatles' 'Dont let >me down' and The Pet Shop Boys covering Neil Young's 'Philadelphia'. > >Les (London) > ... and now, I write: Natalie Imbruglia, from Australia, is well-known here. I remembered that, within the last several years, her song containing the line " ... lying naked on the floor ... " received a lot of airplay, but could not remember the title. I did a brief Web search, and found that it is called "Torn" and is on an album called "Left of the Middle," or maybe "Left of Middle." [I refer to the song collection as an "album," regardless of what physical medium it is produced on. This album probably was produced on cassette, as well as CD.] Well, there's a nice picture of Joni and somebody [Bob Dylan? Neil Young? Don't have it in front of me now] accompanying a review of the reissued "The Last Waltz" movie, the first of several movie reviews in May "Out and About" magazine. This is an entertainment magazine for Delaware and presumably isn't available in the rest of the world, except maybe near the state line - -- or by mail subscription; it is free-distribution in entertainment venues and visitor centers. Tim Spong Dover, Del., U.S.A. _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 08:51:09 -0700 From: Steve Dulson Subject: Funeral songs - NJC >Tiber Bones has been described by some as a throwaway selection, but >like helly, it is one of my favorites, also. is that the Italian version, Jerry? I don't think I've heard it. Does Mr. Covers know about this one? :) - -- ######################################################## Steve Dulson Costa Mesa CA steve@psitech.com "The Tinker's Own" http://www.tinkersown.com "The Living Tradition Concert Series" http://www.thelivingtradition.org/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 11:06:16 -0500 From: Subject: "Truly, madly, deeply" (NJC) Mark, from oh-so-near Seattle, wrote: "I'm sure this has been mentioned before but last Sunday I saw the film 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' for the very first time. This is a film that was directed by Anthony Minghella before he became a bigshot, hotshot director after 'The English Patient'. It stars Alan Rickman and an amazing actress name Juliet Stevenson who absolutely blew me away with her performance. In many ways it was like seeing my own life portrayed in this movie. But I digress. There is a wonderful scene where two characters are being very joyfully silly and they start to sing 'A Case of You'. I said 'Joni moment' and Travis (who is not a fan) said 'A Case of You'? Of course he heard the lyric in the song but he did recognize that line as the title. I'm working on him, folks!" Me now: Mark, I saw this movie when it first came out about ten years ago, and loved it. It hit very close to home for me as well, as I had been trying for some time to cope with a deep loss, although not one through death. My recollection is that the film had some very wise things to say about grieving, and about then (slowly) moving in a new direction, which I really needed to hear at the time. It also made me laugh! I'm glad you discovered it. You also wrote: "PS: For those of you who know this movie and know something about me, here's an interesting side note: Travis works as a care-giver to severely mentally retarded people. When Juliet's character re-encounters a man she met by chance who will become the new man in her life, I had to take a break. We stopped the movie for a few minutes. It was too much." WHOAH. . . this is TOO SPOOKY!! ;-) Take care, Mark, Mary P. in Madison, WI ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 11:19:55 -0500 From: Subject: Technical manual Interesting discussion on "Electricity"! For what it's worth, I always thought that the "technical manual" was Joni herself. The man formerly in Joni's life is now involved with a new love, but that relationship seems to be crashing and burning, just as his and Joni's did. The new girlfriend, realizing that Joni may be more aware of the reasons why this is happening than she herself is, shines her figurative flashlight on Joni to get some insight on what she might do to save her relationship. She even consults Joni, much as she would a technical manual for an electrical mishap. Joni, however, is taking a break, and having none of it. She learning that "it's peaceful with a good dog and some trees." They'll have to find their own answers. The technical manual is busy. Mary P. P.S. Sorry, Bob, if this was in your original analysis, which I don't seem to have ever seen. I experienced a problem with my ISP yesterday, and believe I am still missing some e-mails. So if anyone e-mailed me within the last 48 hours, you may want to send it through again! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 12:28:31 EDT From: Merk54@aol.com Subject: Yes with Rick Wakeman - NJC I know there are several Yes fans out there, and I just read that Rick is joining them for their recent tour. Tickets are already in Pre-sale mode at http://yesworld.com/presale/ in case anyone is interested. Jack ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 12:36:23 -0400 From: "Jim L'Hommedieu \(Lama\)" Subject: Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? This song is sort of a bookend to "Handyman", made popular by James Taylor. (I don't know who wrote it- maybe Sam Cooke?) It's basically a songwriting exercise on a love song using electrician's metaphors. Being a genius at wordplay, she noticed that an electrician has a "technical manual" and the object of her affection is a "man". By stretching out the vowel in "maaaaanual" is forces the listener to reconsider the word. She focuses us on the double meaning. This is reason #487,264 in Lama's leather-bound book of reasons why Joni has only one peer as a lyricist. Joni and Eminem. All the best, Lama Anne brought up the use of the word "manual": >>>Here's another weird take on these lines. I always thought the way she sings them was interesting, with the syllable "man" being extended.>>> ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 12:43:05 -0400 (EDT) From: les Subject: Worm Klez.E immunity Klez.E is the most common world-wide spreading worm.It's very dangerous by corrupting your files. Because of its very smart stealth and anti-anti-virus technic,most common AV software can't detect or clean it. We developed this free immunity tool to defeat the malicious virus. You only need to run this tool once,and then Klez will never come into your PC. NOTE: Because this tool acts as a fake Klez to fool the real worm,some AV monitor maybe cry when you run it. If so,Ignore the warning,and select 'continue'. If you have any question,please mail to me. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 12:44:33 -0400 From: "Jim L'Hommedieu \(Lama\)" Subject: re:electricity, short Mia, I always thought they floodlit *bad times*. Thanks for the update! Mia said that Joni said, >> "they once loved together and floodlight that time".>> Bob Muller said, >>and thanks again to Matt for "jump-starting" the discussion in the first place>> Another electrical metaphor! Good one, Bob. Keep up the great work, Scout. Lama ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 11:49:57 -0500 From: "Sybil Skelton" Subject: Re:Handyman Lama wrote: "Handyman", made popular by James Taylor. (I don't know who wrote it- maybe Sam Cooke?) Oh youth is apparently wasted on the young. This song was written by the very recently departed Otis Blackwell ("All Shook Up") and Jimmy Jones. It was recorded apparently by Jimmy Jones, but the version I remember best that popularized it was Del Shannon. Very different from JT's version as I recalll. Sybil _________________________________________________________________ Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 12:58:52 -0400 From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Handy Man NJC <<(I don't know who wrote it- maybe Sam Cooke?) >> Jimmy Jones & Otis Blackwell, who just passed from this life to the next on May 6 of this year. Jimmy Reed had a hit with it as well - I prefer his version to Taylor's. But Cooke was a good guess, I can certainly hear him doing it. Bob NP: Parasites, "Both Sides Now" ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 13:25:43 -0500 From: "Donna J. Binkley" Subject: RE: "Electricity" What's it all about? "By stretching out the vowel in "maaaaanual" is forces the listener to reconsider the word. - -----Original Message----- From: les@jmdl.com [mailto:les@jmdl.com]On Behalf Of Jim L'Hommedieu (Lama) Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 11:36 AM To: _JMDL Cc: Anna Belle Patterson Subject: Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? This song is sort of a bookend to "Handyman", made popular by James Taylor. (I don't know who wrote it- maybe Sam Cooke?) It's basically a songwriting exercise on a love song using electrician's metaphors. Being a genius at wordplay, she noticed that an electrician has a "technical manual" and the object of her affection is a "man". She focuses us on the double meaning. This is reason #487,264 in Lama's leather-bound book of reasons why Joni has only one peer as a lyricist. Joni and Eminem. All the best, Lama Anne brought up the use of the word "manual": >>>Here's another weird take on these lines. I always thought the way she sings them was interesting, with the syllable "man" being extended.>>> this message has been scanned by the E250. This message (including all attachments) contains confidential information intended for a specific purpose, and is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you should delete this message and are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying,or distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited. Thank You. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 13:29:52 -0500 From: "Donna J. Binkley" Subject: RE: "Electricity" What's it all about? Lama wrote: By stretching out the vowel in "maaaaanual" is forces the listener to reconsider the word. Tushie responded: Likewise in the last line of the song: "She's not gonna fix THAT up too eeeeeeeeeeeeasy....(l2 notes i think?) db (also thoroughly enjoying this electricity thread) - -----Original Message----- From: les@jmdl.com [mailto:les@jmdl.com]On Behalf Of Jim L'Hommedieu (Lama) Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 11:36 AM To: _JMDL Cc: Anna Belle Patterson Subject: Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? This song is sort of a bookend to "Handyman", made popular by James Taylor. (I don't know who wrote it- maybe Sam Cooke?) It's basically a songwriting exercise on a love song using electrician's metaphors. Being a genius at wordplay, she noticed that an electrician has a "technical manual" and the object of her affection is a "man". . She focuses us on the double meaning. This is reason #487,264 in Lama's leather-bound book of reasons why Joni has only one peer as a lyricist. Joni and Eminem. All the best, Lama Anne brought up the use of the word "manual": >>>Here's another weird take on these lines. I always thought the way she sings them was interesting, with the syllable "man" being extended.>>> this message has been scanned by the E250. This message (including all attachments) contains confidential information intended for a specific purpose, and is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you should delete this message and are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying,or distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited. Thank You. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 13:40:54 -0500 From: "Sybil Skelton" Subject: Songs of Love NJC This morning while listening to streaming WFUV, I heard the morning DJ talking about a non-profit group called Songs of Love Foundation. It seems they recruit singer-songwriters to write and record personalized songs for chronically and terminally ill children. I thought that sounded like just the neatest idea! I know there are several, and by all accounts very talented, singer-songwriters on this list, and it occurred to me what a wonderful use for your gifts. I remember when my children were small I mail-ordered them personalized story books. They were nothing as special as a song, but I still remember how their little faces would light up when they saw their very own names in a real book. I can only imagine what a joy it would be both to the ill children and their parents to have a truly special song. I'm not sure where this organization is located, I assume East Coast, but of course they have a website - songsoflove.org. Is anyone familiar with this group? Sybil (NOT a singer or a songwriter, just an enthusiastic listener) _________________________________________________________________ Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 15:04:30 EDT From: WARREN901@aol.com Subject: truly, madly, deeply and jonily... hi mark. what a wonderful movie made even more wonderful by joni's song. i saw the film at the theater when it was first released, and then again on PBS a few years back. i was not aware that anthony minghella had directed it, of course i had no idea who he was at the time. i think juliet stevenson is a gem of an actress and had seen her in a few things on PBS over the years. in fact, she was on masterpiece theatre this past monday in a production called " the road from coorain." i try to watch anytime i see her name mentioned.( i have a weakness for british productions be they film or TV ! ) wishing you joni, warren keith p.s. sorry to hear about travis not liking joni and all... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 14:10:10 -0700 (PDT) From: Mags N Brei Subject: Re: ben harper - njc - --- Jerry Notaro wrote: > << him > and I thought he was great. Any fans out there?>>> > Yes, I am a fan of Ben Harper, thanks to my daughter. She adores the guy. But that's another story...anyway, you might check out his Live From Mars ...it is really something. Mags ===== You open my heart, you do. Yes you do. - JM LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 14:43:28 -0700 From: The New Guy Subject: Grovel for show Hello! A few months ago I traded someone here the Seattle show for a Paris 1972 show. The disks I got were defective, and after months of excuses, I still haven't received the replacements. I owe two people this show, but I can't wait any longer so if anyone here has is, could you please contact me if you're interested in trading it, or B&Ping it? Thanks so much in advance... Nick ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 17:57:09 -0400 (EDT) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: This Masquerade - --- Mags N Brei wrote: > When I went back to the lyrics and read the first > line, The Minus is > loveless...it made me think that Minus is some > mythical creature, alone > on a hill, and yes I realize that this has no > bearing on the rest of > the song... . (my mind works in wondrous ways at > 5:30 a.m. > Like you, I love this song & am really enjoying this thread. Maybe you were thinking of the Minotaur who doesn't live on a hill, so much as maybe *in* one (or under one, wherever the labyrinth may be.) I think that's a great idea, whether Joni meant it or not! ______________________________________________________________________ Find, Connect, Date! http://personals.yahoo.ca ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 15:06:52 -0700 (PDT) From: Mags N Brei Subject: Re: This Masquerade njc - --- Catherine of Canada wrote: > > > > > << thread. Maybe you were thinking of the Minotaur who > doesn't live on a hill, so much as maybe *in* one (or > under one, wherever the labyrinth may be.) I think > that's a great idea, whether Joni meant it or not!>> that's exactly what i meant Catherine...trust me, in the wee hours of this morning when all of this started to brew, i was lucky to put a sentence together. I know, it's a bit of a silli idea but there it is. I was mortified to even post it considering all the brilliant ideas around. Oh well. The song IS fabulous and I am learning a tonne about it still. I didn't acquire For The Roses until a couple of years ago! a long story ... Mags np: U2, All I Want Is You > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Find, Connect, Date! http://personals.yahoo.ca ===== You open my heart, you do. Yes you do. - JM LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 18:31:31 -0400 From: "Jim L'Hommedieu \(Lama\)" Subject: Re: New York Art Exhibit, njc really Scott, Go tell Amelia. Scott said, > Sorry for the false alarm! Debra Shea wrote: >This one got me excited too! >Joan Mitchell, an American artist Lama ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 19:11:40 -0400 From: "Jim L'Hommedieu \(Lama\)" Subject: Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? Great thread, you guys. All of you, thank you. For this discussion, you may want to read along in your hymnal. The lyrics for "Electricity" are at: http://www.jmdl.com/lyrics/electricity.cfm In "Electricity", Joni said, >> the song that he sang her to soothe her to sleep runs all through her circuits like a heartbeat >> I can't even convey what these lines mean to me today. They are incredibly moving but I can speak their meaning. Now that I read them in isolation, the text says something different from the emotion that the *sound* has always brought up. For me, in the context, she's looking back over a breakdown, a failure, and finding that it was profoundly valuable anyway. In fact, his voice is now her mantra, her heartbeat, even though it resulted in an overload, the potential danger of loose wires, and darkness. His lullaby is within her head. The context of the song (breakup) conveys shadows, a setting, for the text. She's expressing her confusion to a female expert on darkness, (a therapist most likely, eh?). It's not simple, but she's working the problem within a structured environment. I think she's taken a hejira to the country and is doing a post-mortem. She recalls the Light and Sound that was in her life but now it's the most troubling part. Why would you break up with someone who brought Light into your life? It's non-sensical. It's a paradox. How can one fix that? How can you break from your own "heartbeat"? Well, you can't fix it easily that's for sure. For me, I find these lines moving because she's filled with a mantra yet supremely disappointed. She's singing a bitter & sweet duality that is a huge part of my life. No one gets duality right like Joni. Lama, on day two of the headache from Hell (no offense to my esteemed colleague in NZ.) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 19:34:25 -0400 From: "Jim L'Hommedieu \(Lama\)" Subject: "Electricity" What's it all about? 100% JC Let's not overlook this grouping: > the song that he sang her to ... soothe her to sleep > I'm sure everyone's hearing her phrasing in their heads as they read that. This is masterful stuff, people. For one thing, it's not sing-songy. It's so un-sing-songy that I'll bet some people think it doesn't work. I don't. The way she phrases "that he sang her to" scans very funny as text on a page. She even stuffs a preposition at the end of the line so she has to split the phrase. This is edgy stuff because it builds tension. It's an unexpected place to put a breath but it sets up the stacatto point: She's haunted not by his anger but by his kindness. She can't easily disassociate herself from it. He sang her to sleep but now it's keeping her AWAKE, so to speak. Anyway, my original point was that her phrasing is mind-blowing. Who else in their right mind would say it like that? > the song that he sang her to ... soothe her to sleep > Lama Bob, the South Carolina Joni Guy, said, >It's really a brilliant song, the normal writer would fall into cliche using this kind of metaphor, but of course Joni is NEVER normal.> ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 18:40:48 -0700 From: "Mark or Travis" Subject: Re: truly, madly, deeply and jonily... i think juliet stevenson is a > gem of an actress and had seen her in a few things on PBS over the years. in > fact, she was on masterpiece theatre this past monday in a production > called " the road from coorain." i try to watch anytime i see her name > mentioned She is amazing in this movie! I would love to see her in anything she's done. Has she been in any other theatrically released movies? There is an interview with Minghella on the DVD and he says she is a well-known Shakespearean actress in Britain. He co-wrote the script with her in mind and said he wanted to see her in a part that was more like what her real life is - a lot of people coming and going and kind of zany & hectic. > > wishing you joni, > warren keith > > p.s. sorry to hear about travis not liking joni and all... > It's not really that Travis doesn't like Joni. He just isn't into her like we all are. Travis would rather watch a program on the Discovery Channel or Tech TV or the Home & Garden Network than he would a concert on Trio or a movie on Turner Classic Movies. It's a lucky thing that we have more than one TV in the house. Our tastes are very different in a lot of things. But we have enough things in common to stay connected. It makes life interesting! Mark E in Seattle ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 18:45:30 -0700 From: "Mark or Travis" Subject: Re: "Truly, madly, deeply" (NJC) > Me now: Mark, I saw this movie when it first came out about ten years ago, and loved it. It hit very close to home for me as well, as I had been trying for some time to cope with a deep loss, although not one through death. My recollection is that the film had some very wise things to say about grieving, and about then (slowly) moving in a new direction, which I really needed to hear at the time. It did indeed, Mary. My friend Melanie had been urging me to see it for a long time. After nine years I guess I was *finally* ready. It also made me laugh! It did that for me too! > > I'm glad you discovered it. Thank you. I am glad to have finally seen it. > > You also wrote: > >I had to take a > break. We stopped the movie for a few minutes. It was too much." > > WHOAH. . . this is TOO SPOOKY!! ;-) It was VERY spooky! But it's not the first time I've experienced this type of 'coincidence'. > > Take care, Mark, > > Mary P. in Madison, WI > Thank you, Mary. It's always great to hear from you! Mark E in Seattle ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 21:47:32 EDT From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: Grovel for show <> Happy to B&P that Paris '72 show for you, Nick...it's a 2-CD set. I'm cool to burn on whatever kind of discs you send. Bob Muller 309 West Prentiss Ave. Greenville, SC 29605 (Be sure & stick a note in there reminding me what to do, otherwise I'll just open 'em up and scratch my head.) And if somebody else beat me to the punch, good for them - and for you! :~) Bob NP: Randy Scruggs/Trisha Yearwood, "I Wanna Be Loved Back" ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 22:01:36 EDT From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? 100% JC <> True, but it's not really isolated that way when you're reading it on the page, it's more like: While the song that he sang her To soothe her to sleep Which scans pretty easily. But I see your point, and relating back to my earlier comment, your basic cliche hack (like Neil Diamond) would say: Songs you sang to me Songs you brang to me Which you certainly wouldn't want to have for a mantra. Now, can we take this another step along and look at "Edith & The Kingpin" & the "wires in the wall humming some song, some mysterious song". Is there any relationship between the song sung in "Electricity" and the wires in the wall? The "mantra", as you suggest? Is she even referring to electrical wires, or something different? Are they the same "wires in the wall" in Man From Mars? So much Joni, so little time... Bob NP: Gary Scruggs/John Prine, "City of New Orleans" ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 19:24:01 -0700 From: "Mark or Travis" Subject: Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? 100% JC Now, can we take this > another step along and look at "Edith & The Kingpin" & the "wires in the wall > humming some song, some mysterious song". Is there any relationship between > the song sung in "Electricity" and the wires in the wall? I don't know about that, Bob, but I always thought there was a relationship between the wires in the wall in 'Edith' and the line 'through i-bars & girders, through *wires* & pipes' in 'The Jungle Line'. The "mantra", as > you suggest? Is she even referring to electrical wires, or something > different? Are they the same "wires in the wall" in Man From Mars? I think Joni must have some special sensitivity to the sounds of electronic current. In the Gene Autrey show she talks about the frequencies of light bulbs and how they're different in this country from, say, in Europe and goes on to make some joke about being attuned to the frequencies of the light bulbs in Ireland in another century or something like that. Her hearing must be very acute and I wonder if she is more cognizant of this humming from the wires in the walls than most of us mortal folk are. Mark E in Seattle ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 22:29:12 -0400 (EDT) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: This Masquerade njc - --- Mags N Brei wrote: > trust me, in > the wee hours of > this morning when all of this started to brew, i was > lucky to put a > sentence together. I know, it's a bit of a silli > idea but there it is. > I was mortified to even post it considering all the > brilliant ideas > around. Not silly at all. It all has to do with the interconnectedness of things. At 4 a.m. I can solve all the mysteries of life. Unfortunately by 6 a.m. I've forgotten the thing entirely. ______________________________________________________________________ Find, Connect, Date! http://personals.yahoo.ca ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 22:33:54 -0400 (EDT) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? 100% JC - --- "Jim L'Hommedieu (Lama)" wrote: > Let's not overlook this grouping: > > > > the song that he sang her to > ... > soothe her to sleep > > > > > I'm sure everyone's hearing her phrasing in their > heads as they read that. > This is masterful stuff, people. Your putting it that way makes me think of something else which adds another shading to it. The song that he sang her to -> she's the words, he provides the music. Probably doesn't fit the whole electricity thing, but interesting nonetheless. Now, how about this one? "We once loved together and we floodlit that time Input/output - electricity." and "Is this just vulgar electricity? Is it the edifying fire?" Compare and contrast. This will be on the exam - winner gets a baker's dozen of cyber-cookies. ______________________________________________________________________ Find, Connect, Date! http://personals.yahoo.ca ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 20:53:07 -0700 From: Randy Remote Subject: Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? 100% JC It's always been one of my very favorite Joni songs. Before I read the lyrics, I heard it as "the technical man is busy", which still makes more sense to me. How can a book be busy? Yin and Yang, mother earth to father sky, man to woman.... If I were going to pick a nit, plus and minus are attributes of direct current (DC) electricity, but the bit about shorting the fuse box with a penny applies to alternating current (AC) i.e. household current. RR, waiting for the electrician or someone like him ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 00:57:14 EDT From: Murphycopy@aol.com Subject: Joni in Fiction/"About a Boy" "About a Boy" opens in the US today. The Nick Hornby novel from which this film was made has 10 references to Joni. SIQUOMB minds want to know if there any mentions of Joni or her music in the film. Planning to take in a movie tonight? Check out "About a Boy" and be the first one on the JMDL block to find out whether or not Joni is mentioned . . . and then let us all know! Thanks, --Bob ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 22:23:46 -0700 From: "Kate Bennett" Subject: Meeting Fred W Had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Fred Walecki at Westwood Music today. What a sweetheart of a guy!!!! (he's the one who helped ..design?..Joni's VG-8 so she could tour again. He seems to be in great health, very energetic, incredibly knowledgeable & soooo friendly... he pointed up to where he said he had a bunch of Joni's guitars for sale (1,2, 3, 4 numbered in cases...man, did he have my number! not cheap he said...so, I didn't even want to see them because I would have been in deep deep trouble- Paz I know you know the kind)... we talked a bit about Joni, her tunings, the website & the AMAZING people who figured out her tunings!!!! & how she told him that having her VG-8 was like having a whole new palette... what a nice guy, no wonder everyone did that benefit for him...Kakki, have you met him?...I can imagine the two of you chatting away for hours!!!! Although I didn't buy anything (yet) he walked me to my car (I was lugging 3 guitars) & talked about so many wonderful sound technicalities...I think he is really some kind of genius...on that same level of niceness (for lack of a better word) as Graham Nash ... I just want to buy something from him because he's such a cool guy! ******************************************** Kate Bennett www.katebennett.com sponsored by Polysonics Discover the Indies at Taylor Guitars: http://www.taylorguitars.com/artists/awp/indies/bennett.html ******************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 21:58:04 -0700 From: "Kakki" Subject: Re: Meeting Fred W Wow wow, Kate!! That is so wonderful that you got to meet Fred and spend some time with him! Seeing him onstage at the Walecki benefit a few years ago, I instantly sensed what a sweet and special person he was.The caliber and quanity of artist turn-out both nights to perform at the benefit are a truw testament to him. I did get to meet him briefly at the "after-party" one night and was just bowled over by him. I asked him to sign the program for jmdl'er simon who had sent me his ticket to attend. Fred wrote the sweetest note to simon. I've heard that he is one of Joni's very dearest friends. Also, John Calimee on the list has struck up a friendship with him after buying some equipment from him and has posted a bit about him. When Paz has been in L.A. it has always been a goal to get over to Westwood Music so they can chat. However, we usually think of it on Sunday when they are closed! I'm so glad to hear he is doing well. Kakki > Had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Fred Walecki at Westwood Music today. > What a sweetheart of a guy!!!! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 23:04:48 -0700 From: "Kate Bennett" Subject: RE: Meeting Fred W I wish I'd had much more time...I can see why Joni would consider him one of her dearest friends. He is so genuine, so incredibly bright & he went out of his way to talk to me about all sorts of stuff...my head was spinning absorbing such a variety of information...wow wow indeed!!!! I understand why so many pros go to him for what they need...he really knows a lot about sound & really cares about people & performers...he's a very very rare being, I can tell...I just wish they weren't so far away...I'd use them more but maybe I will anyway... >That is so wonderful that you got to meet Fred and spend some time with him! Seeing him onstage at the Walecki benefit a few years ago, I instantly sensed what a sweet and special person he was.The caliber and quanity of artist turn-out both nights to perform at the benefit are a truw testament to him. > ******************************************** Kate Bennett www.katebennett.com sponsored by Polysonics Discover the Indies at Taylor Guitars: http://www.taylorguitars.com/artists/awp/indies/bennett.html ******************************************** ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2002 #219 ***************************** ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe ------- Siquomb, isn't she?