From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2007 #97 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Archives: http://www.smoe.org/lists/joni Website: http://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Sunday, March 4 2007 Volume 2007 : Number 097 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: Desert Island [Wtking59@cs.com] grrrr! and fiddle & drum [missblux@googlemail.com] 80'es stuff & a Q for songwriters [missblux@googlemail.com] Re: grrrr! and fiddle & drum [Victor Johnson ] Re: 80'es stuff & a Q for songwriters [Victor Johnson ] Re: njc, Sting plays lute on PBS tonight, and thoughts on melancholy ["Sh] Re: Keith Jarret (njc) [missblux@googlemail.com] Re: 80'es stuff & a Q for songwriters [missblux@googlemail.com] Re: grrrr! and fiddle & drum [Victor Johnson ] Re: Joni, Jackson [Bob Muller ] Re: Zeppelin - NJC [Bob Muller ] Re: Joni's Canadian Songwriters HOF induction broadcast on CBC-TV [Doug <] Re: 80'es stuff & a Q for songwriters (njc) [Victor Johnson ] homes, njc ["Marianne Rizzo" ] Re: 80'es stuff & a Q for songwriters (njc) [Motitan@aol.com] Re: Joni, Jackson ["Dr. Katherine Whited" ] Re: You are on a deserted island...NJC yet [Victor Johnson ] Sondheim on Simpsons tonight! (njc) [Victor Johnson ] Re: Joni, Jackson [Michael Flaherty ] 'West' by Lucinda Williams (njc) too bad the njcs will never hear about this [Smurf ] Re: You are on a deserted island...NJC yet ["Lori Fye" ] Re: You are on a deserted island...NJC yet [Gary Z Subject: Re: grrrr! and fiddle & drum On Mar 4, 2007, at 7:55 AM, missblux@googlemail.com wrote: > Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2007 14:40:10 EST > From: Dflahm@aol.com > Subject: grrrr! > > "Her chords break harmonic rules, have no technical names and defy > Western musical theory." > .... > Such ignorance-or is it an attempt to get our attention with something > "outrageous?"-is just infuriating. > .... > --------------------- This guy is an idiot. Chopin broke rules too as did Stravinsky and a slew of others. I don't know that her chords are so much in defiance of Western musical theory as he is just too lazy to analyze them. Victor ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 09:43:18 -0500 From: Victor Johnson Subject: Re: 80'es stuff & a Q for songwriters > Here is what I'd ask her, because I'd like to know: > > (1) How do you write a song? > (2) Does the melody or the song come first, or do they sometimes come > at the same time? > > -Since I'll probably not get to meet her: how would the rest of you > (those who write songs) answer this one? I'd be very interested to > know! > > I'm not completely sure how to answer as much of the process is organic and something I just do without thinking about it. In a larger sense, I guess being inspired helps as a starting point. The last song I wrote was "Ahdayneekay" which I wrote because I was in love with the girl of the same name I was dating. The song "Heavenly Eyes", I wrote the lyrics in the Greenville-Spartanburg airport and the music on Kay Ashley's backpacker guitar in Brooklyn. In that case, the words came first. Usually, if I have a line or two that pops into my head that seems pretty cool, more will follow, very much like a crack in a dam that begins small and before you know it, has spread across the whole wall till the water comes bursting through. Writing a song can be hard work though, much the same as drawing as I'm learning in my drawing class at GSU. There can be moments when you're extremely frustrated. Someone once asked Jerry Garcia if songwriting was fun and he thought it was a very odd question and no, he didn't think it was fun at all, more the contrary, a very hard and frustrating process. But then so is giving birth, which in the end, is extremely rewarding. I would characterize songwriting in much the same way though to be sure, it is different for everybody and some songs will be easier to write than others. Victor, amazingly coherent this morning though desperately needing some coffee > ----------------------------------------------------------- > Here is what I'd listen to if left at sea: > > -Keith Jarret's Cologne concert - because it reminds me that I'm human > > -Eric Satie's Gymnopedies > > -Carl Nielsen's symphonies 3 & 5 (fit on one record so that's ok). In > case I needed drama. > > -Hejira (would probably listen more to the music than to the words, > for once, because presumably I'd never be heartbroken on that island? > I'd be alone, right?) > > -Teach yourself guitar (unless some of you people were around to teach > me? Better not forget Hejira then) > -------------------------------------- > > Have a nice Sunday! > > Bene ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 14:41:06 +0000 From: missblux@googlemail.com Subject: Re: grrrr! and fiddle & drum Wow the poor man! Probably he is just trying to say that she invented her own tunings - and chords(?) - but then he got carried away because he doesn't know what that means. I wonder where he got the stuff about Western music theory from though. I think it's all right to call her a rule-breaker though, it doesn't imply that she is the only one to have ever broken a rule. By that token we couldn't say she writes beautiful music....? This is funny! I got really upset when I heard some yoga-enthusiast preach that the word guru 'master' contains the words for 'darkness' and 'light' because the guru embraces everything... and tantra (as in tantric yoga) combines 'tighten' and 'losen'... in terms of etymology it's complete rubbish and quite upsetting - to me anyway, but my yoga friend failed to see why this is relevant. I once heard her give a talk where she said she had just learned that Greek diaphragma means 'soul', and how wonderful is that. But it's plain wrong! When I hear things like that I get really appalled, and then its strange to see how people who are not linguists really don't think it's important. But I'm ranting. It's nice to hear your opinion on this Victor! Benedicte On 3/4/07, Victor Johnson wrote: > > On Mar 4, 2007, at 7:55 AM, missblux@googlemail.com wrote: > > > Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2007 14:40:10 EST > > From: Dflahm@aol.com > > Subject: grrrr! > > > > "Her chords break harmonic rules, have no technical names and defy > > Western musical theory." > > .... > > Such ignorance-or is it an attempt to get our attention with something > > "outrageous?"-is just infuriating. > > .... > > --------------------- > > > > This guy is an idiot. Chopin broke rules too as did Stravinsky and a > slew of others. I don't know that her chords are so much in > defiance of Western musical theory as he is just too lazy to analyze > them. > > Victor ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 09:48:33 -0500 From: Victor Johnson Subject: Re: Keith Jarret (njc) > -Keith Jarret's Cologne concert - because it reminds me that I'm human > > I've really been getting into Keith Jarret...I really love his style of playing. Most recently I was listening to his versions of "My Funny Valentine" and "Autumn Leaves" as well as "Radiance", a performance recorded in Japan. He has such a great sensitivity and a natural flow to his playing. Victor NP: Keith Jarret "You've Changed" "" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2007 14:59:48 +0000 From: "Sherelle Smith" Subject: Re: njc, Sting plays lute on PBS tonight, and thoughts on melancholy Dear Patti, I think you said, "Dear Sherelle and the rest of the Joni world" "N'est ce pas?"(sp?) Thank you so much for sharing this! I did get a chance to listen to the clip and it was absolutely wonderful. I love this music and used to sing a similar form of it when I was younger. It is a very disciplined and difficult way to sing but I love it! It has a beauty unlike any other! Alas! I did not see it being repeated in my local listing! I will catch it or even try to purchase the DVD myself. This is something I would love to watch over and over! What you are describing is something similar to what one feels when one hears or sings "The Blues". Though there may be melacholly in the music or lyrics, there is a release of sorts when heard or sung. Thanks again dear friend and I hope that all is well with you! Love, Sherelle >From: "Patti Parlette" >To: sherellesmith@hotmail.com >CC: joni@smoe.org >Subject: Re: njc, Sting plays lute on PBS tonight, and thoughts on >melancholy >Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2007 01:42:03 +0000 > >Chere Sherelle et la reste du Joni monde, > >I'm sorry you missed this, ma Belle! It was a lovely one-hour respite from >the breakdown of this century. > >You can check here to see if it will be repeated in your area, and also to >see some lovely photography and read more about it (life is for learning): > >http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/sting/index.html > >If you click on the left on "Deutsche Grammophon" you can hear some, and >after doing that, on the right, see some videos and stuff. > >He performed at his English manor house, in the gradens of his Italian >villa, and at St. Luke Church in London. Lovely environs, all. When asked >if John Dowling had been "depressive", he joked that he seemed more >bi-polar (because he sang about joy and sadness....hmmm...laughing and >crying/both sides now duality?). I also appreciated his talking about the >labyrinth, and everyone trying to get to the center (the garden?), and that >life is a journey. > >Well, those are just my meditative and contemplative impressions. I hope >you can catch it yourself, when you're in the mood for getting your soul >stirred and digging down deep and finding "comfort in melancholy." > >Love & peace, > >Patti P. > > >> >>Hi Patti mon amie! >> >>I'm just catching up on digests and caught your post! Waaah! I wish I >>could have seen this! How was it? >> >>Love, Sherelle >> >>From: "Patti Parlette" >> >>Bon soir, music lovers! >> >>Maybe this will interest some of you? Check your local listings. >> >>Classical Music, Here Is Thy Sting >>Rock Star Trades Bass For Lute In Playing 16th-Century Songs On PBS >>Special >>February 24, 2007 >>By ROGER CATLIN, Courant TV Critic > >_________________________________________________________________ >The average US Credit Score is 675. The cost to see yours: $0 by Experian. >http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=660600&bcd=EMAILFOOTERAVERAGE > _________________________________________________________________ Mortgage rates as low as 4.625% - Refinance $150,000 loan for $579 a month. Intro*Terms https://www2.nextag.com/goto.jsp?product=100000035&url=%2fst.jsp&tm=y&search=mortgage_text_links_88_h27f6&disc=y&vers=743&s=4056&p=5117 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 15:07:45 +0000 From: missblux@googlemail.com Subject: Re: Keith Jarret (njc) I got to know Keith Jarret through the same teenage friend's older brother who also owned Hejira. The Cologne concerts and Hejira have somehow stayed with me in the same way, its almost as if they have some of the same colours and effects, which they don't share with any other music I love. And just like I used to think Joni had really not made any other records that Hejira, I thought Keith Jarret only made the Cologne concerts and that's it. But then a friend turned out to have this enormous collection of his music, classical and jazz. I've got 'The melody at night, with you', and I like it. BUt it doesn't compare to the cologne concerts. There is something therapeutic about the Cologne concert which is unlike any other music I know. Strangely, that teenage friend turned psychotic. Before we realized that she was ill, I remember her taking off the headphones when listening to the Cologne concert because she was really disturbed by the music. Benedicte In an incredibly talkative mood this afternoon On 3/4/07, Victor Johnson wrote: > > > > -Keith Jarret's Cologne concert - because it reminds me that I'm human > > > > > > I've really been getting into Keith Jarret...I really love his style > of playing. Most recently I was listening to his versions of "My > Funny Valentine" and "Autumn Leaves" as well as "Radiance", a > performance recorded in Japan. He has such a great sensitivity and a > natural flow to his playing. > > Victor > > NP: Keith Jarret "You've Changed" > "" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 15:19:05 +0000 From: missblux@googlemail.com Subject: Re: 80'es stuff & a Q for songwriters Thanks for your amazingly coherent thoughts this morning Victor! Can't wait to see what happens after you get that coffee....! Another question: how much do you think about structure when you begin to write a song? Do you automatically think in terms of chorus and refrain? And how about rhythm and syllable count and so on? Sorry to be inquisitive, this thing puzzles me quite a bit at the moment! Benedicte On 3/4/07, Victor Johnson wrote: > > > > (1) How do you write a song? > > (2) Does the melody or the song come first, or do they sometimes come > > at the same time? > > > I'm not completely sure how to answer as much of the process is > organic and something I just do without thinking about it. In a > larger sense, I guess being inspired helps as a starting point. The > last song I wrote was "Ahdayneekay" which I wrote because I was in > love with the girl of the same name I was dating. The song "Heavenly > Eyes", I wrote the lyrics in the Greenville-Spartanburg airport and > the music on Kay Ashley's backpacker guitar in Brooklyn. In that > case, the words came first. Usually, if I have a line or two that > pops into my head that seems pretty cool, more will follow, very > much like a crack in a dam that begins small and before you know it, > has spread across the whole wall till the water comes bursting through. > > Writing a song can be hard work though, much the same as drawing as > I'm learning in my drawing class at GSU. There can be moments when > you're extremely frustrated. Someone once asked Jerry Garcia if > songwriting was fun and he thought it was a very odd question and no, > he didn't think it was fun at all, more the contrary, a very hard and > frustrating process. But then so is giving birth, which in the end, > is extremely rewarding. I would characterize songwriting in much the > same way though to be sure, it is different for everybody and some > songs will be easier to write than others. > > Victor, amazingly coherent this morning though desperately needing > some coffee > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > Here is what I'd listen to if left at sea: > > > > -Keith Jarret's Cologne concert - because it reminds me that I'm human > > > > -Eric Satie's Gymnopedies > > > > -Carl Nielsen's symphonies 3 & 5 (fit on one record so that's ok). In > > case I needed drama. > > > > -Hejira (would probably listen more to the music than to the words, > > for once, because presumably I'd never be heartbroken on that island? > > I'd be alone, right?) > > > > -Teach yourself guitar (unless some of you people were around to teach > > me? Better not forget Hejira then) > > -------------------------------------- > > > > Have a nice Sunday! > > > > Bene ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 10:15:37 -0500 From: Victor Johnson Subject: Re: grrrr! and fiddle & drum I looked him up, David Yaffe, and apparently he's an assistant professor of English at Syracuse University. He has written his own book about jazz and is also a critic. Anyway, for some reason, I initially thought he was in the music department but clearly he is not which makes a lot more sense. I agree that maybe he was trying to compliment her but perhaps got a little overzealous when he said her chords have no names and are in defiance of theory. Not being a theory professor, he shouldn't be making these statements which are simply not correct. Just to put things in perspective, I've looked at actual musical scores, for example, from Ligeti (his music was used in 2001: A Space Odyssey, without permission I might add) and from a notation viewpoint, his work is far more complex than any of Joni's pieces. Victor NP: Keith Jarret "The Out-of-Towners" On Mar 4, 2007, at 9:41 AM, missblux@googlemail.com wrote: > Wow the poor man! Probably he is just trying to say that she invented > her own tunings - and chords(?) - but then he got carried away because > he doesn't know what that means. I wonder where he got the stuff about > Western music theory from though. > I think it's all right to call her a rule-breaker though, it doesn't > imply that she is the only one to have ever broken a rule. By that > token we couldn't say she writes beautiful music....? ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 07:22:57 -0800 (PST) From: Bob Muller Subject: Re: Joni, Jackson Yep. Nope. Bob NP: Sheryl Crow, "Strong Enough" - --------------------------------- Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 07:30:41 -0800 (PST) From: Bob Muller Subject: Re: Zeppelin - NJC Those are both great collections, Cassy - I own the BBC stuff and have watched the DVD (LOTS of content on those discs!) when I borrowed it from my brother-in-law. An oft-neglected LZ gem is "Presence" which has lots of different melodic styles and rhythms than some of their other work. Even "Coda" which was just a collection of stuff they didn't think worthy of releasing originally has some excellent tracks on it. I think LZ is the greatest band ever - I like them more than the Beatles. And of course it is well-documented how in awe they were of Joni. Bob NP: CSNY, "Carry On" - --------------------------------- Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast with theYahoo! Search weather shortcut. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2007 10:44:45 -0500 From: Doug Subject: Re: Joni's Canadian Songwriters HOF induction broadcast on CBC-TV I'll be recording this tomorrow night. and you reminded me, I want to pick up that new Patty Griffin CD Doug Brian Gross wrote: > Just a reminder that the CBC-TV broadcast (highly edited to fit a 1 hour slot) > is scheduled for this coming Monday evening at 8PM. > > Do we have any Canadians set up to record it (on dvd maybe)? > > I'm set up to copy and burn dvd+R's here in south jersey usa. > All I need is a non-protected dvd or a vhs tape to copy. > > Have a good weekend everyone, and Happy Purim, > Brian > > np: Patty Griffin, Children running through > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > Politicians and diapers both need to be changed often. > And usually for the same reasons. > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Finding fabulous fares is fun. > Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel bargains. > http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 10:46:06 -0500 From: Victor Johnson Subject: Re: 80'es stuff & a Q for songwriters (njc) On Mar 4, 2007, at 10:19 AM, missblux@googlemail.com wrote: > Thanks for your amazingly coherent thoughts this morning Victor! Can't > wait to see what happens after you get that coffee....! > > Another question: how much do you think about structure when you begin > to write a song? Do you automatically think in terms of chorus and > refrain? And how about rhythm and syllable count and so on? > > Sorry to be inquisitive, this thing puzzles me quite a bit at the > moment! > > Benedicte > Honestly, I think very little about structure...I think very little period, I would describe it more as doing, playing around, experimenting with different chords, quite randomly at times. There is point usually when I just know that it is right (a segment or line, a particular voicing) and I'll keep working with everything till it all comes together. The rhythm and words and melody all come from feeling through it more than from any thought. At times though, certainly I can be very concentrated on something, very focused, and clearly am thinking, but being so wrapped up in the process, I'm not really thinking about what I'm doing as I am very much in a creative zone. I was never taught to write music, it is just something I have always done naturally, so it's interesting to think about the process. I know scores of books have been written about it. I think the more you write, the more certain things just become automatic, so that you don't even have to think about them. Often, the first words that come to you, you immediately cross out as it automatically clicks in your mind that these same words have been overused hundreds of times and it takes a little more searching to come up with lyrics that are unique and clearly your own. When people don't cross out words and just write what comes to them initially, it will show in their music. If you hear something that sounds just like other songs you've heard there is a reason for that. Victor, still sitting here at the computer, needing to get up and get that coffee! NP: Lee Morgan "Terrible T" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 10:53:55 -0500 From: Victor Johnson Subject: Re: njc, Sting plays lute on PBS tonight, and thoughts on melancholy I bought the cd a few months ago when it first came out. It was a little odd at first, hearing Sting singing songs that we've been doing in voice performance at GSU (I sang Flow My Tears last year) but I've warmed up to it and enjoy putting it on when I want something mellow. I completely believe that joy and sadness are often inextricable from one another. Music weaves them together quite magically! Victor Lee Morgan "Mogie" On Mar 4, 2007, at 9:59 AM, Sherelle Smith wrote: > Dear Patti, > > I think you said, "Dear Sherelle and the rest of the Joni world" > "N'est ce pas?"(sp?) > > Thank you so much for sharing this! I did get a chance to listen to > the clip and it was absolutely wonderful. I love this music and > used to sing a similar form of it when I was younger. It is a very > disciplined and difficult way to sing but I love it! It has a > beauty unlike any other! > > Alas! I did not see it being repeated in my local listing! I will > catch it or even try to purchase the DVD myself. This is something > I would love to watch over and over! What you are describing is > something similar to what one feels when one hears or sings "The > Blues". Though there may be melacholly in the music or lyrics, > there is a release of sorts when heard or sung. > > Thanks again dear friend and I hope that all is well with you! > > Love, Sherelle ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2007 16:31:40 +0000 From: "Stephen Toogood" Subject: Re: grrrr! and fiddle & drum Can I just say; so what if her chords break harmonic rules!? Joni is a really unique artist, and though I'm no music expert I hear lot's of sounds I'd associate with classical music. Ste >From: Victor Johnson >Reply-To: Victor Johnson >To: missblux@googlemail.com >CC: Dflahm@aol.com, "Joni LIST" >Subject: Re: grrrr! and fiddle & drum >Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 09:29:34 -0500 > >On Mar 4, 2007, at 7:55 AM, missblux@googlemail.com wrote: > >>Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2007 14:40:10 EST >>From: Dflahm@aol.com >>Subject: grrrr! >> >>"Her chords break harmonic rules, have no technical names and defy >>Western musical theory." >>.... >>Such ignorance-or is it an attempt to get our attention with something >>"outrageous?"-is just infuriating. >>.... >>--------------------- > > > >This guy is an idiot. Chopin broke rules too as did Stravinsky and a slew >of others. I don't know that her chords are so much in defiance of >Western musical theory as he is just too lazy to analyze them. > >Victor _________________________________________________________________ Rate your skiving credentials with our Slack-o-meter http://www.slack-o-meter.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2007 12:19:11 -0500 From: "Marianne Rizzo" Subject: homes, njc I have noticed from watching Home and Garden TV that homes across the country are much more expensive than homes in upstate NY. . Although taxes are among the highest in NY state. But it seems to me that homes cost two or three times higher in many other places. Also, when I watch this show (HGTV), I am thinking about how people spend so much money on renovations. . and I think about low income people who cannot afford a home. . . How they must feel when they watch people spending vast amounts of money on things that they do not really need. It took me a long time to get my own home. . I was age 34. It was a big thing for me because we rented all the time when I was growing up. (working class) I am all for home ownership. Marianne _________________________________________________________________ Play Flexicon: the crossword game that feeds your brain. PLAY now for FREE. http://zone.msn.com/en/flexicon/default.htm?icid=flexicon_hmtagline ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 12:31:12 EST From: Motitan@aol.com Subject: Re: 80'es stuff & a Q for songwriters (njc) "Another question: how much do you think about structure when you begin to write a song? Do you automatically think in terms of chorus and refrain? And how about rhythm and syllable count and so on? ........... There is point usually when I just know that it is right (a segment or line, a particular voicing) and I'll keep working with everything till it all comes together" - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Well I guess I'll put my two cents in here. I think you're absolutely correct in finding a point when you know its right and then it comes together. It's like a lightbulb goes on! Songwriting is not a mechanical process. Or more or less it shouldn't be. It should be very natural. I mean I suppose you could sit down, slap some chords together, put some words to it, force it out, but will it be anything worthwhile? Doubtful. Will it leave you with that feeling of relief/accomplishment after writing a song? No. One of the greatest feelings in the world is that particular feeling you get after the light comes on, you start working on something, and it happens. I don't even know what emotion it is (a combination) but it is the greatest feeling in the world (one of the three greatest anyhow :P ). On the other hand, when you sit down thinking you're going to write a song (without being inspired and just saying I'm going to do it which is a terrible idea in my opnion), one of the worst feelings in the world is that feeling of frustration you feel when nothing comes or garbage comes. Writing is such a strange process really. As far as my own writing process goes, usually the main chord pogression/riff comes. I'll be tinkering around on guitar and something will catch my ear. I'll keep playing around with it. Often the first line or two will come into my head so I'll write it down (I write down all the words to my songs, chords and such usually not--that I just remember). Keep playing around and more comes. Perhaps different parts, a refrain maybe, a bridge, whatever it may be. I don't think in terms of structure either. Sometimes the songs have refrains and sometimes not. I never think, "well I better put a hook here" or something. On occasion, I've had a few lines come in my head first and I'll make sure to keep them in mind. Then on these few but rare occasions I'll sit down, start playing, and know this is the music for those words. It's happened with a few newer songs I wrote and a song I wrote on the piano. Last song I started writing, I came up with an intro. I started playing that over and over again and the chords came for the verses or whatever. Then I came up with a vocal melody that worked. I knew the melody but not the words yet so I put my guitar aside and moved on to other things (which sometimes is a good idea if you get blocked). I was sitting in my room on a work night listening to music at about 12:30 AM and all of a sudden some words started coming into my head. I just knew this was it. I immediately ran and grabbed my guitar, played the music, sang the words and wrote them down. I'm almost finished with that song now. I'm just working it out now--finishing touches musically really. - -Monika


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AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 10:56:50 -0700 From: "Dr. Katherine Whited" Subject: Re: Joni, Jackson Sad, but thanks On 3/4/07, Bob Muller wrote: > > Jackson Browne?> > > Yep. > > > > Nope. > > Bob > > NP: Sheryl Crow, "Strong Enough" - -- "In every culture and in every medical tradition before ours, healing was accomplished by moving energy." Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, Nobel Laureate in Medicine ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 13:23:05 -0500 From: Victor Johnson Subject: Re: You are on a deserted island...NJC yet On Mar 3, 2007, at 7:48 AM, mike pritchard wrote: > I notice that your NP the other day was Coltrane's 'Spiritual' > which I was > listening to at the time I read your post. I recently bought his > 'Fearless > Leader' 6-CD set and it's wonderful. Hi Mike, I was checking this box set out and it just may be my next musical purchase. It was actually released on my birthday (Sept.26)...if I had thought about it at the time, it would have made a nice bday present. "Venus for Your Furs" is on the Johnny Hartman cd "For Trane". I've tried to find most of Hartman's releases over the last ten years or so and I think I have most of them. I may be missing one or two. Tis a shame I'm not able to attend jonifest seeing as such an interesting crew of folks will be there. Victor NP: Kentucky at Florida (go Gators!) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 11:23:33 -0700 From: "Les Irvin" Subject: RE: Keith Jarret (njc) > -Keith Jarret's Cologne concert Sorry to be either anal or uninformed about this, but do you mean the "Koln Concert"? NP: Sufjan Stevens "The Oracle said Wander" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 13:30:58 -0500 From: Victor Johnson Subject: Sondheim on Simpsons tonight! (njc) Stephen Sondheim makes a guest appearance on the Simpsons tonight! Check out http://fox.com for a preview clip. Looks hilarious! Victor ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 13:44:18 -0500 From: Victor Johnson Subject: Re: Keith Jarret (njc) Koln being the German and more accurate name seeing as it says "The Koln Concert" on the cd. Cologne being the English translation. You are correct sir. Have a cookie... :) Victor On Mar 4, 2007, at 1:23 PM, Les Irvin wrote: >> -Keith Jarret's Cologne concert > > Sorry to be either anal or uninformed about this, but do you mean > the "Koln > Concert"? > > NP: Sufjan Stevens "The Oracle said Wander" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 10:45:40 -0800 (PST) From: Michael Flaherty Subject: Re: Joni, Jackson For what it's worth, Joni has said the song is NOT about Jackson, while Jackson has insisted it is. As is almost always the case, trying to put an exact biographical meaning on any of Joni's songs is a mistake--and the words in this instance certainly don't fit Jackson's case exactly. It's probably a hybrid of various stories, fact and fiction. That said, do I think the reports regarding Browne and Hannah influenced the song? Yeah, I do. Michael Flaherty On 3/4/07, Bob Muller wrote: > > > Jackson Browne?> > > Yep - --------------------------------- Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 10:51:12 -0800 (PST) From: Smurf Subject: 'West' by Lucinda Williams (njc) too bad the njcs will never hear about this To whoever recommended this recently -- I think maybe it was Richard -- thanks a million! Best new album I've heard this year. I think that lots of people who like Joni would also like this because the writing is so strong. Maybe I should read through some more of the desert island posts and see if I can find any more gems like this. XO, - --Smurf NP: "Are You Alright?" along with the vacuum cleaner . ____________________________________________________________________________________ Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 11:03:03 -0800 From: "Randy Remote" Subject: Re: 80'es stuff & a Q for songwriters njc I've written them every which way; words first, music first, very rarely both....but for me it's usually music first; some kind of inspiration or accident will happen to get it rolling and I'll usually have a few words, maybe a chorus in mind, and some da da's as place holders. At that point I will make a quick recording so I don't forget it. I may add more music to it later, or not. The music part is usually effortless for me- the work part comes in filling in the lyrics, which can take minutes or years. I will use a rhyming dictionary and/or thesaurus sometimes. I hardly ever co-write. I've written some songs by taking fragments and putting them together. I've awakened with a song in my head and scrambled to get it down on tape many times, sometimes in the dead of the night, often at daybreak. My next CD will have one of those. Neil Young said that when you start trying, you should stop- meaning, I guess, that intuition should be your guide, not thinking. But there are no rules, and whatever works is what stays. Sometimes I do look at structure afterwards, and add a chorus or whatever. Mostly it's instintive, though. Then there's the cure for the lyric problem: write an instrumental! - this is a new one:: it has an open tuning and sounds a bit Joniesque at times: http://www.corryhanna.com/11-Waterfalls.mp3 RR ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 11:06:38 -0800 From: "Kate Bennett" Subject: Re: You are on a deserted island... njc Whoa too cool, thanks laura! Right now I think I could live the rest of my life listening to the first 3 Dire Straits records plus two of MK's filmscores (Local Hero & Cal)... >Monika asked: > What 5 do you bring to listen to for the > > rest of what > > you think will be your life? Why those albums? > >1. Kate Bennett's Over the Moon: It is very uplifting and colorful... I never get tired of it. 2. Earth Wind & Fire's Greatest Hits: I love to dance to it. 3. U2's The Unforgettable Fire: Meditative. 4. Yes 90125: It moves me. 5. Joni's Geffen Set... it's "one" album right? Love, Laura< ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 14:24:44 -0500 From: Victor Johnson Subject: Re: You are on a deserted island... njc You could bring MK's "Screenplaying" which has music from both of those as well as "Princess Bride" music which I love listening to and you'd have room for one more cd. What would it be? Victor NP: McCoy Tyner "Pannonica" On Mar 4, 2007, at 2:06 PM, Kate Bennett wrote: > Whoa too cool, thanks laura! > > Right now I think I could live the rest of my life listening to the > first 3 > Dire Straits records plus two of MK's filmscores (Local Hero & Cal)... ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 11:29:36 -0800 From: "Kate Bennett" Subject: RE: You are on a deserted island... njc Howdy Victor, Ah, but I love those film scores in their entirety without editing... but okay I'll add a 6th which would be... probably ought to have joni in there- I'll pick her first one (Joni Mitchell) >You could bring MK's "Screenplaying" which has music from both of those as well as "Princess Bride" music which I love listening to and you'd have room for one more cd. What would it be? Victor NP: McCoy Tyner "Pannonica"< ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 12:36:42 -0700 From: "Dr. Katherine Whited" Subject: Re: Joni, Jackson Thanks for your insights Michael. When I heard that story I was already familar with the song's lyrics (back then I didn't read any entertainment news-lack of time not interest) but later heard that the song was about JB and DH when it made a PBS news program about spousal/partner abuse. Being a huge JB fan, I was stunned. Michael: For what it's worth, Joni has said the song is NOT about Jackson, while Jackson has insisted it is. Katherine: Perhaps it's like Poe's Tell-Tale Heart that he insists and experiences the song as his story. Michael: As is almost always the case, trying to put an exact biographical meaning on any of Joni's songs is a mistake--and the words in this instance certainly don't fit Jackson's case exactly Katherine: I don't know what his case is exactly, and I wondered what it was when I heard his lyrics for In the Shape of a Heart. For the most part I agree with the biographical meanings not being literal but then again there's always exceptions to the rule: FSTB on Hejira and the stories on Mingus. On 3/4/07, Michael Flaherty wrote: > > For what it's worth, Joni has said the song is NOT about Jackson, while > Jackson has insisted it is. > > As is almost always the case, trying to put an exact biographical meaning > on any of Joni's songs is a mistake--and the words in this instance > certainly don't fit Jackson's case exactly. It's probably a hybrid of > various stories, fact and fiction. > > That said, do I think the reports regarding Browne and Hannah influenced > the song? Yeah, I do. > > Michael Flaherty > > > On 3/4/07, Bob Muller wrote: > > > > > Jackson Browne?> > > > > Yep - -- "In every culture and in every medical tradition before ours, healing was accomplished by moving energy." Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, Nobel Laureate in Medicine ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 12:03:33 -0800 From: "Lori Fye" Subject: Re: You are on a deserted island...NJC yet > What 5 do you bring to listen to for the rest of what > you think will be your life? Why those albums? I was thinking about this last weekend as I played some cds that I've had on tape or vinyl (and later on cd) since I was 13 or 14 years old. Three of those are included in my 5: 1) Hejira, because it's been my favorite recording of all time since I was 19 2) Elton John, Madman Across The Water -- my 2nd favorite recording of all time 3) Rod Stewart, Every Picture Tells A Story -- I simply never tire of listening to this 4) Yes, Fragile -- same as above 5) Shawn Colvin, Steady On -- I still think this is Shawn's best and, again, I never tire of it Lori Santa Rosa, CA ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 12:30:13 -0800 (PST) From: Bob Muller Subject: Re: 80'es stuff & a Q for songwriters njc Hey, it's really lovely Randy - tell Corry I love it and be sure to also tell him to keep us posted about the new CD, I'm still digging the last one a bunch. Bob NP: The New Pornographers, "The New Face Of Zero & One" - --------------------------------- Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 12:40:24 -0800 From: "Lori Fye" Subject: Re: homes, njc > I have noticed from watching Home and Garden TV that homes across the > country are much more expensive than homes in upstate NY You can buy a home in much of North Dakota and Montana for as little as $10,000. $50,000 will get you a nice home there. Of course, finding a job there is a problem, so you have to have "job portability" (like an internet business), or be willing to make a lot less money working there. Still, if the average income there is $26,000-$30,000, that means the home you buy there is less than, or perhaps twice, your annual income, instead of being 5 to 10 times what you're making living somewhere else. And then there's the weather, which is surely why a lot more people don't live there ... : ) > Also, when I watch this show (HGTV), I am thinking about how people spend so > much money on renovations. . Speaking from experience, my partner and I spent a lot of money renovating our house on the east coast, first because we wanted to enjoy living within that renovated space, and second because we knew we would get a better price for the house when we eventually sold it. (We did, and the profit allowed us to move to California and afford a nice house on a nice piece of property, although the CA house needs some work too.) > and I think about low income people who cannot afford a home. . . > How they must feel when they watch people spending vast amounts of money on > things that they do not really need. Probably the low income people are not watching HGTV, because that's an enhanced cable station and hopefully they aren't spending their money on subscription TV. However, seeing people spend vast amounts of money on things they don't need is just part of living in the U.S. Gross consumption is the way of life. But it's all relative, it's all a matter of judgment. Personally, I am horrified by the sheer amount of CRAP I see in stores. Useless junk, usually manufactured by someone in a far away foreign land. I wonder what the point of it is, except to make the owner of the CRAP Company wealthy. And then I realize that "someone in a far away foreign land" has chosen to take a job making that stuff, and they're getting paid to make it, and that's helping to feed them and their family ... so maybe it's just the trickle down thing and it all has a place in the world. (Or it doesn't, and the people who are working in those factories have made poor choices in leaving their family farms to go and manufacture crap, and they're really worse off than they were before.) I don't know. I feel guilty sometimes, having all that I do. I lucked into being born into the body I inhabit, in the country in which I live. While not "rich," I know I am wealthier than most if I consider all of the world's citizens. I don't understand the purpose of my place in the Grand Scheme, but it's the place where I am, the rung on the Great Ladder that my feet are on. So I try to live a good life, and I buy some nice things because I can, and I try to pay attention and buy them from conscientious companys. And I always hope that those purchases benefit someone other than just the owner of the company that makes those items. I don't know what to do about helping more people to own homes. I've worked on Habitat for Humanity houses, and that's one avenue and it's very satisfying for everyone involved. I know that people can get out of their circumstances and have better lives if they want, can eventually own homes if they want, but a whole lot of doing that is dependent upon having a great willingness to leave familiarity behind. It takes RISK. It's hard work, and no one is going to do it for someone else. Each must take those steps and risks and chances for themselves. (god, I sound like a Republican ... eeek!) Anyway, I do a lot of hoping, and in the meantime I do what I can. I'm sure I don't do enough, but I do try. Lori Santa Rosa, CA ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2007 15:54:14 -0500 From: Gary Z Subject: Re: You are on a deserted island...NJC yet I know my list would change by the day. But five I know I would keep close to my heart (at least for today) would be: Joni Mitchell - Ladies of the Canyon At the time it was released, I had already fallen head over heels for Joni and remember hearing cuts from this album over the most popular FM radio station here in Detroit, just before it hit the stores. Someone even told me they might not release it, which made me panic! When I got it, I was just haunted by Joni's beautiful, stark piano. I instantly loved "For Free" and the strong acoustic guitar on "Conversation" just electrified me. This recording will always be my sentimental favorite. Laura Nyro - New York Tendaberry Not for the faint-hearted, but the ultimate roller coaster ride of New York City experience. Get ready to concentrate on a trip. Listen to this one loud, with incense, candles and the lights out. You can bury me with this one. Peter, Paul and Mary - A Song Will Rise Their version of Dylan's "When The Ship Comes In" is just one of the many treats on this disc. It also includes, Gordon Lightfoot's "For Lovin' Me." Peter, Paul and Mary were my first concert experience. I was probably 13 or so, and had snagged front row. And mom would drive us down to the Masonic Temple and pick us up. I was awestruck by their performance. We met them backstage and got their autographs. I saw them many times afterward. They were dynamic on stage. Jennifer Warners - Shot Through the Heart A song she wrote called "Frankie in the Rain" is on this disc. Beautiful piano song, and Jennifer's voice is gorgeous. Also has "Don't Make Me Over" and Dylan's "Sign on the Window." on it. Some great songs on this whole recording. Jim Croce - Life and Times Every song on this album is great. "It Doesn't Have To Be That Way" is a beautiful song, which reminds me of Joni's "River" especially because I think these weren't necessarily meant to be Christmas songs. Such a sad loss, too soon. I wonder what he would be writing today? There are so many more. Don't even get me started on the '60s! Best to you all, Gary Z. Detroit ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2007 #97 **************************** ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------