From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2011 #783 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 Website: http://jmdl.com JMDL Digest Friday, December 30 2011 Volume 2011 : Number 783 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: Annie Lennox Joni mention, now Adele / Joni comparisons? [Merk54@aol.] New Judy Collins Book w/Joni content [Ken ] Re: Annie Lennox Joni mention [gerard mclaughlin ] Re: Annie Lennox Joni mention, etc ["Betsy Blue" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:04:49 -0500 (EST) From: Merk54@aol.com Subject: Re: Annie Lennox Joni mention, now Adele / Joni comparisons? I agree with Bob that Adele is the real deal. I'm actually surprised there hasn't been more of a discussion of her on this list, unless it was all marked NJC and I just missed it. Her album is the one I kept going back to repeatedly this year. I think it struck a cord with a lot of people, probably for very similar reasons that Blue did so many years ago. I think a couple of Joni's strengths is her ability to convey melancholy and connect emotionally with her audience. I get a lot of that from Adele as well. My niece first turned me onto Adele when 19 came out, and she spoke about her in terms that reminded me of how we speak about Joni. I originally found 19 to be a little too laid back, but it grew on me with repeated listenings. I thought she did a great job of expanding her musical pallet on 21 (how can you not get up and shake your booty during Rumour Has It). If you haven't listened to 21 or only gave it one or two listens, I encourage you to give it some more time. Don't let the hype and commercial success turn you off, because I think this is a real gem of an album. Great voice, beautifully sung, heart-felt songs. In it's own way, it's as emotionally open as Blue was in it's day. I've seen Adele in concert twice now, and she clearly resonates with the audience. Hopefully her throat surgery won't have any negative impact on her voice and she continues to spread her wings musically. I have great hopes for her future releases. Jack In a message dated 12/29/2011 7:36:39 A.M. Central Standard Time, Bob.Muller@Fluor.com writes: I'm not buying much of this argument; there's always been a "Ted Mack's Amateur Hour", "Star Search", you name it. None of today's BIG stars have come from these shows and I don't see anything changing anytime soon in that regard. The year that Joni put out Clouds, the #1 song of the year was "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies (who didn't really even exist). Pop/Top 40/Hit radio has always been around. Obviously the business has changed in 50 years and I'm not denying that - then again, what business HASN'T changed in the last 50 years? 2011 was another stellar year for outstanding music, for new artists who are establishing themselves as more than flukes (Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Feist, Adele), established artists (The Black Keys, Wilco, The Decemberists, Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams) and even Joni's generation who came out with some of the finest work of their careers (Paul Simon, Tom Waits, Robbie Robertson). As I was out of the country most of the year I wasn't able to partake of as much music as I wanted to so I wasn't able to 'discover' a lot of new artists. Adele is the real deal - she's sold herself on her pipes and not her sexuality, though she is a beautiful woman in my opinion. Her music crosses over into many groups, hence the sales of 14 million or so. Much more than pop/dance/video music. Bob NP: The Black Keys, "Run Right Back" - ------------------------------------------------------------ The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain proprietary, business-confidential and/or privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are hereby notified that any use, review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, reproduction or any action taken in reliance upon this message is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and may not necessarily reflect the views of the company. - ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:31:50 -0500 (EST) From: Ken Subject: New Judy Collins Book w/Joni content Happy New Year, y'all. Don't know if this has been mentioned before but Judy Collins has just released an autobiography (Judy Collins, Sweet Judy Blue Eyes). It has a couple of pix with Joni (one, of Judy & Joni at Joni's Laurel Canyon cabin is really nice) and, obviously, some mentions of Joni & lots of others from that time of Judy's life (including Stephen Stills, or course). I was never a huge Judy Collins fan but I recently heard an interview with her on the radio (remember radios?) and it made me ask for the book for Christmas (thanks, Ro). I've just started on it but, judging by what I've read so far, I think Judy is a better (book) writer than I had expected. Some very nice things and I really like her style. Example: "With the passage of time, I am able to talk about circles that have been completed and old friends with whom I have reconnected. Many have died, each spiriting away a unique impression of me that no one else will ever have, each leaving a ghost of himself behind in my memory." Great stuff, IMHO. Kenny B ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:18:33 +0000 From: gerard mclaughlin Subject: Re: Annie Lennox Joni mention I remember loving The Tourists and being quite enthralled with the singer who looked amazing . Thinking back she probably had much the same impact on me as Lady Gaga does today and the singer was of course Annie Lennox. She dressed up majorly throughout her career from the outset. We need think only of her Diva days. Her comment on Gaga's costume dramas doesn't sit too well with me either.As to Leona Lewis, there's no getting away from the fact that she has got what it takes and does it all with real star quality. There was a rumour at the time that she was already a star in the making and was put onto the tv show just to get her a ready made public. She was to replace Whitney I seem to recall so they sent her off to the USA where she made it big I'm told.She really is the exception to the rule as far as The X Factor goes but....but not really if what we hear is true. Anyway people love all these shows so obviously there's a place for them in our ever evolving world ! Variety is the spice of life after all. The thing is I was at a party recently and the TV was playing in a room in which I sat for about an hour chatting to folk and watching as I did so. I thought I was watching JLo the whole time but it turned out it was in fact a number of girls currently in vogue; They all looked the same, dressed the same and sounded the same.When someone started to name each of them I naturally had to take a closer look. Indeed they were all different girls but the only real diferrence was the size of their hips.Everything else was identical. I found that quite disturbing.I don't think pop has ever been so samey well not so much of the one thing. Thank gawd fr GAGA but she's getting boring already...I look forward to what's next...yeah yeah yeah. On Thu, Dec 29, 2011 at 5:45 PM, Anita G wrote: > I feel myself sitting so solidly on the fence when I say 'There have been > some great finds on talent shows along with some dross.' Great finds > include Adam Lambert (I read that he has been asked by Brian May to go out > and sing with Queen) and Leona Lewis who often astounds me. At this years X > Factor final, she came on and sang Johnny Cash out of Nine Inch Nails' > 'Hurt'. It was so out of place. Everyone had been leaping up and down and > screaming - and she came on and just made the whole of Wembley Arena fall > into depressed hush. It was brilliant. > > As for Annie Lennox on Lady Gaga saying "Obviously she's someone who really > is... > I would say probably a bit compulsive about the dressing up thing and all > of > that. The only thing for me is I'm not quite sure what it all means at the > end > of the day, other than it just being extraordinarily startling." > > Well, I went to the Annie Lennox exhibition at the Victoria and Albert > Museum in London at the beginning of December. It featured Annie's music, > art, books of lyrics and an endless array of costumes that certainly > startled me. The black leather suit reminded me of many happy days - but I > won't get there" :~) However, Annie criticising Gaga for dressing up? > Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black to me. > Love to all > Anita xx ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:44:38 +0000 From: "Betsy Blue" Subject: Re: Annie Lennox Joni mention, etc I agree with Bob's whole message, especially: >Obviously the business has changed in 50 years and I'm not denying that - then again, what business HASN'T. changed in the last 50 years? 2011 was another stellar year for outstanding music, for new artists who are establishing themselves as more than flukes (Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Feist, Adele), established artists. (The Black Keys, Wilco, The Decemberists, Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams) and even Joni's generation who came out with some of the finest work of their careers (Paul Simon, Tom Waits, Robbie Robertson). Lady Gaga is a real talent, too. Her acoustic Edge of Glory may appeal to the same people who found the piano version of Dog Eat Dog a revelation. I was also blown away by her recent duet with Tony Bennett. Annie Lennox is right that these contest shows can't churn out artists, of course. Joni doesn't have an "X-factor" like Jennifer Lopez or Madonna. Maybe being beautiful got her foot in the door, but she had a lot more than sex appeal on her side. The reverence fans have for her can be explained by her ability to compose and play original, evocative songs. Even though she was blessed with a big range, good pitch, and flexibility, she didn't become a great singer until after most people stopped buying her albums. Their loss! There is very little opportunity now for artists to develop a catalog like Joni's, assuming there anyone with a comparable talent and work ethic exists. Honestly, I feel like it makes The Beatles and U2 seem weak. We may start grumbling when a new album doesn't come out every few years, but there are dozens of exceptional (and timeless) songs already out there. Betsy NP Graceland ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2011 #783 ***************************** ------- To post messages to the list, send to joni@smoe.org. Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------