From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2013 #10 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://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Wednesday, January 2 2013 Volume 2013 : Number 010 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- RE: Joni Covers #157 - Oceans of Rivers [Susan Tierney McNamara Subject: RE: Joni Covers #157 - Oceans of Rivers I love when conjectures are backed up with facts!!!! Thanks, Bob. I think traditionally holiday songs were thought to be inspirational or fun (whether in the religious or secular sense) ... but more often than not there is a sense during the holiday season that not everyone is happy and not everyone is surrounded by loved ones ... it's another aspect of traditional Christmas themes that we think of people who may be lonely, ill or impoverished. I'm reminded of one of my favorite Gordon Lightfoot songs, Circle of Steel, which could be considered a holiday song in this respect. Susan Tierney McNamara email: sem8@cornell.edu From: Bob.Muller@fluor.com [mailto:Bob.Muller@fluor.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2013 10:18 AM To: Susan Tierney McNamara Cc: JMDL Subject: RE: Joni Covers #157 - Oceans of Rivers What is the consensus here of River as a traditional Christmas song?> I think your answer possibly depends on what constitutes a "traditional" Christmas song...it's an interesting and timely question, as I was just thinking about River covers this very morning. I would answer the question with a resounding YES and I would define the phrase as a song that has become associated with the holiday season. This association has happened as an unintentional trend which is why, I suppose, along with its melancholy theme makes it a somewhat controversial holiday song. To the best of my knowledge, the first cover of the song was in 1973 by Dave von Ronk. As far as I can tell, the first inclusion of River as a SEASONAL song occurred in 1991 with Wintergreen's release titled "Winter". In 1999/2000 (about the time I started the project), at least TEN recordings came out on holiday/christmas albums, along with a couple unreleased from holiday specials. Fast forward to this year and last, there were 30 official releases of River as a Christmas/Seasonal song, and many more unreleased. Just go to Youtube, do a search for "Joni Mitchell" for the last month, and 90% of the videos are all people covering River (of varying quality I might add). Whether we like it or not, or agree or not, the fact is that River HAS become a traditional Christmas/Holiday song. Because of that, it has vaulted to the #3 spot as the most-covered Joni song, and this time next year (or sooner) it will overtake BYT and become #2. Don't think it'll ever take over the #1 spot though! Bob - ------------------------------------------------------------ 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. - ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2013 #10 **************************** ------- To post messages to the list, sendtojoni@smoe.org. Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------