From: les@jmdl.com (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V1 #267 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk onlyJMDL Digest Thursday, November 18 1999 Volume 01 : Number 267 The Official Joni Mitchell Homepage is maintained by Wally Breese at http://www.jonimitchell.com and contains the latest news, a detailed bio, original interviews and essays, lyrics, and much more. ------- The JMDL website can be found at http://www.jmdl.com and contains interviews, articles, the member gallery, archives, and much more. ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: A Zen Moment ["Raffaele Malanga" ] Lyrics ["Raffaele Malanga" ] Re: broken strings ["Marian Russell" ] Re: NEFest99 Boxed Set Credit-where-due [MDESTE1@aol.com] Turbulent Indigo strumming (was: broken strings) [Howard Wright ] Re: Joni's voice ["Catherine McKay" ] Re: Wally and Joni ["Catherine McKay" ] Re: Channel 4 Music of the Millennium (VLJC) ["Catherine McKay" ] Welcome ["Catherine McKay" ] Re: broken strings [Randy Remote ] Re: NEFest99 Boxed Set Credit-where-due [Brian Gross ] Re: Joni: the long and short [zapuppy2@webtv.net (Penny)] Re: Joni: the long and short [FMYFL@aol.com] Re: Thanksgiving [SCJoniGuy@aol.com] Re: Joni: the long and short [SCJoniGuy@aol.com] Re: Joni: the long and short [MDESTE1@aol.com] Re: Joni: the long and short ["Kakki" ] Joni: long and short [Emily Kirk Gray ] Joni: the long and the short [evian ] Joni's Voice [evian ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 02:41:32 PST From: "Raffaele Malanga" Subject: Re: A Zen Moment Jimmy wrote: << Just had to share this with my friends... It was such an incredible feeling. Just sitting there watching the man I love with our two dogs fast asleep on his lap, listening to Joni, together. It was truly a Zen moment!!! >> This was really touching. Thank you Jimmy for sharing. My best, Raffaele (in London) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 03:06:56 PST From: "Raffaele Malanga" Subject: Lyrics Hi Colin, a few days ago you posted a message (which I lost) about doing a speech inspired by some Joni's songs. Among those you mentioned "Sex kills". Now, I am aware that you listers may have discussed this already in the past, but I would be very interested in your interpretation of those lyrics. I know it's a song about violence in L.A. (as Joni says in the PWWAM video). I've always thought of it as a song about AIDS, but it may well be a superficial and a too straightforward association with the title that I am making. I'd love to hear your opinion. Talking about lyrics, I must say that I will post very often asking for your interpretations. Here in London I am attending a part-time course in Communication Design (although my age is far from being that of a student!), dealing very much with web design and multimedia, and I've decided to dedicate my second year major project to some lyrics of JM. It is meant to be a sort of visual experience with text, movies, visuals, graphics and small interactive pieces on a number of subjects inspired by one or more Joni's lyrics. The title of the project could be "Joni Mitchell Never Lies", but I'm still thinking about it (any ideas?). Of course I will use my imagination and my personal interpretation of the lyrics, but it would be really helpful if I can have the possibility to hear from you on some issues (I can give you credit in the project credits!) I'd be happy to have your opinion on my idea. Thank you so much. All my best Raffaele ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 12:15:23 CET From: "Marian Russell" Subject: Re: broken strings Dan wrote: to minimize string breakage: > >Raise and LOWER tuning slowly. I'm amazed at how often a string breaks >while lowering the tension! Go about halfway, and let it rest a second, and >then go on the rest of the way to your desired pitch. I think it does help to do this, but it's hard to know for sure. I've made some really radical changes in tunings back and forth and not had any breakage and then put on a new set of strings and had one or more break after just a couple of changes which were not at all radical. I think in these cases, it is a weakness in the string itself - poor quality, or some defect - rather than the changes themselves. I use Martin light-gauge strings, but only because that's what's commonly available in Austria. But I also always keep extra strings on hand, and extra extras of the ones that break a lot like the 1st, 3rd and 4th strings. The singles are Ernie Ball (phosphor bronze for the wound strings) and they seem very durable, lasting much longer than the Martins even though they are the same gauge. I never tune my guitar into standard tuning anymore. If I need a standard tuning, I tune it a whole step lower for all of the strings (top and bottom strings are D - the pattern is D55545) and use a capo if I need a higher key. I call this D-standard tuning. I break a lot fewer strings this way! >I must add my thanks to Sue for organizing such a wonderful selection of >Joni's music, as well as all the "tabbers," particularly from the JMDL. >And thank you Marian, for the tuning "database"! Very nice and useful >piece of work! Sue's Guitar Files are truly a wonderful resource and it has been a pleasure to be able to contribute to them. I only wish there were more Joni songs to tab. I'm very glad to know you find the tuning database useful - would welcome any suggestions for making it better. I've thought maybe adding the possibility to download the database in Excel or text format might be nice. Regards to all my dear Jonifriends. Marian (still recovering from bronchitis at home) Vienna ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 07:54:02 EST From: MDESTE1@aol.com Subject: Re: NEFest99 Boxed Set Credit-where-due Very well stated in detail Chuck. The production work that had to go into it was incredible. Les, you da man. marcel deste. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 13:12:02 +0000 (GMT) From: Howard Wright Subject: Turbulent Indigo strumming (was: broken strings) SueMac wrote: >Also you are >right about the strum on TI. It is one of her frustrating shuffles which >is very hard for me to play exactly as she plays it on the record. I >think I end up playing 6/8 instead of whatever crazy timesignature she is >in. Howard--help me here!! :-) You're spot on Sue - the classic Joni Shuffle is a 6/8 type of thing. (Or 12/8 if you prefer - basically the same idea!) The key is that, although there are 4 strong beats to the bar, the guitar strumming pattern is based on triplets. For each "strong" beat, count three, e.g: your 4/4 count of: 1 2 3 4 becomes: 1-2-3 2-2-3 3-2-3 4-2-3 This is the basic strumming rhythm used on all Joni's shuffle classics (TI, Cherokee Louise, Harlem in Havana, Crazy Cries of Love etc). It can take time to get the basic pattern right - and then there are extra Joni subtleties to work in - i.e which beats are accented etc, but if you can get the triplet idea working, your almost there! I guess I can put in a plug here ... this triplet/shuffle strumming pattern was covered in the notes I did for the "Taming The Tiger" songbook. If you have a copy, take a look - the same idea applies to TI. One thing that may help - listen to the rythms when Joni sings "paper thin walls" in Crazy Cries of Love. Repeat this over and over - "paper thin paper thin paper thin ..." - this is the same basic 1-2-3 2-2-3 triplet pattern. If you can "feel" this triplet pattern, as well as the slower regular count of 1 2 3 4, you're there. Try using alternate thumb and finger strokes with your strumming hand, on the triplet pattern, and see how that sounds ... Howard ******************************************************* Howard.Wright@ed.ac.uk Every country has smart people in it. The trouble is : none of these smart people ever go into politics. - Frank Zappa ******************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 08:41:57 -0500 From: Susan McNamara Subject: Re: Turbulent Indigo strumming (was: broken strings) Thanks Howard! You have a knack for simplifying the unexplainable!! :-) That inspires me to tackle Cherokee Louise! take care, Sue >SueMac wrote: > >>Also you are >>right about the strum on TI. It is one of her frustrating shuffles which >>is very hard for me to play exactly as she plays it on the record. I >>think I end up playing 6/8 instead of whatever crazy timesignature she is >>in. Howard--help me here!! :-) > >You're spot on Sue - the classic Joni Shuffle is a 6/8 type of thing. >(Or 12/8 if you prefer - basically the same idea!) > >The key is that, although there are 4 strong beats to the bar, the guitar >strumming pattern is based on triplets. For each "strong" beat, count >three, e.g: > >your 4/4 count of: > >1 2 3 4 > >becomes: > >1-2-3 2-2-3 3-2-3 4-2-3 > >This is the basic strumming rhythm used on all Joni's shuffle classics >(TI, Cherokee Louise, Harlem in Havana, Crazy Cries of Love etc). > >It can take time to get the basic pattern right - and then there are extra >Joni subtleties to work in - i.e which beats are accented etc, but if you >can get the triplet idea working, your almost there! > >I guess I can put in a plug here ... this triplet/shuffle strumming >pattern was covered in the notes I did for the "Taming The Tiger" >songbook. If you have a copy, take a look - the same idea applies to TI. > >One thing that may help - listen to the rythms when Joni sings "paper thin >walls" in Crazy Cries of Love. Repeat this over and over - "paper thin >paper thin paper thin ..." - this is the same basic 1-2-3 2-2-3 triplet >pattern. > >If you can "feel" this triplet pattern, as well as the slower regular >count of 1 2 3 4, you're there. Try using alternate thumb and finger >strokes with your strumming hand, on the triplet pattern, and see how that >sounds ... > > >Howard > > > ******************************************************* > Howard.Wright@ed.ac.uk > > Every country has smart people in it. The trouble is : > none of these smart people ever go into politics. > > - Frank Zappa > ******************************************************** ____________________ /____________________\ ||-------------------|| || Sue McNamara || || sem8@cornell.edu || ||___________________|| || O etch-a-sketch O || \___________________/ weekend email address: suemc16@webtv.net "It's all a dream she has awake" - Joni Mitchell ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 09:26:25 EST From: MINGSDANCE@aol.com Subject: Re: JMDL Digest V4 #514 "Jazz takes on Joni" Way to go David ! When one shoots for the moon they will certinly see stars. I have been enjoying your CD on my long drives ever since I won it on the list. I'll be Pow-Wowing with the spirts on your behalf.... Best of luck, Mingus ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 09:41:40 -0500 From: Anne Sandstrom Subject: RE: NEFest99 Boxed Set Credit-where-due Applause, applause... Les, can you hear the standing ovation by all us JMDLers for you? [I'm imagining all 600 or so of us in Ashara's backyard, while we coax Les up on stage/porch to take a well-derserved bow.] Great, great work Les! Thank you from all of us. Anne ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 02:41:57 +0200 From: j.pukkila@pp.inet.fi Subject: Re: S+L and M of A on cd Martin wrote: > Tony from Oxford said on Friday > > > Have not seen, over here at least, either Miles of Aisles > > or Shadows and Light on CD which I would not mind adding to my > collection. > > Definitely look out for the import version of S&L, because the > original > single CD version has at least one track missing - Free Man In Paris, > I > think. The import version is also HDCD if that makes any difference to > > you. I had to get my copy through CDNow. HDCD also has a couple of longer versions of the tracks, compared to the LP or other CD's. I don't have the HDCD, but at least the back sleeve claims so. > The video of S&L was available at Amazon a few months back, but only > NTSC. So if your video player can only play PAL tapes your out of > luck. > I love the album so much, I went out and bought a new video player > just > so I could play the video!! > > BUT...Be warned - the video is not cheap, and I ended up having to pay > > import duties and VAT in addition to P&P which took the totla cost up > to > somewhere in the region of 50 UK style smackers! ALSO, if you are used > > to the vinyl version of the album, be warned that it is slightly > different. Jaco gets a solo on the vid, but Woodstock is missing :-( > Seeing as I am now missing an arm and a leg, I play my copy quite a > lot. > Which is nice. "Raised On Robbery" is also on the video but not on any of the audio formats. Not so nice. > The CD of MofA I ordered from MVC (In Harrow) - I suppose any shop can > > get it if they can. Regular CD of MOA has the Joni chatter bits erased which appear on LP. HDCD has those restored. - --jussi ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 15:15:03 GMT From: "Catherine McKay" Subject: Re: VIBE magazine >In a message dated 11/12/99 11:27:14 PM US Central Standard Time, >p.a.oconnor@worldnet.att.net writes: > >So...6 of the 10 songs rate on the Bleak side, which does indicate a >Bleak >feel to the album, however it is not nearly enough to qualify >it as >Brutally Bleak. Bob replied: >Patricia, this is an excellent assessment...I think critics that >dwell on >Blue's "Brutal Bleakness" just really don't know it that >well. Like you >say, some of those dulcimer songs are so exuberant >and joyful, that's what >makes the whole record work. It's what makes >the sad songs seem stronger, >I think. I pretty much agree with both of you, although it's interesting that I never thought of "Little Green" as bleak. Admittedly, on first hearing it, I didn't know about Joni's daughter, and thought she was talking about someone else, a close friend and this friend's child perhaps. I always thought of "Little Green" as a bittersweet type of song. ("There'll be icicles, and birthday clothes, and sometimes there'll be sorrow.") In retrospect, you can see that it's a very mother-to-daughter song, but I still see it as bittersweet. The problem is, how do you rate bittersweet? It's not bleak, but it's not happy either, and yet, you'd only rate it as "neutral" because the positive and negative cancel each other out (and yet they don't.) Another case of convoluted thinking on my part. I have difficulty rating things or making things black and white, which is why I tend to be kind of namby-pamby about a lot of things. Half the time I don't even know what to have for supper. If you're going to rate this kind of song, you probably need one of those darned matrix-type rating systems, the kind of things they make you do when you go on one of those silly management-type courses, where you answer a bunch of questions about yourself, so you can figure out which group you fit into. There are usually only 4 groups, but they use different names according to whose scale it is (kind of a flavour-of-the-month thing). One of them I went to had us all rated as kinds of birds and, if I'm not mistaken, I was a "dove" (I bet some of you figured I was a hawk, surprise, surprise.) Anyway, how nice of them to fit us all into these neat little categories. Ranting and rambling, as usual, not trying to be argumentative at all, but definitely not a "rater", and it's probably a good thing I don't have a big wardrobe so there's usually not much trouble deciding what to wear in the morning (what doesn't need ironing is the important question.) Catherine (in Toronto) cateri@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 15:49:28 GMT From: "Catherine McKay" Subject: Re: Joni's voice On Nov 13, Colin asked: >I ma sure this has been asked and answered before but I can't >rmember. >Joni's voice changed markedly after Blue, especially on HOSL. >Although it >sounded more like her voice on STAS. >Was the voice change deliberate on her part? Or was it natural? I >wouldn''t expect her to sing now like she does on Blue for example, >but >her voice change happened when she was still quite young. Forgive me if this has already been answered. I'm still reading stuff from the 13th. I do remember either reading or hearing an interview with Joni where she said that the "high" voice she sang with on some of her earlier stuff (but not STAS evidently) was pretty much a "falsetto" and that her "real" voice was actually in a lower register. And more recently, her voice is lower still due to aging and too many cigarettes, I guess. For my part, I prefer the lower voice. Catherine (in Toronto) cateri@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 16:30:53 GMT From: "Catherine McKay" Subject: Re: Wally and Joni Gina writes to Wally saying: >I just went to the Joni site and saw the brief note from Wally and >the >photo there of him and Joni. Wally, I have never met you but the >warmth of >your lovely smile says worlds about you. I am, of course, >looking forward >along with everyone one else to the details of your >weekend with Joni but >just knowing that you had the experience makes >me really happy and your >smile tells it all (well, almost) : } Gina, you've said it so well. My feelings echo yours. It is a beautiful and touching photograph. Wally, I wish you all the very best - your e-mail name says it too. Wally, be well. "Here's to you, may your dreams come true, and may God bless, this is my best to you." Catherine (in Toronto) cateri@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 16:39:44 GMT From: "Catherine McKay" Subject: Re: Channel 4 Music of the Millennium (VLJC) Chilly Azeem provides us this list: >10 Bach >9 Dylan >8 Bowie >7 Mozart >6 Robbie Williams (That juxtaposition is at least worth a chuckle) >5 Paul McCartney >4 Jimi Hendrix >3 Michael Jackson >2 Elvis >1 John Lennon Considering it's supposed to be top music of the *millenium*, not just the century, or say the last 30 years or so, it's nice to see Bach in there (which one? ha ha.) And Mozart. Right up there with Robbie Williams and Michael Jackson. Uh-huh. Who makes this stuff up anyway and does anyone actually take it seriously? (And now, here's Madonna to sing Mozart's "Exultate, Jubilate". Followed by PJ Harvey covering Bach from Bach to Front.) Get me off this planet, puh-leez! Catherine (in Toronto) cateri@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 05:00:06 +1100 From: "Takats, Angela" Subject: CD prices (SJC) Hey all, I know this won't really interest most of you, but I'm rather shitty and had to have a little bitch. I am so sick of paying so much for CD's in Australia - - it is beyond a joke, and what's more annoying is that there's not even consistency in the pricing....yesterday I saw MOA for $36, next store I went in it was $26, and then I saw Hejira for $15 (I paid $32 when I bought it 2 yrs ago) where's the logic?...then DJRD was sitting on the shelf for $35, the SAME cd behind it was priced at $31 - when I asked the shop keeper what the hell this means, he said something like one was from Japan, the other from the US....annoying! But, on the positive side, I found a double James Taylor CD (J.T. and Flag) for $14.....sigh - eases the pain of me feeling totally ripped off most of the time when it comes to CD purchases. - - Ange From across the sea in Sydney - place of expensive/dodgy CDs ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 18:53:34 GMT From: "Catherine McKay" Subject: Welcome Welcome to a fellow Canadian. (Do any of us actually call *ourselves* Canucks, or is that just a term the Yanks use for us.) Catherine (in Toronto) cateri@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 12:24:33 -0800 From: Randy Remote Subject: Re: broken strings A couple more tips: Sometimes, if the same string (especially the higher strings) keeps breaking, it may due to a sharp edge on the tuner hole where the string goes through, because the string takes a sharp bend there. You can wrap a little bit of emery paper around a small rat tail file or a nail, and smooth the sharp edge. Also, along the same lines, having a couple extra wraps of string around the tuner shaft will lessen the tension on that spot. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 13:23:24 -0800 (PST) From: Brian Gross Subject: Re: NEFest99 Boxed Set Credit-where-due My package arrived in today's mail. It could not have come at a better time. My day/week/month/year has been running in panic/all-out mode. But today was the worst yet. A 3.000 mile phone call helped a great deal. Thank G-d for digital cellphones and call allowances. And for all-knowing lovers ;-) So when my boxed set package arrived, I took it and my small stereo into the conference room, closed the door, and was transported back to Ashara's lawn. And my panic attack subsided as I listened again to my Joni-brothers and sisters pour out their souls into the microphones set up by Les, Chuck, and Michael. Clear as a bell. Just like being there again. Thank you, one and all who were involved in making this treasure possible. It is priceless. And as I sit here at my desk and look over at the group picture from Ashara's on my wall, a tear comes to my eye when I think about how lucky I am to have a group of friends like all of you. My Joni-family. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Take care, Brian np: Ashara doing The Gallery ===== "No paper thin walls, no folks above No one else can hear the crazy cries of love" yeah, right __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 00:07:41 -0500 From: Julie Webb Subject: Joni: the long and short Do you have a favorite Joni song that you wished went on longer? I've been spinning "Night Ride Home" and absolutely hate it when the song "Two Grey Rooms" ends...Somehow it feels as if it's over prematurely, especially for how lovely it is. Musicoligists out there, is this just me or is there something to this? And believe it or not, I find that the song "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" drones on far too long. - -JulieWebb btw, a Jane Sibbery fan, I met her after a performance; if anyone wants the details, email me privately. (And she actually responded to an email I sent her!!!) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 14:27:13 -0800 (PST) From: zapuppy2@webtv.net (Penny) Subject: Re: Joni: the long and short Julie asks: <> Well Julie, you definitely hit the nail on the head with "Two Grey Rooms". The other song I wish were longer is "Electricity" Jimmy ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 21:43:03 EST From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: Thanksgiving In a message dated 11/17/99 3:28:27 PM US Central Standard Time, BrianGross@rocketmail.com writes: << And as I sit here at my desk and look over at the group picture from Ashara's on my wall, a tear comes to my eye when I think about how lucky I am to have a group of friends like all of you. My Joni-family. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. >> Stop Brian, now you're making ME cry... Bob NP: Wally K, "Circle Game" (in that wonderful Wally-accent!) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 21:49:49 EST From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: Joni: the long and short Julie (no kin to Jimmy) Webb asks: << Do you have a favorite Joni song that you wished went on longer? >> Oh, "Dancin' Clown", definitely! :~D But Seriously folks, off the top of my head: The Arrangement Judgement of the Moon & Stars Harlem in Havana You Dream Flat Tires Everything on Hejira! :~) Bob NP: Bryan Thomas, "Black Crow" HOT DAMN! This one alone is worth the plane fare to Ashara's!! I mean, ALL of it is wonderful, but Bryan...Ohmigawd!! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 22:19:10 EST From: MDESTE1@aol.com Subject: Re: Joni: the long and short Without a doubt..Passion Play and Night Ride Home. marcel deste ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 19:18:56 -0800 From: "Kakki" Subject: Re: Joni: the long and short Julie asked: << Do you have a favorite Joni song that you wished went on longer? >> Smokin' (Empty Try Another) heehee But seriously, I agree with you on "Two Grey Rooms" I think most of Joni's songs are just the right length but would like to hear a little bit more of: Blonde in the Bleachers Sunny Sunday Last Chance Lost Silky Veils of Ardor and as Bob suggested: > Judgement of the Moon & Stars I'd love to see this one expanded into a symphony like Paprika Plains. Kakki NP: Chuck E. Webb - If These Old Walls Could Speak ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 00:42:52 -0500 (EST) From: Emily Kirk Gray Subject: Joni: long and short i am crushed every time "people's parties" ends, but i don't think i would wish it a second longer, however. it's a perfect chiseled gem of a song -- i think of it as if she took a deep breath and let out those funny heartachy perceptive lyrics (lyric, really) in one exhale... i don't know why the liner notes print those lyrics in sections -- to me they run together in one poem, no line or group breaks. isn't it lovely, too, that "people's parties" is a song with a narrator wishing she had the ability to throw "lightness on these things" -- when of course that's what the song itself is doing! "cry for us all, Beauty" - -- emily ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 01:24:00 -0600 From: evian Subject: Joni: the long and the short Definitely, NRH needs to be longer! I can't count the times I am forced to hit repeat before I get my fill. Also, Court and Spark, although I don't think would work as a longer song, is one that I always need to repeat. And I can't remember who said it, but whoever said "Judgment of the Moon and Stars" is right on the money. Even though I still don't know what the hell the song is about, it makes the hair on my neck stand up every time I hear it, and would love it to be as long as "Paprika Plains". Oh, and "Car on the Hill" always seems to end too soon for me... guess I am waiting for the 12" remix ;) As for a shorter song, "Come in From the Cold", although I love it, is just too long for me sometimes, and I find myself skipping it occasionally (Maybe because I am waiting impatiently for "Nothing Can Be Done", even though I seem to be the only one who loves this song!) Evian, who is not old, I'm told, but who really doesn't feel too young.... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 01:40:53 -0600 From: evian Subject: Joni's Voice Catherine, who is slowly but surely catching up on Joni-mail like me, said: > For my part, > I prefer the lower voice. > > I too would say that the lower voice is what I prefer. However, instead of always saying "Oh, her voice lowered from smoking", which I am sure has played a big part, I also think that maturity has a lot to do with it. It's like Joni has grown into her voice, and it keeps getting better, rather than turning into some raspy growl that one usually associates with smoking. The lower voice conveys so much more sultriness and sexiness than the higher one, and more wistful emotion. I am always startled from whatever I am doing and take notice of Joni's voice when I play "How Do You Stop". The way she sings "so fast, so SMAAAART" gives me shivers. I can't imagine the high Joni voice singing that line with any comparable emotion. Rather, the lower voice allows her to express herself in different ways. Same with "Harlem in Havana". That song also makes me sit up and take notice, and fills me with joy simply because of her voice. I am giggling just thinking of the Clouds and LOTC Joni singing HIH! Of course, I do love her "high voice", especially watching her on Dick Cavett on the Tape Trees. I am always amazed at watching her belt out the songs with that voice, and I love the soft speaking voice she had on the show... but again, she has matured, and that Joni isn't the Joni we know now. So anyway, even though the smoking thing has lowered her voice, it is also a maturity thing too, and the fact that Joni has said her real voice was a lower register. Look at Aretha, a former 4 pack a day smoker, and my beloved Stevie Nicks, who just gave up 3 packs a day... their voices didn't lower as drastically as Joni's, so I am sure this suggests that Joni has "grown" into her voice. Evian, who swears this will be the last post of the evening! (Well, maybe... ) ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V1 #267 ****************************** The Song and Album Voting Booths are open! Cast your votes by clicking the links at http://www.jmdl.com/gallery username: jimdle password: siquomb ------- Don't forget about these ongoing projects: Glossary project: Send a blank message to for all the details. FAQ Project: Help compile the JMDL FAQ. 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