From: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2009 #19 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Archives: http://www.smoe.org/lists/onlyjoni Websites: http://www.jmdl.com http://www.jonimitchell.com Unsubscribe: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe onlyJMDL Digest Wednesday, January 21 2009 Volume 2009 : Number 019 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: Hissing [Mark-Leon Thorne ] Re: Hissing [Bob.Muller@Fluor.com] Re: Hissing [Dflahm@aol.com] Re: oh canada a list of music for Obama [Rian Afriadi Subject: Re: Hissing The one thing that could answer the question of the source of the hissing is, where was Joni at the time she wrote this song? Without looking it up, I assume Joni was in L.A. in 1974/5. The idea of lawn sprinklers makes perfect sense to me but, all these years, I assumed it was cicadas. It may well have been the influence of my own childhood that assumed that. Where I grew up, there were lots of lawn sprinklers too. In fact we had ours going pretty much all Summer long and used to pay around it. We didn't have one of those fancy ones that have a pattern to them, just an old one that continued in a circle and, sure there certainly was a hissing sound from a distance but the overwhelmingly dominant sound of Summer in the suburbs of Sydney was the cicada. I too used to pull their discarded shells from the trees. Obviously Joni wasn't in Sydney when she wrote THOSL but I had in my mind that the whole album is set in New York or, at least in the northeast somewhere. Harry's House might be in Scarsdale but his 30th floor office is definitely in Manhattan in my mind and, isn't the Pan Am building in Manhattan? The Hissing of Summer Lawns are in that same neighbourhood or at least nearby. Edith hung out at a Greenwich Village dive and the concrete jungle line runs through Harlem. The Boho zone is around Chelsea in my head. The idea of the cicada making the Summer hissing was confirmed for me when I saw a David Attenborough documentary that examined the lifestyle of the cicadas of the New England region. How strange that the New England region shares something in common with the suburbs of Sydney. Well, I guess it's not too far fetched. I would have thought Sydney had more in common with Los Angeles. Both very ubanised cities, similar climate and beach culture. They are really Summer cities and urban sprawls. So, where was Joni when she wrote The Hissing of Summer Lawns? I know that Joni had just come back to LA from the "Canadian backwoods" and wrote For The Roses but did she take off from there to the east coast? Mark in Sydney NP Harry's House - Joni ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:25:14 -0500 From: Bob.Muller@Fluor.com Subject: Re: Hissing Here's what Joni has to say (from her interview with Cameron Crowe in Rolling Stone, 1979): "The Hissing of Summer Lawns is a suburban album. About the time that album came around I thought, "I'm not going to be your sin eater any longer." So I began to write social description as opposed to personal confession. I met with a tremendous amount of resentment. People thought suddenly that I was secure in my success, that I was being a snot and was attacking them. The basic theme of the album, which everybody thought was so abstract, was just any summer day in any neighborhood **when people turn their sprinklers on** all up and down the block. It's just that hiss of suburbia." And while she was based in LA, this was her first album of mostly portraits ("In France They Kiss On Main Street" being an exception) as opposed to being autobiographical so her specific location is kind of irrelevant...like you say, some of it takes place on the west coast, some on the east, and like she says, it's "any neighborhood". Bob NP: Suzanne Vega, "Bad Wisdom" - ------------------------------------------------------------ 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: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:20:56 EST From: Dflahm@aol.com Subject: Re: Hissing Isn't there a line in "Edith...:" "small town, big man." I don't think Greenwich Village was the scene. To me, the album evoked many locations (as a well-traveled American, I'm susceptible to that). DAVID LAHM **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1215855013x1201028747/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%26bcd=De cemailfooterNO62) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:15:13 -0800 (PST) From: Rian Afriadi Subject: Re: oh canada a list of music for Obama Thanks Mags, for the update. I voted for Both Sides Now but i really wished Chinese Cafe was on the list.. Can't believe Sarah McLachlan's not there. (I suggest "Angel") Another suggestion (this one is for Former President Bush Junior) : Alanis Morissette - You Oughta Know. ("And I'm here/ to remind you/ of the mess you left when you went away") Rian Congratulating America, but also reminding that it's just a beginning. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:20:31 -0800 (PST) From: Jeannie Subject: I can hardly believe my heart and eyes! New Morning by Bob Dylan Can't you feel that sun-a-shining? Ground hog runnin' by the country stream This must be the day that all my dreams come true Sooo happy just to be alive Underneath the sky of blue On this new morning, new morning On this new morning with you..and you..and you... So happy just to be alive Underneath the sky of blue On this new morning, new morning On this new morning with you. New morning... ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:44:21 -0600 From: Michael Paz Subject: Happiness, Love, Peace, and Prosperity To All Hi Everybody- I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of the day. I wish everyone much Happiness, Love, Peace, and Prosperity with this dawning of a new era in our lives. I am filled with joy and emotion and wish I could give you all a big hug. I look forward to the future and feel like this is going to be some fun times ahead. Looking forward to seeing you all along the path soon. I am at home in New Orleans and am writing from Preservation Hall overlooking the courtyard. The band is in the Hall working on our next album which will be released before Jazz Fest. Luv Paz Michael Paz michael@thepazgroup.com Tour Manager Preservation Hall Jazz Band http://www.preservationhall.com ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2009 #19 ******************************** ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe