From: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2011 #366 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 Thursday, December 15 2011 Volume 2011 : Number 366 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: Joni's "River" on list of Xmas music at TCE blog [Catherine McKay ] River [Sharon Watkins ] Re: Gleeful River [FMYFL@aol.com] Re: Gleeful River [Catherine McKay ] Re: Lawn reindeer ["Mark" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:28:37 -0800 (PST) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: Joni's "River" on list of Xmas music at TCE blog I will add to this, you don't need to be on Facebook to watch the clips. I was able to watch without logging in, so it should work for non-Facebookers. I did find the little window where the clip played cut things off, so I couldn't see the full picture, and couldn't find anything to adjust the size, but maybe it's just me. And for the njc, I loved "The Clauses." >________________________________ > From: Kathy Johnson >To: joni@smoe.org >Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 12:50:11 AM >Subject: Joni's "River" on list of Xmas music at TCE blog > > > >Also, tonight I watched This Hour Has 22 Minutes' Christmas special. They had >a comedy sketch depicting the singers who performed for the Tears are Not >Enough fundraising video. Joni was played by Geri Hall, who did an excellent >job being "Joni" in flowing dress with her expressive movements, hands, etc. > >If you haven't seen the show: >http://www.cbc.ca/22minutes/ > >On the page, there is a Find Us on Facebook block in the right-hand column, >where you can watch the sketch, called Beers Are Not Enough. > >Kate > > >b?b >1b.b?b >1b.b?b >1b. >Stubblejumpin'Gal >http://goldengrainfarm.blogspot.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:53:17 +0000 From: Susan Tierney McNamara Subject: RE: River Sharon, thanks for saying exactly what I was thinking!!! I agree, Christmas is not always a time of joy, but sadness for things we have lost or people we miss. This song not only deals with these emotions but I also love the way Joni conveys the hurt from causing others pain ... selfish and sad ... and the feeling of just wanting to skate away ... take care, Sue ________________________________________ From: owner-joni@smoe.org [owner-joni@smoe.org] on behalf of Sharon Watkins [swat676699@aol.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 6:13 PM To: joni@smoe.org Subject: River I do see River as a Christmas song; but I just see it as being realistic. Unfortunately, Christmas is a difficult time for many as they deal with hardship and personal loss. I see River as giving voice to those who have to deal with the loss of a love or divorce during the holidays. To me it is very honest portrayal during a season when we are supposed to paste on a happy face even while our heart may be breaking. Sharon Sent from my iPhone ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:13:50 -0600 From: Sharon Watkins Subject: River I do see River as a Christmas song; but I just see it as being realistic. Unfortunately, Christmas is a difficult time for many as they deal with hardship and personal loss. I see River as giving voice to those who have to deal with the loss of a love or divorce during the holidays. To me it is very honest portrayal during a season when we are supposed to paste on a happy face even while our heart may be breaking. Sharon Sent from my iPhone ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:42:40 -0500 (EST) From: FMYFL@aol.com Subject: Re: Gleeful River I'm just thankful she didn't sing the rest of it. Anyone on the show but Rachel, even the Beast. :-) Jimmy In a message dated 12/13/2011 11:20:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, mark.travis@frontier.com writes: > They finally did it. Glee has done a Joni Mitchell song. Rachel just > sang > the first verse of 'River'. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:18:00 -0800 (PST) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: Gleeful River Yeah, even a little Rachel is way too much. Artie rejected her song as "too depressing," to which Rachel responded, "Joni Mitchell's not depressing. She's emotional." >________________________________ > From: "FMYFL@aol.com" >To: mark.travis@frontier.com; joni@smoe.org >Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 6:42:40 AM >Subject: Re: Gleeful River > >I'm just thankful she didn't sing the rest of it. Anyone on the show but >Rachel, even the Beast. :-) > >Jimmy > >In a message dated 12/13/2011 11:20:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, >mark.travis@frontier.com writes: > >> They finally did it. Glee has done a Joni Mitchell song. Rachel just >> sang >> the first verse of 'River'. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:09:30 -0800 From: "Mark" Subject: Re: Lawn reindeer Yes indeed, Betsy, rivers really freeze. Even the mighty Mississippi. Google it and you can find pictures of it. Putting up reindeer could mean putting up store window displays or lawn ornaments or any image of Santa's reindeer you see at Christmas time. I'm sure they cut down trees, put up reindeer and sang songs of joy & peace even in Saskatoon during Joni's early years. It's in the next lines that she contrasts that California 'crazy scene' where it don't snow and stays pretty green with the frigid winters of the Canadian prairie. I don't know if Joni was intentionally giving people permission to feel something besides merry at Christmas time but I do think the combination of the season and the romantic break-up were affecting her state of mind. I think those blues were making her feel a bit homesick for the snow and those frozen Saskatchewan rivers. She was also wishing for an escape and that frozen river was the metaphorical exit she longed to quickly skate away on. Mark in Seattle - -----Original Message----- From: Betsy Blue Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 5:11 PM To: joni@smoe.org Subject: Lawn reindeer First, were these god-awful outdoor decorations really a thing in the 60s? It doesn't seem possible. (No offense to any Griswalds on the list. Christmas happens to be sparkling out on my neighbor's lawn--and roof.) Second, can a river really freeze? There's some skating on frozen streams in Circle Game, so I must conclude this is not a metaphor. Forgive the ignorance and Cali-centricity. Now to the point: the introductory lines of River are about traditions that are inauthentic and/or foreign to the writer's personal experience. The cut-down trees, the fake reindeer, the lack of snow, the "crazy scene", and even the songs of joy and peace. (They won't give peace a chance.) The jingle bells aren't real either, just simulated on piano. I think Joni uses "they" purposely and includes only secular indicators of the season to further the notion that there is no faith or thinking happening at the individual level. I like River because It feels like Joni is calling out society's forced happiness and giving the individual listener permission to feel sad in the midst of the cheer. It's very cathartic. Betsy NP For Free ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2011 #366 ********************************* ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe