From: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2014 #553 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Website:http://www.jonimitchell.com Unsubscribe:mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe onlyJMDL Digest Thursday, March 19 2015 Volume 2014 : Number 553 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- RE: JMDL Digest V2014 #1904 ["kimberly" ] BSN [Sharon Watkins ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2015 08:25:49 -0700 From: "kimberly" Subject: RE: JMDL Digest V2014 #1904 Reflecting on Both Sides Now; until I too got this song under my fingers and began singing it again fairly recently I really didn't get it in its entirety and I'm sure I still don't. It was such an anthem of our generation that I think, like Laurie said, I took it for granted. It's become like some complex canyon I navigate every time I step into it now. Of all of Jon's material, I think this one song distills so much life experience in these three simple verses. It somehow shifts me emotionally each time I sing it. It is somewhere between a prayer and a meditation. I will never take it lightly again. Kim - -----Original Message----- From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org [mailto:owner-joni-digest@smoe.org] Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 12:00 AM To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2014 #1904 JMDL Digest Wednesday, March 18 2015 Volume 2014 : Number 1904 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: - -------- Re: JMDL Digest V2014 #1901 ["Susan E. McNamara" ] - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 11:36:36 +0000 From: "Susan E. McNamara" Subject: Re: JMDL Digest V2014 #1901 Thanks Laurie, I agree. The other point I wanted to make about this song is that although Joni wrote it at a very young age, she had lived through some pretty traumatic experiences and was also quite talented as a poet (having been recognized by her 7th grade teacher as a good writer). I think her talent plus her experience brought so much real life honesty to this song. Some of the lines like 3you leave them laughing when you go2 and 3they shake their heads, they say I9ve changed2 takes a lot of courage to feel and to admit. She continued to be faithful to this honesty throughout her career, but Both Sides Now will always be one of the best songs she9s ever written. Simple but not on guitar as usual, too. :-) Sue On 3/17/15, 6:38 AM, "Laurie Antonioli" wrote: >Re: Both Sides Now > >Honestly, it wasn't until we got in the studio (I was never really >attracted to the tune) and had a chance to sing it slow, and take time >with >the lyric, that I realized what complete genius the song is - appearing >simple - and if not done properly, disguised as possibly trite - >especially >with some of the earlier versions. Joni's later version struck me deeply >and then became like Billie Holiday's "Good Morning Heartache" - that is >Billie's song and I never touched it because of that. Both Sides Now, >after Joni sang it with the orchestra, became hers alone, even with it >being the most covered song in her repertoire. > >The same thing happened recently with the song "Over the Rainbow" by >Harold >Arlen/E.Y. Harburg. Where the lyric, one I'd heard so many times, struck >me deeply. I "got" it and only because I was almost forced into exploring >the song as a last minute suggestion. Both times, in the studio, without >rehearsals, improvised as ballads. > >This causes me to believe or understand how easy it is to take some things >for granted. Songs. People, even. Without careful investigation we can >miss stuff - things can be right in front of us without seeing or hearing >it. I know now that BSN is for sure one of the masterpieces of our >generation. > >Laurie > >On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 12:00 AM, JMDL Digest >wrote: > >> >> JMDL Digest Tuesday, March 17 2015 Volume 2014 : Number >> 1901 >> >> >> >> ========== >> >> TOPICS and authors in this Digest: >> -------- >> Re: Iron Eyes Cody [Jamie Zubairi home < >> jamiezubairi@gmail.com>] >> Late Joni as folk [Jeff Clark < >> clarkjeff440@ymail.com>] >> "Both Sides Now", was Re Live Joni ["Jim L'Hommedieu" >> > Re: "Both Sides Now", was Re Live Joni >> [Bob.Muller@Fluor.com] >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:17:21 +0000 >> From: Jamie Zubairi home >> Subject: Re: Iron Eyes Cody >> >> I think Joni mentions it in one of the notes she gives about recording >> Lakota >> >> Jamie Zubairi >> Actor, Artist, Voiceover, Photographer >> On 15 Mar 2015 18:19, "Kathy Johnson" wrote: >> >> > Is this common knowledge that I'm only coming to now? "Cody, who >>claimed >> > to be a Cherokee or Cree but was really a Sicilian ... ." -from The >> > Inconvenient Indian, by Thomas King Kate of the North >>Stubblejumpin'Gal >> > http://goldengrainfarm.blogspot.com >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 19:13:33 +0000 (UTC) >> From: Jeff Clark >> Subject: Late Joni as folk >> >> Dave wrote: >> <> verse form of songs like Hejira, Amelia, Come in from the Cold. TheyB >> remind me of, for example, Matty Groves and similar things from >>FairportB >> Convention and Steeleye Span.>> >> I quite like this folk form. Amelia has always reminded me of Poe's The >> Raven >> with that haunting refrain, "Amelia, it was just a false alarm", "Quoth >>the >> raven, nevermore". I've had Fairports version of Dylans "Percy's Song" >>on >> my >> mind for two weeks now. Love that song. B I'll have to check out Matty >> Groves. >> Some day I'd like to hear Marianne Faithfull's "Amelia". She reminds me >>of >> Joni in that her signature song, "As Tears Go By" was sung and written >>when >> she was a beautiful, young girl, though it fits an older person singing >>it, >> like Joni with BSN. Hey Bob M., if you're reading, you probably know >>Dylan >> is >> going to be in Greenville soon. Are you going to hear him belt out his >> Sinatra >> songs? Since its the "Never Ending Tour" there shouldn't be any hurry to >> see >> him, you have forever!Jeff >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 15:10:36 -0400 >> From: "Jim L'Hommedieu" >> Subject: "Both Sides Now", was Re Live Joni >> >> Yeah, in that song, she explains the entire mystery of Life in 3 >>minutes. >> It's incredibly ambitious. Only deep thinkers "get" it. >> The song "Hejira" is like that too- so deep. (Or is it superficial, >> between the forceps and the stone?) >> >> To the casual listener, "Both Sides Now" is a sentimental "woman's song" >> where she almost rhymes moon and June. (rows and flows). >> >> >> >> Yes, immensely complicated. That's why most don't get it and yet, but >> it's also why we still listen, after all this time. That duality thing >> cuts both ways. >> >> Jim >> ps, "Both Sides Now" is so complicated, it had 3 titles that I know of. >> (And you know, there may be more.) >> >> >> From: Jeff Clark >> >Its funny about that song. Her first really big song and its usually >> included >> as the last song on her various compilations. Its like the alpha and >>omega >> of >> Joni songs. Judy Collins thinks its one of the most perfect songs ever >> written, lots of people do, and I do too. Yet I can see how it could be >> anti-climatic. I remember a time at work some years back, a co-worker >>and I >> talking about music and I mentioned Joni as my boss was walking by and >>she >> said, "is she the one that sang rows and flows of angel hair?" I didn't >> feel >> it appropriate at the time to give a 10 minute "mini lesson" on who Joni >> *really* is despite the slight condescending vibe I picked up. I >>remember >> when >> Hits and Misses came out. It seemed cooler to prefer the "misses" over >>the >> "hits", kind of like preferring Lennon over McCartney. I always stuck up >> for >> McCartney. I know Joni has said she has written many songs that she is >>much >> more proud of, yet BSN in a way I think will always be her signature >>song, >> even though Judy Collins took it over. Everything about Joni is >> complicated.Jeff<> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2015 07:40:14 -0400 >> From: Bob.Muller@Fluor.com >> Subject: Re: "Both Sides Now", was Re Live Joni >> >> ps, "Both Sides Now" is so complicated, it had 3 titles that I know of. >> (And you know, there may be more.)> >> >> Particularly if you're counting titles in non-English languages. Then >> you're up to a couple dozen. >> >> Bob >> >> NP: Courtney Barnett, "Out Of The Woodwork" >> - ------------------------------------------------------------ >> 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 and all >> computers and other devices. >> >> 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 V2014 #1901 >> ****************************** >> >> ------- >> To post messages to the list,sendtojoni@smoe.org. >> Unsubscribe by clicking here: >> mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe >> ------- - ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2014 #1904 ****************************** - ------- To post messages to the list,sendtojoni@smoe.org. Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe - ------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2015 11:20:29 -0500 From: Sharon Watkins Subject: BSN I agree with everyone regarding BSN. I came to this song, and Joni's work, via Judy Collins. Thinking I was the epitome of cool, I visited a head shop in 1966, at the age of thirteen. Judy's album, In My Life, was playing on the speakers. I had never heard of her, but being so taken with the music, I asked the owner the name of the singer and album. Bought the album immediately, along with Judy's next album Wildflowers. Listening to Wildflowers, I also immediately loved Both Sides Now. It seemed to touch and soothe all of the torn anxieties, fears, and depression I felt as a teen, telling me, yes, there is another side. You have not seen all of the sides of life much less both sides. Even if you don't know life, you'll get through this. Looking at the album, I saw Joni's name as the composer and soon saw her own albums at the store. I bought them never having heard Joni sing (there was no alternative FM station in my town, and of course Joni was not played on top 40). Well, if I loved Judy's cover, I was absolutely stunned upon hearing Joni sing it herself. So personal with the stripped down presentation, just a beautiful voice and that amazing guitar. Had an old guitar I plunked around with, but had no clue then about alternate tunings. It was like music from an angeI and felt like Joni was singing just to me. Well, I've also heard numerous covers through the years, many of which seemed trite and did grave disservice to the song. Didn't even want to hear a cover as no one seemed to get it right except Joni, despite hundreds of covers done! Well, years later, I heard that Joni had done a new orchestral version of the song. I didn't know what to expect. What new, fresh touch could she possibly bring to this song, especially after hundreds of arrangements on all those covers? How could even Joni herself improve upon perfection. Well, of course, leave it to Joni. I listened to the song and she did it again, indeed making a definitive version that no one else could touch, somehow reaching out to me in my older years just as she did in my youth. I played it over and over, weeping. How she works her magic I will never understand, but I will always be grateful for how her magic has touched my heart. Never shared this before, and I seldom post, so thanks for listening. Sharon Sent from my iPhone ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2014 #553 ********************************* ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here:mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe