The Enduring Legacy of Joni Mitchell: Her Poetry, Music and Magic Music
This is a long post. When you might be in love you have a lot of things that float through your head and heart. I hope you find something here that bubbles up and helps you remember something about music that speaks to you.
Joni Mitchell, the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter, remains a constant source of inspiration for generations of music lovers. Her remarkable career has spanned several decades, and her unique blend of folk, rock, and jazz influences has left an indelible mark on many people. After attending an interesting lecture and program about her life and a performance of her music, I continue to enjoy more than ever, Joni Mitchell's enduring legacy.
The Lecture: A Glimpse into Joni Mitchell's Life
The lecture I attended provided an intimate look into Joni Mitchell's life and the profound influence she has had on the world of music. The unique musicality, lyrical poetry and emotional tones evident throughout all of her catalogue of work was discussed throughout the evening. It revealed her early struggles as a young artist trying to find her voice in the bustling folk music scene of the 1960s. The lecture touched on her deep connection to nature, which is evident in many of her lyrics, as well as her ability to turn her personal experiences into beautifully crafted songs. It is the art of biography in song and poetry.
One aspect of Joni Mitchell's career that stood out was her unapologetic approach to songwriting. She often wrote about her own life and emotions, which made her music incredibly relatable - the biographical form. Her songs, such as "A Case of You" and "The Urge for Going" “Amelia” are all pieces that carry for me a melancholic and descending tone. However, each person will find what it is that most resonates for them in that moment. Ask anyone that grew up listening to Joni Mitchell what they found/do find in her music and it will be different for everyone - at various stages of life as well.
The Performance: Capturing the Essence of Joni Mitchell
The performance that followed the talk were three local musicians - who paid tribute to Joni Mitchell's musical genius. The artists on stage skillfully recreated the ambiance of Mitchell's music, allowing the audience to experience the same emotions that her original recordings evoked. I found the singer Emmy Dell’Orfano very beautiful and moving to listen to. Her artistry was her own essence of Joni’s songs rather than someone trying to recreate Joni’s voice. She is a choral scholar and has ten years of voice training.
One of the highlights of the performance was the musicians' ability to capture the unique tonality of Mitchell's guitar work - distinctive chords, progressions and open tunings. Her intricate guitar tuning’s and the way she used her voice as an instrument were brought to life with precision and dedication. Hearing classics off of the album Blue with a background musical viewpoint - performed live was a memorable experience. The songs that were included and experienced and discussed were -Urge for Going, I Had a King, A Case of You, Amelia, Moon at the Window, Yvette in English, While they were all very beautifully done both vocally as well as musicianship - I would say that Amelia was my most favorite of all the pieces performed.
Furthermore, the performance highlighted the timelessness of Joni Mitchell's music. Her songs remain as relevant today as they were when she first created them. The themes of love, nature, and self-discovery are universal and clearly resonated with the audience in attendance.
Joni Mitchell's Influence on Contemporary Music
Joni Mitchell's influence on contemporary music is immeasurable. Her unique songwriting style, vocal range, and genre-blending have inspired countless artists across generations. Musicians such as Taylor Swift, Norah Jones, and Adele have openly acknowledged their debt to Mitchell's artistry. Last year Joni Mitchell gave a surprise performance at The Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island - a thrill for all who were able to witness this. Her brilliance is again seen by new audiences.
In addition to her musical influence, Joni Mitchell's lyrical storytelling and her ability to convey deep, emotional truths in her songs have made her a revered figure among poets and writers. Her work has been analyzed and celebrated in the context of literature and art, reinforcing the idea that her impact reaches far beyond the realm of music. She is an icon to me and I have loved her music and poetry for over 40 years now.
Attending the lecture in Coventry, CT about Joni Mitchell's life and experiencing the live performance of her music was a deeply enriching and interesting journey. The program was shared through the eyes of people quite recently having come to her music in a new and interested way. I would say that having lived with the enduring feelings of her poetry all of these years shapes one in a different way than a somewhat newcomer. Her ability to capture the essence of the human experience through her songs is a testament to her enduring legacy as an artist. Joni Mitchell's music continues to touch the hearts and souls of people around the world, making her a true icon in the world of music and an everlasting source of inspiration. As I reflect on her life and work, I marvel at the timelessness of her art and the profound influence she has had on the world.
The program was put on by The Coventry Arts Guild and held at The Booth & Dimock Memorial Library of Coventry, Connecticut. Peter Kaminsky is a Professor Emeritus at University of Connecticut. Megan Lyons is an Assistant Professor of Music Theory at Furman University. Emmy Dell’Orfano is an Honors Laureate in music education at the University of Connecticut.
Program
Amelia
I was driving across the burning desert
When I spotted six jet planes
Leaving six white vapor trails across the bleak terrain
It was the hexagram of the heavens
The strings of my guitar
Amelia, it was just a false alarm
The drone of flying engines
Is a song so wild and blue
It scrambles time and seasons if it gets through to you
Then your life becomes a travelogue
Of picture-post-card-charms
Amelia, it was just a false alarm
People will tell you where they've gone
They'll tell you where to go
But 'til you get there yourself, you never really know
Where some have found their paradise
Other's just come to harm
Amelia, it was just a false alarm
I wish that he was here tonight
It's so hard to obey
His sad request of me to kindly stay away
So this is how I hide the hurt
As the road leads, cursed and charmed
I tell Amelia, it was just a false alarm
A ghost of aviation
She was swallowed by the sky
Or by the sea, like me, she had a dream to fly
Like Icarus ascending
On beautiful foolish arms
Amelia, it was just a false alarm
Maybe I've never really loved
I guess that is the truth
I've spent my whole life in clouds at icy altitude
And looking down on everything
I crashed into his arms
Amelia, it was just a false alarm
I pulled into the Cactus Tree Motel
To shower off the dust
And I slept on the strange pillows of my wanderlust
I dreamed of 747s
Over geometric farms
Dreams, Amelia, dreams and false alarms
~Joni Mitchell
Blue by Joni Mitchell
A beginning for me was Blue. Back in the late 1970’s listening to this album on my long drives up to Vermont. Driving up Route 89 - trying to stay awake. Singing my head off with tears streaming down my face. Trying for those high notes. Feeling all those melancholic notes - grabbing my young heart. I was Blue. The soundtrack of my teenage years included Joni Mitchell’s music - forever indelibly marked - resonance. I have always been a fan. I liked all the changes she has gone through - don’t we all change and evolve? She is still inventing things now, almost 80 - still growing up into herself - and us. Oh - the music.
Gathered Light: The Poetry of Joni Mitchell’s Songs edited by Lisa and John Sornberger
My friends Lisa and John Sornberger edited this book Gathered Light: The Poetry of Joni Mitchell’s Songs. It is a book about how different songs effected people that they had invited to write and submit to this project. I was asked to write something. I declined at the time. I regret not having participated afterward. It’s a good book that you might enjoy reading. Joni Mitchell herself agreed to the project and was a part of the discussion of it. Joni has always been around the periphery of my life. Is that not how music works on us? We are introduced to an artist - they grab hold of something inside - away we go for at times - a lifetime.
Blue
Songs are like tattoos
You know I've been to sea before
Crown and anchor me
Or let me sail away
Hey Blue
And there is a song for you
Ink on a pin
Underneath the skin
An empty space to fill in
Well there're so many sinking
Now you've got to keep thinking
You can make it thru these waves
Acid, booze, and ass
Needles, guns, and grass
Lots of laughs
Lots of laughs
Everybody's saying that hell's the hippest way to go well
I don't think so, but I'm
Gonna take a look around it though Blue
I love you
Blue
Here is a shell for you
Inside you'll hear a sigh
A foggy lullaby
There is your song from me
~Joni Mitchell
“In some ways, my gift for music and writing was born out of tragedy, really, and loss.
”