Most of the little I understand of the female psyche I’ve learned from Joni Mitchell.
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031: The Beach Boys, ‘Little Saint Nick’
I live in the only non-Christian country in the Western world, where Yuletide is quite conspicuous in its absence. But who can resist the greatest hot-rod carol ever?
Continue reading...114: Luciana Souza, ‘Morrer de Amor’
‘Morrer de Amor’ as sung by Luciana Souza – the lyrics of this song are in a language I don’t understand, and I know almost nothing about its background. But the rendition is of such utter beauty and unspeakable perfection that its emotional eloquence transcends explication. I’m just going to turn off my analytical brain, close my verbose mouth, and hope that you’ll be as moved by it as I am.
Continue reading...154: Laura Nyro, ‘Save the Country’
And yet again my city is being bombarded by Hamas missiles, half a dozen since last night. Thanks to the IDF’s Iron Dome for watching over me physically and to Laura for watching over me spiritually.
Continue reading...260: David Crosby/Joni Mitchell, ‘Yvette in English’
David Crosby.
Sometimes he gives you a high.
Sometimes he makes you want to jump off something high.
In 1993, he and Joni Mitchell wrote a beautiful, enigmatic song together.
259: Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau: ‘Marcie’ (Joni Mitchell), ‘Don’t Think Twice’ (Dylan)
You don’t need Thile and Mehldau to justify the standing of Dylan or Mitchell. But their fresh new readings may still amplify and even enhance the originals.
Continue reading...215: Joni Mitchell, ‘Blue’
A close reading of the harrowingly intimate Joni Mitchell masterpiece, ‘Blue’.
Continue reading...177: Joni Mitchell, ‘Woodstock’
50 years ago I was at the Woodstock festival, in the mud and the mire and the morass. Joni wasn’t, but she got it right in the song. True Woodstock is in the mind.
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