Sunday, February 16, 2014

In California, Joni Mitchell longs for a frozen river

1968 image from MTV hive

Joni Mitchell was the girl from Saskatchewan who became an international star. Six decades of amazing artistic production, included painting, ballet, 167 songs and 18 albums. I loved her early songs, especially The Circle Game. My favourite album Blue, was reissued last year as part of a boxed set; its song River evoked skating on frozen creeks and ponds.

Mitchell's songs were deeply personal; many of these evoked the sadness of love gone wrong, and a lot of people could relate. She wrote fearlessly about homesickness and even mental disturbance. Among the many artists who have sung her songs are Judy Collins, Nanaimo-born jazz singer Diana Krall, Prince, and another Canadian, Sarah McLachlin.

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