Wednesday, July 27, 2022

"Both Sides Now" by Joni Mitchell at the Newport Folk Festival 2022

In case you missed it in the news, an incredible event in music history just happened a few days ago, July 24th 2022, at the Newport Folk Festival: Joni Mitchell appeared on the Festival stage for the first time in 53 years. Her set was a surprise because Brandi Carlile and friends--billed as The Coyote Jam--were ostensibly performing until Carlile introduced this 78 year-old living legend, and possibly the best songwriter to ever have lived. Joni sang along with several of her own songs, played a guitar solo from "Just Like This Train," and looked like she was having a genuinely marvelous time.

I am a lifelong Joni fan and this was quite a moving event to see, especially since she has not performed in nearly 20 years and suffered a brain aneurysm 7 years ago. But she is still with us, and while her voice might be deeper and a little weaker, the musical power and emotional expression is completely intact. A few years ago, I posted two videos of Joni singing "Both Sides Now," one from 1970 and the other from 2000. I'll post these below Joni's lovely performance of this classic at the Festival. Let's go back in time, from 2022 to 2000 to 1970...to see how the seasons, they go round and round,
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look
Behind, from where we came...


Wow.

https://jonimitchell.com/

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