Today is my last full day off until the 28th of this month. I start a work-athon as my assistant takes 2 weeks of vacation & I will be putting in time at The Husband’s Pop-Up shop- Boys’ Fort.
I spent the grey autumn afternoon with the music of Roberta Joan Anderson of Canada. Joni Mitchell's haunting, humorous, hectoring songs have been a major force in my musical listening life for more than 4 decades. In 1968 I heard her singing The Circle Game:
& the seasons they go round & round
& the painted ponies go up & down
We're captive on the carousel of time.
Mitchell's roots are in folk-rock but have evolved into jazz & pop, ever inventive & inclusive. I saw her live only once, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in 1974. The tickets were from an acquaintance- Eric Douglas, son of Kirk. Our perfect seats, 5th row center, gave me a clear view of Mitchell, alone on stage but for a baby grand & her guitar using her non-standard, tuning; she has written songs in some 50 different tunings, which she has referred to as "Joni's weird chords."
Naming a favorite album is too tough, but today I got stuck on, 1998’s Taming the Tiger, with its lyrical magic & instrumental beauty in her inimitable style. Mitchell is ever maturing, ever youthful.
From this album is a favorite of the Husband & mine, a cover from 1942 actually- My Best to You. Mitchell wished upon my life, better gifts. She suggests that each new day is a kiss. I love her for that,
Mitchell likes to paint as much as she likes to write music. The cover & the CD's insert, have a tiny gallery of her work. On a self-portrait appear the words: Idle, Ideal, Idyll, & Idol.
Mitchell lives in L.A. She currently receiving treatment for a condition called Morgellons syndrome. Mitchell: "I have this weird, incurable disease that seems like it's from outer space, but my health's the best it's been in a while. I have a tremendous will to live: I've been through another pandemic – I'm a polio survivor, so I know how conservative the medical body can be." Morgellons is often misdiagnosed as "delusion of parasites," & sufferers of the disease are often offered psychiatric treatment. The symptoms including crawling, biting & stinging sensations under the skin. Mitchell plans to leave the music industry to work toward giving people diagnosed with Morgellons more credibility. Mitchell turns 68 years old today. I nominate Joni Mitchell as a gay idol.
I spent the grey autumn afternoon with the music of Roberta Joan Anderson of Canada. Joni Mitchell's haunting, humorous, hectoring songs have been a major force in my musical listening life for more than 4 decades. In 1968 I heard her singing The Circle Game:
& the seasons they go round & round
& the painted ponies go up & down
We're captive on the carousel of time.
Mitchell's roots are in folk-rock but have evolved into jazz & pop, ever inventive & inclusive. I saw her live only once, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in 1974. The tickets were from an acquaintance- Eric Douglas, son of Kirk. Our perfect seats, 5th row center, gave me a clear view of Mitchell, alone on stage but for a baby grand & her guitar using her non-standard, tuning; she has written songs in some 50 different tunings, which she has referred to as "Joni's weird chords."
Naming a favorite album is too tough, but today I got stuck on, 1998’s Taming the Tiger, with its lyrical magic & instrumental beauty in her inimitable style. Mitchell is ever maturing, ever youthful.
From this album is a favorite of the Husband & mine, a cover from 1942 actually- My Best to You. Mitchell wished upon my life, better gifts. She suggests that each new day is a kiss. I love her for that,
Mitchell likes to paint as much as she likes to write music. The cover & the CD's insert, have a tiny gallery of her work. On a self-portrait appear the words: Idle, Ideal, Idyll, & Idol.
Mitchell lives in L.A. She currently receiving treatment for a condition called Morgellons syndrome. Mitchell: "I have this weird, incurable disease that seems like it's from outer space, but my health's the best it's been in a while. I have a tremendous will to live: I've been through another pandemic – I'm a polio survivor, so I know how conservative the medical body can be." Morgellons is often misdiagnosed as "delusion of parasites," & sufferers of the disease are often offered psychiatric treatment. The symptoms including crawling, biting & stinging sensations under the skin. Mitchell plans to leave the music industry to work toward giving people diagnosed with Morgellons more credibility. Mitchell turns 68 years old today. I nominate Joni Mitchell as a gay idol.
So here's to you
May your dreams come true
May old father time
Never be unkind
& through the years
Save your smiles & your tears
They're just souvenirs
They'll make music in your heart
Remember this
Each new day is a kiss
Sent from up above
With an angel's love
So here's to you
May your skies be blue
& your love blessed
That's my best to you
Remember this
Each new day is a kiss
Sent from up above
With an angel's love
So here's to you
May your skies be blue
& your love blessed
That's my very best to you
Isham Jones/ Gene Willaden
(1942)
