Insight into the music of Joni Mitchell
Posted on July 21st, 2012 by Jon O
Reading Lloyd Whitesell’s The Music of Joni Mitchell, my esteem for Mitchell’s artistry has grown even more. I already knew her music was rich in imagery, harmonic adventurousness, and sensitivity to the way that music and words work together. But this book exposed me to far more than I had observed myself. Whitesell explores how the songs are put together and how they work — their “sound, syntax, design and effect.” [Read more →]
On a recent trip to New York, my partner and I visited specific locations referenced in songs by our favorite artists while we listened to the song. The concept of a musical tour of the city made for an intriguing plan. Our first stop was Washington Square Park. In “Garlands,” Tori Amos sings about two lovers meeting up here to go see a Chagall exhibit uptown. The paintings seem to chronicle elements of their love. The song was a bonus track on The Beekeeper. Tori originally considered titling the song “Washington Square.” 
In honor of Madonna’s imminent tour, Comcast’s Xfinity offered viewers free access for a limited time to watch the 2008-09 Sticky and Sweet Tour, and I took advantage of the opportunity. Filmed in Buenos Aires, the show featured Madonna at her pinnacle of artistry and showmanship. She has never been better, and it’s going to be a challenge for her to top that achievement with the upcoming tour that commences May 31. The Sticky and Sweet Tour was commercially successful, despite being panned by many critics (as was the album Hard Candy that served as the basis for the tour) and negative comments posted by many who saw the tour. Nevertheless, it was the highest grossing tour of 2008 and second highest of 2009. 
This much is indisputable: Prince is one of the greatest musicians alive. His musical output has been prodigious — perhaps too prodigious for his own good. But even putting aside the mediocre songs, his body of hits and his songs that are great despite limited commercial success put him at the top of the heap. And though his years of peak influence may be limited to the crazy 80s (just as the Beatles’ peak influence was limited to the trippy 60s), most artists would kill for a fraction of that kind of influence. 
