JONI MITCHELL - BLUE

really can’t believe it’s taken me so long to discover this album! And even then it was because I was made to listen to it as part of my university course. But when I looked on Ciao it seemed that Joni Mitchell isn’t as written about as I think she ought to be so I thought I’d add my opinion!

Joni Mitchell has become one of the most successful female artists in the world, with her albums frequently appearing in Top 100 Albums lists. She has such a distinctive voice and style that she redefined the way the music industry viewed women. Her influence in modern artists is still evident with singer-songwriters like Tori Amos following in her footsteps and even Madonna citing her albums as an influence. She strips away any artifice from her music- usually accompanying herself on the guitar or piano- making it an intimate experience between the listener and herself. Her voice is incredibly beautiful, a clear, gentle soprano (a nice change from the growling Britney style that is so popular in pop music today) which she is unafraid to use as an expressive instrument at the risk of losing the technically beautiful sound. Her talent as a songwriter is very impressive- understated but incredibly expressive.

People always say to write about what you know and Joni certainly follows that advice. Blue is such a personal record, dealing with themes of love and losing love, journeying, and the idea of home. The album is the story of a year in her life, showing us what she has gone through and what she has learned and gained from it. She makes herself and her life the theme of the album.

The album opens with All I Want, which sets out what the entire album will center on.
“I am on a lonely road and I am traveling, traveling, traveling. Looking for something, what can it be?”
This song is a self-reflective look at what she wants from life and describes her deep feelings for her lover.

My Old Man is a very bluesy piano accompanied song which delves deeper into her feelings for her lover, describing her feelings when he is gone and pleading with him to stay.
“He’s the warmest chord I ever heard, play that warm chord, play and stay baby”

Little Green is a beautiful ballad for the child which Joni gave up for adoption, describing her hopes for the child’s life and her feelings of loss. The simplicity of this song- the quiet, uncomplicated melody and bare guitar accompaniment- make it an incredibly emotional experience.

The title song, Blue, talks about being torn between leaving and staying.
“Blue, songs are like tattoos, You know I’ve been to sea before. Crown and anchor me or let me sail away”
It talks cynically about the war in Vietnam and this song marks a pivotal moment in this album, evoking a melancholy mood, reflecting on what has passed and what is yet to come.

California sets the homesickness you feel when you are in a foreign country alongside the backdrop of the war.
“Oh it gets so lonely, when you’re walking, and the streets are full of strangers. All the news of home you read just gives you the blues”
It is a light-hearted and humorous look at the life of a traveler and is beautifully written.

This Flight Tonight describes a plane journey to meet her lover and her conflicting feelings about him.

A Case of You is a love song, showing the intense connection between love and pain.
“You’re so bitter, bitter and so sweet. Oh I could drink a case of you, darling, Still I’d be on my feet”.