Community Chat

[golding76]

Under the "TV and Movies" forum, there is a thread about the PBS coverage of Joni Mitchell's recent ceremony receiving the Gershwin Prize for 2023.  It is an excellent show honoring the highly esteemed American singer/songwriter/musician.

One aspect of the focus on her gifts to the world was her prescience when it came to understanding cultural and environmental concerns.  Her "Big Yellow Taxi" was released in April 1970.   Yes, exactly 53 years ago.  What an incisive and knowing eye Joni had and still has, most likely. 

"Big Yellow Taxi"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2595abcvh2M

[Isobel Archer]

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@golding76 wrote:

Under "TV and Forums," there is a thread about the PBS coverage of Joni Mitchell's recent ceremony receiving the Gershwin Prize for 2023.  It is an excellent show honoring the highly esteemed American singer/songwriter/musician.

One aspect of the focus on her gifts to the world was her prescience when it came to understanding cultural and environmental concerns.  Her "Big Yellow Taxi" was released in April 1970.   Yes, 53 years ago.  What an incisive and knowing eye Joni had and still has, most likely. 

"Big Yellow Taxi"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2595abcvh2M

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Yep - They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

[golding76]

Isobel, not sure if you are supporting or undermining with your quoting some of the lyrics.  The reason I write that is that you and I often disagree on matters.

Hope your remark was a "Yay, Joni!" 

It is good to hear from you, though.  

[50Mickey]

She was decades ahead of her time. One of my favorite Joni Mitchell songs is The Circle Game. It is so beautiful and now that I am in my 70's it has an even more profound meaning. 

[Isobel Archer]

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@golding76 wrote:

Isobel, not sure if you are supporting or undermining with your quoting some of the lyrics.  The reason I write that is that you and I often disagree on matters.

Hope your remark was a "Yay, Joni!" 

It is good to hear from you, though.  

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I agree and disagree.

The DDT line for example.  Interesting that after we eliminated malaria here we suddenly realized that we had to ban DDT everywhere and consign hundreds of thousands of people to death each year from that disease - and apparently we have found nothing else that can kill that mosquito.  But hey it's all good - WE are not suffering anymore and those that are are now just collateral damage to saving the environment.

And bringing it forward, WE want electric vehicles and if that means that slaves and children must mine cobalt for the batteries - hey just more collateral damage in saving the environment.

If we want to be global, we need to care about everyone not just ourselves.  Just my thoughts - I know they are umpopular.

[golding76]

I appreciate your observations and comments.  We probably cross on a Venn diagram of opinion  more often than we might know.

[I'm not certain I expressed this well, but my intention was to say that we are probably very often in a common zone together.]

[jbinrwc]

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@50Mickey wrote:

She was decades ahead of her time. One of my favorite Joni Mitchell songs is The Circle Game. It is so beautiful and now that I am in my 70's it has an even more profound meaning. 

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That song has been going around in my head since I watched the show.  Also one of my favorites.  I turned 73 in December so I can relate to your comment.  I saw her in concert in early 1968 or 1969 and have been a fan ever since.

[50Mickey]

I will be 73 this month. I still think to myself how can this be?  But like the song says "We can't return we can only look behind from where we came."

[qbetzforreal]

Big Yellow Taxi was a commentary on what was happening at the time it was written in 1970.

In 1996, speaking to journalist Robert Hilburn, Mitchell said this about writing the song:

I wrote 'Big Yellow Taxi' on my first trip to Hawaii. I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart […] this blight on paradise. That's when I sat down and wrote the song.[3]

[Lucky Charm]

I think you have to look at the whole picture.  Her first trip to Hawaii.  There were more?  On a sailboat?

I read once that a flight from coast to coast is like driving an SUV nonstop for 30 days.  So flying to Hawaii?

But, I'm guilty!  I travel!  For pleasure!!

And I drive an SUV!  Most likely, I purchased my last one this past week.  We've driven our SUVs and trucks from 9 to almost 20 years.

Then only EVs will be available? 

I guess, whatever.  

I'm guilty!  I'd built a home where only the buffalo roamed. 

Okay, really where foxes, deer and raccoons had roamed. 

Has Joni ever displaced an animal?  Be honest Joni!

The song strikes a chord, tugs at the heartstrings, raises the blood pressure and then.... on to the next song.

Is it really an anthem for climate activism?  

Unless, you walk the walk (Ed Begley, Jr.) to the Grammy's or Oscars......you're just blowing air out your mouth.