Contents
She was an icon of the seventies and a strong voice in a male-dominated pop world. Today she is considered one of the greatest songwriters in the world. Now Joni Mitchell is back on stage – despite a serious brain injury. Their comeback is a story full of friendship and admiration.
Nobody expected that Joni Mitchell would appear again. And yet the almost 80-year-old sits like a queen on a golden chair at the Newport Folk Festival 2022. She last played there in the late 1960s.
The singer, guitarist and songwriter is considered one of the most important voices in the folk movement. She has few commercial hits. But the Canadian writes mercilessly honest song lyrics and stands out for her completely unique way of making music. A visionary with immense charisma.
Legend:
With her music, Joni Mitchell became the idol she never wanted to be. Rolling Stone called her “one of the greatest songwriters of all time” and listed her ninth on the 100 greatest songwriters of all time.
Joni Mitchell on stage with guitar.
Joni Mitchell actually seemed to be done with the public. She hardly gave interviews anymore. In 2015 she suffered an aneurysm, with serious consequences: she had to relearn all her body processes.
“I watch videos of myself online to find out how I used to play guitar,” said Joni Mitchell in Newport 2022. That makes her comeback all the more surprising.
Bridge builder to the young generation
At the beginning of her comeback story is Mitchell’s friendship with American roots musician Brandi Carlile. At 41, she is already a nine-time Grammy Award winner and best-selling author of a feminist-queer autobiography. The two meet through Carlile’s spouse.
Legend:
Brandi Carlile and Joni Mitchell at the 2022 Grammy Awards.
Johnny Nunez/Getty Images
After dinner at Mitchell’s, the women start playing music in the living room. Mitchell is having fun. So Carlile invites the young singer-songwriter scene to more jam sessions. All connoisseurs and admirers of Joni Mitchell’s music. At the beginning she listens to how the young generation covers her songs. Then she joins in: an experience that speeds up her recovery enormously.
It started with the “Joni Jams”
«In the beginning we often played other songs for Joni because I think everyone was quite afraid to cover their songs in front of Joni. But over time we became braver. “It was almost iconic how generously she listened,” said Brandi Carlile about the “Joni Jams.”
Legend:
Joni Mitchell stars alongside Neil Young and Robbie Robertson in the mid-1970s.
IMAGO/ZUMA Wire
The “Joni Jams” acquire cult status. Paul McCartney stops by Mitchell’s living room and is happy about the mix of generations. Chaka Khan sings along. Harry Styles. Elton John. Herbie Hancock bursts into tears after hearing Joni Mitchell sing. Even if there is no evidence of this such as photos, videos, let alone posts on social media. The “Joni Jam” are purely analogue meetings – a rarity these days.
80 years and not a bit quiet
In July 2022, Joni Mitchell and Brandi Carlile will go public for the first time in Newport. A comeback of historic proportions, explains Brandi Carlile: “Joni Mitchell has always changed the world through music. Now she’s changing the world by getting young people to rally around her and raise the bar for each other and for a sense of community. We are giving the audience a gift because they will be able to take a look at the way Joni Mitchell continues to influence and change the world – through pop culture.”
She is currently writing the script for a biopic with US director Cameron. Apparently she no longer wants to have anything to do with a quiet retirement.