JONI MITCHELL - Big Yellow Taxi | FIRST TIME REACTION | Only knew a cover version!

[@jonathansmith3742]

Paradise is still being paved to put up a parking lot. Joni is a National Treasure.

[@Newfie-zc7ug]

I agree............Oh Canada ! :)

[@bearballin]

Fun fact: Big Yellow Taxi was the first Joni song to incorporate percussion. For years Joni couldn't b figure out how to write music around percussion, this was a huge breakthrough for her evolution. The live version from her Miles of Aisles double album is electrified, backed by Tom Scott and the LA Express!

[@walterkirk9210]

@bearballin I didn't know that! Thanks for the fun facts!

[@benoitdesmarais2948]

Joni often told the story of how she struggled for years to get drummers and bassists not to play the root of the song. She wasn't interested in trad rock backing, which is why she kept it mostly guitar and piano for so many years. Russ Kunkel told her to get jazz musicians, and that's when she started incorporating jazz elements, beginning very subtly on For The Roses, and full on with Court & Spark and the rest of her 70's output.

[@deniseg812]

This is from Court and Spark not Blue, I'm pretty sure.

[@benoitdesmarais2948]

@@deniseg812 Big Yellow Taxi? It's from Ladies of the Canyon.

[@827dusty]

The great Joni Mitchell.

[@scottmacdonald1826]

That last "Don't it always seem ...", just her voice and the acoustic, that chord, and that brief moment of quiet, breaks my heart every single time.

[@jimfrederick3907]

Summer of '70 was a great year in music!

[@davehess1019]

hey, we got a super WOOOOOOO!!!!!

[@heidih2887]

It's also worth checking out video of some of her LIVE performances of that song, from that era! 🥰 Her percussive and unique rhythm guitar playing was all she needed ( check out the full concert on live TV in London from 1970 on KZbin, for example) It took REAL SKILL and TALENT to perform TRULY SOLO for all those years from the mid 1960's until her first tour for Court and Spark when she was backed by Tom Scott and the L.A. Express. Not many musicians could tour/perform all those shows and provide ALL their own accompaniment, and record such sparse albums, and sound SO GOOD! 🥰 Big Yellow Taxi is another Joni song with multiple layers of lyrical impact as well. In later years, she'd added another verse (that she credited to Bob Dylan) and she also kept changing the price of admission to the tree museum over the decades, finally stopping with "charging an arm and a leg just to see them"! 😊

[@NicknLex]

Please check out our reactions to our live concerts on the channel. We have lots. Just search the channel 😁

[@stephencaruso760]

I had this song when I was 12 and I loved it in 1970..

[@luckyskittles8976]

Love Joni, remember this song well, so I noticed a missing line, after the " old man line", she repeats it again then says " a big yellow tractor came to take away my house , it took away my land" some times it's included there is a video performance that has it , plus a little giggle after the birds and bees line

[@heidih2887]

she added that verse later, allegedly inspired by or written by Bob Dylan. 😊

[@tombeyerlein3813]

I love Joni and have most of her albums, and I'd just like to suggest that you give a listen to her 1976 album Hejira. For me, it's the pinnacle of her artistry. Challenging but deeply rewarding, beautiful and mysterious. Song For Sharon, Coyote, Amelia, Furry Songs the Blues and Black Crow are highlights.

[@JKonstage]

If you look you can find their reactions to those first three songs in previous videos.

[@tombeyerlein3813]

I didn't realize that. Thanks!

[@devynbarat7777]

There was also an Amy Grant cover of this that was pretty popular.

[@garylewis9113]

"Ladies of the Canyon" is an amazing album from start to finish, and on the alternate definition of "cover" it feature Joni's incredible self-portrait in felt pen. If you thought you had the waterworks going on this one, NicknLex, try "Rainy Night House" or "For Free" and weep away...

[@MarkChappell1]

This is great. My favorite by her is California.

[@debrabrabenec3731]

Great one, with guitar work by James Taylor!

[@debrabrabenec3731]

Love this one! I was going to sing it at my senior recital, which would begin with Bach and travel through the years up to Joni ("BYT" and "All I want") and even Steely Dan ("Rikki"), but my voice teacher, who was supporting my boundary pushing, got an invitation to go to NY to sing in the new Ned Rorem opera, and left mid-year. My new teacher wouldn't support me, so I didn't do my recital. I had worked with a guitarist, back-up singers and a band, all friends. Oh well. I was excited to be going on a 4 1/2 week tour of Ireland and England with our madrigal group just after graduation, so I blew it off. I wasn't a performance major, so I wasn't required to do a recital, just the hearing. I later sang "BYT" at a family talent show anyway! Anyhoo, it was fun to watch your joy in hearing the great original of this classic!! 🎵❤️🎵 Debbie

[@andyanderson3628]

You could spend the rest or your career just doing Joni songs! She is my number 1.

[@rodneygriffin7666]

Joni.❤️

[@kevinlakeman5043]

Awesome, love her sooo much. Thanks kids.

[@richarddobson815]

An all time classic! This was one of the first Joni songs I ever heard as it was on the radio here in the UK all the time. I think it was a much bigger hit here than in the US, and of course the ambiguity of her upbeat delivery measured against the subject matter of the song was fascinating to an impressionable teen like me! I have never heard the Counting Crows version, so am looking forward to comparing them both.

[@GreggoMusicChannel]

I can totally relate to this song. I used to own a nightclub in Crossville, TN. The powers that be bulldozed it down and now it's just a parking lot. Joni is like Dylan, marvelous songwriters. But I feel her vocals are so-so. Just a personal preference thing. Listen to Joni's Woodstock, then listen to CSNY's version. Of course, Joni, CSN, Frank Zappa, and lots of other musicians lived in Laurel Canyon at one time, and they all sang and wrote together. I'll bet that was a fun place to live back then!

[@chadbennett7873]

One of Joni's lesser known gems is "Morning Morgantown" from the same album, Ladies of the Canyon. Being a huge "Blue" fan from the day it was released, I understand your point of view, Lex. It's a perfect album. But try "Morning Morgantown" ... it's is truly sublime.

[@debrabrabenec3731]

Love that one too! Lex would love that it opens the album!

[@Bill-zT]

I am lucky enough to have grown up with this music. Love it. Also like your necklaces Lex

[@paullacroix527]

Nice one folks. This song was a big radio hit back then. She's been covered many times. On You Tube is audio of Steely Dan covering another great Joni song called 'Carey'. Yes SD covering another Joni. Definitely a lot of mutual respect between Joni, Donald and Walter. Enjoy your channel..

[@sheldonhowells3083]

Thank you, NicknLex, for this reaction! A fun, catchy, song, by Joni, but with a serious message. If you would like to have some more happy tears, then please could I recommend taking a listen to Laura Marling's brand-new song, "Patterns". As a massive fan, I am really excited that Laura is back, with a new album this autumn, after taking a four year break in which she has become a mother for the first time. The new song deals with this new chapter in her life in a really touching way.

[@schrodingerszombie2401]

FYI, "Big Yellow Taxi" refers to a Toronto police car, they were bright yellow in the 60s and 70s.

[@debrabrabenec3731]

I didn't know that! I always pictured one of the chunky yellow Checker cabs!

[@schrodingerszombie2401]

@@debrabrabenec3731 If I remember correctly, Yellow cabs were not even allowed at the time. Bright yellow cop cars stood out like nothing else.

[@Sammylu-greenbeatsred]

Janet Jackson sampled this song in her single "Got 'til It's Gone" off the Velvet Rope album from 1997. The video for the song got a Grammy Award.

[@MKins71]

You mean Janet Jackson STOLE this song. Sampling=stealing other people’s music and lyrics.

[@Sammylu-greenbeatsred]

@@MKins71 I heard that Joni approved Janet's request to use the song.

[@Jules-um4yy]

Such a great classic by Joni. So glad you are enjoying the original Lex! She created such wonderful songs with her lyrics and incredible voice. Thanks so much guys for this reaction!💞🍃🍂

[@michaelgray5100]

One of Joni Mitchell's best songs IMO.

[@4canspoon]

Over fifty years ago and yet we still can't see IT until it's gone. We're slow to learn.

[@mitchellbatchelor1594]

LP “Court & Spark” is worth a listen.

[@NicknLex]

We have the full album reaction on patreon!

[@brendamilloy2557]

I love both Joni's and the Black Crowes' version, but I grew up with Joni's!

[@danmayberry1185]

❤🇨🇦

[@ignatzmuskrat3000]

Re: crying when you are over-joyed. There is a 1961 Glenn Ford movie based in Japan, titled, "Cry Happy" worth your attention. I believe the title is self-explanatory.

[@janea57]

I adore this song. Not heard the cover. Just a quick heads up - the new David Gilmour song featuring his daughter Romany is gorgeous. I'd love to hear your reaction. It's called Between Two Points

[@donaldjackson1490]

Every song on the album “Court and Spark” should be reacted to!

[@JKonstage]

They did a reaction to that album, found on Patreon.

[@argelbargel7680]

Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire.

[@princeofpcos9804]

Joni's stuff with Jaco on bass are really funky. Lots of strange time signatures

[@MonsterSound.Bradley]

You guys 🤣🤣🤣are fun.

[@racebiketuner]

I highly recommend the documentary Joni Mitchell - A Woman Of Heart And Mind. To say she got off to a rough start is an understatement.

[@jamesbrown9130]

Joni can swing. Not even sure how to define that term, but when you hear it you know it.

[@uncledenny2570]

I still have my CD single of Amy Grant's cover from 1994. By then they were charging 25 bucks to see the trees... ✌️&💚

[@SMccrate01]

Check out "Big Yellow Taxi (Traffic Jam Mix)" from 1996. It was featured on the Friends: Music from the TV Series album. Very cool groove.

[@davehess1019]

oh I know this song, i heard it a lot when I was a kid, brings back lots of memories of my sister listening to Joni when I was a little kid.

[@karelvandervelden8819]

...........and not a word about the meaning of the song. The lyrics are part of the artistic expression.

[@KawaTony1964]

It's weird that the "Blue" album is the one you know. They didn't play anything from that album on the radio back in the 70s and 80s. This song was one of her radio hits, and it played on a variety of music channels including hard rock and easy listening. The songs I know from hearing her on the radio are this one, "Chelsea Morning", "Clouds", "Help Me", "Woodstock", and maybe "Raised on Robbery".

[@debrabrabenec3731]

In suburban Detroit, we heard "California" and "Carey" quite a bit on the radio.

[@mvjonsson]

There is a great live version of the song from the Isle of Wight festival 1970.

[@joelliebler5690]

Joanie is sooo good. Try reacting to Harry’s House,( Centerpiece).

[@davehess1019]

Lex, your earrings and necklace fit the time period of when this song was released, the flower power time, April 1970

[@JKonstage]

The laugh at the end may be my favorite moment in all of Joni’s discography.

[@joesixpack8305]

When are you doing your first movie review? Might I suggest No Country for Old Men. Incredible acting even by the bit players. So many memorable lines. And it takes place at the Texas/Mexico border.

[@maine420grow]

You may have glossed over the GOAT. Jennifer Nettles. Sugarland -Stay. Start here for reference.

[@DavidBurton-m4n]

Perhaps you should react to Led Zeppelin's Going to California--a beautiful song which is inspired by Joni Mitchell.

[@NicknLex]

We did but it's on patreon. The full led Zeppelin 4 album.

[@bobashley7533]

original is so much better… Love Joni…. Love the little giggle at the end…

[@alansilverman8500]

Wait'll you hear the difference between Black Crowes version of "Hard to Handle" and the Grateful Dead's...Oh! and I guess Meatloaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" is what happens once it's paved over...

[@pushpak]

Keb Mo does a very nice cover too.

[@jameswarner5809]

If you listen to Woodstock, I suggest you do the live version from Joni's Shadows And Light album as well as her original studio version. Personally, I think the live version is better (in spite of some jerk in the audience whooping loudly at one point!).

[@davidrauh8118]

Check out here live version. She throws in an extra verse at the end. All by herself on acoustic guitar. Or her live version of Woodstock on piano. She's too much.

[@BRIANZ969]

Joni Rules-She writes every one of her songs. Allot of people have covered her songs and they were hits . Judy Collins had a mega hit covering Joni's song Both Sides-or clouds. She never mentions Joni and calls it her own song. Things like that make me mad-for some reason.

[@romuloespos6928]

If you are interested in Philippine family band pls. Try to React on Franz Rhythm cover on" When the Childrens Cry" thanks

[@samuelmregister]

before that three and a half pack a day habit really kicked in on the voice.

[@Yesquire0]

If ever an artist needed to sing in a lower register, it was Joni Mitchell. Her voice got better as she aged. She sounds like a 8-yr old little girl on this track.

[@samuelmregister]

@@Yesquire0 it changed all right.

[@bearballin]

Not only cigarettes, Joni drank hard liquor, and wine like a fish when she was partying and not performing.

[@samuelmregister]

@@bearballin to say nothing of the reported cocaine habit.

[@tonybaker55]

Nobody can cover this.