Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now - First Time Hearing | Reaction

[@MMacAttack]

Both Sides Now - the lyrics are so brilliant Joni tells a story of joy & disillusionment. This masterpiece hits even harder as you age & experience all the ups & downs of love & life . Watching Joni at 80yo perform it at ‘24 Grammys was so moving

[@steveullrich7737]

Joni is such a great singer songwriter. I always considered her folk rather than country. Anyway so much more fantastic songs that she has written for you to hear such as "River", "A Case of You", "Blue", " Help Me" and "Coyote" to name a few.

[@ultimatespinach]

Thanks so much for this Al. Joni Mitchell was a huge part of my musical journey as a teenager interested in folk music in the 1960's along with fellow Canadians Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, Bruce Cockburn, Murray McLauchlan and many others. Of course, Joni's career has spanned decades and her style evolved to encompass not only folk, but also rock and especially jazz in the 1970's, 1980's and beyond. Her lyrics have so much depth and her voice soars effortlessly, her melodies are gorgeous, she's magnificent. For another perspective you might want to try another version of Both Sides Now that Joni recorded live in 2000. An older, more seasoned Joni sings the song from a woman's perspective who has actually lived the "both sides" of her life. It's quite a remarkable performance, far more introspective and heartfelt. Cheers from southern Ontario, Canada!

[@EnerGeezerSquirrel]

Joni is such an artist that she is known for, and much respected, by musicians of every genre for tuning her guitars to match her inner voicings and "finding" them on the fretboard, and if that means turning the strings to never-before-tensioned combinations, so be it. She and friend David Crosby were birds-of-a-tuning feather from interviews I've heard. A true original, unique musical genius. I'll miss her when she's gone...

[@petedepledge519]

Help Me is wonderfull.

[@cheryla7480]

Rolling Stone has Joni Mitchell listed as one of the top ten songwriters of all time. Ten Grammys, numerous other awards , Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, from the Canadian prairies and the province of Saskatchewan. By the way she is not country, she is folk and rock.

[@visionproductionsnz7828]

...and jazz. And she excels in all genres, and painting!

[@auradotca]

"The Circle Game" lyrics will also knock you out. Enjoying your observations.

[@lindataggart9076]

Joni's voice makes me feel warm inside..

[@Blue-qr7qe]

'Nice, respectful reaction. Please give Joni Mitchell lots of listenings. You'll fall in love. Try River from her BLUE album. Check out Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire from her FOR THE ROSES album. Or catch her live singing Amelia featuring Pat Metheny.

[@cityhonors1]

🤗 Throwing Steely Dan your way! Anything off of AJA to start! 🤩 Thanks for doing Joni! 😍 Like Ms Jackson says "Joni Mitchell never lies..." 🥰🐰

[@gzucc]

Oh you lovely ginger sort of darling. I love that you hear this song as Country. It is so generous in a way, generous to describe her poetic voice and sound as Country. It's uniquely perceptive to include her voice in such a specific genre. Joni Mitchell has an ability, and this sort of speaks to your hearing this track as 'Country' , to pull mundane dribs and drabs from the human experience and weave them into musical essays. "You Turn Me On I'm a Radio", is certainly a 'country-ish' track of hers. Lovely. Thank you

[@jonesey904]

Amazing that you bring up Brandi Carlisle in your review. Joni Mitchell went through very serious health issues later in life and had not performed for 20 years until she was coaxed back on stage to perform with her at the Gorge this summer. They are very connected.

[@cheryla7480]

Thiwas recorded when Joni was in her early twenties, now you need to hear her re-recorded version as an older woman, wiser, more mature, and having had many life experiences than her younger self. Both versions amazing.

[@billshine401]

I would suggest Woodstock. There's an excellent live version. Also just about anything from the Blue album. Good job!

[@steveneardley7541]

One of the best performances ever.

[@1Imonk]

It's an exercise in dialectic. I've listened to this song several years longer than I've been reading Plato, but there it is: another layer of depth to this brilliant song from one of the very best of our generation.

[@paulwhite7972]

Well now you've gone and done it. There's rabbit holes and then there's the Joni rabbit hole. Good luck!

[@tomatolady11]

I would characterize Joni as Folk Music rather than Country.

[@graceparker7003]

Joni Mitchell wrote the song, but perhaps you might have heard the recording by Judi Collins which came much later than Joni. Joni also knew how to rock it. I listen to Home Free (an a capella group) who not only cover songs but also record their own. Take a listen to Children Go Where I Send Thee with Kenny or Elvira done with the Oakridge Boys. Huge Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers along with Dolly Parton. Oakridge Boys. Also Keith Urban and some of the great older country singers. Home Free is a Rabbit Hole so be careful lol!! Loved your reaction and it's nice to see you have come back.

[@jayarr961]

She did a bluesy version of this when she was much older. It was featured in the movie 'Love, Actually'. You may have heard that version.

[@LizOBrienRochford-gs2kj]

Joni is the best. Next you Need to experience YES. 70’s YES. Rabbit hole both these masters Joni and YES. You won’t regret it.

[@cityhonors1]

#FunFact 🤩 Chelsea Clinton was named after the Joni Mitchell song 'Chelsea Morning' which you also may like. 🥰🐰

[@kimberleericci1318]

Folk style of music. Also, was in the movie "Love Actually".

[@heidih2887]

Welcome to the amazing world of Joni Mitchell! 😃Interesting you mentioned a hint of similarity between Joni and Brandi Carlile. 😃 While there are decades of age difference between them, they became close friends a few years ago! 🥰 Joni started out in folk music clubs and coffee houses, was part of the then-developing singer-songwriter category etc. She knew and somewhat associated with Johnny Cash (appeared on his TV variety show twice as well) Kris Kristopherson (spelling?) met/had at least one conversation with Dolly Parton. But she spent more time associating with those singer-songwriters such as James Taylor, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Crosby Stills and Nash, Carole King and so on. Joni eventually worked within not only folk and country, but also some elements of rock, jazz, and hints of classical and blues within her broad musical tastes. Joni was a painter/artist before becoming a musician/songwriter/composer and producer. Many album covers were her paintings, and some albums included full-color inserts depicting several of her paintings and so on. In addition to her vocals, her amazing lyrics and music compositions, she is an excellent guitar player that created/used about 50 to 60 different unique guitar tunings, was creative and skilled on the mountain dulcimer, and a fine player/composer on piano as well. 🥰

[@Nmimbo]

Recommend you look into Ani Difranco. Completely different than what you’ve listened to before. Beautiful lyricist. Try: Both Hands, Untouchable Face, Superhero, She Says, Shameless.

[@toddashton9696]

Suggest you check out the live performance of this song, along with Big Yellow Taxi.

[@dantallman5345]

Besides her vocals and lyricism, Joni uses special guitar tunings and rhythms that really set her music apart. She plays a dulcimer on.California and A Case of You. She also plays piano. Help Me and Free Man in Paris are jazzier songs that were also big hits.

[@markjo9626]

Joni is not country. She is pure Folk

[@sidecardog5244]

I’ve loved this song for almost 50 years. Beautiful beyond belief. For a similar emotional song, I recommend Harry Chapin’s classic tale of lost dreams, Taxi. Ps, As far as great country songs, I’d recommend James Taylor: Fire and Rain, Something I the Way She Moves, or Sweet Baby James. He was a huge and very successful crossover artist in the early seventies.

[@paulgluten4156]

great reaction. To go along with a more country leaning you could try Jason Isbell Elephant or Danko/Manuel

[@nikolanikolic1366]

More please :D.

[@traciebenko-petrie3461]

I've seen mention of Gordon Lightfoot and I have always found his music and lyrics to be so engaging. There are many songs to choose from If You Could Read My Mind, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Sundown and pretty much any other song would be awesome. Steely Dan is another great option. So many songs to choose from.

[@williammuntzer7374]

Great reaction. I have only seen a couple of your videos, but you are very thoughtful in your approach. Great voice. If you are looking for other artist to explore from that era, you may want to check out Crosby, Stills and Nash (Suite Judy Blue Eyes), Neil Young (Old Man Live at the BBC), Joe Cocker (With a Little Help From My Friends Live at Woodstock). Try Lynyrd Skynyrd (Free Bird), Pink Floyd (Time from Dark Side of the Moon OR Comfortably Numb from the Pulse Concert), Kansas (Carry On My Wayward Son), Moody Blues (Nights In White Satin - Extended version), Van Halen (Hot for Teacher), Queen (Bohemian Rhapsody). You cannot go wrong with any of these selections and it will increase viewership. Good Luck!

[@caryd67]

Notice the purity of her voice, and the distinct lack of reverb, _not_ applied to the vocals…

[@philfoster8789]

Yes, I must endorse what so many others here have said: Joni Mitchell is certainly not "Country"; she is, most definitely, "Folk". (Think: Joan Baez and Judy Collins, not Billy Jo Spears and Tammy Wynette; on the male side, think: Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger, not Kenny Rogers and Hank Williams.) But... great reaction to a masterful song; lyrics, melody and vocal delivery are beautiful!

[@nuimaleko7]

Joni, Judy Collins and Joan Baez were the queens of 60s folk

[@grisselmoya7854]

In the movie CODA

[@toddashton9696]

Al, please also consider check out some music by Leonard Cohen to expand your exposure to some great artists. Suggestions include: A thousand kisses deep You want it darker Dance me to the end of love Suzanne Everybody knows

[@elyzamudio6372]

SODA STEREO REACTION?....❤

[@Anjuli50]

Please see my suggestions in the comments on your reaction to Don McLean's "Vincent".

[@andrewmcbride8925]

Great reaction except.... Joni Mitchell is NOT country. This is pure 60s acoustic FOLK.

[@jimreedy1960]

As otgers have said, Joni is not country. She started off with folk and grew into more complex jazz arrangements. She did an album with Charlie Mingus, the famed jazz bassist who had littke tolerance for wanna-be musicians. Her music is more sophisticated than country songs. Check out Amelia as an example.

[@LizOBrienRochford-gs2kj]

Joni was folk music till she turned to jazz/blues.

[@richardmunger6553]

Joni was never country she was more folk thats how she started out