Why did Joni Mitchell not like Bob Dylan?

Why did Joni Mitchell say that Bob Dylan is a plagiarist?
The reason Joni Mitchell hated performing with Bob Dylan

[@TaichiStraightlife]

Here's the absolute truth: these artists put out their art, which we love. So love it. It doesn't mean we know ANYTHING about these artists, how they live their lives in private; they might be mean and trip up old people, slap little kids and cheat on their taxes. Or they could be saints. The truth is there's a whole industry out there trying to make money off of convincing us that they know the real truth about these people. I say don't bother; resign yourself to enjoying the fruit of their labors and realize they struggle with their burdens just like we do with ours. We should just focus on our own struggles to live better lives & be sympathetic to the struggles of others or at least that's how I see it.

[@barbarastepien-foad4519]

Well said

[@shaynecallan9642]

Beautifully put

[@georgecoventry8441]

They're both absolutely great. Why worry about a few idle words spoken on one occasion?

[@supdog8786]

Bob Dylan better tho

[@georgecoventry8441]

@@supdog8786 - Well, he's my favorite singer and songwriter. That's because I relate more strongly to his writing than anyone else's. But I'm not interested in labelling either him or Joni Mitchell or Leonard Cohen or various other people I could mention as being "better" or not, one to another. They're all "the best" at doing the particular thing *they* do, because it's totally unique to them. And Dylan is my favorite, personally speaking.

[@jillbriska2416]

Artists are passionate people- who knows where the animosity stems from but she had a right to her opinion. I’ve not heard her say anything bad about other people- just him. I know personally as I get older I just say my truth more and more and let the chips fall where they may. With that being said, however, I hold a lot fewer grudges- time has softened my harsh opinions (and my memory of why I felt so strongly)and I find myself not wanting to carry others past trespasses. I hope she was at peace when she died. I think they both were amazingly talented!

[@lindajones2492]

As far as I know Joni Michell is still very much alive and has gone back to touring .

[@grahamhobbs3501]

None of what she says is 100% untrue (well, I've not smelled his breath) but it misses the point - if you think it's easy what he does, have a go! - and as the commentary says, that's what folk music does. Bob always adds something special and raises what he does above whatever inspired him - except possibly biblical quotes, but they really are quotes - you can't plagiarise something culturally so embedded, you just reference it as a sort of shorthand. Truth is, life's richer for having both Joni and Bob.

[@YogsenForfoth]

I think she has a FAR more nuanced knowledge of Bob Dylan than you ever could, little fella. 😂🤦‍♂️

[@spaceywitter]

@@YogsenForfothHang on - how do you know they’re little?

[@rlawrence9838]

I think if he was a plagiarist someone would have figured out by now what the hell "All along the watch tower" was about, at least by reference to what it was supposedly "plagiarised from". (And yes there's biblical imagery in it but that's not what plagiarism means).

[@jj80808]

​@@rlawrence9838i wanna reqd the japanese hoodulm novel mentioned in this song

[@rossriver75yukon27]

Somehow I can imagine Bob having bad breath😂

[@michaelbeckwith6177]

Joni and Quincy Jones (He proclaimed The Beatles stink and Paul is the worlds worst bass player) are probably two of the most clueless people on the planet!!

[@Sanctified57]

Quincy Jones is not far off

[@christiancolo7768]

Nah but you are

[@saveourrivers]

Joni has plenty of clues. The problem is, she's a narcissist.

[@terrymckenzie8786]

Usually when there’s a dispute like this amongst professionals it’s not the music they are fighting about. Perhaps Bob did something she didn,t like dumping Joan Baez , or something else. It’s a personal thing rather than a work thing. Once you have a grudge against someone, you take it out any way you can. It’s beyond repair. Love them both.

[@topofthetalks]

Actually, she was also jelous of the friendship between Joan and Bob at the time of Rollin Thunder.

[@RobertCarusoOfficial]

"Plagarism"??? (at 1.57). Really? Who wrote/narrated this? The Philistines? 🙄And Mitchell has always been delirious, anyway. She said in an interview that Dylan's Masters Of War (1962) was about "spitting on the graves of soldiers who died in the Vietnam war", except that the song was written before the escalation of the Vietnam war and it's obviously about what is now commonly called the "military industrial complex" (as the title clearly suggests), not common, young soldiers who were conscripted in the US army... Once she played her new album to Dylan and Dylan fell asleep; she never forgave him for that, lol! And the many "compliments" about Mitchell are pure hyperbole...

[@stuartwiner7920]

Bob might have borrowed a lot of bits, but he makes such magic with them that all is forgiven. He's worth more than any one Beatle, IMHO, if such things could ever be measured.

[@tenniswilliam]

Bob is not only the greatest modern songwriter and story teller but he revolutionized the art form at great personal risk. He influenced Hendrix, the Beatles and Clapton and many others and we would not have had the sixties like we did without Dylan. Sure there may have been synthesis in some of his work but that is true for all of us. He even borrowed from the Bible so how is that a sin. Dylan's work is astounding.

[@alankuntz6494]

everyone has an opinion huh.

[@GGT950]

I dunno about the Bible part. Not religious but the rest of your comment is right on the money. Hendrix was nuts about him. “ outside in the distance a wild cat did growl 2 riders were approaching & the wind begins to howl” It’s as if he wrote it for Hendrix

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

But Joni has God On Her Side. Snicker.

[@jlouis4407]

He completely changed rock songwriting there was nothing before Dylan it was girls and cars

[@paulstuart551]

Mitchell was right. Dylan was a plagiarist from his first album, he modelled himself on Woody Guthrie & Ramblin' Jack adopting their styles - he even used a Guthrie tune for a tribute to him. Many of his melodies come from old black music to British ballads & Irish folk (Lord Randall & Patriot song are not disguised) going broader over time to latin & pop with lines stolen from poetry to film. He is said to represent the sixties but got the inspiration from his first love who was an activist. She ditched him when he cheated with Baez, many songs are misogynistic about women like Eddie Sedgwick who gave him shelter when he was a broke nobody. Joni is original, has talent, depth, able to change genres & rated as one of the best guitar players of all time.

[@robertgiles9124]

Poor Joni; her fame was never enough and her bitter complaints are a large part of her interviews for many years. She had so much yet cannot seem to see it. She was great. Dylan was also great. Move on.

[@purple8289]

Mitchell came off as more than a bit full of herself. Sort of holier than thou. I think everyone who came up in the 60's had to be a bit jealous of how influential and successful Dylan came to be. He and the Beatles are really considered above everyone else who came out of that period and I think it grated on her that she was sort of forgotten by the 80's while Bob is still out there even now playing to packed houses.

[@rineric3214]

This is bullshit. They are the best of friends. They are painting buddies. They call each other all the time. She told my friend Gabe Gordon that when he auditioned to play with her on her next album (because he's very hip to open tunings). She could say what she did because she knew he would not consider it an attack, but just interview chat. They hate interviews.

[@shaynecallan9642]

Her lyrics don't come close to Dylan. She must be jealous

[@rlawrence9838]

I rate dylan without rating Mitchell much but i find it really irritating when people assume that the criticisms of a less successful person of a more successful person can only be jealousy...If that was the case then no one would ever be able to criticise someone more famous than them even if they genuinely felt their art was sub par.

[@noobstardust5970]

Love Bob and Joni both. Joni made some distasteful comments about him, who cares? Old news.

[@Joecuzzi]

In this video, Joni doesn't say anything bad about Dylan. I love the love she has for Dylan maybe someone should make a video of her smiling which will prove her love for Dylan🤗🥰.

[@GrumblingGrognard]

Ask yourself "Who, from her past; does Joni actually get along-with/like/speak kindly of today"? Yea, NOBODY. Think about it. Must be everyone else. It can't be Joni, she is 'great'; must be everyone else.

[@noobstardust5970]

She got along with Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, David Geffen, Graham Nash, and James Taylor. Just to name a few off the top of my head.

[@GrumblingGrognard]

@@noobstardust5970 Read again, or read better. I wrote: "speak kindly of today". She trashes/trashed everyone of those you mentioned time-and-time-again. Don't make me post quotes: you look them up. She is a bitter one and always has been from all accounts (period).

[@darthex0]

​@@noobstardust5970All musicians love her.

[@Piggy-Oink-Oink]

@@noobstardust5970 Gets along with DAVID GEFFEN..yeah that impresses me..NOT LOL

[@maggiebryan2355]

Didnt she sleep with mist of them dylan not he never bad mouth other people​@noobstardust5970

[@Chapps1941]

I love Joni but she does come across as bitter. She has her Sun conjunct Mercury in Scorpio which can be a sharp toungue with invective. She also has her Moon conjunct her MC, the career point, in Pisces; a snappy disposition for sure. Her Venus, in Virgo, is opposite the Moon, in Pisces, and her Saturn is 90° to both. A T Square and this aspect is a very difficult aspect. And Saturn there and in Gemini would make her curmudgeonly in her pronouncements. Dylan has a Grand Cross in those 3 signs plus his Ascendant in Sagittarius. These people are gifted with _long travel suspension_ which allows them to override obstacles here. Both are great but Dylan transcends all rock n rollers in any of their guises.

[@gudlisner501]

The truth is that all folk music can be classed as plagiarism and it’s fair to ask could Joni’s career have been possible without Bob’s trail blazing. I am a huge fan of both Bob and Joni.

[@harryhughes4423]

Apparently a reporter once said to her in the earlier days... " you've written some pretty good songs....."how do you compare yourself to Dylan?". There was a short pause, then she answered..."I can sing". Love her, man, she's a genius and a truly incredible musician. Dylan is neither, but is a great songwriter. Possibly one of the best.

[@sammywitches420]

bob was an incredible musician at one point as well, he may not have the guitar chops anymore but if you listen to his fingerpicking techniques and unique voicing of words in his early stuff you'll see there's nothing short of genius. Check out Moonshiner on the album the bootleg series. Listen to the harmonica and the timing of the notes, there is pure soul and musicianship in that recording. Joni was great but bob could lead a band as a musician much greater than Joni ever did.

[@Piggy-Oink-Oink]

Dylan WAS a genius and at times still shows genius. What do you mean by "possibly one of the best" as opposed to BEST of all time,. which he IS. Who are you ranking HIGHER..this should be a FUN answer. Even The Beatles knew DYlan was the real deal. Better songwriter than all 4 of them in 1965

[@GGT950]

@@Piggy-Oink-Oink Of course he was ✅✅✅

[@terrymckenzie8786]

Sometimes it’s a personal grudge and not a professional one. Maybe Bob tried to get in her pants when they were practicing at her place in the villege😂

[@Chapps1941]

Dylan can't sing like Picasso can't paint He's a fabulous singer.

[@blissfulbaboon]

Joni is a true original!They get offended by thieves!

[@Phillip-f9o]

She was raised on robbery to quote her self, to run some body else down if true, shame on her, 🚶🚶🚶🏃✌️❤️🙏

[@TRULoo]

she no wear near dylan lets be real

[@DaveRossignol]

Joni is a strong artist but her comments on Bob were tantamount to betrayal

[@jewely9757]

I never understood why Bob Dylan had any popularity.

[@JamesZlotkowski-do7wi]

Because he didn’t put up with her bullshit. I say this in the kindest possible way.

[@tarinideviyoga]

I believe her. I never ever liked Dylan 😂

[@roseblake5803]

Joni should just admit he broke her heart.

[@christiancolo7768]

No she is speaking the truth

[@Phillip-f9o]

How would we know she is talking the truth, to say Dylan copies all his lyrics is a big statement, some one said to someone who overheard somebody else, ✌️❤️🙏

[@passionaria]

I think it's Joan Baez who's heart was broken by Dylan, not Joni Mitchell

[@beverlykasahara8485]

Worse than jealous. She wasn't as admired nor a good artist. Comments are scathing.

[@Phillip-f9o]

A legend in her own mind, shame on her if she did say, if true I'm still a fan of her music but not a fan of her anymore, come to think of it she did bag David Crosby, rejection can bring out the real inner self ✌️❤️🙏

[@newyardleysinclair9960]

Well she is a legend. Not just in her own mind

[@hdrake1000]

I thought about this for a while what Joni said about Bob. I think she's amazing and all, but wasn't she in a serious relationship with David Crosby back in the day? Wonder what she thought about his breath, guitar playing?

[@Piggy-Oink-Oink]

According to Crosby...she sang the song The Midway right to Crosby in the room as she wrote it..then sang it a second time..thus ending their relationship right there. Crosby said he was devastated by what she did. She;s no angel either.

[@julieberkowitz2750]

Pissed off and conceited Bob Dylan. He will forget your name before you even leave the room

[@Baltimore1894]

for most of her life, Joni said very nice things about Dylan and his music. It's only in the last few years that she began to slander him. I have no idea what her problem is.

[@surfrunnerd8457]

Although I'm a Dylan fan, i have to admit Joni was well aware of Dylan's plagiarism.

[@frankmelkert9503]

Don’t believe one word . Amazing you can blab any thing you want

[@m.hughes2521]

Many people don't get Bob, they see him perform live and are not impressed. They are put to sleep by his lyrics and irritated by his voice. I know, i know.

[@MrEdkern]

Without dylan there would not be any joni. Dylan is alot smarter then joni. Dylan quit smoking. Joni still smokes.

[@edwardishida9232]

No.

[@noralamartina9536]

So jealous still !!!

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

So she is a smoker and she complains about Dylan's breath? Wonder who she blames for her current poor health. After her pitiful performance at the Grammys tonight, I am confident that Dylan will say nice things about her or nothing at all.

[@JamesZlotkowski-do7wi]

She’s a bit too horsey for me. Nasty curmudgeon.

[@michealcurrie8272]

Joni ,is a beautiful human being .

[@beverlykasahara8485]

He hadn't plagerized. It's called flipping words - or intertextualizing

[@loosilu]

He's a plagiarist in his painting. I can't forgive him forthat. Joni is a real painter.

[@Sanctified57]

All painters plagiarise

[@ruudzwart]

I know Joni Mitchell is a great musician, but her songs always make me nervous.

[@samsungtap4183]

I heard him say he'd been in Joni's car and she was a good driver...?

[@NilezII]

A lot of this seems to be about Who's A Bigger Jerk-Joni Or Bob?, but I've never heard anything good about Dylan's personality.

[@elston3153]

I don't care what anyone thinks of Dylan, for me he's the greatest creator of songs ever.

[@markjohnson4217]

One thing Joni would NOT be...envious of anyone's adulation, that statment is just stupid. Dylan's poetic instinct was almost beyond comprehension...but Joni was a better lyricist... "You're a coward against the altitudes A coward against tbe flesh , Coward..caught between yes and no Restless this time on the line for yes yes yes

[@niallswaine2436]

Joni needs to accept Bob as the genius he is and stop being nasty. She is great too. Bob tells us in No direction home that Liam Clancy of the Clancy brothers once told him remember No meanness. Joni no meanness.

[@Sanctified57]

Because he rejected her. Bottom line

[@freespyrit]

not a chance..

[@wanderlust7531]

Iam with joni all the way❤

[@barbarastepien-foad4519]

Jealous Joni eh ! Dylan never dissed her ! She's such a SOURPUSS....don't be taken in. She didn't contact her daughter for over 30 odd years after she'd had her adopted.... The woman isn't the great legend you might think she is....she is merely a human with a great many faults. However her songs are good x

[@anotherjoshua]

She denies these remarks. and we should believe her. Besides, she smokes like a chimney, so her breath could probably wilt flowers.

[@BonnieBumgartner]

Jealous yes

[@YogsenForfoth]

Well, Joni is a HEAVY chain smoker, so I can’t imagine that her breath smelled very much better than Bob’s. 😂

[@christiancolo7768]

Ever heard of brushing teeth?

[@marcotedesco8954]

I don't think Joni is "bitter". She just hasnt given a single f* since about 1968 😂

[@JamesZlotkowski-do7wi]

She’s filled with hate.

[@niltomega2978]

Joni always came across as a narcissist type to me. But then again she never billed me for her personal attributes, only her music

[@RafaaGMadonnaLover]

What's there to like?

[@stevemorse108]

Did Dylan really plagiarize material???? I have to check this. I think both her are geniuses and am very disappointed to hear of this antipathy between them….jealousy perhaps.

[@jinx1821]

Dylan doesn't care about such low-class acting people and the whole problem seems to be that Joni didn't get the attention(or Bob's reaction) which she needed so badly

[@christiancolo7768]

Nah joni is simply right, She is a true original, obviously she dont wanna be compared to someone like bob

[@markjohnson4217]

Joni didn't give a shit about not getting enough attention or adulation.. it was the envy and resentment that came at her from all around that she hated. And I daresay that she would more likely have been the one to refuse any amorous advsnces

[@zachgates7491]

There’s plenty of websites on Dylan’s plagiarism. Mitchell disliked Dylan because he was a phony. Joan Baez seems to have come to the same conclusion.

[@Philmoscowitz]

Oh, I know the answer to this question! It's because Dylan murdered her hit song, Big Yellow Taxi.

[@phreffable]

She needs to keep her bullshit to herself.

[@DaveRossignol]

They are both cranky narcissists. Can’t blame em as they were both gifted and worshipped by flatterers and imitators for decades. Pioneers whose past lives have become the stuff of legend and folklore. Unfortunately they couldn’t possibly have any perspective about their own work or contributions because the ego tends to bury the truth. They stood on the shoulders of artists that came before them. This seems to be lost on Joni. She sees herself as a Michelangelo or Shakespeare. Pure originality. It’s nauseating.

[@trashyraccoon2615]

Is this a robot voiceover? The guy talks super weird

[@iansutherlandcraig]

Some people are tending to sound like Sat Navs. I don’t know if this voice is real or a AI but no one really uses this sort of intonation and emphasis, do they.

[@karnebo]

@@iansutherlandcraig In terms of intonation, I hear a vague resemblance to the way Mitch Hedberg (RIP) used to deliver his jokes.

[@hollygolightly7475]

Bitter she never made it to the ranks she felt she deserved, not invited to Woodstock - slept with literally all of Laurel canyon and beyond, she’s overrated in my opinion , boring sad blah songs, her high voice hurt my ears

[@noobstardust5970]

She was invited to Woodstock. She didn't go because her manager at the time, David Geffen, had her stay in NY to be on the Dick Cavett show.

[@christiancolo7768]

What a stupid comment

[@crinolynneendymion8755]

She made it to the top of the mountains and remains there. Wonder about your bitterness though, Bond rejection perhaps?

[@alessandro185]

1) she was invited to Woodstock but declined 2) she probably slept with a lot of men and Dylan with a lot of women. Is there any difference? Good for them 3) musically speaking she's not at all overrated and she's on the same level as Dylan

[@Bronco541]

This is one of those AI generated videos. Listen closley to the voice, its not real. The only thing fake is this video. I dont trust anything said here.

[@edwardishida9232]

Joni Mitchell never lies✨🍷

[@MrYomomoto]

How would you know?

[@悪臭-p9p]

Embarrassing.

[@julieberkowitz2750]

Hmmmmmmmmmm

[@Phillip-f9o]

This is the most rediculace thing I've ever heard if it is true, shame on Joni, Dylan is one of the great song writers of all time, I've only ever heard her say good things about him, she is a legend in her own mind🚶🚶🚶🏃✌️🙏

[@freespyrit]

No. She's more than just a legend. lol

[@dorkle9085]

Joni is also one of the greatest songwriters of all time, her catalogue is incredible. So is Dylan's.

[@petemc5070]

She wrote a couple of fine songs. That's about it.

[@octobersun221]

2 more than you.

[@christiancolo7768]

Couple fine songs Better than bob Dylan's

[@michealcurrie8272]

Joni is a people's person a true empath. Doesn't suffer fools gladly.

[@mygreatbigfoot1679]

Hard rain, Lord Randll, an old English folk song. He did well. Anyone could have done it, i’m sure, …but he did. I’m English, i was a kid when that was a big hit, but no school music teacher pointed that out to me. But i can’t stand these everyone on (folksy) stage efforts where they dress up as All American stereotypes and pretend all huggermugger to like each other(that “Boss” guy, Bob’s son, totally naused me out) thankfully i live in England.

[@maggiebryan2355]

She just bitter

[@tonyc7352]

Yes jealously, his jealously of her. Joni Mitchell is waaaaaay better than Bob Dylan, in every way, not even the in the same solar system.

[@niallswaine2436]

Bob has never expressed any jealousy towards Joni. It must be lonely on yours and Joni's solan system.

[@wakingthewitch7855]

Joni Mitchell is much more impressive on a artistic level

[@noralamartina9536]

Name the songs?

[@wakingthewitch7855]

@@noralamartina9536 what?

[@niallswaine2436]

@@wakingthewitch7855 WTF does that mean. How more impressive.

[@michaelgawthorn9639]

I like them both, but it is true that Dylan reinvents many traditional songs. I guess that is folk music, reinterpreting old things for a new day.

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

Yeah, stuff such as Like A Rolling Stone and Subterranean Homesick Blues were such a rehash of traditional music, right?

[@newyardleysinclair9960]

Dylan is fake.

[@niallswaine2436]

Yes he is. Invented by Robert Allen Zimmerman to completely change the course of music and thank F he did. Otherwise we would still be listening to how much is that doggy in the window

[@ah13554]

Stick to wailing

[@freespyrit]

stick to surfing lol

[@ah13554]

@@freespyrit someone's tired

[@freespyrit]

@@ah13554 someone's fried

[@CaroleUllrich]

✅ 'Promo SM'