Joni Mitchell has stated that sexism in the music industry prevented her music from receiving the recognition it deserved in the 1970s.
The musician, whose introspective and confessional songs became cornerstones of the singer-songwriter genre, stated that she “took a lot of criticism” at the time.
The 79-year-old said in a rare interview with Sir Elton John, “People thought it was too intimate.”
“I believe it angered male singer-songwriters. They would exclaim, “Oh, no!” Do we have to expose our inner selves in this manner?”
She added, “I believe it made individuals anxious.”
The actress remarked that she was pleased to see that contemporary artists are better able to express the feelings of loss and sorrow that she explored in classic albums such as Ladies of the Canyon (1970) and Blue (1973). (1971).
In an interview for Sir Elton’s Rocket Hour radio show on Apple Music, she told him, “It took to this generation; they seem to be able to face those emotions more easily than my generation.”
It is one of the singer’s first extensive interviews since recovering from a brain aneurysm in 2015, which rendered her temporarily unable to walk or speak.
During Mitchell’s rehabilitation, when she hosted “Joni Jams” with fellow musicians in her California living room, the two became friends.
Sir Elton, describing her “remarkable” recovery, remarked, “Music has helped you so much.”
Mitchell is regarded as one of the greatest singer-songwriters of her era; a critic once referred to her as the “Yang to Bob Dylan’s Yin, equaling his imagery in its richness and profusion.”
Her talent lies in writing folk-influenced, deeply personal song poems that explore the darker aspects of life and love. Both Sides Now, A Case of You, and River are regarded as classics.
However, following her aneurysm, she had to relearn how to sing and play guitar by watching old videos of herself “to see where I placed my fingers.”
She earlier told CBS News, “It’s incredible what an aneurysm can do.” “You can’t get out of a chair or a bed. You must relearn all of these things by rote.”
In recent years, the singer has attended events honoring her music, and in December of last year, she was awarded the coveted Kennedy Center Honor.
At the event, US President Joe Biden paid respect to the star, stating, “Her gift encompasses the spectrum of human nature, the sense of struggle, and how we conquer and love.
Mitchell returned to the stage this summer with an unscheduled appearance at the Newport Folk Festival, where she had performed for the first time in 1969.
Brandi Carlile, who has worked tirelessly to remind the world of Mitchell’s legacy by performing tribute concerts and providing liner notes for the singer’s archive box sets, as well as becoming a loyal friend, organized the concert.
Mitchell performed Circle Game, Both Sides Now, and Big Yellow Taxi throughout the event, surrounded by friends on a stage that resembled her California homeroom.
The celebrity revealed to Sir Elton that the entire show was executed without rehearsal. She laughed and replied, “None.” “We just guessed.”
The singer also discussed how her voice had altered over the years as a result of smoking and ill health, adding that she chose to play guitar on Just Like This Train during her Newport concert rather than attempt to duplicate the original’s soaring vocals.
“I was unable to sing in that key,” she explained. “I’ve become an alto. No longer a soprano, I was unable to sing the song.
“I feared that people would feel betrayed if I only played the guitar part, but I enjoy playing that song’s guitar part. In any case, it was received favorably, much to my delight.”
Sir Elton hinted that an official release of the Newport Folk Festival performance was in the works.
Mitchell confirmed, “Yes, we’re trying to release that.”
Since then, she has announced another live performance, her first headlining concert in 23 years, in the state of Washington next June.
Sir Elton had an additional suggestion for re-inviting Joni to the studio. “I require that you create an album in this room. Similar to what Johnny Cash did with Hurt,” he stated.
Every inch of this room belongs to Joni. This is one of the most special places I’ve ever visited.
Mitchell graciously accepted the compliment but declined to speculate on whether she would return to recording music.
“We once sang background vocals from the balcony,” she explained. “We have never recorded in this room before.”
The full interview will be broadcast on Sir Elton’s radio show on Apple Music on Saturday, November 12 at 17:00 GMT.
