Joni & Elton

November 12, 2022 1:12 PM

In a very rare interview, Elton John spends 25 minutes talking to Joni Mitchell about how she is today, her Newport Folk Festival performance, and many songs and what they bring to mind for her. It's a lovely interview, and Joni seems to be doing really great!
posted by hippybear (12 comments total)

Am I allowed to post before actually watching the video?

I have skimmed a second or two here and there and it looks like a GREAT interview. I am REALLY looking forward to watching it this evening.

Thank you SO MUCH for posting this, hippybear!
posted by kristi at 1:36 PM on November 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

Another thank you from someone who's also going to watch the full video later. Joni just celebrated her 79th birthday last Monday, so mark your calendars for a year from now, I imagine her 80th will be a special occasion indeed.
posted by hangashore at 2:12 PM on November 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

(And I should have said so in the previous comment, but mention of Joni's Newport Folk Festival appearance reminds me of what a great job Brandi Carlile has been doing, not just with her own formidable talent but in bringing so many artists together, including the Newport session. I won't be alive when Brandi's 80th birthday rolls around but I expect she'll receive any number of glowing tributes then, and with any luck will still be performing.)
posted by hangashore at 2:34 PM on November 12, 2022 [4 favorites]

That's a heck of a thing to drop into a thread, hangashore. All my best wishes to you.

I guess Brandi and Joni are playing The Gorge next year. That's not too far from where I live...
posted by hippybear at 2:40 PM on November 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

Oh my god no, sorry to cause any alarm! I meant that Brandi's 80th is 40 years away (well, 2061). I'm 60 this year and don't expect to hit 100. But I will be around for Joni's 80th next year and hopefully her 90th at least!
posted by hangashore at 2:45 PM on November 12, 2022 [5 favorites]

Ah, yes. Careful reading has its merits. My apologies!
posted by hippybear at 2:48 PM on November 12, 2022 [2 favorites]

I guess Brandi and Joni are playing The Gorge next year.

Oh. I guess I needed to have known about this back in June. All the tickets are just secondary market now. Ah well...
posted by hippybear at 2:51 PM on November 12, 2022

YAY JONI!
posted by humbug at 3:53 PM on November 12, 2022

Brandi is doing three night at the gorge in various forms including with The Highwomen. We took part in the lottery, but it would have been a bear of a trip from Europe. Can’t wait to “gift” this vid to my wife tomorrow who loves Joni and is really enjoying Elton’s autobiography right now.
posted by Iteki at 5:43 PM on November 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

Joni is a delight here. Elton is not much of an interviewer and doesn’t give her enough time to talk. Maybe he’s just awkward? Or star struck.

I went digging on mefi for more joni stuff and in 2013 I wrote If she ever plays again I will move heaven, earth, and a significant portion of my savings to see her and well … thanks to the divine grace of a thousand gods and a big chunk of my savings … I’m going to the Joni Jam show at the Gorge. I will be sobbing the entire time.

Since we're on the topic I'll repost a link to this under-appreciated live solo recording of her at the Gene Autry Museum in 1995. I keep coming back to it. Stripped down to just voice and her gorgeous guitar work I think you see her clarity of vision more directly than ever. Best.
posted by wemayfreeze at 10:38 PM on November 12, 2022 [4 favorites]

Joni is a goddess in my book, but I don't think they could have found a weaker interviewer than Elton John for this interview. Either he's looking off screen, or has his nose in the script. COME ON, you're interviewing a legend.
posted by milnak at 11:45 PM on November 12, 2022 [2 favorites]

Wow, thanks for that link wemayfreeze.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 3:33 AM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]