Hello World, Welcome to my new blog!
Let’s be honest, it’s not easy making yourself vulnerable; putting yourself out there, especially through song.
As a child, I remember a guitar sitting in the corner of our living room. None of us, not me nor my siblings were allowed to touch it since it belonged to my mother. I loved music. Loved it. And growing up in a rather sheltered And strict environment, most popular music was taboo. I do not recall my parents ever picking up that guitar candidly, but I think today, that this was rather a darn shame.
So here I am, today, naturally and instinctively drawn to the truthful and poignent style of Joni Mitchell’s early music.
Driving along in my car just a number of years ago, my dearest friend and I drove along, singing a song we had heard on the radio “Big Yellow Taxi”. My friend stopped singing to say, “How much Joni Mitchell do you actually know?” he asked.
“Not much” was my reply and he went on to say that our voices were very similar, Joni and I, ranges too. From high to low … and he proceeded to put on some more of her early music, the stuff of folk legends and I was hooked.
After a trip to my local Prairie guitar shop we browsed through the vast selection and none stood out to with one exception; the Taylors. Pulling them down off of the wall, one after the other, I tried each one out, plucking and playing, drawn specifically to the bright tones of the mini Taylor and Koa Taylor, the sounds bright and deep, shockingly beautiful and easy to strum and form chords on.
And so, I bought my first Taylor guitar and along with that… began my journey and study of Joni’s iconic music.
Thanks to various books and videos, my beginnings started off in the world of ”Isle of Wight” with the most wonderful version of Big Yellow Taxi. It’s honest, innocent and downright charming performance was so appealing, just a girl and her guitar vs. the crowd, and my goal to perform in this style became my obsession.
If you have never seen it, you must, you will be whisked away by Joni’s single-handed performance: Isle of Wight Big Yellow Taxi: https://youtu.be/Tr__rRGWVgI
My own version of this tune will be soon to come; I continue to work away on it and bit by bit, I become a little more happy with the outcome. 🙂 Soon I will post a version of this online here but for now, I leave you to bask in Joni’s version from the 1970’s.
I wish I could convey how I feel about all of this. Music truly is an art and Joni’s music is truly that, it is art. It is nearly impossible to mimic. It would be like trying to paint like DaVinci or to photograph like Jay Maisel. You end up just painting by number or trying to copy camera settings but when it really comes down to it, the art is way deep inside your guts and nothing but time put in and experience can begin to make it your own when learning from a master.
Between Joni’s tunings and her unique guitar style, her natural voice and her sincerely Canadian feel, (being a true Canadian myself), I believe it is at least, is a good starting point for my journey…yes it‘s a start…and I have a long way to go. I’ll continue to learn her tunes the best way I know how. I think it’s a great way to keep this style of art thriving, don’t you?
Hello World, although my small beginnings may try to hold me back, I’m giving this a go. We shall see where I end up and.. after receiving my own letter of encouragement from Joni’s team, well…. nowhere to go but up from here! But more to come on that!
Thanks so much for peeking into my world and I can’t wait to share more with you on my progress next week!
~ Avigail, The Last Living Shepherdess
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