Joni Mitchell

        When I first heard Joni Mitchell, I was definitely shocked. Her vocal abilities are unbelievable. They very from super high to low and then to super high again. As we read the lyrics on the screen, you could never tell how she would perform them. With most songs, there are generally patterns with the way the words are sung. But I honestly had no clue how she would say them. She usually shot her voice up or down or in many other ways that I didn't even know were capable by the human body. But this aspect of her songs really got on my nerves during the first few songs on her album Blue.
        Out of all of the songs on the album Blue, "Blue" was my favorite song. It was so tranquil, yet with the piano, it gives it an aspect of pain and sadness. And I love it. When I hear the chorus, I immediately think of the "Colors of the Wind," song from Pocahantus. It has that same sliding sound or whatever it is called, though I understand many aspects of both songs are completely different.
         The lyrics of this song seems to be so emotional and motivating, though I can't exactly tell you what they mean and symbolize. I can kind of tell that she is wanting her (I'm assuming) lover to love her back, other wise she needs to move on. But in the end of the song, she truthfully misses them and dedicates the song to them. This is probably completely wrong, though it IS an interpretation and those can vary.
        One song I absolutely hated was the first song on the album, which at first, really put me off. Her voice is all over the place. I wish she had set more of a guideline for her voice in the song. It kind of sounds like a live version, where the artist tampers with their original song, except this had a negative effect on me. It was just to much for me. Looking at it from a musical stand point, her vocal range is unreal. But it is too much. She should have toned it down.
        Overall, I am looking forward to listening to more of her music and albums. It is nice to hear something from the 70's that isn't hard-core rock n roll.