Joni Mitchell: "Weird Chords," Blue, and the Miracle at Newport
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Show Notes
In this episode of pplpod, we explore the sprawling legacy of Roberta Joan Anderson, better known as Joni Mitchell. We trace her journey from the coffeehouses of Saskatoon to becoming one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century,.
Discover how a childhood battle with polio weakened her left hand, forcing her to invent the unique open tunings and "weird chords" that defined her sound,,. We discuss her artistic evolution from the confessional folk masterpieces of Blue—often cited as one of the greatest albums of all time—to her experimental pivots into jazz fusion with albums like Court and Spark and Hejira,,.
We also delve into the personal struggles behind the music, including the daughter she placed for adoption in 1965 and their eventual reunion,, as well as her view of herself as a "painter derailed by circumstance". Finally, we cover her miraculous third act: how "Joni Jams" in her living room helped her recover from a 2015 brain aneurysm, leading to her stunning, unannounced return to the Newport Folk Festival stage in 2022,,.