Just this.
(See below)
This
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Musings on the byways of popular culture
Musings on the byways of popular culture
by 46 Comments
Just this.
(See below)
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https://fb.watch/rtU7DDQ5Zr/?
This!
That!
The other
Is it not working?
This version is much better.
Hmmm…not sure I agree.
I watched the whole Elton/Bernie/Gershwin schmoozefest on YT. It was intermittently fun, provided you fast-forwarded every time the compere appeared. My favourites, however, were the two chunky string players off to one side. They looked like a pair of exotic flowers.
Elton surely wins on points, but only for comedy value.
I’ll give you that!
Di-mund Geezah!
Still standing?
He’s clearly sitting on a piano stool
Nah – he’s a tiny dancer – nobody can see Elt’s stool from where the camera is placed
It was already, George!
Okay, I’ll say it. Joni’s performance here is astonishing, deeply moving. What a woman, what an artist! Also, it’s the only version of Reg n’ Bern’s song I’ve ever enjoyed. She brings out emotion that I didn’t think was there. Listen to that first verse – there’s a real bitterness, but it doesn’t last. That laugh should be the one you carry with you, and hear when you think of her. She is still standing, with a very elegant cane, and she’s enjoying life as much as, if not more, than ever. Wotta dame!
(And now, back to Reg n’ Bern, the National Treasures …)
Agreed. I’ve never actually listened to the words before. If it doesn’t sound too churlish, though, I do kind of wish she wasn’t permanently joined at the hip to Brandi Carlile.
Although its probably (I am guessing based on what I’ve read) thanks to Brandi Carlile we’re seeing Joni up and on stage again
I know, that’s why I was afraid of sounding churlish.
I will join you in your churlishness.That aside, it was lovely to see Joni looking so happy about it all and embracing the adoration.
I suppose it’s churlish of me to say I found the whole thing uncomfortable – luvvies luvving each other?
I love LoW’s comments where he proves he’s the moat aptlyclept of the A’Worders. GARN MY SON!
I am here to serve
FAULT!
Love: Joni.
Hawkeye says “Advantage LoW”
Match referee Trapper John overrules.
Totally agree. “Enjoying life as much as, if not more than ever”. Something we should all aspire to.
It’s magnificent, life-affirming and joyous. If ever there was an argument for context being germane to the appreciation of a performance, this is the very it. Joni’s never lost that natural, comfortable ability to sing within a song, stretching it to her own delivery and making it seem effortless. What a lovely, gently swinging version this is. I shall treasure it.
Is the right answer!
Completely agree. I’ve never particularly liked this rather annoying yet another comeback song from Elton from the early 80s. But this performance actually found the song. I wasn’t really worried by the women once I got past, my initial discomfort of a sense of slight patronising, come on grandma you can do it. But once Mitchell actually did show how much she is a great singer then I really enjoyed Annie Lennox standing next to her two down.
I prefer the original Elton version – hands down. It had (for Elton) sass and some life to it. And a CHOON!
Just slowing stuff down, doing some jazzy guitar licks and having some backing singers doesn’t actually mean it has soul and extra depth.
If that was a Hilton airport hotel lounge, no one would be batting an eyelid apart from 25 seconds in when they recognise the song.
Surely its not just me???
Not just you: good on ‘er and all that – but no, not just you.
Churls! Absolutely, good on her, and all that, given her past few years etc. But, not only is it a marvel, it is way more than airport lounge, unless you frequent much more expensive private lounges than me. The original, I’m dill danding, may have some spunky chutzpah, but is a somewhat slight construction, with also the realisation that Elts bouncy rendition doesn’t fit the lyric, the chorus/title, the Busby Berkeleyesque video compounding that further. It’s as if Elton realised that Bernie’s lyrics were supernumary to his performance. Joni’s history and demeanour fit the somewhat more sober arrangement. (Disclaimer: I am not normally that keen on Joni, either, with barely more than 4 of her records, including greatest hits. I probably have more Elton, (counts), hmm, 6, including a greatest hits.)
Calm down, dear!
It sounds like I might be more of a Joni fan than you are, based on your disclaimer. It also sounds like you might be more of an Elton H John fan than me! It’s all context, isn’t it? Of course I admire her for doing it – I’m astonished that she’s doing it – but still find that I agree with Leedsboy, in this specific instance.
If that makes me a churl – so be it.
That’s a lot more context than I was putting on it. The orginal original (not the dil danding lockdown version) is a pop music banger. Joni and friends have Nouvelle Vague’d it up and swapped out the jaunty singer for a greataunty songer. It’s not good enough by itself, it needs Joni’s backstory to make it anyway interesting. And then not enough.
Isn’t Spunky Chutzpah representing Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest?
I believe Spunky Chutzpah is a new paint colour by Gonad Gloss as brought to our attention by @fentonsteve on the a tiny quiz thread.
All together now!
The Sharif don’t like it –
Spunky Chutzpah!
Spunky Chutzpah!
It’s actually my wrestling name.
Brilliant!
Age is a terrible thing in so many ways but it brings a kind of freedom. I get the impression Joni doesn’t give a fuck what anyone thinks.
Yes indeed – and why should she? Come to think of it: did she ever?
Oh I think she did care what was thought about her.
She was very, very ambitious and determined in her younger days. She knew she was really good and willingly played the record company games with great skill.
Fortunately it was at a time when highly talented artists were given a lot of freedom.
I suppose what I meant was that she followed her own mind – like moving into jazzier waters, when the fans and the record company would probably have preferred her to stay folkie/Laurel Canyon…
On the theme of being churlish, I actually think in some ways artists have more freedom than ever, because with access to technology pretty much anybody who wants to be an artist can be. It doesn’t guarantee an audience money or fame, but then artistry never really did. It is true that, as one my friends is fond of saying, it is easier than ever to record a song and ‘put it out’ but harder than ever to have anybody hear it.
Same is true of writing – writing a book is easy (why – a child of five could do it!) compared to getting someone to read it.
Not something I’d consider buying on a recording, but she still has a voice and has the craft to keep it within it’s limitations and still make a pleasant sound.
That was a pleasant diversion.
Fabulous!