Mike Posted April 23, 2010 Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 Joni Mitchell rarely gives interviews, but when she does, watch out rock legends! The singer-songwriter launched into an unprovoked 31-word take-down of fellow icon Bob Dylan in the LA Times this week, calling him the insult of all insults among songwriters: plagiarist. The interview was well underway when Dylan's name came up during talk about the creation of personas in music. The banter set Mitchell off, and she said, "Bob is not authentic at all. He's a plagiarist, and his name and voice are fake." Oh, but the 'Blue' singer wasn't finished with the real-life Robert Zimmerman: "Everything about Bob is a deception. We are like night and day, he and I." Following this comment, the interviewer quickly moves on without asking Mitchell to expand on her distaste for Dylan. Of course, any follow-up chatter may have been halted by a publicist. Mitchell and Dylan have toured together in the past, as part of the Rolling Thunder Revue back in the mid-1970s and again in 1998, when she co-headlined a tour with Dylan and Van Morrison. It's unclear what has come between them in the 12 years since they last worked together. Dylan wasn't the only singer to get a thwacking from Mitchell, though. She says Madonna's rise to stardom in the 1980s led to a negative turn in society. "Americans have decided to be stupid and shallow since 1980. Madonna is like Nero; she marks the turning point." Copyright © 2010 nydailynews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chutzpah Posted April 23, 2010 Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 I've always liked Joni Mitchell...just musically...Now,I like her even more...She's got an opinion and she pretty much explained herself...Now I know why she rarely gives interviews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miamisammy29 Posted April 23, 2010 Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 I was just thinking the exact opposite...another reason NOT to like Joni Mitchell.....THAT and Big Yellow Taxi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chutzpah Posted April 23, 2010 Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 Big Yellow Taxi...yeah...And I like Bob Dylan alot...I don't think he's a fake or any of that other stuff she said... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLizard Posted April 23, 2010 Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 I've never really understood the fuss about Joni Mitchell, and now she has the nerve to call out Bob Dylan? As Stephen Colbert might say: Joni Mitchell, you're on notice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel2Velvet Posted April 24, 2010 Report Share Posted April 24, 2010 I guess the lesson here is that if you are taking an axe into the woods for a good reason, look for a large tree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babyteen Posted April 24, 2010 Report Share Posted April 24, 2010 If my Grandma Dorcas was still living, and if she ever heard Joni say that to Bob, here's my interpretation of what would happen. "Shame on you! Naughty girl!" (Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyRaccoon Posted April 24, 2010 Report Share Posted April 24, 2010 Interesting she refers to Bob Dylan as a plagiarist when he himself has said to never really write his own tunes. To quote: "Well, you have to understand that I'm not a melodist... My songs are either based on old Protestant hymns or Carter Family songs or variations of the blues form. What happens is, I'll take a song I know and simply start playing it in my head. That's the way I meditate. A lot of people will look at a crack on the wall and meditate, or count sheep or angels or money or something, and it's a proven fact that it'll help them relax. I don't meditate on any of that stuff. I meditate on a song. I'll be playing Bob Nolan's "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," for instance, in my head constantly – while I'm driving a car or talking to a person or sitting around or whatever. People will think they are talking to me and I'm talking back, but I'm not. I'm listening to a song in my head. At a certain point, some words will change and I'll start writing a song. (Blowin' In The Wind) ... I wrote in 10 minutes, just put words to an old spiritual, probably something I learned from Carter Family records. That's the folk music tradition. You use what's been handed down. 'The Times They Are A-Changin'' is probably from an old Scottish folk song... ('Subterranean Homesick Blues')... it's from Chuck Berry, a bit of, and some of the scat songs of the '40s." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuzikTyme Posted April 24, 2010 Report Share Posted April 24, 2010 When she said, "Fake" was she simply just paving paradise and putting up a parking lot? I wonder what her current monthly fees run? Her voice is her own worst enemy because if no one heard it but her, she'd still be happy. Well, who wouldn't, with more money that can be spent in a lifetime? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chutzpah Posted April 25, 2010 Report Share Posted April 25, 2010 Ok...Just so everbody knows...I like Joni Mitchell ...I don't agree with everything she says...and now I understand why she gives no interviews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted April 25, 2010 Report Share Posted April 25, 2010 Joni Mitchell is awesome, Bob Dylan is less than awesome. not that this is a relevant comment or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted April 25, 2010 Report Share Posted April 25, 2010 Interesting she refers to Bob Dylan as a plagiarist when he himself has said to never really write his own tunes. To quote: "Well, you have to understand that I'm not a melodist... My songs are either based on old Protestant hymns or Carter Family songs or variations of the blues form. What happens is, I'll take a song I know and simply start playing it in my head. That's the way I meditate. A lot of people will look at a crack on the wall and meditate, or count sheep or angels or money or something, and it's a proven fact that it'll help them relax. I don't meditate on any of that stuff. I meditate on a song. I'll be playing Bob Nolan's "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," for instance, in my head constantly – while I'm driving a car or talking to a person or sitting around or whatever. People will think they are talking to me and I'm talking back, but I'm not. I'm listening to a song in my head. At a certain point, some words will change and I'll start writing a song. (Blowin' In The Wind) ... I wrote in 10 minutes, just put words to an old spiritual, probably something I learned from Carter Family records. That's the folk music tradition. You use what's been handed down. 'The Times They Are A-Changin'' is probably from an old Scottish folk song... ('Subterranean Homesick Blues')... it's from Chuck Berry, a bit of, and some of the scat songs of the '40s." I remember the last Bob Dylan concert I was at... I told my friend "He's been playing 'La Bamba' all night long..." He uses those three chords a lot, just listen to "Like a rolling Stone". Youcan play lots of Dylan's songs with it... I love Bob Dylan... he's I love him as much as I don't care about La Bamba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 I wonder if Joni is just fed up from hearing about Bob Dylan. I've seen this behavior before in golfers when they would sit down in interviews and get the inevitable question about Tiger Woods: Most of the time they gave a stock answer, but every now and then someone would snap and trash him just because they were sick of hearing his name. Edna, you probably have some perspective on this, but I think some '60s icons get seriously peeved when they get asked over and over about other musicians from their era. For instance, when I spoke with Janis Ian I learned ahead of time that she didn't appreciate questions like "What was Janis Joplin like?" Still, trashing Dylan takes some Chutzpah. I wonder if she can back up those plagiarism claims. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Still, trashing Dylan takes some Chutzpah. I wonder if she can back up those plagiarism claims. Oh, sure... Dylan is Dylan... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 What is the purpose of trashing Dylan? I like them both, but Joni sounds very silly and very wrong here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chutzpah Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Again,I've seen Bob Dylan a bunch of times...He's just Bob Dylan...or Zimmerman...or whatever...he's always good(if not a bit strange) but I still admire Joni Mitchell just for her (as someone said) chutzpah...I don't think Bob Dylans a fake at all...I'm sure he doesn't agree with Joni Mitchell said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuzikTyme Posted May 1, 2010 Report Share Posted May 1, 2010 To compare Joni Mitchell to Bob Dylan is akin to comparing a polar bear to a desert. Dylan's a master-living-poet. Joni Mitchell is a lady that sings and plays guitar. Fascinating that a lot cannot distinguish the difference. Sometimes, the people that think they know music; don't. Yay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted May 1, 2010 Report Share Posted May 1, 2010 I think Joni holds her own in the world of folk/popular music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuzikTyme Posted May 1, 2010 Report Share Posted May 1, 2010 No argument there, Ron. I've always adored this classic song! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted May 2, 2010 Report Share Posted May 2, 2010 Yep, I think the entire Court and Spark album is exceptional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted May 2, 2010 Report Share Posted May 2, 2010 BTW, Neil Young wrote a song called "Sweet Joni (From Saskatoon)" but it was never released. I owned it on a bootleg album since I was a teenager (many moons ago) and this version I found on Youtube is the same one. It is classic Neil Young, just perfect...and written for Joni (by the guy that I think is the greatest folk/pop/rock artist...Neil Young. Hearing it again just made my entire Sunday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Laurie_ Posted May 2, 2010 Report Share Posted May 2, 2010 Mr. Neil Young! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuzikTyme Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 I couldn't quite help myself but, when I hear the name of the "GODFATHER" of grunge I get slightly carried away. Sometimes I think a lot don't realize the impact of Mr. Young and his influence on "Seattle" bands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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