One Note to the Audience of One - Both Sides, Now - Joni Mitchell #acnotes

Guilty! I suck at the art of writing headlines that bait. So, if you are still reading this, appreciate your persistence. However, I write this for just one person. The audience of 1. Perhaps, you'll know towards the end who that one person is.

Well, by now you must be used to flashbacks in #acnotes. This one is no exception and this anecdote dates back to my highschool days (late 90s). 7th Standard/Grade, to be precise. It was a Wednesday morning, when a tall man took us out from the classroom. It was the third period, before the short break and we were absolutely clueless as to what he was up to. Except that fact that he asked us to carry a book and pen/paper. The next moment we were in the open field. He asked us to look up at the cloudy sky and draw whatever we saw. Once done, he saw the different shapes and sizes of clouds, and started classifying them into types of clouds. Well, that was our first geography class with Mr. Santiago (if you wish to read that instance in detail, here you go: https://www.thealiporepost.com/post/a-clean-beneath-the-clouds-by-amit-charles ). Since then my fascination for clouds has been never-ending. And to add to that the next year, the same teacher opened us up to Wordsworth's "Daffodils". So, two takes on the same. Now, you may have already gotten into the groove of what the song is about. Well, it's not just about Clouds. It's about Love. And, course Life. Also, one thread that connects them all the changing perceptions or pov.

Three different completely distant and different aspects viewed from those same two eyes of a 20 something year old. And how the perceptions change over time while crossing from childhood to adolescence to adulthood is what this song is about. Or maybe, one of the perceptions about this song is aforementioned. That said, repeated listens will give you different takes of the same song. If time isn't a luxury today, I suggest you sit aside, alone and give this song some undivided attention.

Also, what got me more interested in this song in particular is how she was inspired to write this song. Well, the first few verses will anyway give it away, she got the inspiration while looking down /out from an airplane's window after reading a book with a similar setting.

Truth be told, I listened to 14+ cover versions of this song while working on this note. Don't believe it? Send me a message and I'll share the playlist I've compiled. There's Pete Seeger, Neil Diamond, Paul Anka, Susan Boyle and Young the Giant, to name a few. Also, in case you didn't know, the first to sing this song was Judy Collins in 1967 and also won a Grammy in 1969, but the lyrics were originally by Joni. And trust me, when I say this, you'll love one or the other and you might pick a few more favourites too. In fact, there are couple of early versions sung by Joni Mitchell. However, nothing comes close to the version she sang again after 18 albums and 30 years with the London Symphony Orchestra.

https://youtu.be/kewFf2_DCNI?feature=shared

What sets this version a cut above the rest? Well, when she wrote this song she was 23 years old, single and had given up her baby to adoption. And that could have been an underlying grief in this song as how one's view towards life changes. She did record this song after Judy's version, but it didn't really top the charts initially. That said, what she recorded in the year 2000, has been a chart topper. Used in movies and series (perhaps, I'll make a list of this later). More importantly, the voice resonates the meaning, impeccably. It's as though she's singing to that audience of 1. And that 1 being herself. Perhaps, her 23-year old self. In short, a note to self.

To extend this a little, Joni is on Both Sides, Now. One one side a Singer/Song writer and on the other Listener.

#acnotes