• Joni Mitchell believes music industry sexism prevented her 1970s songs from being recognized.
• Singer-songwriter said she “got a lot of heat” for her thoughtful, candid songs.
• Male singer-songwriters were upset that they had to be vulnerable.

Joni Mitchell believes music industry sexism prevented her 1970s songs from being recognized.

The singer-songwriter said she “got a lot of heat” for her thoughtful, candid songs.

“People thought it was too intimate,” the 79-year-old stated.

“Male singer-songwriters were upset. Oh no! Do we have to be so vulnerable?'”

“People were nervous,” she said.

The singer stated contemporary musicians appear better able to portray the loss and sorrow she explored on Ladies of the Canyon (1970) and Blue (1971).

“This age seems to be able to face those emotions more easily than my generation,” she told Sir Elton.

It’s one of the singer’s first full-length interviews since recovering from a brain aneurysm in 2015.

During Mitchell’s rehab, she hosted “Joni Jams” in her California living room.

Sir Elton credited her “amazing” recovery to music.

A critic reportedly called Mitchell the “Yang to Bob Dylan’s Yin, equaling him in richness and imagery”

Her folk-inspired song-poems explored the darker sides of life and love. Both Sides Now, A Case Of You, and River are classics.

She had to relearn how to sing and play guitar following her aneurysm, studying previous movies “to see where I put my fingers.”

“An aneurysm is amazing,” she told CBS News. “You can’t get out of a chair or bed. You must relearn everything.

In recent years, the artist has performed and received the Kennedy Center Honor.

“Her gift touches the gamut of human nature, struggle, how we conquer, and how we love,” said US President Joe Biden.

Mitchell returned to the Newport Folk Festival, where she originally performed in 1969.

Brandi Carlile, who has performed tribute concerts and written liner notes for Mitchell’s box sets, arranged the evening.

Mitchell played Circle Game, Both Sides Now, and Big Yellow Taxi on a set resembling her California living room.

Sir Elton revealed the concert had no rehearsals. She laughed, “None.” We guessed.

The singer also discussed how smoking and ill health have altered her voice over the years, adding that she played guitar on Just Like This Train at her Newport show instead of singing it.

She couldn’t sing in key. “I’m an alto.” No longer a soprano, I couldn’t sing.

“I thought people would feel deceived if I performed simply the guitar portion, but I like it. To my joy, it was well-received.

Sir Elton hinted to a Newport Folk Festival release.

Yes, Mitchell verified.

She’s since announced a June concert in Washington state, her first in 23 years.

Sir Elton suggested Joni return to the studio. “Make a record here. He compared it to Cash’s Hurt.

“This room is Joni. This space is one of the most special I’ve ever seen.

Mitchell graciously declined to say whether she’d record again.

“We sang in the balcony once,” she remarked. “We’ve never recorded in this room.”

Sir Elton’s Apple Music radio show will air the whole interview on November 12 at 17:00 GMT.

Also Read

Brandi Carlile says Joni Mitchell was ‘worried’ ahead of first full live performance

Joni Mitchell performed with Brandi Carlile at the Newport Folk Festival. Carlile...