So, this time I want to talk about the music that I favored.

No Nooo, I’m not going to boast about how tasteful I am in choice of music, I actually considered myself musically illiterate. If somebody happens to pop question like “What is your favorite music?” I’ll probably response with a “Huh?”

I just won’t say that I loved jazz or orchestra or classic just to falsely show how classy and artsy I am.

So again, this is not about wine tasting competition, this is about the sound of my soul, ok? Pheww, let’s keep going, it feels good after putting this kind of disclaimer, because you know, people nowadays are very easily misunderstood you and then get offended, hohoho.

Back to the topic, the music of my life would be the most songs by Joni Mitchell, and she the singer-songwriter herself would be my all time favorite artist and poet.

For you who know who she is and enjoying her music as well, I shall tell you that I have been listening to her for at least 4 years. At first, I was drawn to her most “commercial” album Blue, then I advanced to her much more sophisticated later albums such as Wild Things Run Fast. Now for months, I stayed with compilation album Travelogue, listening to Job’s Sad Song and The Judgement of The Moon and Stars, seven days in a week enjoying the matured voice singing many songs from her youth, adding them with thick layer of aged experiences.

And for you who does not know who Joni Mitchell is, few things I can describe about her (from my point of view) are:

• She was a heavy smoker, and probably still so.
• Her music changed from time to time but always ahead of time, and her voice was changing just like her music too, it got matured by the smoking. The haters often bash her on this matter though.
• She describe herself as a painter, she paints a lot, she never sell her paintings though, and somehow I think that painting is her last and purest reserve of idealism, something that is not tainted by commercialism.
• She despised music industry.
• She is terribly judged by media.
• Nowadays, artists are made, not born. That is what she said, which I agree heartily.
• Contemporary pop lover will describe her as bitter and full of preach. But I and other fans will perceive her as an idealist with heart and mind.
• More information about her is on the wikipedia.

After reading all of that, for you who find yourself curious and want to try to taste her music, I must warn you though, her music is not some catchy tunes that will glue onto your mind easily, I would simply say that it will take time to actually feel most of her songs, she is a poet, the lyrics of her songs are naturally deep and personal. At her prime time, her music publisher actually told her to made more “radio friendly” song.

Of course, if you insist, I would recommend you to start with some of her “easier” songs. If you are feeling a little bit naughty right now, try You Turn Me on, I’m a Radio, that is a song from her For The Roses album, a song she made sarcastically after being told to create more radio friendly song, and ironically that song actually was very well received. If you are melancholy, try River, or Blue, those two songs are from her Blue album. If you are feeling old and wise, try Both Sides Now.

Basically, that was what I did when I stumbled upon her music, I started from easy to sophisticated, song to song, to the point that I choose each of her album for each phase of my life. So, try that if you could, and after that, whether you are into her music or not, it will be your call.

Last but not least, one thing I want to share is about my past music taste, I loved mainstream pop songs, I loved the so called diva level singers with their sharp melodic voices. But now, they are much like confetti seen on TV set, nothing but a bunch of high pitched screamers slapping their colorful shiny boobs and asses around. Things change, time flies, and I’m glad that I get to know a bit about Joni and her music.

Ciao.