Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi | REACTION

[WonjiDharma]

Hey Jamel, Joni recorded this in 1970, so the song is 50 years old, by the way it's Joni's 77th Birthday today.

[bgrigg]

Fun facts:
The Led Zeppelin lyric "Going To California with an aching in my heart, Someone told me there's a girl out there, With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair" is about Joni. The Crosby Stills Nash & Young song "Our House" is the Laurel Canyon house that Graham Nash and her shared, and was where Led Zeppelin was heading. Dylan's "Tangled up in Blue" is about listening to Joni's "Blue" album. She really did stoke the star making machinery!

[maryscaggsdane]

Happy 77th Birthday to Joni Mitchell!! 🎂🎶❤

[J_Gamble]

She was 27 when this came out. That "pink hotel" in the song is said to be a reference to the famous (and pink) the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu. They have a tree museum around there too :( the Foster Botanical garden

[sampsonsimpson]

Also check out “Both Sides Now”, “Coyote” and “California” by Joni Mitchell

[Robbyrool]

Yes, her music IS timeless. Joni is the GOAT.

[alanwhetstone]

Joni is the real deal singer song writer

[Bad_Wolf_Media]

"They took all the trees and put 'em in a tree museum. They charged the people a dollar and a half to see 'em."

That line has always hit hard.

[colleenmahony]

For contrast, listen to "Both Sides Now" as she recorded it as a young woman, then watch her performance of it at the Olympics in 2010 as an older woman. Just stunning and touching.

[dannybaseball]

Saw Joni live when this song came out. Height of the Hippie days. Just an angel on stage. Great to see a new generation fall in love with her voice.

[garysmathers]

Her voice goes straight to your heart. Leaves me shaking my head every time she sings. She must have been in her 20's.

[katemarshall]

hi - Joni's from the Canadian prairies and her whole thing reflects growing up in the wide open spaces. she used to lie in the tall grasses and watch the clouds. she started singing in little family pancake restaurants. I heard her in a great interview on CBC radio once - she laughed about how she sang, when younger, 'like I was on helium!'
she also compared fame in NYC vs LA: liked NY, folks would shout across the street 'hey Joni! loved yr last album!', but hated it in LA, where people would gasp when they recognized her. she said she wanted to run a mile in the opposite direction, that nobody should gasp at meeting another human being. just a simple prairie girl, our Joni.

[grammasscotsgirl]

Ahhh, Joni. Wonderful woman from my home province. I met the woman accidently in a local restaurant 20+ years ago, she was sitting with one of my profs. We were sitting with her and this song came over the speakers of the restaurant - and we all just looked at each other and laughed. She was fascinating telling stories (and yes, she was quite young when this song was recorded.) She asked me who my favourite all time singer was and I said "Sorry, Ms. Joni, I love you but I have to say it is Buffy St. Marie." She grinned and said "I love Buffy! I don't blame you at all!"

[TracyfromNC]

You heard the Counting Crows version in the early 2000s I'd bet.

[BoojumFed]

Also, the 'Big Yellow Taxi' that takes away her old man refers to all the young men getting drafted and sent over to 'Nam.
...Don't know what you've got 'till it's gone.

[alanwhetstone]

It does my heart good to see you get so happy when you figure out that you know a song and are happy to put a face or a name to a song

[thehound]

Thankfully the world will forever know this fantastic human.

[walterpanovs]

Check out her version of "Both Sides Now" which became a classic hit when recorded by Judy Collins in 1968.

[MrWheeler]

When my kids were small enough to ride in car seats, I would play this while driving them around. "Again, daddy, play it again." Even four year olds get Joni Mitchell.

[monicabogan]

you done did it - one of my favorite songs/artists of all time!