(Las Vegas) Joni Mitchell, the Canadian-turned-Californian, folksinger-turned-rocker-turned-jazz-explorer, was honored as the 2022 MusiCares Personality of the Year by the Recording Academy, two days before the Grammy Awards.
Posted at 3:55 p.m.
The tribute concert opened with a rendition of a medley from the album Hejira by jazz pianist and great admirer of the singer, Herbie Hancock. The tribute continued with a rock version of help me by Violet Grohl, the teenage daughter of Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, in a ballroom at MGM Grand Las Vegas.
“When I first heard Joni Mitchell, it was in 1968 and I was 15,” said Cyndi Lauper, now 68. I had never heard anyone sing so intimately about what it was like to be a young woman navigating this world. »
PHOTO MARIO ANZUONI, REUTERS
Herbie Hancock
Mme Lauper recited several of the lines from Mme Mitchell who moved her the most, before embarking on Magdalene Laundry while playing Appalachian dulcimer.
“I don’t know how you do what you do, I just know I need it like food,” Meryl Streep said in a video message released for Mme Mitchell and the crowd. “Since we were both young girls, we didn’t know each other, but you sang to me. You sang my life. »
PHOTO ANGELA WEISS, FRANCE-PRESSE AGENCY
Cyndi Lauper
Seven years after a brain aneurysm that left her temporarily unable to walk or speak, Joni Mitchell, now 78, was thrilled to be in Las Vegas and attending a major public event for the first time. since the start of the pandemic.
“I had the best margarita I’ve ever had at our hotel,” she told The Associated Press upon arriving at the event.
She is also a finalist for Best Historical Album at Sunday’s Grammys.
During the gala, Mme Mitchell would often appear on the verge of tears as a parade of artists congratulated her before giving their thoughts on her songs.
“Much like people who lived in the days of Shakespeare and Beethoven, we live in the days of Joni Mitchell, and it shows tonight,” said Brandi Carlile, who sang a version of “Woodstock.” .
Mme Carlile, who is up for 5 Grammys on Sunday, and Jon Batiste, who is up for 11, were musical directors to coordinate artists and their approaches to songs from M’s five-decade career.me Mitchell.
“We helped artists find their Joni songs, the ones that spoke to their souls,” Ms.me Carlile. It’s not easy music. It’s complicated, brilliant music that’s really hard to interpret. »
John Legend gave a surprise performance, singing and playing solo piano on “River,” on a rotating stage in the middle of the room.
PHOTO ANGELA WEISS, FRANCE-PRESSE AGENCY
John Legend
“Everyone was gorgeous, it just kept getting better and better,” Ms.me Mitchell in a brief acceptance speech near the end of the concert. I can retire now and let others carry on. »
But she showed that she was not quite ready to bow out just yet.
The hosts brought most of the evening’s artists back on stage to sing “The Circle Game” and Big Yellow Taxi.
Joni Mitchell eventually made her way to the microphone to join them, delivering the famous baritone ending to that last song.
The MusiCares Personality of the Year is a professional achievement award given for a combination of inspirational artistic achievement and philanthropy. The resulting gala raises funds for the programs of MusiCares, the Recording Academy’s charity that provides health and wellness services to musicians in need.