Quote:
Originally Posted by Somajoseph
I dont agree. Joni was just so arrogant. I remember reading a Rolling Stone cover story on her in the late seventies-what a crock. You guys think Stevie took herself seriously. She had nothing on Joni!
Short lived is right. Stevie has outlasted her in all ways. At 63, she just released her most amazing music-while being true to herself-and is still performing onstage.
Joni? She looks like someone's retired grandmother!
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I really think any attempt at any comparison between Stevie and Joni is utterly futile. It's just like comparing giraffes with Mini Coopers; there is just no rhyme or reason. Yes, Joni has come across judgmental and downright bitter in interviews, but she has also been pretty much spot on in terms of her views on politics and justice; her lyrics have been eerily prescient. One thing you can't deny is that Joni has always spoken her mind and has never bowed down to peer pressure or political correctness. She has never played the system and she has never done anything that even remotely resembles "selling out" (okay, I will conveniently cast my gaze away from
Chalkmark in a Rainstorm for the moment). I also hold Stevie in high regard for her integrity as an artist; however, I do get the sense that she is always "treading with gossamer wings" in order to maintain her aura of tranquility. And that pretty much explains why Stevie has never ever said a political thing in her life (publicly, that is).
But strictly in terms of comparing career metrics, Joni has, by far, had a much longer and more prolific solo career than Stevie. Joni's first and last studio albums were released 38 years apart, which is identical to Stevie's first/last album spread (counting her band/duo albums). However, Joni has released 18 studio albums (one of them double) plus a smattering of live albums and compilations. Stevie has only released 7 studio albums and one-third of another 7 albums with Fleetwood Mac and half of BN. The breadth of Joni's career is more staggering as well - from folk to pop to rock to jazz to standards, versus Stevie's pop-country-rock sound. I am not downplaying Stevie's greatness at all. My point is that nobody can say that Joni hasn't had a phenomenally long, prolific, rewarding career.