Another very well done episode 👏🏻 I've cherished this album since it came out. I agree that the version of Woodstock is better than Joni's. I happened to be in the US that summer of 1969 visiting my father. Before I left I asked him if it would be possible to postpone my flight to Amsterdam so I could go to the Woodstock festival. But the flight was a charter and there was no way to have another date planned. But shortly after taking to the air the pilot told us to look down and there was the Woodstock festival going on. An enormous mass of people in the countryside. I didn't attend but I was there (in a way). Then in 2018 I got my last chance to hear David Crosby live as he was performing at the Once in a Blue Moon Festival in Amsterdam. At the end of this episode you showed how David Crosby played with a band of young musicians and showed a foto of the lineup. This was exactly the same band that I saw in Amsterdam. His performance was very good and they also performed the song Woodstock. Beautiful.
This week flew by quick, it is Friday again. Another interesting and informative video. You are multi-talented and I believe you have a very bright future!! I look forward to seeing where your journey takes you!
What a great deep dive into the song that introed me to Joni back in 1970... I heard it while camping with dzns of other hippies up MillCreek near BigSur (Cali) while tripping on (good) acid. I was immediately blown away, and have loved Joni as my fav singer/songwriter/musician ever since! Nonetheless, your analysis of the CSNY version is (academically at least!) quite accurate, and I loved going for this ride with you!!! New subber
I've got one more thing to say, @@fathommusicnz. The fact that you watched Woodstock for months on end as a 14 yr old?!? You obviously grokked&loved the '60s counterculture in full, yrs after events I lived thru! So yesterday afternoon, I streamed the film for the first time in yrs, inspired by your vid!!!
I've seen Joni tell this story a couple times. In the mid 1970's John Lennon was estranged from Yoko, in Los Angeles and recording an album. By then CSNY and others had covered Joni's songs and she was becoming well known but she hadn't had a big hit on her own. She was recording her new album at the same studio as John Lennon. They met and one of the things John said was, "Why do you let everybody have your hits for you?" You should see her light up and laugh when she tells that story. I don't know if John influenced her but the album she was recording was Court & Spark. ruclips.net/video/7Sa1KJdfoDE/видео.htmlsi=QlAVq22KDf4qBCc5 So... the lyrics. "We are star dust". That is TRUE. We are made of the atoms that result from supernovas. ruclips.net/video/pXn9JHMzvY0/видео.htmlsi=iElX8TsdlC5uuvth I was in my early teens and I can tell you those lyrics DO catch the feelings and and outlooks of the counter culture at the time.
Carry On matches it as a performance for me but yeah the imagery and melody is so strong in Mitchell's song. The power in the CSNY version does it dissipate the haunted quality that Joni's has? Her version, musically, is spell like: that meandering keyboard entry, a sense of a great event that is also just a dream ( I can't really escape the feeling of terror that the bombers evoke). I'm responding to a sense of ambiguity in her song which the music invokes, in my reading I think, a twilight of the 60's vibe maybe. Deja Vu is a monster of an album tougher than the debut. A union of musicians where the possibility of implosion was never far away. Liked the way you deconstructed the song like the talented musician you are.
Hmm, really good question! I don't think the CSNY version detracts in any way from Joni's, but rather is a completely removed retelling - I think this is a mark of a good cover. Anyone can emulate, but to make someone else's song your own is a real skill. I love your description of her version, though, you're right; it does evoke a sort of fever-dream feeling. I also appreciate the "twilight of the '60s" comment; again, it's a re-envisioning of a truly momentous decade. Carry On was my second choice, and it was very difficult to make a decision between the two. The album truly is a monster. I think it may be deserving of a little more attention, now that I think about it.
@@fathommusicnz wrote this: "I don't think the CSNY version detracts in any way from Joni's, but rather is a completely removed retelling - I think this is a mark of a good cover. Anyone can emulate, but to make someone else's song your own is a real skill." That is a great description of what makes a good (fantastic) cover. Here is a link to what is probably my favorite cover ever (Paul Simon doing his amazing retelling of "Surfer Girl" from a show honoring the Beach Boys back in 2001. ruclips.net/video/sXHsARkfDbw/видео.html I'd love to hear your thoughts on Paul's version.
@@fathommusicnz wrote this: "I love your description of her version, though, you're right; it does evoke a sort of fever-dream feeling. I also appreciate the "twilight of the '60s" comment; again, it's a re-envisioning of a truly momentous decade." I agree. Some excellent points in your comment, Alan.
I defer to no one in my adoration for Joni Mitchell...BUT, you're right, it's the CSNY version that is definitive. It's the only instance I can think of of someone singing a Joni Mitchell song better than Joni Mitchell (aside from the Judy Collins version of "Both Sides Now", which is a tie). Similarly, there is only one instance of anyone singing a Hank Williams song better than Hank Williams: the B.J. Thomas version of "I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry"
Oh, I just realized when you put the album cover up that the one that I had in my room as a kid was brown and sortof leather-textured. I wonder was it a special release?
3:50 Your commentary on the lyrics was excellent... full and nicely descriptive. 7:11 Your comparison of this version and Joni's version was nicely done - and I agree with your pov. But we need to celebrate Joni being inspired to write the song. 9:08 "This song opens with loud, snarling guitars - obnoxiously over driven." - (Perfectly over driven - would be my description) ; ) 9:50 "More importantly - it's got a groove. Joni's version doesn't have any sort of rhythmic basis, any rhythmic foundation. The rhythmic foundation is 90% of the song for me. Maybe 70%." Just though you would want to know... it's 72% for me. 10:05 I absolutely LOVED how you laughed at yourself - for your very physical description (fist thrusts and vocalization) of the rhythmic foundation. 10:14 "See that groove. I'm doing my best to translate sound - into a visual." Bravo! Very well done. 10:27 You compare & contrast of the vocal delivery style of the two - and how Stiils gave his version so much rhythmic life. - Yes, absolutely. 12:20 "Backing vocals!" Your miming performance of those backing vocals deserves an award. Magnificent! 13:32 "Stephen Stills isn't singing the melody of every verse exactly the same way. He's giving every line the time and respect, and attention - that it deserves. So every single line of the song - tells a different story." 14:06 Backing vocals on the last verse - "Fantastic harmony singing by Graham Nash there. God, he has a LOT of power in the upper reaches of his vocals." Your enthusiasm for each particular thing that you love... is just so very entertaining to watch. 14:31-15:02 ("Which makes it groove.") 15:03-15:31 ("Ahh, ahh - Whay a GREAT song. Just makes you feel so good!") 15:32-16:01 ("It's Stephen Stills and ALL his friends, sucker!" "And then, BAM - there they are - right in your face.") "Goodbye, hippies. Enjoy your trips." 17:52 "Oh, I just realized I forgot to put this up here the whole episode. Pretend this has been here the whole time." Oooops - now you have to re-do the entire video.....
Stephen Stills is often underrated as a guitarist. Neil Young thought very highly of him, and they are great together. Their styles are completely different, yet somehow they produce something better playing the same song than either does alone. For a period piece, I recommend to the viewer a live performance of “For What It’s Worth/Mr.Soul” by the Buffalo Springfield.”
Not sure you will see a ten month comment. Since you are a Beatles nerd did you know the following? The Beatles turned down CSN on their new label, Apple Records? The rumor was the John said no. All four Beatles had to agree to sign an act to their new label. Paul has joked about it saying that CSN played all of these hit songs that the Beatles listened to and rejected. I guess it shows that even the Beatles can’t get everything right. I always wonder if Brian had not died and become the manager of Apple if things would have turned out differently. For CSN it ended up the best thing, not being attached to Apple Records.
![Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Live At Fillmore East, 1969 (2024 Mix) [Full Album]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/sy_ACh-R1-o/mqdefault.jpg)
![Megan Thee Stallion - Bigger In Texas [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QxTkZTLWdo4/mqdefault.jpg)
I am one of 31 people to have liked your video. I am grateful to be among them. Thank you.
71 now
Another very well done episode 👏🏻
I've cherished this album since it came out. I agree that the version of Woodstock is better than Joni's.
I happened to be in the US that summer of 1969 visiting my father. Before I left I asked him if it would be possible to postpone my flight to Amsterdam so I could go to the Woodstock festival. But the flight was a charter and there was no way to have another date planned. But shortly after taking to the air the pilot told us to look down and there was the Woodstock festival going on. An enormous mass of people in the countryside. I didn't attend but I was there (in a way).
Then in 2018 I got my last chance to hear David Crosby live as he was performing at the Once in a Blue Moon Festival in Amsterdam.
At the end of this episode you showed how David Crosby played with a band of young musicians and showed a foto of the lineup. This was exactly the same band that I saw in Amsterdam. His performance was very good and they also performed the song Woodstock. Beautiful.
I grew on Woodstock Street in Arlington Virginia. My dad worked at the Pentagon, the family business was "bomber death planes"😂
This week flew by quick, it is Friday again. Another interesting and informative video. You are multi-talented and I believe you have a very bright future!! I look forward to seeing where your journey takes you!
Thank you very much! 🙂
What a great deep dive into the song that introed me to Joni back in 1970... I heard it while camping with dzns of other hippies up MillCreek near BigSur (Cali) while tripping on (good) acid. I was immediately blown away, and have loved Joni as my fav singer/songwriter/musician ever since!
Nonetheless, your analysis of the CSNY version is (academically at least!) quite accurate, and I loved going for this ride with you!!! New subber
Love the story! Thank you for sharing.
I've got one more thing to say, @@fathommusicnz.
The fact that you watched Woodstock for months on end as a 14 yr old?!? You obviously grokked&loved the '60s counterculture in full, yrs after events I lived thru!
So yesterday afternoon, I streamed the film for the first time in yrs, inspired by your vid!!!
Excellent as always!
I've seen Joni tell this story a couple times. In the mid 1970's John Lennon was estranged from Yoko, in Los Angeles and recording an album. By then CSNY and others had covered Joni's songs and she was becoming well known but she hadn't had a big hit on her own. She was recording her new album at the same studio as John Lennon. They met and one of the things John said was, "Why do you let everybody have your hits for you?" You should see her light up and laugh when she tells that story. I don't know if John influenced her but the album she was recording was Court & Spark. ruclips.net/video/7Sa1KJdfoDE/видео.htmlsi=QlAVq22KDf4qBCc5
So... the lyrics. "We are star dust". That is TRUE. We are made of the atoms that result from supernovas. ruclips.net/video/pXn9JHMzvY0/видео.htmlsi=iElX8TsdlC5uuvth
I was in my early teens and I can tell you those lyrics DO catch the feelings and and outlooks of the counter culture at the time.
I love this story!
What an astonishing in-depth analysis of "Woodstock". Impressive job!
Yes I still have that - it survived my major clear-out of vinyl years back. Never play it; RUclips is a wonderful resource!
Just found, just subscribed, just awesome!
Thank you, and welcome!
Carry On matches it as a performance for me but yeah the imagery and melody is so strong in Mitchell's song. The power in the CSNY version does it dissipate the haunted quality that Joni's has? Her version, musically, is spell like: that meandering keyboard entry, a sense of a great event that is also just a dream ( I can't really escape the feeling of terror that the bombers evoke).
I'm responding to a sense of ambiguity in her song which the music invokes, in my reading I think, a twilight of the 60's vibe maybe. Deja Vu is a monster of an album tougher than the debut. A union of musicians where the possibility of implosion was never far away.
Liked the way you deconstructed the song like the talented musician you are.
Hmm, really good question! I don't think the CSNY version detracts in any way from Joni's, but rather is a completely removed retelling - I think this is a mark of a good cover. Anyone can emulate, but to make someone else's song your own is a real skill. I love your description of her version, though, you're right; it does evoke a sort of fever-dream feeling. I also appreciate the "twilight of the '60s" comment; again, it's a re-envisioning of a truly momentous decade.
Carry On was my second choice, and it was very difficult to make a decision between the two. The album truly is a monster. I think it may be deserving of a little more attention, now that I think about it.
@@fathommusicnz Cool. I think Stephen Stills is a great rock blues singer.
@@alanclayton9277 Agreed! For a twenty-something, he had the whiskey-soaked rasp of a much older man.
@@fathommusicnz wrote this: "I don't think the CSNY version detracts in any way from Joni's, but rather is a completely removed retelling - I think this is a mark of a good cover. Anyone can emulate, but to make someone else's song your own is a real skill."
That is a great description of what makes a good (fantastic) cover. Here is a link to what is probably my favorite cover ever (Paul Simon doing his amazing retelling of "Surfer Girl" from a show honoring the Beach Boys back in 2001. ruclips.net/video/sXHsARkfDbw/видео.html
I'd love to hear your thoughts on Paul's version.
@@fathommusicnz wrote this: "I love your description of her version, though, you're right; it does evoke a sort of fever-dream feeling. I also appreciate the "twilight of the '60s" comment; again, it's a re-envisioning of a truly momentous decade."
I agree. Some excellent points in your comment, Alan.
I defer to no one in my adoration for Joni Mitchell...BUT, you're right, it's the CSNY version that is definitive. It's the only instance I can think of of someone singing a Joni Mitchell song better than Joni Mitchell (aside from the Judy Collins version of "Both Sides Now", which is a tie). Similarly, there is only one instance of anyone singing a Hank Williams song better than Hank Williams: the B.J. Thomas version of "I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry"
Oh, I just realized when you put the album cover up that the one that I had in my room as a kid was brown and sortof leather-textured. I wonder was it a special release?
Mine's too. It was a brown sleeve. They should have kept the same original color.
3:50 Your commentary on the lyrics was excellent... full and nicely descriptive.
7:11 Your comparison of this version and Joni's version was nicely done - and I agree with your pov. But we need to celebrate Joni being inspired to write the song.
9:08 "This song opens with loud, snarling guitars - obnoxiously over driven." - (Perfectly over driven - would be my description) ; )
9:50 "More importantly - it's got a groove. Joni's version doesn't have any sort of rhythmic basis, any rhythmic foundation. The rhythmic foundation is 90% of the song for me. Maybe 70%."
Just though you would want to know... it's 72% for me.
10:05 I absolutely LOVED how you laughed at yourself - for your very physical description (fist thrusts and vocalization) of the rhythmic foundation.
10:14 "See that groove. I'm doing my best to translate sound - into a visual." Bravo! Very well done.
10:27 You compare & contrast of the vocal delivery style of the two - and how Stiils gave his version so much rhythmic life. - Yes, absolutely.
12:20 "Backing vocals!" Your miming performance of those backing vocals deserves an award. Magnificent!
13:32 "Stephen Stills isn't singing the melody of every verse exactly the same way. He's giving every line the time and respect, and attention - that it deserves. So every single line of the song - tells a different story."
14:06 Backing vocals on the last verse - "Fantastic harmony singing by Graham Nash there. God, he has a LOT of power in the upper reaches of his vocals."
Your enthusiasm for each particular thing that you love... is just so very entertaining to watch. 14:31-15:02 ("Which makes it groove.") 15:03-15:31 ("Ahh, ahh - Whay a GREAT song. Just makes you feel so good!") 15:32-16:01 ("It's Stephen Stills and ALL his friends, sucker!" "And then, BAM - there they are - right in your face.")
"Goodbye, hippies. Enjoy your trips."
17:52 "Oh, I just realized I forgot to put this up here the whole episode. Pretend this has been here the whole time."
Oooops - now you have to re-do the entire video.....
You're right. 72% is the perfect amount.
Thanks, as always, for your breakdown! 😀
Who gave it the 'groove'? Crosby, Stills, Nash or Young?
'Everybody' has covered "Woodstock"? No, actually a tiny % have.
Stephen Stills is often underrated as a guitarist. Neil Young thought very highly of him, and they are great together. Their styles are completely different, yet somehow they produce something better playing the same song than either does alone.
For a period piece, I recommend to the viewer a live performance of “For What It’s Worth/Mr.Soul” by the Buffalo Springfield.”
I'll take a good number of Young's solo performances on guitar as much as he and Stills together.
Not sure you will see a ten month comment. Since you are a Beatles nerd did you know the following? The Beatles turned down CSN on their new label, Apple Records? The rumor was the John said no. All four Beatles had to agree to sign an act to their new label. Paul has joked about it saying that CSN played all of these hit songs that the Beatles listened to and rejected. I guess it shows that even the Beatles can’t get everything right. I always wonder if Brian had not died and become the manager of Apple if things would have turned out differently. For CSN it ended up the best thing, not being attached to Apple Records.
I heard it was George who rejected. That's what Graham says anyway.