I cried so many times watching this. She is the embodiment of creativity and muse. Grounded in reality like most humans never experience and has the ability to crystalize life and nature into song. She is simply singular in this regard.

Joni, the singer, the composer, the lyricist, the poet, the psychologist, the musician, the arranger, the producer, the painter, the artist .... The GREATEST of the greats bar none.

I’ve been a professional musician for 50 years. When I was a teenager I wanted to be the male Joni Mitchell. And I’m dead serious about that! She is a tremendous force of nature and a contradiction in every meaning of the word. She chain smokes incessantly, often having more than one cigarette going at a time. Friends of mine have spent time in her house and have said that every square inch of her home is painted by Joni. Every doorway, every window frame, everything A glorious adornment of color and all of it six or seven shades darker as it’s covered in tobacco smoke stain. Passionate and loving and intelligent and articulate, seriously independent, and fierce in the best meaning of the word, and yet extraordinarily bitter and hateful towards the music industry. And who can blame her? The music industry is formalized rape and pillage and they should all be swallowed up into one of Dante‘s circles of hell. But then she straps on the guitar. And she steps up to the microphone. And even now, wizened and old and bitter and somewhat hateful at more than a little crazy she sings our dreams back to us with a voice not like angels but more like God. And now she has MS and she can no longer really play all those guitars with all those different tunings. For a time she played a Parker Fly guitar that Ken custom made for her. And she ran it through, I believe it was a Korg product, that changed the tuning of the guitar. Because she used to go out on the road with three guitar techs and 20 guitars and she was just too weak to do that anymore. I hope she lives to be 500 years old, but most of all my wish for Joni Mitchell is for her to feel at peace and know that she is respected and deeply loved by regular working men and women all over the world. Because after all, we are all on that lonely road, traveling, traveling, traveling….

She didn't want taylor swift playing her, she barely knows who taylor swift is. She didn't want a docudrama made about her life. For these few things I respect her. Plus she's an awesome singer.

This brought tears to my eyes. Joni’s music was the background of my 20s. I’m in my 70s now and her songs are still the background of my life.

Those of us who TRY to write songs are simply amazed, intimidated but most important, inspired to grab the pen again!!! Thank you Joni Mitchell. Phil Redo

I know everyone here knows it, but she seriously is the greatest artist ever. Nobody else can do all she has done. Sing, play, write and compose. Her talents truly blow my mind

What I see is a woman who has stayed true to herself and her art.

A beautiful, adorable woman, called by God out of the cold woods of Canada to show us our own dreams.

Joni Mitchel lived and wrote and sang in the moment. Her moment was relevant then and relevant now for those of us who are able to listen. It's because some things never change. A steadfast voice in times that seemed to change a lot but really, only underscored and maybe exaggerated the eternal.

I've been a musician my whole life. Joni is a genius like no one else. No one.

I thought I knew Joni and her work. I had no idea. I am overcome with tears at the beauty and honesty of her life and music. Joni, I love you, 40 years of beautiful music, and I never understood until today. Respect.

Joni's music is not dated. It remains fresh with every hearing. Every song seems to have something new to say each time I hear it. Great talent, Great Spirit. Thank you Joni.

I really don't know where to start with this artist. I have been listening to her for 50 years now and I hear something new every time. Her voice -- moving from the angelic, chirp ingenue of the '60s, to the folk-rock, rock and then deep-throated jazz of the late '70s -- is just mesmerizing. She has a tone and quality that is incomparable. She has a vibrato that has an ethereal quality about it. Then there is her guitar playing. I'm a jazz guitar guy. But Joni has had a big influence on my playing. Her voicings (she apparently has over 50 alternate tunings) are incredibly unique. Then there is her songwriting. Her ability to weave lyrics and melody are groundbreaking in every genre that she has pursued. If she had done nothing more than write the lyrics she would have been a genius. Take the lyrics to any song -- Woodstock, A Case of You, Amelia -- any song at all, and read it aloud. It's Shakespearian. How she has not been awarded a Nobel or Pulitzer for literature is baffling.

It's high time that they made a biographical documentary worthy of 'our' Joni, and this is it!

!:21:49 "Basically the reason I am so unruly in this business is because I never wanted to be a human juke box" Wonderful lady...years ahead of her time....

How FORTUNATE was I to grow up with this...our music is a true representation of our society...I'll say no more.

Guitarists, pianist, composer,poet,songwriter,lyricist and painter. No one like her.

Joni Mitchell is first and foremost an ARTIST, and it expresses itself through every medium she engages with - her voice, her vocal line, guitar chords and string patterns, texts, imagery, nuances of rhyme and metre, her paints, abstraction and texture. She is the ear, eye, heart and voice that feels so deeply beyond all thought of anything external or material - it is all internal and intuitive with the boundless courage and fearlessness to turn her inside world outside and share it with whomever would listen. She is a gift to our generation.

What a complex woman. She developed a unique style that she carried from folk to jazz, a poet and a naked soul. Where some might sing a single syllable word with a note, Joni has six notes for that one word, and makes you savor every single one of them. She is a modern treasure. I hope that Graham is right, and that she will be strong enough to share with us again soon. So many contemporary women could learn from Joni what it means to sing.

A universal voice. She speaks for every woman of heart and mind, and every man who's been out sailing in a decade full of dreams, and that surely is all of us. No other artist does that like Joni.

I find myself overwhelmed with emotion when listening to Joni. Her music cuts deep into my soul. I’m refreshed. My spirit soars. I feel reborn. Thank you Joni.

Why does noone ever talk about her guitar playing - tunings and picking - her ear is impeccable and so precise.

My dream in the 60's was to have Joni play at my wedding, Then I wanted to name my daughter Chelsea after Chelsea Morning, Then when I die.. I want the Circle Game to play at my memorial service. Joni has meant everything to me for almost 50 years.. I still listen to her albums when I'm feeling emotional

Bless you Joni, You stood when all others fell for ir....sold out for it....sold their soul for it....God Love you.

Graham Nash's description of falling for Joni - so beautiful! He still loves her...

A singular artist. There's really no one you can compare her to, female or male.

I saw Joni in 1976 At the Music Hall in Boston.when she was with the Rolling Thunder Review that had Dylan, Baez, and an all star cast of RR musians. I forgot them all, but Joni absolutely stole the show. What a performance! Joni was part of the soundtrack of my youth. I love her dearly.

When I first heard "Blue" I was gut-shot, I NEVER had heard and even now never hear such brutal heart wrenching honesty in an album by ANYBODY !

Searching for musicians of my youth like Crosby, Stills and Nash or Carly Simon I came across this documentary. It was four o'clock in the morning but I was so fascinated, that I could not stop watching. Thank you, Joni, for being a small part of me... Steffen from South West Germany

I appreciate this documentary, I played her music on my piano thinking I wanted to become a musician, but went on to design clothing. Drugs in that in the industry drove me out and into nursing and now I'm into watercolor painting. Wonderful how life flows on... I respect Joni and her music, original and fun!

No ear pieces here, just flawless music and inspired words. Amazing metaphors, jumping off the page and smoothly forming such beautiful images....

When we were young we knew all the words to every song Joni Mitchell composed & sang. She was a tremendous influence in my late teens and early to mid 20's. She helped me navigate and define my sweetest loves and greatest heartbreaks. She gave a voice to many of my deepest thoughts. Love her to this day. Thank you, Joni for getting me through such tender ages! Case of You, River and Willie, For Free - some of my faves. "Ohhh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on....."

she’s a genius of music, fortunate enough to hear and love her music since the 60’s, I am blessed.

The beauty & authenticity of her catalogue is unparalleled. Forever grateful. She is both loth lotus flower & chameleon. Thanks to Joni, and to the makers of this film.

thank God for Joni she's amazing ..a true Artist and a great influence over me I grew up in a Musical Family all I knew was the Organ Piano Violin Clarinet and 2 rusty Guitars I was writing songs before I met her records at 15 ..but I was like hanging on for dear life when I heard her for the first time ....

I'm crying. I love this amazing woman so much. She's a genius, she deserve the Nobel price. I don't care what everyone thinks, she deserves it, she's unique.

Joni Mitchell for me was and is strength and beauty and she is otherworldly. . Her art and life are stellar. I’ve loved her my whole life.

I'm ashamed to say it has taken all of 44 years of life for me to finally wake up and appreciate the calming sound that is Joni Mitchell. In my life, I put her up there with Helen Reddy as the women whose singing voices never fail to calm the nerves for me. What a legend!

One of the greatest of all time. Her music never ever grows old. It is never dated. What is most under appreciated was her genius as arranger and composer. She did it all. So many legendary musicians wanted to play with her.

One, if not the one, -greatest contemporary female singer song-writers and instrumentalists of three decades at least.1967-1997! Thank you, Joni Mitchell!

She is a true poet and explorer. Her beauty if pervasive. Her music will live forever and be relevant.

No one better than Joni Mitchell.... Unbelievably wonderful! I've looked at life from BOTH SIDES NOW! thanks to Joni...

This girl was so talented, so brilliant, so beautiful. But that's what it's like with a flippin' genius of this calibre. Everything about her shawn with exuberance. How wonderful it is so much information about her is documented forever and ever. Love to the great Joni .

She's done so much music since the 60s. Great music and her level of both songwriting and musicianship keeps getting higher. Thank you Joni Mitchell. God Bless you always.

I was blessed by the music GODS when I saw her live in concert!!! Thank u Joni for being on this planet for u to share your artistry! You are the real deal...

Life's always been heartfelt with Joni. You embraced Detroit. What a gift.

She was an explosion,a gushing out of expression, feelings,life,pain,darkness,light, love,words,colours, poetry,music,intelligence,beauty,soul,natural, performer,storyteller,and Irish blood!

This made me cry in the end as she found her daughter after all those years without her, i was at her Isle of White performance in 1970 and my first son was born the year before but I didn't live with his mother anymore and saw him once when he was 19 and then not again till he was 40,I lived abroad for 31 years but Joni's music has been with me all that time she is an inspiration, and to see her so happy at meeting her daughter was precious.I have just been in hospital and had 3 operations which my doctor and surgeon are amazed i survived,and my son and I talk or message every day he's now 51 I am 72 and still love all of Joni Mitchell's songs and listen to her regularly and I guess she is living through this pandemic lockdown and hope she is near her daughter and grandchildren. She is unique in my humble opinion.sorry to go on but I had to write something,thank you Joni for all those wonderful songs

Uh yeah she cuts right to your soul in her music and man those paintings make me want to start painting. Geez are they good. My brother loved Joni Mitchell and he got me listening to her .

A great documentary on Joni's influences on us and the world, with her unique music, like no other. I discovered her music at about the time that the Court and Spark album was released, near my 20th birthday, and I couldn't help then to just buying up every prior album of hers, and then every next album that released after it. I soon met my wife to be, and eventually found that she too had also purchased the Court and Spark album. I became even more interested at the time of Joni's next album, The Hissing of Summer Lawns, showing her sudden heavy increase in a sophisticated Jazz influence, as my wife and I eventually attended her 1979 tour concert, where she featured many numbers from that album and the Hejira album in the concert. Her next album Hejira, I realized with the first tracks I heard on local FM radio in Portland Oregon where I still reside in my hometown today, especially the title track to that album, nearly knocked me to the ground, and brought me to tears. Who could not relate to what she's talking about on a solo road trip by oneself in such loneliness. The expression of existentialism in that albums title song still today, I now identify with the famous line by an ancient philosopher, I think it's Socrates - the unexamined life is not worth living. When I hear that title track to that album still today I have the same reaction as it personally hits me hard about my solo West Coast Pacific thousand plus miles road trips every winter to California. I was pleasantly surprised to see a music writer from NPR radio appear at 1:07:14 on the time bar, Tom Manoff. I accidentally, and ironically, ran into him almost 20 years ago, as he was travelling through the east side of Portland Oregon one night and had stopped at a 24-hour coffee house near my home where I had a large telescope set up allowing the public to observe celestial objects through it, which I've provided this public service for thousands of hours ever since taking a 10,000 mile cross country road trip, with a solar research grade telescope in 2000. I later spoke about this on National Public Radio on their Talk of the Nation discussion on March 14th of 2005, I believe this was a few years after I spoke to Tom Manoff. Manoff was writing a story about Johannes Kepler, the famous astronomer, and he had told me he wanted to make me famous about what I was doing for the public. I think I explained to him that I'd already been in the newspapers across the nation, spoke on television news, and had a brush with fame being over-publicized about my self-initiated sidewalk astronomy for the past several years. So I was pleasantly surprised in this documentary on Joni Mitchell when she admitted that she didn't like being put up on a pedestal and others trying to over publicize her into excessive fame. As I spoke that first time on NPR's Talk of the Nation on March 14th 2005, they were discussing the famous Andy Warhol line, that everybody will be famous for 15 minutes. I was the second caller to call in. I told the story about the 10,000 mile road trip I made across the nation, and into Eastern Canada, borrowing my local astronomy clubs hydrogen-alpha solar research grade telescope to allow thousands to observe the sun safely through it, but that my own local club rather persecuted me when I returned home, as some people in the club claimed I was just doing this to become famous in the news. This NPR Talk of the Nation discussions can be accessed through their archives to review it, by date and title - The 16th Minute of Short-lived Fame, is a book title and the author they interviewed about it. What is shocking is toward the end of this 35 minute discussion at about the 20 minute point on the time bar, they bring on a Doctor of psychology that describes a condition of what fame can do to some people. I was quite sorrowed to hear when Joni had suffered her brain aneurysm in about 2015, and hospitalized for so long. I see where she eventually appeared to receive the Les Paul guitar award about a year ago and she was escorted by Herbie Hancock to the stage to receive it, as she struggled to speak briefly, to express her thanks. I hope she is still improving and doing better. There's talk that she wants to try to perform again if she's eventually able to. I think now more than ever for the public to see her perform again, could save the world.

I was a local hot sh*t R&B guitar player, then a buddy said listen to this man, it was the Blue album, I was stunned this ' was the most honest heart rending thing I had ever heard in my entire life.

Joni Mitchell was just apart of my life. It was like driving down the same streets and doing the dishes, she was just just apart of everything. I adored her. She sure got me through a lot of bad moments.

I’m fascinated by the rhythm built into her lyrics and the artful intonation of her voice. No ploddy-ploddy from her. Always on a different plane of consciousness from anyone else.

Well done. I've loved her music for practically all my life. There's been no performer with such honesty and integrity.

Missing from the description: *Joni Mitchell: A Woman of Heart and Mind* _An Emmy Award winning profile of Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, and how her music evolved from personal folk into pop, jazz and avant-garde._ Written and directed by Susan Lacy. From Season 17, Episode 5 of American Masters on PBS. Originally broadcast 3rd April 2003. (It's really worth checking the other American Masters documentaries. They showcase many artists from all types of creative backgrounds). Released on DVD in 2003 with bonus interview and performance footage. #AmericanMastersPBS #jonimitchell #documentary

I grew up in the 60s. I heard Joni's singles on the radio and you know, they were pretty good and I thought she was okay. Then one night around 1976, I listened to the album Blue, from beginning to end. I was transfixed. It absolutely ripped my heart out. I suddenly understood her genius and the power of her art. She is unique, sui generis, alone in her ability to convey emotion and feelings through song.

Joni is a genius who was overlooked for many years. She is the only who writes her own songs/poems, sings them, plays them (with her ONW INVENTED TUNINGS),, and is a FABULOUS painter/artist. She is PURE genius.

Here on Joni’s 80th for another watch - I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched this doc. Every time the woman talks about I Had A King, I burst into tears. There is something about Joni… A once in a century talent. No one like her. Like a comet passing by. Bright, shining, other-worldly ❤

I grew up listening, and learning to play all of Joni’s music... one of the greatest days of my life, was getting to meet her. She was so friendly and gracious. Love you Joni... you will always be a part of me. ~V~

After watching this YT video I have a new understanding and respect for the path that Joni chose and why. I'm thankful that at age 69 I still can learn and enrich my soul. Thankfully there have been others who can light our path forward even though I'm rather late to this revelation.

she is a genius writer, poet, guitar player with her open tunnings, singer and painter...

The voice of an angel!!! Fortunate enough to have seen her in person in the 70's.

I remember, when an old buddy of mine met his soon-to-be wife ( and now have two brilliant children ! ). We were up at Mheagre Creek hot-springs, just rockin' his van and playin'' Joni's album, Blue, all night. Match made in Heaven, I think.

My blood pressure was lower by the end of this documentary.

Breathtakingly brilliant and beautiful She's incomparable.

Thank you ... I'm left feeling so disconnected from my Heart and Mind ... at the same time deeply moved by all the insight the people in this contributed ... and Joni herself.

I can remember the very first time I heard Joni, I was at summer camp in Michigan, Camp Henry. I have listened to her ever since. Her music still stirs my soul to this day. Her music is my treasure

More than anything I'd heard from my parents, or teachers, or even friends, it was her song, Down to You, that woke me to my own personal responsibility in everything I do. That song signaled the very moment I grew up. So . . . thanks for that, Joni.

I admire this woman so much . A genius musician , the alternative tuning melodies that come from who knows where? ... just genius I suppose. Changing from genre to genre to genre with such amazing artistry. She's possibly the greatest artist of the 20th Century, of any medium.

What a gift! A gift to the world. I cannot think of a more talented artist of our time... of any time.

A true artist. It makes my heart ache.

An amazingly Humble individual.

Both Sides Now was one song I learned to sing and play from my father, who taught me to play guitar when I in about 9th grade. We used to sing and play together. Miss those days......🎵🎸🎵🎸

Beyond her obvious amazing talent in so many genres, l was most surprised by how much l enjoyed listening to her collaboration with Charlie Mingus. Mitchell coul have had one of the greatest careers as a Jazz singer and musician as any other woman in the field.

I went to college for photography in 1977. Hejira and Court & Spark were my Darkroom Soundtrack.

Joni & Baez left a beautiful feeling for the rest of my life !

I'm nearly exhausted from emotions. This is a beautiful film about a ground-breaking and talented Artist . Whether or not you already Love Joni, watch this documentary.

Seriously now, ever since I heard Joni it was love at first hearing… completely hypnotized by the singular outstanding beauty of her voice and composition. Later I could pay attention to her poetry. It was all too much to take at once. She is definitively the best singer songwriter in history. Number one by far. In my taste of music it’s Joni, Crosby Stills & Nash, King Crimson and Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays. Of course, so many other contemporary artists with incredible talent and beautiful songs. But these I keep on listening all the time, never get tired of them.

It touched my whole old soul.....

This was one of the best documentaries I've ever seen. The summing up at the end was emotional. I did not realize what a very good painter she is. I also want to say that whoever wrote the string arrangement for the end version of 'Both Sides Now' wrote s gorgeous score.

What I’ve always seen is an indomitable spirit, a free, untethered natural talent.

Best documentary I have seen to date on Joni.

This is a brilliantly conceived and executed documentary. Thanks

Man, James Taylor plays so beautifully here in counter point to Joni's playing, just fantastic

Joni was a large part of the soundtrack of my life, the vulnerability of youth, the love, the loss, disappointment.. all of it. Thank you for this beautiful documentary. She is among the greatest artists of my generation. I will always love you, Joni ❤️

What a great person! I listened to her songs since the beginning in the late sixties and she accompanied me for over 6 decades and she really influenced my life here in Cologne/Germany with every song she ever recorded.

I love this documentary. Something that didn't occur to me until the third time I watched it - there's commentary by David Crosby, Graham Nash, James Taylor, and others, but nothing from the women who were Joni's contemporaries. Some commentary by Joan Baez, Judy Collins, etc. would have been interesting. Mama Cass Elliott also lived in Laurel Canyon, so some commentary from her perhaps. Judy Collins in particular, since she recorded "Clouds" before Joni had a recording contract, and her hit with that song helped launch Joni's career from the Greenwich Village coffeehouses to national and international fame. Funny that isn't mentioned in the documentary.

She is so cute, no matter what age you see her at. And her music is amazing, it hits you in your soul, and never stops seeping into your heart! LOVE YOU JONI!!!

Glad to have grown up with Joni, beginning with hearing her original version of Woodstock while communally camping on Mill Creek, Big Sur, 1970.

Joni is an amazing artist who for years created such great songs.

I love what she says about chords, that they're "depictions of emotions". I read somewhere that Django, although mostly thought of as a "lead guitarist", actually was most intrigued by chords. "Chords of inquiry", Joni calls them. I so get that.

This is an extraordinarily beautiful and heartrending documentary, about a truly brilliant and sensitive artist. A child-like honesty in an openhearted adult. Joni was blessed with so much talent, what exquisite gifts she gave us. She could have been a painter too. The music and the language is so personal and so enthralling. This artistry has deep resonance, honouring our core most personal vulnerabilities in life's journey. She succeeded in maintaining her artistic and spiritual integrity. She embodied a renaissance of the spirit, one of the great qualities of the 1960's culture.

"All I Want" Such a GREAT SONG!!! Few artists can convey happiness like this. I'm singing my way, after an ER therapy phone session, through a BAD breakup (breaking up **at least** for now). At least I have my voice. Very warm, with great range, today. A blessing. Nothing improves your range like singing with this amazing, impassioned singer-songwriter. No one like her. I don't know if she found happiness, but she made art.

she will never be forgotten. her sounds will linger on . . .

The portion about her collaboration with Charlie Mingus is so touching! The music was made for her voice!!!

I always put Joni Mitchell on when I'm on a long road trip

Wow! My heart! Such a gift, naming our whole generation, every curve and flow into now!! Infinite gratitude🙏

So glad my life has had her soundtrack of creativity woven into it. Always admired her stark honesty and self examination. A hard thing to do but its outcome is her unique, wonderful, poetic repertoire. Thanks for this film.

Wow...double WOW! what a woman and what a genius ! Love her...and hope she is well!