Beloved music icon, Joni Mitchell appeared on stage for the first time in almost a decade at the 2022 MusiCares’ 2022 Person of the Year benefit gala, at which Mitchell was awarded the prestigious honour. Previous recipients include rock legends Aerosmith and country queen, Dolly Parton.
Mitchell wasn’t officially scheduled to perform at the event but was enticed onstage by an all-star lineup, including Brandi Carlile, Cyndi Lauper, Stephen Stills, Beck and more, for a rousing rendition of her seminal 1970 hit Big Yellow Taxi.
Carlile, Stills and Batiste served as the night’s artistic directors, with Batiste delivering an opening speech, saying, “When I heard that Joni was named Person of the Year, I knew I wanted to be involved in a meaningful way. Brandi and I worked with the producers to paint a beautiful picture of poetry and music through Joni’s eyes.”
See the heartwarming performance, below
Joni Mitchell MusiCares Tribute 2022 | ‘Big Yellow Taxi’
Mitchell has remained mostly absent from public life, since suffering a brain aneurysm in 2015 that affected her speech and mobility. However, in recent years she has made some special public appearances, including last year’s Kennedy Center Honors, where she was handed a lifetime achievement award, and at the 2022 Grammys, where she won Best Historical Album for Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963–1967).
Her performance of the anthemic hit, Big Yellow Taxi live at the BBC studios back in 1970 is one of Joni's greatest performances caught on tape – enjoy below!
READ MORE: REMEMBERING JONI MITCHELL’S CAPTIVATING 'BIG YELLOW TAXI' LIVE ON BBC IN 1970
Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971) arrived on vinyl last year. The extensive release features a number of live performances from the era, including a live album from Carnegie Hall in 1969, a recording of her The Dick Cavett Show appearance in 1969, two BBC sessions from 1970 and more. Get Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971), here.
GET JONI MITCHELL ALBUMS, HERE.
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