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Joni Mitchell — California
Album: Blue
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2600









Released: 1971
Length: 3:39
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Sitting in a park in Paris France
Reading the news and it sure looks bad
They won't give peace a chance
That was just a dream some of us had
Still a lot of lands to see
But I wouldn't want to stay here
It's too old and cold and settled in its ways here
Oh but California

California I'm coming home
I'm going to see the folks I dig
I'll even kiss a Sunset pig
California I'm coming home

I met a redneck on a Grecian isle
Who did the goat dance very well
He gave me back my smile
But he kept my camera to sell
Oh the rogue the red red rogue
He cooked good omelettes and stews
And I might have stayed on with him there
But my heart cried out for you California

Oh California I'm coming home
Oh make me feel good rock 'n' roll band
I'm your biggest fan
California I'm coming home

Oh it gets so lonely
When you're walking
And the streets are full of strangers
All the news of home you read
Just give you the blues
Just give you the blues

So I bought me a ticket
I caught a plane to Spain
Went to a party down a red dirt road
There were lots of pretty people there
Reading Rolling Stone reading Vogue
They said "How long can you hang around?"
I said a week maybe two
Just until my skin turns brown
Then I'm going home to California

California I'm coming home
Oh will you take me as I am
Strung out on another man
California I'm coming home

Oh it gets so lonely
When you're walking
And the streets are full of strangers
All the news of home you read
More about the war
And the bloody changes
Oh will you take me as I am?
Will you take me as I am?
Will you?
Comments (288)add comment
I love this album so much.
 lynn01 wrote:

how does this have any 1's?



How does this have anything below 7?
 idiot_wind wrote:


Yep.  But...I still think Court and Spark shows her at the top of  her
game. 

Everything came together on that album.  That is a near perfection of what an album should be,
As good as they are, I'll take Hejira and Don Juan's Reckless Daughter over both Blue and Court & Spark - both of those are god-like in my opinion. The words, the musicianship... make my heat explode. But that's the joy of it, right? Something for everyone (well, except those that just can't allow themselves to listen past the surface).
how does this have any 1's?
 DaidyBoy wrote:

I've always missed the point with Joni, though she clearly occupies divine status with most.  The voice just scares me off and I can't get past it.  My loss.  What right do I have to comment on Joni Mitchell, for God's sake?



Wow said so well, I share the same sentiment.  I wish I could love her as others do.
This is a 7 for me, but I always rate Joni Mitchell songs one higher than I normally would, just to balance out all the Joni haters, so I rated it at 8.
Joni Mitchell is a genius and treasure, and it appears a lot of Radio Paradise listeners have a big problem with her music, based on the ratings here. I had no idea she was so divisive. Unreal.
 QuantumShaman wrote:
"I'll even kiss a Sunset pig."  I have always loved that line. 

And this song is always a warm embrace for this LA boy, especially during my years away and the eventual return.

... but he broke my little bottle of Love Potion #9.
"I'll even kiss a Sunset pig."  I have always loved that line. 

And this song is always a warm embrace for this LA boy, especially during my years away and the eventual return.
 planet_lizard wrote:

I just don't get how folks don't get it. There is nothing quite like this album. Godlike from the first note to the last. 



Yep.  But...I still think Court and Spark shows her at the top of  her
game. 

Everything came together on that album.  That is a near perfection of what an album should be,
 Edweirdo wrote:

Oh, the irony.


probably lost on sify
 Dirktooth wrote:

"Sitting in a park in Paris France
Reading the news and it sure looks bad
They won't give peace a chance
That was just a dream some of us had"

A little too on point tonight.


"Sitting in a park in Paris France
Reading the news and it sure looks bad"

I always loved the visual and feeling that she transports me to in that line. Unfortunately, I've been dreaming on that bench with her for 51 years since this was released but I'm not about to stop now.
I don't understand the comments about the horrible voice. I wish I had a voice so horrible. 
I just don't get how folks don't get it. There is nothing quite like this album. Godlike from the first note to the last. 
My ears are bleeding 
bluetiful…
 DaidyBoy wrote:

I've always missed the point with Joni, though she clearly occupies divine status with most.  The voice just scares me off and I can't get past it.  My loss.  What right do I have to comment on Joni Mitchell, for God's sake?


Well said.
 DaidyBoy wrote:

I've always missed the point with Joni, though she clearly occupies divine status with most.  The voice just scares me off and I can't get past it.  My loss.  What right do I have to comment on Joni Mitchell, for God's sake?



Still an all-time great album. 
 DaidyBoy wrote:

I've always missed the point with Joni, though she clearly occupies divine status with most.  The voice just scares me off and I can't get past it.  My loss.  What right do I have to comment on Joni Mitchell, for God's sake?




You are completely right.  I just don't get it.  Back to Spotify I go.  I can't possibly work with that piercing, annoying voice penetrating my brain.
50 years of Blue today: a celebration of the Joni Mitchell masterpiece.

Enough said!
Released 50 years ago today. 
a friend's very talented daughter is playing in a performance/lecture series on Joni at U of CT on Friday. Interesting stuff like 

Wide Harmony: Joni Mitchell's Slash- Chord Piano Voicings
'Everything comes and goes:' Joni Mitchell's Harmonic Alienation"

"Make You Feel Free: Self Expressive Meter on Joni Mitchell's Blue"

https://joniblueconference.wix...

 DaidyBoy wrote:
I've always missed the point with Joni, though she clearly occupies divine status with most.  The voice just scares me off and I can't get past it.  My loss.  What right do I have to comment on Joni Mitchell, for God's sake?
 
I feel you. Her phrasing is unpredictable. That's why I like it.
GodDESSlike!
 bam23 wrote:
I cannot understand how anyone who listens (not hears) the music here cannot hear and see the brilliance. But those who don't like Joni Mitchell seem to be rather aggressive about their discomfort.
 

Hmm.... how can I put this? I can definitely appreciate her writing talent, and the songs are nice, but her particular vocal affectations just don't quite agree with me.
 sfyi2001 wrote:


The 'poetry' ain't all that either yo.
 
Oh, the irony.
 Dirktooth wrote:
"Sitting in a park in Paris France
Reading the news and it sure looks bad
They won't give peace a chance
That was just a dream some of us had"

A little too on point tonight.


 


And a year later the news still looks bad
On a conference call when this came on. As soon as she started singing, my friend asked "WTF IS THAT?" And not in a good way.
Sappy comes to mind, and unfortunately not of the Sequoia variety
Gosh , what a beautiful song for any California kid .  One of my favorite songs  . 
I really love this radio station. Thanks for creating it! 


p.s.I wonder if she ever kissed that Cop. Not a popular thing to do in this day and age.  
Masterpiece track from an all-time  top-three album. 
 swtobias508 wrote:
Join Mitchell and Bob Dylan: great song writers with horrible voices. The difference is Bob Dylan's grew on me while Joni Mitchell's grates on me more with every new listen.
 
I suggest you listen closer. But your comment may have prompted Joni to explore different territory, knowing the weight of your judgment has enormous impact on an artist.

This is a Joni Mitchell song that I don't like all that much, so a 10 obviously.
Join Mitchell and Bob Dylan: great song writers with horrible voices. The difference is Bob Dylan's grew on me while Joni Mitchell's grates on me more with every new listen.
 orthomd wrote:
Worst voice on the earth...how she made it is beyond me!!
 
Try singing one her melodies, then try singing her harmonies. If you can do that, you have a leg to stand on. 
"Sitting in a park in Paris France
Reading the news and it sure looks bad
They won't give peace a chance
That was just a dream some of us had"

A little too on point tonight.
Love Joni, but sometimes she should lay off the helium.
I cannot understand how anyone who listens (not hears) the music here cannot hear and see the brilliance. But those who don't like Joni Mitchell seem to be rather aggressive about their discomfort.
 skibbenr wrote:
Although I saw Joni down in Illinois back in the 70's, the first time I heard an album was 1974 when I moved into a house in Halifax, NS for first year university.  Two women were moving out of the house I was moving into.  Blue (side one) was on the turntable on endless repeat  for about 3 hours as they were moving out and I was moving in. Then they flipped it over so we heard side two for another 3 hours.  Unfortunately, that put me off Joni almost forever.  My loss obviously!
 
I would have thought the opposite would have occurred!  Bummer.
 Randomax wrote:
I know some can't get passed the voice......but it's the poetry!  and her meter and timing.....wish those with voice trouble would TRY to listen to the words.....what a poet
 

The 'poetry' ain't all that either yo.
O U C H .


I stopped donating here because of her....
Worst voice on the earth...how she made it is beyond me!!
I know some can't get passed the voice......but it's the poetry!  and her meter and timing.....wish those with voice trouble would TRY to listen to the words.....what a poet
That voice is so horrible and painful to listen to.... I'm out again...
Although I saw Joni down in Illinois back in the 70's, the first time I heard an album was 1974 when I moved into a house in Halifax, NS for first year university.  Two women were moving out of the house I was moving into.  Blue (side one) was on the turntable on endless repeat  for about 3 hours as they were moving out and I was moving in. Then they flipped it over so we heard side two for another 3 hours.  Unfortunately, that put me off Joni almost forever.  My loss obviously!
 jp33442 wrote:


STFU  Scotty 
 

 scottbolten wrote:
Bill, again, I beg of you, please stop playing so much Joni Mitchel. Horrible!
 

STFU  Scotty 
Fantastic song!
Definitely one of my top 5 songs of all time and thanks for playing Joni Mitchell.  She's one of this generation's best songwriters and performers.
sorry you guys are missin' it
Bill, again, I beg of you, please stop playing so much Joni Mitchel. Horrible!
Has she made anything that doesn't sound like stray dogs howling over who gets to sleep near the bins?
Kiss a sunset pig.
sucko barfo indeed
 RobN wrote:
This album is number 30 in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. I'd put it in the top 20.


 
I'm OK with somewhere in the 20-30 range, and I'll go 8→9 today

And to add a finer point to RS' list (from Joni's Wiki):

Her 1971 album Blue is often cited as one of the best albums of all time; it was rated the 30th best album ever made in Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", the highest entry by a female artist.[5]

....Long Live RP!!

 

 pinto wrote:
Yeah, well, there's not a song on RP by Richard Thompson (Richard Thompson??) that you've rated less than a 10.  Come back when you've got better credentials.  
 
{#Roflol}  {#Yes}
 hbs47 wrote:
Don't care how good her voice is supposed to be, the phrasing is awful, pseudo jazz style, even worse than so called "proper" jazz.
 
Yeah, well, there's not a song on RP by Richard Thompson (Richard Thompson??) that you've rated less than a 10.  Come back when you've got better credentials.  
Don't care how good her voice is supposed to be, the phrasing is awful, pseudo jazz style, even worse than so called "proper" jazz.
What utter nonsense. One of the greatest ever!
 Foot wrote:

Happily agree 100%.  Would love for RP to give Joni a permanent rest.

 

This album is number 30 in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. I'd put it in the top 20.

More joy for me! 
 CrispyDruid wrote:
Born and bred Californian, here. I never got this song, until I came back after living in TX for a stint.

Now this track had become my anthem - it sums up perfectly what I was feeling while I was away.

Thanks to Joni for the great track, and thanks to Bill for spinning it every so often. :-)
 
Funny, I did the opposite, yet feel the same! Texan here, but spent about a year in NorCal (ca 1989, Loma Prieta quake). And I feel exactly what Joni is singing about too. 
THE GREATEST VOICE EVER!

And I can't stand it. My loss, I know, but UGGGGH. 
I don't mind complaining about Joni Mitchell's voice - some can't take high-pitched soprano.  I get that.  What I can't understand is people insisting it should be taken off the RP playlist - not just this song, but her whole repertoire.  Why not just mute or PSD, or just listen to more mainstream stations?

I'm glad RP exists and am willing to put up with the odd artist or song that I don't like here.  Which reminds me - time for my annual donation! {#Music}
6.6? Joni deserves better than this.
Try Shadows & Light - a live album with her and Pat Metheney, Lyle Mays, Jaco Pastorius and Tom Scott. Really nice if you don't like the high pitched Joni (which I don't).
A brilliant artist, poet, songwriter and singer - especially when you you consider how many of Joni Mitchell's best songs were written before she became "famous."


 mdfergy wrote:
I can't stand Joni Mitchell's whining high-pitch "voice".. Bill plays way too many of her "songs"... A Solid 1 .....

 
Happily agree 100%.  Would love for RP to give Joni a permanent rest.
I've always missed the point with Joni, though she clearly occupies divine status with most.  The voice just scares me off and I can't get past it.  My loss.  What right do I have to comment on Joni Mitchell, for God's sake?
I can't stand Joni Mitchell's whining high-pitch "voice".. Bill plays way too many of her "songs"... A Solid 1 .....
Born and bred Californian, here. I never got this song, until I came back after living in TX for a stint. Now this track had become my anthem - it sums up perfectly what I was feeling while I was away. Thanks to Joni for the great track, and thanks to Bill for spinning it every so often. :-)
ears almost starting to bleed.... {#Yell}{#Cry}
California is a dream for so many.  So many have followed that dream and Joni does a great job of expressing that feeling from her worldly view of wanting to be back home.
 FluorideFreeMN wrote:
I just can't get into Joni's sound even after a half dozen or so tries.

Maybe it's an acquired taste, but I don't feel up to the task.  PSD moving forward.

 
try the album Court and Spark
I'm with the cannot take her group.  Spent my whole life trying to, starting with paving paradise and putting up a parking lot.  The minute I hear her I start to get annoyed.  No can do. Always grateful for the PSD button when she comes around.
 medoras wrote:
It's interesting to note the pro and con comments here for Joni Mitchell.

Her music is impossible to categorize - much like that of Kate Bush - whom listeners either love or hate.

With that said, I simply love Joni's music and California is one of my favorites songs among many. 

 
Couldn't have said it better. This is definitely one of my favourites.
 Springbok84 wrote:
Her voice is grating. The sonic equivalent of a stubbed toe.

 
...very nice metaphor!
It's interesting to note the pro and con comments here for Joni Mitchell.

Her music is impossible to categorize - much like that of Kate Bush - whom listeners either love or hate.

With that said, I simply love Joni's music and California is one of my favorite songs among many. 
looks (and sounds) like I won the PSD lottery
is 9 to low of a score?
i'm leaning towards 10 but it doesn't designate Goddess-like 
 Ikharry wrote:
I hear her too often here on RP. Very disrupting....
 

Too much Joni Mitchell? Sorry I don't understand that concept Ikharry!


Oh California... how I miss you.
I just can't get into Joni's sound even after a half dozen or so tries.

Maybe it's an acquired taste, but I don't feel up to the task.  PSD moving forward.
 boober wrote: 
Yes, it's a bit worrisome as she's being out of the limelight for a while, since the CBC interview. My fear is that we're about to lose another icon. They tend to 'disappear' from the public, celebrities in dangerous health.
one of my all time favorite albums
from one of my favorite singers
she sounds like an Angel
who lost her religion
and found love 
Her voice is grating. The sonic equivalent of a stubbed toe.
I agree with previous post.  She is my least favorite regularly played artist on RP.  Would be great if she was played a lot less!
I hear her too often here on RP. Very disrupting....
 Honeyko wrote:
Mitchell can neither sing nor play. She makes Cyndi Lauper seem like Judy Garland.
 
Many people may dislike her singing but she has long been an outstanding and innovative guitarist; ask any guitar player if you know any, because you clearly are not one yourself.
Not my thing - So where is the PSD button on an iPhone?!
This song is simply delightful.
 dwlangham wrote:
So many people love her, but her voice makes me want to howl in pain.
 
Came here to say exactly that.
 swtobias508 wrote:
Inger f dwlangham wrote:
So many people love her, but her voice makes me want to howl in pain.

 

Ditto.... like finger nails on a chalkboard! 
 
Especially on this song! While I find some others are OK, this... this... this is painful!
Inger f dwlangham wrote:
So many people love her, but her voice makes me want to howl in pain.

 

Ditto.... like finger nails on a chalkboard! 
So many people love her, but her voice makes me want to howl in pain.
Reminds me of an old girlfriend, in another stage of my life...love it!
I appreciate that many love her, but I find this to be un-listenable.
 dewhead wrote:

{#Clap} I looked up "caterwauling" in the dictionary and all it said was, "See Joni Mitchell"

 
Now, that is funny. 

One woman's caterwauling is another woman's ________________________. 
o song of my youth. Pure genius!
 sirtezza wrote:
you and your friend, it must be hard hearing much at all with your heads so far up your arses......
 
{#Lol}
{#Bananajam}Lovin Joni!
thanks Bill
 
 Honeyko wrote:
Mitchell can neither sing nor play. She makes Cyndi Lauper seem like Judy Garland.

 
{#Clap} I looked up "caterwauling" in the dictionary and all it said was, "See Joni Mitchell"
absolutely one of the top albums on that decade... and FEMALE {#Daisy} saw her in San Antonio... we sat on the floor and ate brownies!
LOVE this.  Wonderful, slice of life.
 Honeyko wrote:
Mitchell can neither sing nor play. She makes Cyndi Lauper seem like Judy Garland.
 

I’d visit your doctor as you obviously need your ears syringed. 


my heart!
Honeyko
Posted: Apr 30, 2014 - 17:06
 

Mitchell can neither sing nor play. She makes Cyndi Lauper seem like Judy Garland.

  zubeneschamli
Posted: Jan 17, 2014 - 12:54
 

Brilliant, the songwriting, the playing, and the vocal.


Someone's got a classic case of dissonance. Ain't going to pick it.  Take two glasses of merlot and call us in the morning. 
Personally -- it's terrific writing, timeless in its way but more of its 1970s time -- now blast us some Sticky Fingers. 


Mitchell can neither sing nor play. She makes Cyndi Lauper seem like Judy Garland.
Bill's doing his bit for the Golden State Chamber of Commerce.
PSD, take me away!
I totally agree, brilliant and so of a dramatic time in the world     10
Brilliant, the songwriting, the playing, and the vocal.
 laozilover wrote:
average rating 6.9? Outrageous!
 
.......... Agree 10.2 minimum
One of the best albums I've ever heard!
 Ericocean wrote:
As annoying as ever.

 
Either a completely oblivious troll or unable to recognize true genius.

California is a sample of Joni at her finest. 
As annoying as ever.
"They won't give peace a chance; that was just a dream some of us had."

Forty two years ago and her words ring truer than ever.