viewers Sunday night at the 64th annual Grammy AwardsSome familiar celebrities such as Megan Thee Stallion, Questlove, Dua Lipa, Lenny Kravitz and Jared Leto will be presenting at the microphone.
And a surprising one: Joni Mitchell.
For the venerable Canadian singer and composer, 78-year-old Mitchell, one of the defining figures of the singer-songwriter movement of the 1960s and ’70s, it will be a rare sight to the public. Never in the limelight, Mitchell has kept a very low public profile ever since he had a career. aneurysm He spent the year 2015 and the following years in a gradual recovery.
The past year or two has brought a wave of recognition for Mitchell. The 1971 album “Blue”, which had little commercial impact upon its release but has long been a connoisseur’s favourite, widely celebrated on its 50th anniversary last year. He was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in December, and samples of his songs such as “Big Yellow Taxi” and “Both Sides Now” were given. carried out By Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard and Norah Jones. Inside speech “I’m tired, but I’m fine,” he said, addressing his health during the White House reception for the event. He even joked video interview on the red carpet, “I’m old enough to be honored before.”
In an interview recorded last year for a virtual Grammy premiere hosted by music executive Clive Davis, overview It was one of the most important memories of his career, saying that in the mid-1960s he learned that the folk music world was “regional” in terms of repertoire and that “the only way to overcome this dilemma was to start writing his own songs.” He also told Davis that he had only just realized the breadth of his influence; For years, “all I knew was bad reviews,” he said.
Mitchell last released an album of new songs in 2007. In January, He asked Spotify to remove his music After Neil Young did the same, as a protest against his role in providing the streaming service with a platform for Covid-19 vaccine misinformation.
On Friday, Mitchell will also receive honors at a gala. Music CareA Grammy-affiliated charity that helps musicians in need, with music by Cyndi Lauper, Stephen Stills, Herbie Hancock, Jon Batiste, Sara Bareilles, Beck, Carlile and more.