By outdoor-nature-child.com During her recent concert in Los Angeles, iconic singer Joni Mitchell passionately urged Americans to “get out and vote,” delivering a stirring performance of political tracks that haven’t been heard in years, including the song “Dog Eat Dog.”
In a moment of candid honesty, Mitchell, 80, responded with a bold, “Fuck Donald Trump!” after an audience member shouted an insult at the Republican presidential candidate. She humorously added, “I love that song,” likely referring to YG’s 2016 hit “FDT.”
This concert marked Mitchell’s first headline show in Los Angeles in 24 years. She emphasized the urgency of the upcoming election, stating, “Everybody get out and vote. This is an important one. I wish I could vote – I’m Canadian. I’m one of those lousy immigrants.”
The night was charged with political commentary as she performed the title track from her 1985 album “Dog Eat Dog,” a first since its release. The song critiques American society, featuring lines about “Holy hope in the hands of snakebite evangelists and racketeers and big wig financiers.” After delivering that powerful line, she ad-libbed, “like Donald Trump.”
At the self-styled “Joni Jam,” which took place over two nights at the Hollywood Bowl, Mitchell shared the stage with notable artists like Brandi Carlile, Wendy & Lisa, Allison Russell, Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes, Marcus Mumford, Annie Lennox, Jacob Collier, and Jon Batiste.
In a significant moment, she also presented live debuts of newer songs, including “If I Had a Heart” from her 2007 album “Shine,” and “The Sire of Sorrow” from 1994’s “Turbulent Indigo.” The former tackles themes of “Holy war / Genocide / Suicide,” while the latter expresses a profound loss of zest for life.
These performances come two years after her surprise appearance at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival, which marked her return to the stage following a brain aneurysm in 2015 that had affected her speech and mobility.
Mitchell also paid tribute to Elton John by covering “I’m Still Standing,” albeit with a humorous twist, singing, “I’m still sitting after all this time,” as she remained seated throughout the concert.
Her last original album was “Shine,” and she is currently engaged in a project releasing remastered and unreleased archival material, with the most recent release being “The Asylum Albums (1976-1980)” in June.