#jake-ames

hi dear! i hope you’re well :)) omg do you know how much i love this question??! SO MUCH!! thank you, you inadvertently made my day so much happier haha

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Hey!I’m okay. I hope you’re well too. and what a splendidly wonderful question.Honestly, Joanna questions are my fave. So, you just made my day!

I’ma highly indecisive person, so I can never choose one favourite. I think I couldgenuinely make a grand list of my fave Joanna live recordings and it would mostprobably be around 50 songs (maybe I’ll do that one day if anyone likes theidea because I’m pretty sure I would enjoy that just as much). But for now I’llname, let’s say, my 10 favourite live recordings. So buckle up, my friend. :))

Here wego:          

Clam, Crab,Cockle, Cowrie, 2007, Jools Holland.

It sounds incredible. The performance radiates such sweet melancholy. Iabsolutely adore the harmonies between Joanna’s and Neal Morgan’s voices. Theyjust fit so beautifully. And if you close your eyes, you could feel as if youwere sitting by the river and just enjoying the sun dancingon your face. Maybe it’s just me. Anyway, I really love this version. Her voicesounds really strong especially when it reaches the song’s breaking point andyet it has this careful vulnerable side to it that brings out this reallybeautiful quietness of the song.

Baby Birch, 2010,Melkweg Rabozaal, Netherlands.

The song, the myth, the legend. I don’t think I’ve ever spoken with a fan ofJoanna’s who doesn’t love this version, whose heart isn’t affected by the sheeremotion she transmits in this performance. I cry every time. It’s flawless andheartbreaking. The harmonies and especially that slow unrushed movement towardsthe climax of the song is the most touching piece of art I put my ears to. (Sincewe’re talking about Baby Birch, I want to add another live version of this,which presumably was one of the first performances of this song and I’m sohappy that someone actually recorded it. It’s an early piano version that sheperformed at Somerset House in 2008 She said it wasn’t finished yet but it’s still incredible. And sure, I’m toobiased for my own good but you love what you love. The raw sound is what makesit really fascinating to me. Fun sad fact: I cried my eyes out when I firstheard it and I didn’t even realize what was happening. Tbh I think I could mentionmultiple other live versions of Baby Birch too because, let’s be real, they allsound incredible.)

Peach, Plum,Pear,Le Trianon, Paris, 2011.

Commence crying in 3…2…1. It’s an extraordinary piece of music. The harp arrangement at the end is magnificent. Honestly, thewhole instrumentation is really captivating. And when Joanna sings „I was blue, Iwas blue and unwell“ you know there’s no coming back for you. You just let goand have a happy cry?? It feels so personal, yet I can completelyrelate. And it’s one of the most incredibly delightful aspects of any piece ofmusic or art that touches you.

Cosmia, End ofthe Road Festival, 2011.

It’sone of my favorite songs ever. It means a lot to me personally, so there’salways a version of this song that finds it’s way on my lists of everything.There‘s an lovely softness to her voice in this version. It’s just Joanna andher harp and it’s, for the lack of a better word, the best thing ever. It’sbeautiful.

Sawdust andDiamonds,End of the Road Festival, 2011.

My heart just gives out. In a good way. It’s an excellent version. It’s from the same performance as Cosmia, so her voice and harp sound wondrous here too. The changes in rhythm are performed so smoothly. It’ssuch a pleasing experience listening to this.

Good IntentionsPaving Company, Austin City Lights, 2012.

I feel like this list is a little sad, so I want to add some happiness to ittoo. And this performance is pure happiness. The piano and trombone at the endmake make my heart grow wings like a fool. It’s so bright. And there’s a lightness to this too.

Bridges and Balloons, AustinCity Lights, 2012.

As with Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie, this version of Bridges and Balloons gives this really impressive balance between the strength and vulnerabilityin her voice. I love the quiet parts, how careful she comes to them. I love howsoft and caring they sound.

Sapokanikan,Netherlands, 2015.

Her voice sounds amazing. The high notes are truly phenomenal. She’s a songbird ofthe highest quality. And if you watch the video, I thought the framing was really interesting as well. It’s obviously accidental since it was filmed by a fan but sometimes lucky coincidences happen and create an even better experience of the performance.

Emily, SydneyOpera House, 2016 (I think).

From the beginning to the very last note it is absolutely spellbinding. It’sone of the most amazing and beautiful things I’ve ever heard. The quality ofthe recording is marvelous too.

Time, as aSymptom,End of the Road Festival, 2016.

It’s mesmerizing. Close your eyes and listen to it. There’s such beautiful andeffortless simplicity to this performance. It’s like releasing a breath. Also, all her crescendos always sound so brilliantly masterful.

Bonus (it’s me, there’s clearly gonna be a bonus)

Icould not end without mentioning the recordings of full concerts. I absolutely lovethem and I’m immensely grateful to whoever is able and willing to do that. I getcompletely immersed in her music and forget time. And, honestly, it’s thegreatest thing ever.

Someof my favourite live concert recordings are from:

Union Transfer, 2015, (part1 and part 2).

It’s an absolutely beautiful concert. I have listened to it and watchedit multiple times and whenever I have time I come back to it. It’s a wonderful setlist and just the whole composition of the concert is gorgeous. Highly recommend.

Philadelphia, 2006.

Joanna plays the entirety of Ys which is amazing. I don’t think I can find words that would adequately describe howhappy that recording makes me. It’s fascinating. The harmonies are beautiful.I know I go on about the harmonies a lot but I think they should be appreciatedmore. Her voice is truly gorgeous to me here. Also, the sound is really clearfor a live recording and the camera is relatively steady for a live concert.There’s also some good banter and that’s so so lovely. Joanna is adorable.

Joanna Newsom inConcert,2010, Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, NPR recording.

Such an absolutely brilliant set list. Every song is perfection. It has aspecial place in my heart because every time I listen to it, it just makes meall warm inside. It’s really sweet and pleasant. And Joanna has such anadorably charming sense of humor. I love her. The banter, as previously stated,is absolutely splendid.

Icould add so many more live recordings of her songs to this. Now I just want tomake another list. I haven’t mentioned so many of my faves. But I think Ishould stop myself at some point. It’s just gonna be an endless and way too descriptive list otherwise.

16. favorite makeup brand(s)

honestly my friend i am clueless^tm about makeup so it’s literally whatever is cheapest at target SORRY

37. do you read a lot? whats your favorite book?

i USED TO UGH. i was such a reader when i was little and now i never do even tho i still love it. it makes me sad. anyway my favorite series is the lunar chronicles by marissa meyer but my favorite book i’ve read recently is all the bright place by jennifer niven < go read it if u want a weird sort of existential crisis it’s amazing

64. favorite lyrics right now

“please don’t ever become a stranger whose laugh i would recognize anywhere” from new years day haunts me every day of my life. i’ve been listening to some new music lately too though and “i’ve been worrying that we all live our lives in the confines of fear” from the fear by ben howard also makes me emo