Annie Lennox tells Variety that Jon Mitchell is “In My Blood” as she performs Both Sides Now at The Gershwin Prize tribute concert.

Annie Lennox tells Variety that Jon Mitchell is “In My Blood” as she performs Both Sides Now at The Gershwin Prize tribute concert.

Annie Lennox has spoken with Variety about her love for Joni Mitchell, what knocked her out among the performances, and why she added a bit of “Why” at the end of her own. 

In performing “Both Sides Now” for this tribute and telecast, did you have to rehearse the song a lot, or did it come somewhat naturally to you from all the years of listening?

It’s both, actually. I did a lot of preparation because it’s a funny thing when you’re singing someone else’s song and someone whose work and artistry you’ve just simply adored for such a long time. You have to make it yours, and the only way to do that is to kind of imbibe it over and over and over. So I did a lot of practicing and a lot of thinking about it every day for a long time. Joni’s songs, to really learn them, you have to dig deep.

The Gershwin Prize looks to the influence that the artist that they’re honoring has had. And when you think about Joni Mitchell’s influence, it runs so far and so deep, and I think it’s really pretty untouchable. I don’t think there’s any other female artist — or even male artist, let’s face it; let’s take gender out of it — that has had such a body of work that is so profound, so exquisite, so poetic, so lyrical, so evocative, philosophical, painful, melodic. There’s just so many aspects to it, and there’s no end to it. The deeper in you go, the more there is to discover.
Annie Lennox Speaks To Variety Ahead of her appearance at Gershwin Prize tribute
Read the full Variety Interview here

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