Big Yellow Taxi Explained

Big Yellow Taxi
Type:single
Artist:Joni Mitchell
Album:Ladies of the Canyon
B-Side:Woodstock
Released:April 1970
Recorded:1970
Genre:
Length:2:16
Label:Reprise
Producer:Joni Mitchell
Prev Year:1969
Next Title:Carey
Next Year:1971

"Big Yellow Taxi" is a song written, composed, and originally recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell in 1970, and originally released on her album Ladies of the Canyon. It was a hit in her native Canada (No. 14) as well as Australia (No. 6) and the UK (No. 11). It only reached No. 67 in the US in 1970, but was later a bigger hit there for her in a live version released in 1974, which peaked at No. 24. Charting versions have also been recorded by The Neighborhood (who had the original top US 40 hit with the track in 1970, peaking at No. 29), and most notably by Amy Grant in 1994 and Counting Crows in 2002. The song was also sampled in Janet Jackson's "Got 'til It's Gone" (1997).

Mitchell's composition and recording

In 1996, speaking to journalist Robert Hilburn, Mitchell said this about writing the song:

The song is known for its environmental concern  - "They paved paradise to put up a parking lot" and "Hey farmer, farmer, put away that DDT now"  - and sentimental sound. The line "They took all the trees, and put 'em in a tree museum / And charged the people a dollar and a half just to see 'em" refers to Foster Botanical Garden in downtown Honolulu, which is a living museum of tropical plants, some rare and endangered.[3] [4]

In the song's final verse, the political gives way to the personal. Mitchell recounts the departure of her "old man" in the eponymous "big yellow taxi", which may refer to the old Metro Toronto Police patrol cars, which until 1986 were painted yellow.[5] In many covers the departed one may be interpreted as variously a boyfriend, a husband or a father. The literal interpretation is that he is walking out on the singer by taking a taxi; otherwise it is assumed he is being taken away by the authorities.

Mitchell's original recording was first released as a single and then, as stated above, included on her 1970 album Ladies of the Canyon. A later live version was released in 1974 (1975 in France and Spain) on Miles of Aisles and reached No. 24 on the U.S. charts. Billboard regarded the live version as "more full of life" than any of the singles Mitchell released in a long time.[6] Cash Box called the live version "a great rendition of this excellent lyrical song."[7]

In 1995, to coincide with the song's inclusion in the American sitcom Friends, the song was rereleased as a maxi-single with new remixes in a variety of styles.

The song still receives significant airplay in Canada; in 2005, it was voted No. 9 on CBC's list of the top 50 essential Canadian tracks.

In 2007, Joni Mitchell released the album Shine, which includes a newly recorded, rearranged version of the song.

Music video

An animated music video of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" was produced by John Wilson of Fine Arts Films as an animated short for the Sonny and Cher television show in the mid-1970s. The only commercial release of this full-length music video was in the Video Gems home video release on VHS titled John Wilson's Mini Musicals, also released as The Fantastic All-Electric Music Movie. The home video also contains an animated music video of Mitchell's song "Both Sides, Now".

Track listing

1995 maxi-single

  1. "Big Yellow Taxi"
  2. "Big Yellow Taxi"
  3. "Big Yellow Taxi"
  4. "Big Yellow Taxi"
  5. "Big Yellow Taxi"
  6. "Big Yellow Taxi"
  7. "Big Yellow Taxi"

Charts

1970 weekly chart performance for "Big Yellow Taxi"!Chart (1970)!Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 6
Canada Top Singles (RPM)14
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[9] 11
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 67
US Billboard Easy Listening[11] 33
US Cash Box Top 100[12] 100
1974–1975 weekly chart performance for "Big Yellow Taxi (Live)"!Chart (1974–1975)!Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 10024
US Billboard Easy Listening27
US Cash Box Top 100[13] 25
1996 weekly chart performance for "Big Yellow Taxi"!Chart (1996)!Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[14] 39

Amy Grant version

Big Yellow Taxi
Cover:Amy Grant Big Yellow Taxi UK Single Cover.jpg
Caption:UK single cover
Type:single
Artist:Amy Grant
Album:House of Love
Released:March 1995
Length:3:01
Label:A&M
Producer:Keith Thomas
Prev Title:Say You'll Be Mine
Prev Year:1994
Next Title:Oh How the Years Go By
Next Year:1995

In 1995, American singer Amy Grant released a cover of "Big Yellow Taxi" to pop and adult contemporary radio in the United States and United Kingdom. The song was the fourth (third in the US) pop radio single from her 1994 album, House of Love. Grant's version featured slightly altered lyrics, which she changed at Joni Mitchell's request.[15]

The cover peaked at No. 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100, No. 25 in Canada, No. 20 on the UK Singles Chart, and No. 4 in Iceland. Grant also released a music video for the single, which was aired in the US and UK and released to home video on Grant's Greatest Videos 1986-2004 DVD. Grant also performed the song for her 2006 concert album, Time Again... Amy Grant Live.

Track listings

US CD single

  1. "Big Yellow Taxi"
  2. "Big Yellow Taxi"
  3. "Big Yellow Taxi"

UK CD single

  1. "Big Yellow Taxi"
  2. "House of Love"
  3. "Every Heartbeat"
  4. "Lucky One"

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Amy Grant's version of "Big Yellow Taxi"!Chart (1995)!Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[16] 156
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[17] 67
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[18] 4

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for Amy Grant's version of "Big Yellow Taxi"!Chart (1995)!Position
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[19] 47
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[20] 96
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[21] 38

Release history

Region!scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesMarch 1995A&M
United KingdomJune 12, 1995[22]

Counting Crows and Vanessa Carlton version

Big Yellow Taxi
Cover:BYTCounting Crows.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Counting Crows featuring Vanessa Carlton
Album:Hard Candy
Genre:Pop rock
Length:3:47
Label:Geffen
Producer:Steve Lilywhite
Chronology:Counting Crows
Prev Title:Miami
Prev Year:2002
Next Title:If I Could Give All My Love (Richard Manuel Is Dead)
Next Year:2003

In 2002, Counting Crows covered the song with backing vocals by Vanessa Carlton. It was included on the soundtrack to the film Two Weeks Notice. Originally, the song was a hidden track on the band's 2002 album Hard Candy, and it did not include Carlton until it was to be featured in the film. New releases of the album included it as a track with her added, as with her in the video (which was shot on Coney Island, Brooklyn, and in nearby Bensonhurst), although Counting Crows and Carlton neither appeared in the video together nor recorded together. This version slightly changed Mitchell's original lyrics to describe when the eponymous taxi "took my girl away", instead of Mitchell's "took away my old man". The original version of the song without Vanessa was included on the album Nolee Mix, which was released to promote the My Scene dolls.

This cover reached No. 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and entered the top five on three other Billboard listings. The song became the band's only top-20 single in the United Kingdom, peaking at No. 13, and it reached the top 10 in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. The single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

Music video

The music video features the Counting Crows performing on a boardwalk in Coney Island, New York. Vanessa Carlton also walks around the streets and sings along to the song. Several people are shown looking back at mirages of past relationships or friendships that they regret losing. Meanwhile, a yellow taxi drives through the streets, calling the attention of the Crows, Carlton, and the former couples. The taxis are transporting mirage of themselves or their former significant other, with some trying to chase after it. The "big yellow taxi [that] took my old man/girl away". One former couple does in fact again meet face to face.

Critical reception

The Village Voice named this cover the worst song of the 2000s,[23] and the Village Voice's scathing review of the cover is archived on Joni Mitchell's website.[24] The review derided the cover as having paved paradise (Mitchell's original song) and put up a parking lot. Additionally, NME also included this cover on its list of the worst songs of the 2000s,[25] and Ultimate Classic Rock highlighted this song in its Terrible Classic Rock Covers series.[26] In April 2022, American Songwriter ranked "Big Yellow Taxi" at number 10 on their list of "The Top 10 Counting Crows Songs".[27]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Counting Crows' version of "Big Yellow Taxi"!Chart (2003)!Peak
position
Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)[28] 12
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[29] 43
European Radio Top 50 (Music & Media)[30] 7
Latvia (Latvijas Top 40)[31] 4
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[32] 23

Year-end charts

2003 year-end chart performance for Counting Crows' version of "Big Yellow Taxi"!Chart (2003)!Position
Australia (ARIA)[33] 15
Ireland (IRMA)[34] 52
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[35] 93
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[36] 11
UK Singles (OCC)[37] 183
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[38] 13
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)9
US Triple-A (Billboard)[39] 5
2004 year-end chart performance for Counting Crows' version of "Big Yellow Taxi"!Chart (2004)!Position
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[40] 16

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesNovember 11, 2002Hot adult contemporary radioGeffen[41]
AustraliaJanuary 13, 2003CD[42]
United StatesTriple A radio[43]
February 3, 2003Contemporary hit radio[44]
United Kingdom[45]

Other notable cover versions

According to Mitchell's official Website, "'Big Yellow Taxi' has been recorded by 556 other artists" as of June 5, 2023.[46] Some notable versions include:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jason Hanley. We Rock! (Music Lab): A Fun Family Guide for Exploring Rock Music History: From Elvis and the Beatles to Ray Charles and The Ramones, Includes Bios, Historical Context, Extensive Playlists, and Rocking Activities for the Whole Family!. November 26, 2014. Quarry Books. 978-1-62788-220-0. 132.
  2. Book: Madelena Gonzalez. Fiction After the Fatwa: Salman Rushdie and the Charm of Catastrophe. 2005. Rodopi. 90-420-1962-X. 191.
  3. Web site: Mattison . Shane . Tree museum . Lyric Glossary . JoniMitchell.com . May 15, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080616114102/http://www.jonimitchell.com/research/g_entry.cfm?id=42 . June 16, 2008 . dead .
  4. News: Donnelly. Dave. They pave it, then you pay for it . Honolulu Star-Bulletin. July 16, 1997. B–10 . March 27, 2023.
  5. Web site: Getting Around . A History of Policing in Toronto . Toronto Police Service . July 23, 2011 .
  6. News: Top Single Picks. Billboard. July 20, 2020. December 14, 1974. 66.
  7. News: CashBox Record Reviews. December 7, 1974. 18. December 11, 2021. Cash Box.
  8. Book: Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . David Kent . 0-646-11917-6 . 1993 . Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W..
  9. Web site: Joni Mitchell full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. April 22, 2021.
  10. Fred . Bronson . March 29, 2003 . Chart Beat . Billboard . 70.
  11. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn . 1993 . Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 . Record Research . 166.
  12. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 . Cash Box. July 11, 1970. 24. 16 July 2024.
  13. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 . Cash Box. February 15, 1975. 4. 16 July 2024.
  14. Joni Mitchell Chart History: Dance Club Songs. Billboard. April 22, 2021.
  15. News: Life In The Slow Lane . Teresa . Gubbins . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001852/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-09-04/entertainment/9409040067_1_amy-grant-big-yellow-taxi-pop-success . March 4, 2016 . live . Chicago, Illinois . 1085-6706 . 43891617 . September 4, 1994 . May 19, 2012.
  16. Web site: Amy Grant ARIA chart history, received from ARIA in May 2024. ARIA. Imgur.com. July 12, 2024. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  17. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 12. 27. 12. July 8, 1995. May 30, 2020.
  18. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (2.7. '95 – 15.7. '95). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 20. July 1, 1995. May 30, 2020.
  19. RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1995. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. May 30, 2020.
  20. News: Árslistinn 1995. Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 25. January 2, 1996. May 30, 2020.
  21. 1995 The Year in Music. Billboard. 107. 51. YE-80. December 23, 1995. August 26, 2021. June 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210628190958/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-12-23.pdf. live.
  22. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 31. June 10, 1995.
  23. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20100317204651/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2009/12/the_50_worst_so_43.php . The 50 Worst Songs of the '00s, F2K No. 1: Counting Crows ft. Vanessa Carlton, "Big Yellow Taxi" . December 22, 2009 . June 2, 2020 . March 17, 2010 . villagevoice.com . dead.
  24. Web site: Joni Mitchell Library - the 50 Worst Songs of the '00s: Village Voice, December 22, 2009 .
  25. Web site: The 20 worst songs of the '00s . nme.com . Jamie . Milton . October 17, 2017 . June 2, 2020.
  26. Web site: Counting Crows, "Big Yellow Taxi" – Terrible Classic Rock Covers . September 25, 2013 . June 2, 2020 . ultimateclassicrock.com.
  27. Web site: The Top 10 Counting Crows Songs. Uitti. Jacob. American Songwriter. April 29, 2022. April 30, 2022.
  28. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20050407223203/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/2003.pdf. April 7, 2005. Canadian Top 20 in 2003. Cross Canada Countdown. December 11, 2023.
  29. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 21. 11. 11. March 8, 2003. May 13, 2020.
  30. European Radio Top 50. Music & Media. 16. 12. 17. April 5, 2003. 29800226. March 15, 2024. World Radio History.
  31. Web site: Latvian Airplay Top 500 of 2003. Lanet.lv. lv. March 15, 2024.
  32. Web site: Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 21, saptamina 2.06–8.06, 2003. Romanian Top 100. ro. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050218170433/http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10072.html. February 18, 2005. May 13, 2020.
  33. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2003. ARIA. October 22, 2020.
  34. Web site: Top 100 Songs of 2003. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2003. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20040602113024/http://www.rte.ie/2fm/charts/top100_2003.html. June 2, 2004. March 16, 2022.
  35. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2003. Dutch Top 40. March 30, 2020.
  36. Web site: End of Year Charts 2003. Recorded Music NZ. May 13, 2020.
  37. Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2003. UKChartsPlus. September 15, 2018.
  38. Year in Music. Billboard. 115. 52. YE-80. December 27, 2003. December 19, 2023.
  39. The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Triple-A Songs. Airplay Monitor. 11. 51. 47. December 19, 2003.
  40. Year in Music & Touring: Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. Billboard. 116. 52. YE-74. December 25, 2004. December 19, 2023.
  41. Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1478. 34. November 8, 2002. May 7, 2021.
  42. Web site: The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 13th January 2003. January 6, 2003. ARIA. 23. January 13, 2003. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20030106130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20030107-0000/Issue673.pdf. May 7, 2021.
  43. Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1486. 23. January 10, 2003. May 7, 2021.
  44. Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1493. 31. February 28, 2003. May 7, 2021.
  45. New Releases – For Week Starting 3 February 2003: Singles. Music Week. 20. February 1, 2003. September 2, 2021.
  46. Web site: Big Yellow Taxi - lyrics . June 5, 2023 . jonimitchell.com.
  47. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955–2012 . Joel Whitburn . 2013 . Record Research . 604.
  48. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 213.
  49. Web site: Dylan The Official Bob Dylan Site. September 27, 2021. www.bobdylan.com.
  50. Web site: Big Yellow Taxi - The Bob Dylan Project. September 27, 2021. thebobdylanproject.com.
  51. Landau. Jon. November 19, 1973. Dylan. September 27, 2021. Rolling Stone. en-US.
  52. Web site: BBC - Music - Review of Labrinth - Electronic Earth . April 2, 2012 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160109133922/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/vmwx . January 9, 2016 .