Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell: Head Voice & Chest Voice 70’s Style

For our example song, we’ll take “Big Yellow Taxi ” sung by Joni Mitchell  and listen for the differences as she moves between chest voice and head voice.

Below I will put the words that Joni Mitchell sings clearly in chest voice in bold font, and head voice underlined. I will only point out when she is singing  the most noticeably in chest voice and head voice so it is the easiest to hear.

And put up a parking lot

With a pink hotel, a boutique

 you do–on’t know what you’ve got

‘Till it’s gone

And put up a parking lot

And put them in a tree museum

A dollar and a half just to see ’em

 you do–on’t know what you’ve got

‘Till it’s gone

And they put up a parking lot

Put away that D.D.T. now

But leave me the birds and the bees

That you don’t know what you’ve got

‘Till it’s gone

I heard the screen door slam

That you don’t know what you’ve got

‘Till it’s gone

They took away my land

That you don’t know what you’ve got

‘Till it’s gone