Raina Krangle takes Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi out for a spin in her new single — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
More than 50 years after Mitchell sang “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone,” Krangle breathes new life into them with her vibrant, acoustic-driven cover of Big Yellow Taxi. Blending her fresh folk style with a stripped-down authenticity true to Joni’s spirit, Krangle’s version is both a nostalgic nod and a timely refresh — one that captures the urgency of now with the warmth of a shared past.
Backed by longtime music collaborator Brian Siegal and Chris Seldon on guitar and backing vocals, the track was originally recorded decades ago in Toronto — preserved on tape and brought forward into the present with subtle cleanup and deep respect for its original rawness. The simplicity of the arrangement lets Krangle’s voice shine through, drawing comparisons to icons like Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crow, but always sounding like herself: Earthy, luminous, and unmistakably honest.
“There was no folk club at university,” Raina recalls, “so Chris, Brian and I started the Western Guitar Society. We jammed every Friday night and played around campus. I practiced singing daily to Joni’s Clouds album — especially Chelsea Morning. That’s how I trained myself to hold notes, shift to falsetto and find my voice.”
Their acoustic version of Big Yellow Taxi was captured one weekend in Toronto. “If I hadn’t digitized the tape, it might’ve been lost forever,” she adds. “Years later, I listened to it in my old car on the way to perform at the Aurora Music Festival — singing along, grinning — and realized it still had something real and special.” That recording, she says, was “pure, unpolished, and real — just three young musicians capturing the essence of a timeless song.” And though the cassette is long gone and the car it played in has since been replaced, the feeling remains. “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. Records, tapes, even CDs — formats change, but the emotion of music is eternal.”
And the timing couldn’t be more right. “Now, with Canada-U.S. tariff wars and growing global tensions, two Canadian singer-songwriters — Joni, now in the U.S., and me in Canada — watch history unfold,” Raina reflects. What began as an environmental anthem has become something far broader. “That lyric—‘you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone’ — it echoes now in broken alliances, disinformation, and a deep yearning for truth.”
This new release is a continuation of protest music’s legacy and a heartfelt reminder that art and activism can collide in meaningful, beautiful ways. “This project is a statement about unity, kindness and the need to stand against hate,” she says. “This song asks what went wrong.”
As Mitchell’s legacy continues to rise in public consciousness — through tribute albums, documentaries, and sold-out concerts — Krangle’s version taps into something deep and timely. “The message feels even more urgent today,” she says. “And this version of the song, rooted in memory and reimagined for 2025, is my way of honouring that message.” And now the song has been passed from one generation of Canadian artists to another. It’s memory, melody, and a message that still rings true.
Krangle’s music has earned her finalist status in the Blues and Roots Radio International Song Contest and a nomination for the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award. Her sound — often described as a meeting of Tom Petty and Eagles with modern folk sensibilities — has graced venues across Canada.
Check out Big Yellow Taxi above, hear more from Raina Krangle below, and ride over to her website, Facebook and Instagram.
