: Some fans initially found the autotuned vocals disconnected from the acoustic Elliott Smith sample, with Reddit users debating whether the "trap song from the perspective of Joni Mitchell" concept truly worked. Release Background
: The song is viewed as a tribute to SZA's parents and her own resilience, with lyrics exploring themes of moving at one's own pace and striving for perfection.
: "Joni" first appeared as a "throwaway" on SZA's SoundCloud in 2021.