Beyoncé, Jolene | Song Review 🎵

Guest contributor, Bonita Alford: If Dolly Parton asks you to cover her signature song, “Jolene,” you better do it and do it right… which is exactly what Beyoncé did.

“Jolene”, a country music classic, written and sung by Dolly Parton, has been covered over 400 times. And fittingly, it’s one of the stand-out tracks on Cowboy Carter, the 2024, no. 1 bowing album by Beyoncé.

Beyonce’s cover of “Jolene” is a complete reimagining of the song, and has ignited an avalanche of praise, criticism, and controversy. Many fans of the original tune were shocked that the lyrics and point of view of the song had changed.

@alexbegs

Jolene better watch her back. 😂 #dollyparton #beyonce #cowboycarter #jolene #beyhive

♬ JOLENE – Beyoncé

No longer a desperate plea to leave her man alone, it has turned into a warning that “your peace depends on how you move, Jolene.”  She’s not begging; she’s going to fight for her man.

@beyoncerodeo

Beyoncé added the heat

♬ JOLENE – Beyoncé

However, it’s important to note Dolly is fully on board with the lyric changes as she is listed as the only songwriter on Beyoncé’s version of the song.

@thehelenofjoy

How dare Beyonce change the lyrics… 🫣🤠🤭 #beyonce #dollyparton #cowboycarter #jolene

♬ JOLENE – Beyoncé

As further proof, Dolly introduces the song and has openly campaigned for Beyoncé to cover this song.

@thedailyshow

Did Dolly Parton manifest Beyoncé’s “Jolene” cover two years ago? #DailyShow #DollyParton #Beyonce #Jolene

♬ original sound – The Daily Show

In this version, Beyoncé grabs the song by the horns, wrestles it to the ground, and brands it with her own point of view. The song comes out the gate with a simple but infectious guitar strum under a reverb-laden sample of a male voice “Jolene” signaling right away this is not your mama’s version of the song.

Many of the song’s detractors blame the lyric/thematic change as the reason for their ire, but I disagree. I think it’s a boss move, a diva move, a genius move. I’m sure many expected Beyonce to just belt out vocals and call it a day, which honestly is what I had expected as well. But Beyonce had a different idea. (Those looking for Beyoncé to show off her supernatural vocal chops can find it elsewhere on the album, e.g., her take on opera on “Daughter”).

I can understand fans of the original version taking umbrage.  How dare she change the lyrics to a timeless classic?  And include personal references such as “I’m a Creole banjee bitch from Louisianne”?  Well, because she can.  And with the blessing of Dolly, who introduces the song, comparing it to Beyonce’s song about the “hussy with the good hair.” A full-circle moment..

@eyearewoke

OMG I love this 😂😂🩷🫶 #dollyp #beyonce #actii #dollyparton #becky #jolene #withthegoodhair #lemonade #jolene #queens #newmusicfriday

♬ DOLLY P – Beyoncé & Dolly Parton

So, if Miss Dolly P. asks you to cover her signature song, you better do it, and you better do it right.  And that’s exactly what Miss Honey B. did.

– Bonita Alford, guest contributor

Beyoncé // Cowboy Carter // Parkwood Entertainment, LLC / Columbia // 3.29.24

[📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Parkwood Entertainment, LLC / Columbia; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Królestwo Nauki, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pete Linforth, Tumisu from Pixabay]