Beyoncé and Dolly Parton’s versions of Jolene represent two sides of southern femininity

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On her new album, Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé puts a new spin on Dolly Parton’s classic song, Jolene.

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Provider:

The Conversation

URL:

https://theconversation.com/beyonce-and-dolly-partons-versions-of-jolene-represent-two-sides-of-southern-femininity-228148

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

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Tags:

Wind, Negotiation, Lemonade, Hatred, Head, Marriage, Modesty, Noise, Betrayal, Beauty, Femininity, Sleep, Attitude, African Americans, Rest, Hope, Woman, Male, Skin, The Golden Girls, Language, Pain, Linguistics, Movement, Human, Music

Geotags:

ANGER, HOUSTON

Summary

Key Points:

On her new album, Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé puts a new spin on Dolly Parton’s classic song, Jolene.
Some people commenting online were vocal about not liking Beyoncé’s version, often citing its lack of vulnerability when compared to Parton’s version.
There are upwards of 80 covers of Jolene, but Beyoncé’s is a departure from the rest.
The Houston native’s Jolene is decidedly Black, and therein lies the crux of the different reactions towards the song.
It is important to examine the story Dolly Parton tells on Jolene because it, too, is rooted in her racial and gendered identity as much as Beyoncé’s Jolene is.

How is Beyoncé’s story the same but different?

Towards the end of the song, Beyoncé and her partner turn a corner and offer hope against the disruption that Jolene represents.
Beyoncé’s Jolene is introduced by Dolly Parton herself in a short interlude.
Parton makes a clear association between her experience with Jolene and Beyoncé’s experience with “Becky with the good hair” (or “hussy” as Parton says).
But the term has evolved to encompass racially ambiguous women with European or Asian features, lighter skin and loose curls or straight hair.
Why would we expect the song to be the same when these two women are far from?

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Kadian Pow does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.