Dolly Parton's Jolene / Lydia R. Hamessley.
| Author/creator | Hamessley, Lydia |
| Other author | Oxford University Press. |
| Format | Electronic |
| Publication Info | New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2025. |
| Description | xviii, 173 pages : illustrations, music ; 22 cm. |
| Supplemental Content | Full text available from Oxford Scholarship Online |
| Subjects |
| Series | Oxford Keynotes |
| Abstract | ""Jolene" is one of Dolly Parton's most beloved songs. Released in 1974 as the title song of Dolly's thirteenth studio album, it is a cultural phenomenon. Ostensibly a cheating song, "Jolene" is compelling because of its ambiguity: Who is Jolene? Is she a heartless homewrecker or an unwilling recipient of attention from a guy who will cheat on his partner? Is "Jolene" sung by a narrator who is weak or assertive? What does Jolene decide? There are multiple ways to read "Jolene." Hundreds of musicians, artists, writers, filmmakers, and listeners have used the song to express their own stories, viewpoints, and identities. In Dolly Parton's Jolene, I do a deep dive into the song: Dolly's stories about the song's origins; various ways to read the lyrics, including queer readings; and a detailed musical analysis. I explore notable covers of the song, including Olivia Newton-John's recording and the duet version that she and Dolly recorded. I then examine several covers of the song: by Mindy Smith, The White Stripes, The Congo Cowboys, Lil Nas X, Gloria Ann Taylor, and Chiquis and Becky G. The book includes a look at answer songs from Jolene's perspective. I give special attention to Chapel Hart's answer song: "You Can Have Him Jolene." Since the song's release, Dolly re-recorded "Jolene" for her album Something Special, embraced an orchestral sound for the soundtrack for the film, Dumplin', and dramatized "Jolene" in a television series. The book concludes by re-examining the "Jolene" origin story from a new perspective"-- Provided by publisher. |
| General note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 159-170) and index. |
| Access restriction | Available only to authorized users. |
| Technical details | Mode of access: World Wide Web |
| Genre/form | Electronic books. |
| LCCN | 2024058424 |
| ISBN | 9780197760314 (paperback) |
| ISBN | 9780197760307 (hardback) |
| ISBN | (epub) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |