Beyonce's latest 'yee haw' has just rode into Dodge.
Give it a listen.
Then we'll have coffee...and tawlk....
The initial consensus courtesy of the comment threads ranges from "stay in your lane" to "don't diss our Dolly".
At this writing, Dolly hasn't ponied up but it's a sure bet that, being the always classy act she is, her words will be complimentary and gracious.
The "debate" that's been in play since Queen Bey first galloped into town has to do with whether or not what she is doing with this "Cowboy Carter" album is a sincere nod to the genre'...or a quick cash in meets wham bam thank you downloaders that will conclude with a few bucks left on the dresser and a hearty high-o-silver as she rides off into the sunset....
...or back to her lane, as the Cowboy Carter case may be.
With her interp of Dolly's iconic "Jolene", that debate is obviously going to re-ignite and the back and forth will be a predictable re-boot of the original back and forth.
Me? I'm inclined to offer up a "whoa, there, pards....there's a key difference in play here this time around..."
And it ain't rocket surgery.
Goes like this.
For the most part...it ain't Dolly's iconic song.
Oh the primary melody is the same. And the general groove is similar enough.
But the lyrics ain't Parton.
They are the ass kicking prose from a "Cajun banjee bitch from Louisianne".
By the way, ten points for correctly identifying each of the several brutally obvious stereotype/cliches to be found in just that little five word burst.
Then feel free to scour the whole lyric and see how solid the case is that "Jolene", as in Dolly Parton's master work about a brave, but heart aching, woman reduced to pleading for mercy and understanding and compassion is nowhere to be found in Mrs. Carter's lyrics of "I Am Woman" meets "You Don't Own Me" meets "You A Stupid Ho", ad infinitum.
The P.R. "rationale" from the Bey camp will include the word "updating".
Nice try.
This "Jolene" is "American Gothic" with the old lady wearing a MAGA cap and the old man holding a AR-15...
..."Starry Night" with black holes obvious and prolific....
..."The Last Supper" with considerable attendance by assorted "God's children"(Read" LGBTQ")...
..."A Sunday Afternoon On The Island" with thongs and sunscreen a plenty.....
Outrageous.
Why, heaven's no.
Updating.
Last thought.
This entire essay is for my own amusement.
For it won't make a dent in the mindsets of the Queen's loyal followers.
Oh. Wait.
One more last thought.
Queen Bey/Queen Bey/Queen Bey/Queen Bey
Don't rewrite classics.
Just because you can.
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