Dolly Parton's "Jolene" Slowed Down to 33 RPM Sounds Great and Takes on New, Unexpected Meanings (RIP)
Open Culture • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Dolly Parton’s 1973 hit “Jolene,” when played at a slower speed of 33 RPM instead of 45, transforms the song’s high soprano into a deeper, more soulful tone that suggests a male narrator, offering a fresh perspective on the narrative.
- The original “Jolene” is a woman-to-woman plea where the narrator begs Jolene not to take her man, inspired by a real-life situation involving a red-haired bank teller who showed interest in Parton’s husband.
- The song’s namesake, Jolene, was actually a young girl with red hair and green eyes whom Parton admired at an early concert, not the bank teller referenced in the story.
- The slower version blurs traditional gender lines, adding complexity to the song’s themes of jealousy and insecurity, and invites interpretations involving different sexual orientations and social contexts.
- Dolly Parton reflected that women often feel threatened by other women, but the original “Jolene” is ultimately an innocent and heartfelt song about love and vulnerability.
