I've come to believe that Waylon Jennings doesn't quite get the credit he deserves as a songwriter. For some reason, when people talk about the great country music songwriters, he doesn't seem to get mentioned often.
Fun Fact; According to Wikipedia, this song was inspired by an article Jennings read about Tina Turner.
Showing posts with label country music rocks!. Show all posts
Showing posts with label country music rocks!. Show all posts
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Friday, October 14, 2016
Well, Hello Dolly!
This has already made the rounds, gone viral, been seen by the world and probably all of you, but I cannot get enough of it.
I love Dolly Parton. I have for ages and ages and ages and ages. But she frustrates me. Or, rather, her schtick can frustrate me.
Dolly has spent years crafting a persona--this larger than life image that is the consummate entertainer and performer who makes such an indelible impression on people. I, and millions of other people, adore it. And her. It's certainly played a large part in her popularity over the years and kept her relevant in a country music industry that has become increasingly image-obssessed.
But Dolly the performer, the persona, the image can get in the way of Dolly the artist. Dolly the musician with the beautiful voice. Dolly the gifted songwriter. Emmylou Harris wrote about this in the liner notes to a Dolly tribute album a decade or so ago. She expressed the wish that more people knew the sides of Dolly that she has known for years.
Get a copy of her first album, Just Because I'm a Woman. It is mind-blowingly awesome--full of layers of emotion and beauty and honesty that you don't always feel from the persona. Then check out any of her bluegrass albums from the 2000's where she's striped down, acoustic, and pure feeling, like the best bluegrass should be. Finally, get her original greatest hits album, if you can find it and revel in all of her classics the way they were originally recorded.
Which brings me to this video. "Jolene" is one of Dolly's best songs, but it's never better than the way it was originally written to be sung--stripped down and raw. This version is the purest and cleanest I've heard in years. The original is marked by a plaintive acoustic guitar line that runs through the song. I've always felt that Dolly's best songs layer in a lot of folk music influences among the country touches. That's "Jolene" in a nutshell.
By going acapella here, they've restored that original feeling to the song. I love that Dolly plays with the song in concert--changing "Jolene" to "drag queens" to acknowledge her cross-dressing fans--but this is a song about heartache, yearning and hurt. You cannot listen to this recording and not feel your heart-breaking for her. This is pain and inadequacy and fear. There's nothing polished and slick about that. That little whisper at the end just nails it. "Oh. Jolene." How can you not cry for this woman?
The other thing that comes out here is what a great harmony singer she is. Honestly, that should be no secret, especially after the Trio albums. I love to hear her sing with others. And the look on everyone's faces is awesome--a mix of the sheer joy of performing good music and being awestruck over singing a classic with a legend. How cool is it that Dolly swaps out her lead vocals for the climactic last verse? Amazing.
Okay. I just rambled on and on about a video that is less than three minutes. I've always told you all that I can overthink and over-analyze anything. That's why I blog.
I like it when Dolly entertains me, but I love it when she moves me.
I'm going to have another listen. Or three.
Who else thought the bald guy was wearing a bathrobe at first glance?
I love Dolly Parton. I have for ages and ages and ages and ages. But she frustrates me. Or, rather, her schtick can frustrate me.
Dolly has spent years crafting a persona--this larger than life image that is the consummate entertainer and performer who makes such an indelible impression on people. I, and millions of other people, adore it. And her. It's certainly played a large part in her popularity over the years and kept her relevant in a country music industry that has become increasingly image-obssessed.
But Dolly the performer, the persona, the image can get in the way of Dolly the artist. Dolly the musician with the beautiful voice. Dolly the gifted songwriter. Emmylou Harris wrote about this in the liner notes to a Dolly tribute album a decade or so ago. She expressed the wish that more people knew the sides of Dolly that she has known for years.
Get a copy of her first album, Just Because I'm a Woman. It is mind-blowingly awesome--full of layers of emotion and beauty and honesty that you don't always feel from the persona. Then check out any of her bluegrass albums from the 2000's where she's striped down, acoustic, and pure feeling, like the best bluegrass should be. Finally, get her original greatest hits album, if you can find it and revel in all of her classics the way they were originally recorded.
Which brings me to this video. "Jolene" is one of Dolly's best songs, but it's never better than the way it was originally written to be sung--stripped down and raw. This version is the purest and cleanest I've heard in years. The original is marked by a plaintive acoustic guitar line that runs through the song. I've always felt that Dolly's best songs layer in a lot of folk music influences among the country touches. That's "Jolene" in a nutshell.
By going acapella here, they've restored that original feeling to the song. I love that Dolly plays with the song in concert--changing "Jolene" to "drag queens" to acknowledge her cross-dressing fans--but this is a song about heartache, yearning and hurt. You cannot listen to this recording and not feel your heart-breaking for her. This is pain and inadequacy and fear. There's nothing polished and slick about that. That little whisper at the end just nails it. "Oh. Jolene." How can you not cry for this woman?
The other thing that comes out here is what a great harmony singer she is. Honestly, that should be no secret, especially after the Trio albums. I love to hear her sing with others. And the look on everyone's faces is awesome--a mix of the sheer joy of performing good music and being awestruck over singing a classic with a legend. How cool is it that Dolly swaps out her lead vocals for the climactic last verse? Amazing.
Okay. I just rambled on and on about a video that is less than three minutes. I've always told you all that I can overthink and over-analyze anything. That's why I blog.
I like it when Dolly entertains me, but I love it when she moves me.
I'm going to have another listen. Or three.
Who else thought the bald guy was wearing a bathrobe at first glance?
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Someday Rambles
IT'S BACK!
After a kind of moderate last week, the heat is back with a vengeance this week. Ewww! COME ON FALL! Eddie's sweating and waiting! (TMI?)
It's so hot right now that we went to a large outdoor sale on Saturday with dozens of vendors and I just flat gave up in the middle of it all and quit. I ain't built for this any more. I did make one super-fabulous find, though. Check back tomorrow to see it.
Not only is it awesome, but it's a total keeper.
I put off starting my big booth redo for a couple of days to finish up some things here at the house. Part of that work is outdoors, and I am dreading it.
Speaking of the booth, I think the summer sales slump is wrapping up. I've had really good sales all last week, except for one day. Lots of potatoes and bigger and bigger ladles of gravy. Yum! I'm going to come out of this month well ahead of where I've been the last three. It's still not where I like it to be, but any improvement over recent history is welcome.
LOOK WHAT I FOUND THE OTHER DAY!
Just the table, not the junk on it. It was sitting on the curb at the bottom of the hill the other day as I was rushing to catch the bus. I figured it would be gone by the time I got home, but it was still there. It was kind of hidden by some tree branches. I wouldn't have seen it originally if I hadn't been walking down that side of the street, which is not something I usually do.
I got one of those looks from Keith when he saw it, so I told him that it was "perfectly primitive." That's also what I put on the tag.
HEY PAM AT VIRGINIA RETRO!
I'll see you your painted turtle and ladybug rocks....
And raise you one painted barn rock!
Okay, so you really did paint yours, and I just found this one, but I thought it was cool and it did make me think of you.
Those that can, paint. Those that can't, buy.
Check out Pam's blog, if you haven't already.
THE THINGS YOU LEARN WHILE DINING OUT
Pikachu likes Mexican food.
My last latte appointed me a professor. Of what, I have no clue.
And the most recent fortune cookie wisdom.
DVD OF THE WEEK
This is an absolutely charming short animated film from 1966, directed by the wonderfully talented Gene Deitch. The full title is Alice of Wonderland in Paris. Alice meets a mouse named Francois, who takes her to Paris so she can fulfill her dream of meeting Madeline, of the children's book series. Along the way they swap stories, which become the various segments of the movie. Art for each story is provided by creators such as Ludwig Bemelmens (creator of Madeline), Crockett Johnson (creator of Harold and the Purple Crayon), and New Yorker cartoonist James Thurber. There's not much else in the way of plot, but the whole thing is just too sweet and totally endearing. (I'm also a great fan of both Thurber and Johnson, which adds to the film's appeal for me.) Highly recommended, if you can find it.
By the way, Crockett Johnson is going to pop up here again in a few weeks.
WRAPPING UP
Not a whole lot happening this week, it seems. Let's make up for that with some music for Monday.
Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend. I'll be heading to the Big Flea! It's antique wing time.
After a kind of moderate last week, the heat is back with a vengeance this week. Ewww! COME ON FALL! Eddie's sweating and waiting! (TMI?)
It's so hot right now that we went to a large outdoor sale on Saturday with dozens of vendors and I just flat gave up in the middle of it all and quit. I ain't built for this any more. I did make one super-fabulous find, though. Check back tomorrow to see it.
Not only is it awesome, but it's a total keeper.
I put off starting my big booth redo for a couple of days to finish up some things here at the house. Part of that work is outdoors, and I am dreading it.
Speaking of the booth, I think the summer sales slump is wrapping up. I've had really good sales all last week, except for one day. Lots of potatoes and bigger and bigger ladles of gravy. Yum! I'm going to come out of this month well ahead of where I've been the last three. It's still not where I like it to be, but any improvement over recent history is welcome.
LOOK WHAT I FOUND THE OTHER DAY!
Just the table, not the junk on it. It was sitting on the curb at the bottom of the hill the other day as I was rushing to catch the bus. I figured it would be gone by the time I got home, but it was still there. It was kind of hidden by some tree branches. I wouldn't have seen it originally if I hadn't been walking down that side of the street, which is not something I usually do.
I got one of those looks from Keith when he saw it, so I told him that it was "perfectly primitive." That's also what I put on the tag.
HEY PAM AT VIRGINIA RETRO!
I'll see you your painted turtle and ladybug rocks....
And raise you one painted barn rock!
Okay, so you really did paint yours, and I just found this one, but I thought it was cool and it did make me think of you.
Those that can, paint. Those that can't, buy.
Check out Pam's blog, if you haven't already.
THE THINGS YOU LEARN WHILE DINING OUT
Pikachu likes Mexican food.
My last latte appointed me a professor. Of what, I have no clue.
And the most recent fortune cookie wisdom.
DVD OF THE WEEK
This is an absolutely charming short animated film from 1966, directed by the wonderfully talented Gene Deitch. The full title is Alice of Wonderland in Paris. Alice meets a mouse named Francois, who takes her to Paris so she can fulfill her dream of meeting Madeline, of the children's book series. Along the way they swap stories, which become the various segments of the movie. Art for each story is provided by creators such as Ludwig Bemelmens (creator of Madeline), Crockett Johnson (creator of Harold and the Purple Crayon), and New Yorker cartoonist James Thurber. There's not much else in the way of plot, but the whole thing is just too sweet and totally endearing. (I'm also a great fan of both Thurber and Johnson, which adds to the film's appeal for me.) Highly recommended, if you can find it.
By the way, Crockett Johnson is going to pop up here again in a few weeks.
WRAPPING UP
Not a whole lot happening this week, it seems. Let's make up for that with some music for Monday.
Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend. I'll be heading to the Big Flea! It's antique wing time.
Sunday, March 01, 2015
Sometimes...
......You just wanna hear a good old, rock-solid, stone cold country song! This one fits the bill nicely.
You're welcome.
You're welcome.
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