Todd In The Shadows Reviews "Jolene" by Beyonce

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Todd in the Shadows does a deep dive into the pre-history of Cowboy Carter, reviews the cover of the country classic, and makes an AOTY prediction in the wake of TTPD's release.

Beyonce's "Jolene"
- Todd in the Shadows (@ShadowTodd) April 4, 2024

Have you added Jolene by Beyonce to your playlist?

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Comments

[stoppelhopser]

I'm a Dolly fan and to me, Beyoncé's version is really good. I like this more aggressive, less submissive version. And Dolly approved, so if it's fine with her, it's fine with me, too.

[goldenhera]

I also think people are missing the throughline of this new version of Jolene and Tyrant which is in some way the perspective of a Jolene-like figure.

[ellie_andrews]

same! i think i prefer Dolly's version but i like that Beyonce did something different w it bc, like Todd, i initially thought "really? another Jolene cover?" lol

[melancolour]

totally agreed

[blahblahcakes64]

I always find it really interesting that people don't see why an aggressive version is an interesting and valid choice, when IMO the implicit subtext of the original "Jolene" is that Jolene has a reputation for being a man-stealer...

Anyway I really liked that energy! (Obligatory of course the man is bad too, it takes two to cheat, etc. just to head off the inevitable.)

[goldenhera]

Absolutely. And there is vulnerability in anger! The song is very Ring the Alarm, expressing hurt through rage. Tbh, I relate more to that than the simpering in the original Jolene (which I also love!).

[calliope1975]

I view Dolly's version as kind of sad that this woman is begging to keep her man. And I've been viewing Bey's version of it as 'I'm a badass, you won't take my man', then following the thru-line with Tyrant that it is never about the woman. A man gonna do what he do.