Absolutely not, these lyrics are cringe and they reek of insecurity and are pretty much not feminist, blaming the other woman while idolizing the cheating husband.
Also "and I can easily understand why you're attracted to my man" had me fucking dying, be for fucking real, Beyoncé, this is Ariana Grande levels of delulu.
I forget who said it on Twitter, but they said Beyonce's version falls completely flat because what makes Dolly's work is the dignity behind the desperate vulnerability and Beyonce's message somehow manages to looks more pathetic compared to Dolly's.
Yeah Dolly’s lyrics don’t read like she blames Jolene, just that she’s desperate to keep him. It’s a very sad, insecure and vulnerable song. It doesn’t shame Jolene, and in the song it feels like even Dolly knows the guy sucks lol.
the original Jolene works because its just a sad (and sapphic) portrait of an extremely desperate and vulnerable woman, putting love before pride or dignity. the chorus repeating Jolene’s name is the narrator begging and pleading with this woman for mercy.
imo Beyonce’s version is bizarre bc its just as pathetic yet the narrator is posturing as a bad bitch. and its preceded by a skit with Dolly specifically referencing ‘Becky with the good hair’ so Beyonce is deliberately reminding people this song is supposed to be about a woman (women lbr) Jay Z already slept with . the song is saying to his mistress “hey don’t sleep with him AGAIN or ill make you regret it!”
also “I raised that man” from a woman who was a teenager when she started dating a 30 year old is INSANE
"imo Beyonce’s version is bizarre bc its just as pathetic yet the narrator is posturing as a bad bitch."
See, I feel like I could fully get behind Bey's version if that were its intention-- a sad attempt to try to come off as a bad bitch. Like similarly desperate as Dolly's version, but from another angle. but since Beyonce actually does want it to be empowering, it just lacks self-awareness.
it immediately reminded me of Loretta Lynns “Fist City”, same vibes and philosophy about aiming thier vitriol against ‘the other woman’ and instead of their lousy man ala Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” or Blue Cantrell’s “Hit ‘Em Up Style”.
sure, i get that some or even most listeners and fans will feel empowered to scream out the lyrics but the current young gens really aren’t about that life anymore and often times is the struggle of older women/people who are stuck in a relationship with a lousy man and likely young children. it is what it is but obviously the youth are gonna be louder about it on the internet but for some ladies, its a safer take, aiming their rage against the other woman instead of their provider.
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Like nobody wants Sean like that, B please
She's gonna regret these lyrics when he's trying to fly off to the Caribbean in that private jet she bought him when the FBI raid his house next
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she's gonna regret that album title, CARTER
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Also "and I can easily understand why you're attracted to my man" had me fucking dying, be for fucking real, Beyoncé, this is Ariana Grande levels of delulu.
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imo Beyonce’s version is bizarre bc its just as pathetic yet the narrator is posturing as a bad bitch. and its preceded by a skit with Dolly specifically referencing ‘Becky with the good hair’ so Beyonce is deliberately reminding people this song is supposed to be about a woman (women lbr) Jay Z already slept with . the song is saying to his mistress “hey don’t sleep with him AGAIN or ill make you regret it!”
also “I raised that man” from a woman who was a teenager when she started dating a 30 year old is INSANE
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See, I feel like I could fully get behind Bey's version if that were its intention-- a sad attempt to try to come off as a bad bitch. Like similarly desperate as Dolly's version, but from another angle. but since Beyonce actually does want it to be empowering, it just lacks self-awareness.
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sure, i get that some or even most listeners and fans will feel empowered to scream out the lyrics but the current young gens really aren’t about that life anymore and often times is the struggle of older women/people who are stuck in a relationship with a lousy man and likely young children. it is what it is but obviously the youth are gonna be louder about it on the internet but for some ladies, its a safer take, aiming their rage against the other woman instead of their provider.
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