Aimee Laux Laux

ENG 1201

Prof. Sobocinski

4 February 2020

I Will Always Love You

In the song “ I Will Always Love You” sung by Dolly Parton, the main claim is that

if you love someone then you are willing to make sacrifices, even your own happiness to

give them what they need; even though it might be tough to walk away from that

person it doesn’t mean you’ll forget them or lose your love. In the same song by

Whitney Houston, the claim is similar. She didn’t have to walk away from anyone, but

even though they were separated, she will never forget that person or the love between

them. The two songs and videos declare that if you truly love someone, you will always

love them no matter what happens between you.

In Dolly’s music video, they open up the scene in what appears to be a house

getting ready to be sold, which could be a picture of change and moving on. Inside this

house, a man asks Dolly to take him as her husband. Dolly gives several reasons for why

they can’t be together because she would shame his public image, but she makes it

known that she wishes it could work between them. She starts singing about how she
will always love him even though they won’t be able to be together. The man is upset

after she sings and says these things which appeal to pathos.

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During Whitney’s music video, it starts with Whitney singing the song while

reminiscing on memories that appeal to pathos by showing the extreme emotion and

desire to be with the man she loves. One particular memory shows the care between

them; Whitney is in the middle of a past performance when the crowd gets too

rambunctious and pulls her down among them where she is clearly scared and

uncomfortable. The man notices and races to reach her, even shoving to make his way

to her as fast as he can. Once there, he fights the crowd away and picks her up in a

comforting fashion and carries her off stage. In another memory, you see the two

playing around with each other as Whitney held a sword. She pretended to hold it up to

the man who was not fazed at all; he took the sword from her, and then the memory

closes with them looking lovingly into each other’s eyes and leaning in for a kiss. As the

memories pan out, it becomes apparent that the two were separated through travel or

physical distance. This is shown by the two being frustratingly separated by an airplane.

All of these memories are evidence of first- hand experience. With the dramatic pauses

in the song along with the emotional contribution by Whitney’s soulful voice, and

additional touching memories playing in the background, this truly is a moving video.

These two videos relate because of the similarity in their claims. That true love

will never be forgotten or lost. The audience this really reaches out too is younger
people who are in love but separated by distance or by unfortunate circumstances. In

Dolly’s video, it seems to be especially so for the typical middle-class couple, for

Whitney’s, it could be specifically for an audience of show-business people. As the

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rambunctious crowd memory is playing, the man is seen with an earpiece and Whitney

is performing. Regardless of occupation, both music videos are sung to show that

whoever is singing the song, will never forget the love between them and whoever the

song is being sung too. Both music videos appeal to pathos, or stir the viewer’s feelings,

through powerful images and vocal arrangements. Whitney’s powerful images were

shown in her memories displayed throughout the video and Dolly’s imagery was shown

in the changes inside the house which resemble the changes about to happen in her life.

They make you emotional by showing the feelings between her and the man who just

proposed to her by seeing how much they want each other yet knowing it could never

work with them. Including how upsetting it is to Dolly and the man makes me pity them

as well as makes me sad because I imagine that happening between me and someone

that I love. It puts the viewer in their position and experience what they’re going

through; a mile in their shoes if you will.

In conclusion, the song “I Will Always Love You”, is performed to portray the

feelings of agape like love between the performer and their audience. That even

through trials or separation, there will always be loving memories and adoration for that

specific person.
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Works Cited

“I Will Always Love You.” Performance by Whitney Houston, YouTube, YouTube, 2010,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU. Opened 4 February 2020

“I Will Always Love You.” Performance by Dolly Parton, YouTube, YouTube, 2006,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_utP1mGoutQ. Opened 4 February 2020