Analyzing visual text

Dolly Parton first released the song “jolene” on October 15th, 1973. Later the

song would go down in the grammy’s hall of fame and be covered by many different

artists. One of which happens to be Miley Cyrus, who covered the song in December

24th, 2012. “You could have your choice of men But I could never love again” by the

lyrics you can feel the potential heartbreak and pain Dolly is singing about. Something

that most people can relate to, even Miley. Both versions of the song carry of weight of

emotion that many people can relate to.

Dolly said that this song was inspired by a beautiful women who worked at the

bank her husband went to. They were newly married and the flirting that went on

between the two was frightening to her. In order to cope with the anxiety that jolene

gave her, she wrote a song about it. A song that would live on for many generation that

would feel the same emotions that Dolly wrote about.

Miley grew up in the public eye which causes some problems when it comes to

privacy. Since she was a young girl, Miley has also been in the news no matter what

she did. Her relationships have been plastered all over the front page, which tells us

that she has had her fair share of heartbreak. Through her cover of the song you can

almost feel the pain that she has gone through. If anyone was qualified to be singing

“Jolene”, it was Miley.

Dolly’s video is strictly lyrics, whereas, Miley had a music video with her in a field

with a live band. Both versions of this song had a simple idea to the viewer, but the

strong lyrics are enough to draw you in. In a interview Dolly explains how most people

can relate to the feeling of not being good enough for their partner. Especially when
there is another person in the picture who you might be threatened by. That’s why so

many have covered this song and so many continue to play it. Both versions of the song

show the genuine emotion of heartbreak and fear of losing the one you love.

Mrs. Parton’s video was for a more mature audience, whereas Miley has a much

younger demographic. Dolly’s fans were able to sympathize with the singer about the

pain of the song. However, many of Miley’s fans are to young to have felt the kind of

heartbreak that it talked about in the song “Jolene”. Young and old alike have listen and

sang this song, no matter if they could relate to it or not. Both videos can be more

related to by females because of the narrative that the lyrics sing about. However, many

men have felt the heartbreak of not being good enough for their partner.

Dolly and Miley have had a unique relationship, which makes there shared pains

even more special. Miley was the star of the hit tv show “Hannah Montana” which Dolly

played her aunt. In real life their relationship was godmother and goddaughter. It makes

their connection to the song and each other all the more meaningful. Two generations of

women who understand the same pain and struggle.

The song “Jolene” appeals to Pathos because of the severe emotions that this

song relays to the listener. Pathos is a quality that evokes pity or sadness. In Dolly’s

and Miley’s versions of this song make the audience feel how Dolly felt when she wrote

the song. It definitely invokes pity into the heart of many who have gone through a

similar situation. Many can relate to the lyrics, which is why both versions of the song

were very popular.

Dolly claimed that she was surprised that “Jolene” did as well as it did. For the

sheer fact that the lyrics are just barely two hundred words and most of them are
repeating the same line. However, It will go down in history as one of the most famous

Dolly Parton songs. Miley’s version of the song “Jolene” also did very well on youtube

with over two hundred and forty-four million views.

They even came together to sing the song “Jolene” together live. For the

Hallmark Channel's 2010 special 25 Years of Dollywood, Cyrus joined her godmother

on the stage for a duet of "Jolene." The special was filmed in front of a live audience at

the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee. This brought a unqince look into the

relationship between the two artist who sang this song.

The two versions of the song “Jolene”, Miley’s and Dolly’s, are both powerful

enough to convey one of the most intense emotions that can be felt. They are definitely

more similar than they are different. Miley stuck close to the original tune and theme

that Dolly had intended. No matter which video you decide to watch, you can hear the

emotion that is being carried through the lyrics.

Work cited

Vitale, Tom. “Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' Still Haunts Singers.” NPR, NPR, 9 Oct. 2008,

www.npr.org/2008/10/09/95520570/dolly-partons-jolene-still-haunts-singers.

Keegan, Kayla. “Dolly Parton's ‘Jolene’ Lyrics Were Inspired By a Real Situation

With Her Husband.” Good Housekeeping, Good Housekeeping, 6 Apr. 2020,

www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a29873267/dolly-parton-jolene-

song-lyrics-meaning/.