The first time I heard Jolene was Jack White's version. I thought it was kinda cool the way he sang the lyrics of a song about a woman begging another woman not to steal her guy without trying to change the gender of the storyteller.
I didn't hear Dolly's version until I was at my father-in-law's place and it was playing on the radio. I told him the tempo was way too fast and combined with Parton's squeaky voice sounded like The Chipmunks.
Then I found this on the internets and my suspicions were confirmed.
Frankly I think this sounds way better and is also a much better tempo for the sad and desperate tone of the lyric.
Believe it or not, the first time I heard the song was White Stripes doing it live and I loved the way the chorus really hit in that version, but also liked the eerie quality of the original (the fast one). What you posted is good too. I just like the song overall, really.
Yeah if someone had played that for me and not told me is was Dolly's version slowed down to 33 1/3 I would have thought it was some guy I'd never heard of . It's frikkin' eerie. If all her stuff sounds that good slowed down I need to buy it and then figure out how to reduce the speed by 25%. LOL
To be honest, I'm having a hard time believing that's just her slowed down 25%. I don't know if her voice would go THAT deep from that little slow-down.
It's easy enough to prove. You've got access to a turntable right? Find the single, change the speed to 33 1/3 and play it,
I would if I were still in Nac, not now though.
"One of the prettiest, sanginist, songwritinist little blondes in country music."
Yea, that voice is high and fast isn't it. That 33 rpm version made me think it was the Jack White version.
I really like Jack's version.
I read some idiot on Youtube saying that a man singing it makes it about a man asking a woman not to take his man.When someone tells a story, does the character's gender change depending on whether the raconteur is male or female? I don't think so but even if it does, who cares?
Exactly, who cares. The feelings are the same. Jack really gets into it doesn't he.
Yeah and then looking at that particular Dolly performance it seems almost phoned in. No sense of expression or emotion. She looks like she didn't want to be there.
Did you notice the hair on both Dolly and the host. Wow! Talk about an ocean of hairspray.
i like the slowed down version. A good song is a good song, I guess.
That was pretty cool. I have to say I agree with Super, I'm just a little skeptical. She has a really strong accent, it didn't sound as prevelant in the slow version. Actaully I need to listen to it again.lol This is going to drive me crazy until I figure it out.
Ok after a second listen to both versions, I beleive its legit. The local college radio station does this all the times. They play a lot of vinyl and the 19 & 20 year dj's don't always understand the ancient equipment they are working with. Usually half way through a song it with either speed up or slow down where it supposed to be. And like you I felt some of the songs sounded better in an alternate tempo.lol
Awesome. I like it. I like the original too. I've always liked Dolly Parton.
Watched Dolly @ the Glastonbury festival o TV, ladies, still got it 
Never was much of a fan of this kind of lyrical vocal reworking. usually fouund the chimpumking annoying and too shrill for my taste.
Wow this is really interesting, and sounds good at 33rpm. I wonder if when she sang this, she, or the producers knew this is what it would sound like. Kind of a cool easter egg if they did.
I'm really digging the slowed-down version of the song compared to the original, which I already liked.