Dolly Parton died at age 80 on Tuesday after a short battle with cancer, leaving behind a legacy of greatness, both in music and as a person, that will never be forgotten. She wrote an astonishing 3,000 songs or more, and many turned into real gems.
That was part of the overlooked aspect of Parton's music: while she has a clear and beautiful voice, she was at heart an elite singer-songwriter. She used country music as her vehicle, but as the covers below show, she could have performed in the rock arena and been just as good.
That is the mark of a great artist. They don't get hemmed in by labels, but their talent exceeds that. Such was the case with the iconic Dolly, and she deserved all the adoration she received.
Covers of Dolly Parton songs by rock artists that should just how great the original songs were
White Stripes - "Jolene"
Part of the genius of this often covered song is the dichotomy between intensity and calm, and Jack and Meg White use that to the hilt. The rage in White's voice doesn't sound much like Parton's vocal style, but that is, of course, intentional.
This song has been covered so many times by so many various artists that one could create 10 articles alone on the renditions, but the White Stripes' stark and slightly scary version is the most volcanic, and, arguably, the best.
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - "I Will Always Love You"
A great cover by maybe the best cover band on Earth? Of course. Me First... (now called Spike and the Gimme Gimmes) also has a "Jolene" cover. It is excellent too, but the slow-tempo Parton classic cover gets the nod here for the sheer difference between the original and the Me First... tune.
As with most songs from the band, the tune is punk and fast and, mostly, pure fun. That is the point of music anyway, right? Whether a track is slow and emotional or fast and sarcastic, the music is made to be enjoyed. That is the case with both versions of this song.
Sinead O'Connor - "Dagger Through the Heart"
O'Connor was a rock artist, of course, but one who never quite left her Celtic origins behind. On this cover, she takes a different approach, choosing to go into Parton's world of country. O'Connor pulls it off pretty well, too.
The song appears on a fantastic collection of Parton covers called Just Because I'm a Woman: The Songs of Dolly Parton, which also features artists such as Alison Krauss and Me'shell N'degeocello. O'Connor goes full-on country on her turn, and it's brilliant.
Marianne Faithfull - "Down from Dover"
Faithfull is often overlooked for her musical ability. She has delivered some excellent gems that crossed many genres. ON her cover here, she adds many of the elements that have made her a worthy listen.
Rightfully so, Faithfull also gives fans a Van Morrison feel to the tune, showing just how close Parton's pure country can be to Morrison's jazz-style Irish R&B. Both kinds of music have the same origins, but it took Faithfull's excellence to expose just how much of an overlap there is.
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