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Jolene Speaks
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Abstract
Answer songs were especially popular in country music in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, and “Jolene” is a song that begs for an answer. Several artists have recorded “Jolene” answer songs from Jolene’s viewpoint. This chapter discusses five examples. In “Jolene’s Reply” by alternative rock band White Rabbit Object, Jolene takes a “sorry, not sorry” stance, while in “Caroline” by Kirsty MacColl, the Jolene character feels guilty about sleeping with her best friend’s husband. Three other answer songs take a different approach: Jennifer Nettles, “That Girl”; Cam, “Diane”; Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, “Never Wanted to Be That Girl.” In them, Jolene is unhappy being the other woman and mortified at finding herself in that position. Jolene seeks to protect and empower the betrayed woman in three of the songs, and an alliance between the women, rather than competition, is possible.
Title: Jolene Speaks
Description:
Abstract
Answer songs were especially popular in country music in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, and “Jolene” is a song that begs for an answer.
Several artists have recorded “Jolene” answer songs from Jolene’s viewpoint.
This chapter discusses five examples.
In “Jolene’s Reply” by alternative rock band White Rabbit Object, Jolene takes a “sorry, not sorry” stance, while in “Caroline” by Kirsty MacColl, the Jolene character feels guilty about sleeping with her best friend’s husband.
Three other answer songs take a different approach: Jennifer Nettles, “That Girl”; Cam, “Diane”; Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, “Never Wanted to Be That Girl.
” In them, Jolene is unhappy being the other woman and mortified at finding herself in that position.
Jolene seeks to protect and empower the betrayed woman in three of the songs, and an alliance between the women, rather than competition, is possible.
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