Ah, Dolly Parton! Take away the tits, take away the glitz, take away the glamour, take away the wgs and the rhinestones and the plastic surgery and Dollywood and so on and just exactly what are we left with?
Well, only the most prolific female songwriter in Country (and Pop) music history, and one of nature’s great natural singers. Her songbook is an archetype, a canon paralleled by few.
On the surface, Parton’s songs might seem like easily accessible melodies and that assessment isn’t entirely incorrect. But more often than not you need to pull off the layers of underlying innuendo or urgency or [insert topic of lyric here]. The dichotomy of joy and dread was a natural emotion.
Who would sing what, who’ll choose my faves, do these kids really understand Dolly, and just what would Kristy Lee Cook decimate this week were all valid questions.
The night gave us nothing revelatory, but it was an overall satisfying evening. Here’s how it went down…
Brook White
Song: Jolene
My grade: B
“Coat Of Many Colors” was tailor-made for White, so i licked my lips in anticipation for a sure-fire winner. Well, I had to settle for less when she went with “Jolene”. Great song, for certain, but she gave a passionless reading of a dark Dolly classic that demonstrated one of White’s weaknesses: sometimes she’s not in total control or her voice. Tonight that prevented her from concentrating on the lyrical content; “Jolene” is a song of desperation, sung in a hushed, restrained exigency by Parton to further signify the woman’s anxiety. Brooke lumbered along, even smiley-eyed, seemingly hurried in the process. And her kooky sassiness when addressing the judges is becoming a major nuisance, too, as she’s slowly morphing into a less endearing Idol as the weeks progress.
Dolly’s version:
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David Cook
Song: Little Sparrow
My grade: B+
Wow, talk about damage control. Apparently Cook (or the producers) was feeling the bad publicity heat over “Covergate” because he singularly listed, in one sentence, every cover of a cover he’s ‘borrowed’ these past few weeks. And I don’t know how many magicians it took, but the boy was looking hot tonight. (He, as an owner of a handball court above his brows, I have a weakness for protruding foreheads. Well, not ALL of them!). His very won interpretation of “Little Sparrow” was well-sung not over-sung (a nice adjustment for Cook), displaying an effectively beautiful strained falsetto. Who knew?
Dolly doin’ it live:
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Ramiele Malubay
Song: Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?
My grade: C+
Not long for this Idol world, unless thesejokesters have anything to say about it, this could be the end of the road for this sweet, sincere, and – well, let’s call a spade a spade, shall we – out-of-her-league hack. Surprisingly, no one – okay, Simon – used the phrase ‘karaoke’ because that’s exactly what it was. It was a melody she couldn’t stabilize, (her voice) shaking nervously like Clay Aiken at the Playboy Mansion.
Dolly doin’ it live:
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Jason Castro
Song: Travelin’ Thru
My grade: C+
Not sure how grand an idea it was for a boy pretty enough to be a girl to sing a song about a pre-op trannsexual. But I digress…and I do so for a reason: what the hell else is there to talk about? I mean, Jason has consistently proven to be the most non-diverse Idol, probably ever. Stringing together every Castro moment of the season would be akin to watching a musical version of “Reefer Madness”.
Dolly:
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Carly Smithson
Song: Here You Come Again
My grade: A-
I really wish I liked Carly more than I do. As a talent, there’s no denying. Even at her worst, she can sing the balls off everyone in this competition. I know, a few weeks back I wrote that I must continue this season as if I’ve never hear of all the lying and hypocrisy that Idol has perpetuated regarding Carly, Randy, EMI blah blah (and look at that! I didn’t even link a story about it! Maturity is a gift that keeps on giving!). But it is kinda hard to do. Despite Simon’s misgivings (perhaps he is playing devil’s advocate, as Ricky has suggested) this was another striking vocal from Smithson. Not sure who’s to credit for the arrangement, but steering clear of the pop-machination of the original, she saved herself from certain silliness. Her only flaw – and it might be happenstance – is that even at her most vocally assured, there seems to be a disconnect; instead of believing in the product, she just wants the commission on the sale. That leaves me cold. But only sometimes.
Dolly live:
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David Archuleta
Song: Smokey Mountain Memories
My grade: A-
Well, I’ll be damned ir ArchuD2 wasn’t wearing his magic Mormon underwear tonight! This was so endearing, so faithful, and so steadfastly believable that I can clearly overlook the one or two rough spots (his runs of get the best of him, and that high note, while not ‘off-key’ sounded off). And i counted only two lick lips (maybe lp-smacking is only prevalent when he’s less-than-confident?). s vocals are rarely perfect, but it’s that imperfection that stuns you into submission when he bares his young soul. Nicely done – a great save from last week’s derivative stink bomb.
Dolly does her thing:
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Kristy Lee Cook
Song: Coat Of Many Colors
My grade: C
I would say that it wasn’t terrible, but I’ve forgotten it already. So, re-listening to it. the most I can say is that it wasn’t terrible. But, I forgot it already.
Dolly’s version:
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Syesha Mercado
Song: I WIll Always Love You
My grade: B+
Forgoing the grandiloquent Whitney version, Syesha gave a subdued, beautiful and faithful reading of this sentimental classic. For 1 minute and 20 seconds. Then, Houston, we had a problem – this went from American Idol to amateur night on Showtime At The Apollo. I’m not exactly why she felt the need to bash us over the head and morph the rest of the song into bombastic Whitney territory, but by doing so she a) risks the comparison sure to follow, and b) showcases her historical weakness; when she goes for the power highs, they almost without fail end up descending in defeat. Is she sustained the passive, gorgeous yearn, this could have been a “A” week. For now, upped a grade to “B+” for 1 minute and 20 seconds of unadulterated beauty.
Hee Haw Dolly:
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Michael Johns
Song: It’s All Wrong, But It’s All Right
My grade: A-
Clearly the most ferventvocal of the night, Johns – singing to me, by the way – took one of my favorite Parton compositions and sexed it up into a smoky, bluesy sensual smogasbord of heat and passion and want. Whew, someone hand me a moist towelette! He could have easily wandered into Bolt territory, or worse yet, Taylor hicks-ville, but he stayed on the course to succeed with his best performance to date. If Jason Castro personifies aural narcolepsy, then Johns seeps aural sex. And there ain’t nothing wrong with aural sex.
Dolly’s version (can’t find a video of her doing the song, so you’re stuck with this weird thingamajig):
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TOp 3? Clearly Johns, Smithson and Archu. Bottom? Hmmm, well, this will sound familiar: Remiele, Jason and Kristy. That Ramiele and Kristy outlasted Chikezie solidifies and justifies a recount.
Read Jim’s always superb MTV recap HERE.
