We will always love these Dolly Parton songs. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the all time Dolly Parton BANGERS!
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00:00 Time to bow for service and devotion
00:04 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the all-time Dolly Parton bangers.
00:09 Islands in the street, that is what we own
00:14 Number 10. Bygones
00:18 Can you forgive me? It's true I've made mistakes, but so have you
00:24 Dolly Parton's 49th album, Rockstar, wasn't the first time this country music legend adapted
00:30 other forms of music for crossover success, but it may be among the most unique. That's
00:35 because it featured, filtered among many covers of classic rock anthems, originals like Bygones.
00:41 When you break a trust it's painful To find the one you love's your angel
00:46 Dolly's partner on this track is none other than Judas Priest's Rob Halford,
00:51 an insanely talented singer in his own right. This musical marriage works well within the
00:55 context of Bygones, as Halford's naturally theatrical voice melds with Parton's smooth
01:00 delivery in such a fascinating way. How long must you punish me?
01:06 It may seem strange for the country faithful to hear her vocals in the context of such a heavy
01:11 song, but we think it absolutely rocks. Let Bygones be Bygones
01:19 Number 9. Starting Over Again
01:21 Mama moved out, Daddy sold the house
01:27 Parton may not have written the single from her Dolly, Dolly, Dolly album, but she had some pretty
01:32 formidable assistance from the person who did, disco queen Donna Summer. Starting Over Again
01:37 doesn't sound like Summer's musical pedigree, however, which helps make it feel like it
01:41 belongs to Parton instead.
01:42 Got an apartment, she moved in with her sisters
01:48 The lyrics to Starting Over Again are melancholic, told from the perspective of a married couple
01:53 going their separate ways after many years together.
01:56 Starting over again, now where do you begin?
02:03 Dolly lends much warmth and humanity to the song, while the slow ballad arrangements
02:08 underline the sadness behind Starting Over Again and its unique point of view.
02:12 When your dreams are all shattered, and your kids are all scared
02:18 Number 8. Baby I'm Burnin'
02:20 You look at me that way, I know what you're I say, your eyes reflect love and desire
02:27 Baby I'm Burnin' is taken from Dolly's 1978 album Heartbreaker, and it shows. The song
02:32 feels tailor-made to the dance-centric landscape of 1970s pop radio, a crossover hit for Dolly
02:38 that proved she could adapt to the times.
02:40 The way that you love me, the way that you touch me, the way that you whisper my name
02:47 Parton's country roots always shine through everything she does, and this is also true
02:51 with Baby I'm Burnin'. Sure, the arrangements may feel more than their share, but Parton's
02:56 sweet vocals are equal parts melodic and playful.
02:59 Oh baby I'm burnin' out of control Baby I'm burnin' heart and soul
03:06 This combination of musical heart and an openness to trying new things
03:10 makes Baby I'm Burnin' feel like a great way for Dolly to stretch her creative legs.
03:14 Hot as a fierce dog, the flame in me is higher Baby I'm burnin' you got me on fire
03:21 Number 7. Here You Come Again
03:23 Here you come again
03:26 Songwriting can be a magical process, particularly during a collaboration.
03:31 Dolly worked with songwriting legends Barry Mann and Cynthia Wile for Here You Come Again in 1977.
03:37 All you gotta do is smile that smile
03:42 This was an attempt to broaden the Parton brand for a pop audience,
03:45 although Dolly has been quoted as demanding steel guitar be included on the tune,
03:49 in order to anchor it to her country roots.
03:52 You're messing up my mind, filling up my senses
03:57 This was a smart move on her part, since this edition does exactly that,
04:01 making Here You Come Again a light and loose pop ballad with that classic country twang.
04:06 Here you come again
04:10 Number 6. Little Sparrow
04:12 Little sparrow, little sparrow
04:18 Dolly Parton's Little Sparrow album from 2001 signified another form of branching out for the
04:24 country legend, but this time it wasn't pop, rock, or disco that was on the menu, but tradition.
04:30 All ye maidens heed my warning
04:34 Folk, bluegrass, gospel, and blues all permeated this wonderful album,
04:40 but the title track is truly on another level.
04:43 I would find him, I would find him
04:46 The song's unaccompanied intro highlights just how powerful and dynamic Dolly's face still was
04:52 in the new millennium. While the backing instrumentation is gorgeously evocative,
04:56 the lyrical content is equally bittersweet. A feminist anthem that celebrates strength,
05:01 mourns weakness, and calls to its audience to listen deeply and reflect.
05:06 Little sparrow
05:08 Number 5. The Bargain Store
05:12 My life is likened to a bargain store
05:16 The confessional and often cinematic nature of country music is an aspect that brings
05:21 listeners coming back again and again to rediscover their favorite songs.
05:25 The Bargain Store is classic country through and through, a story about a woman's emotional
05:30 state after some negative experiences in her romantic life. Why you take for instance this
05:35 old broken heart It's the arrangements here that really make The Bargain Store such a striking
05:41 song, from the almost rock hook of the guitar, to the backing vocals and subtle melodic choices
05:47 behind the chorus. My life is likened to a bargain store
05:51 It's a little quirky, super memorable, and a classic cut from one of Dolly Parton's most
05:58 unique albums. And who doesn't love a giant metaphor? The Bargain Store is often coming back
06:10 Number 4. 9 to 5
06:12 Tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen Pour myself a cup of ambition
06:16 And yawn and stretch and try to come to life
06:19 Dolly Parton has made a number of memorable movie appearances over the years, but it's perhaps
06:24 1980's 9 to 5 that serves as her most high-profile co-starring role. Parton sang the title song,
06:30 and her album 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs was something of a companion piece to her contributions to
06:35 that film's soundtrack. 9 to 5 just knows that it has a million dollar chorus, so it wastes no time
06:46 in getting there. Dolly sings her heart out with charm and charisma, and a passion that makes you
06:50 feel like she's really lived the day job struggle. The arrangements feel more poppy than Parton's
06:59 older material, and 9 to 5 is still performed live for her legions of admirers all around the world.
07:05 Number 3. Coat of Many Colors
07:13 Back through the years I go wondering once again
07:18 Some of the best Dolly Parton songs are those that reflect upon her youth
07:22 and her upbringing. Coat of Many Colors is absolutely one of these tunes,
07:26 a classic fan-favorite Dolly song that possesses so much emotional resonance.
07:31 "And I didn't have a coat, and it was way down in the fall."
07:36 There are biblical themes that can be inferred, sure, but it's also about familial love and pride.
07:42 The chorus is a tear-jerking combination of heartbreaking honesty and lyrical poignancy.
07:47 "And I just couldn't wait to wear it, and mama blessed it with a kiss."
07:54 The sort of song that makes country fans hold this music closer to their hearts.
07:58 Meanwhile, it serves as a great way for those not familiar with the genre to be exposed to
08:02 one of its all-time greats. "In my coat of many colors, mama made for me."
08:09 Number 2. Jolene
08:13 "Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene."
08:18 If one is seeking out honest-to-goodness proof concerning Dolly Parton's enviable songwriting
08:23 process, let's just admire the fact that Jolene was apparently composed by the singer in a single
08:28 day. "Your smile is like a breath of spring, your voice is soft like summer rain."
08:33 Many artists would work weeks, months, or even years to acquire a song that possesses the same
08:38 emotional resonance as Jolene, but here Dolly is with her God-given gift of song.
08:43 "You could have your choice of men that I could never love again."
08:47 To be fair, Chip Young's guitar work also serves as some formidable glue to hold Jolene
08:52 all together, but elsewhere, it's the combination of Dolly's soaring vocals and those iconic lyrics
08:57 that makes this song just about perfect. "Please don't take him just for college again."
09:03 Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
09:08 "Just Because I'm a Woman." Dolly rebukes a double standard.
09:12 "Just because I'm a woman."
09:15 "I Know You by Heart." Dolly and Smokey in the 80s.
09:19 "Evening Shade." Parton executes a murder ballad.
09:30 "They cared even less at evening shade."
09:35 "The River Unbroken." A smooth and slinky single.
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10:00 Number 1. "I Will Always Love You." "If I should stay."
10:07 A good song is a good song, regardless of genre. And with 1974's "I Will Always Love You,"
10:15 Dolly Parton composed one that belongs on the medium's proverbial Mount Rushmore.
10:19 "I would only be in your ways."
10:26 If you can listen to that achingly beautiful chorus and not shed a tear,
10:30 then you are truly stronger than us, because this one gets us every time. "I Will Always
10:35 Love You" certainly gained a new lease on life when it was covered by another voice of her
10:39 generation, Whitney Houston, but Parton's original is something truly special.
10:44 "And I wish you joy and happiness."
10:48 It's a masterpiece of simplicity and honesty that transcends songwriting
10:53 to become what just may be the national anthem of country music.
10:56 What's your favorite Dolly Parton song? Let us know in the comments.
11:09 Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
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