Songwriter: Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton – What is there to say about her? She’s a country music icon, and one of the greatest female artists ever heard in this genre - in depth of talent, and in scale of success. Songs like “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You” are songs that will stay with us for a lifetime. Indeed, Dolly Parton is unquestionably a living legend.
With the above facts in mind, it’s only natural and justified that we would have high expectations of any new music released by an artist of such lofty stature (in terms of career accomplishments, of course, not in physical height). Of course, you don’t come up with a “Jolene” or an “I Will Always Love You” every time you put a pen to paper, even if you are a songwriter as talented as Dolly. Still, one would rightly expect that any new Dolly song, whether it be a ballad or a ditty, would be something interesting and engaging that you can lose yourself in while listening to it.
I don’t hear that in Dolly’s new single “Together You and I.” All I hear is an inoffensive distraction – a safe, middle-of-the-road pop-country tune. As a shunned veteran artist who hasn’t had a radio hit in nearly twenty years (No, “When I Get Where I’m Going” does not count), Dolly has made no secret of the fact that she wants to be re-embraced by country radio. With that in mind, one might see this new offering as primarily a calculated attempt to snag some radio airplay.
It’s hard to get into lyrics like “My love for you is deeper than the depth of any ocean,” especially coming from an artist who has routinely shown that she can do much better. As an extra downer, “Together You and I” is weighed down by cluttered, over-polished production. Even Dolly’s distinctive voice is stained with unnecessary vocal processing and echo effects.
It’s hard to give Dolly a negative review, but I can’t blindly accept every new Dolly Parton release without dignifying it with an honest analysis, nor can I say that I like something when I really don’t. I love and respect Dolly, and as a Dolly Parton fan, I am disappointed. I’m still holding out hope for Dolly’s upcoming new album Better Day, set for a June 28 release, but there’s no dancing around the fact that “Together You and I” ranks as one of the weakest Dolly Parton singles in recent memory. One can only hope that, as a whole, Better Day includes better songs.
DOLLY’S SCORE: 5
(Scores are given on a scale of 1 to 10)
Anonymous
June 2, 2011 at 3:07 PM
Yea I was also expecting a better song from her but this isn't that bad of a single. Instead of just writing "My love is deeper than the ocean" she changed it up. Showing how great of a lyricist she is. I'd give it a 7
Anonymous
August 16, 2011 at 9:11 AM
I like Together you & I and think it should have been a #1 hit. I liked the video too. Better get to living should have been a bigger hit too. Dolly's one of the best in the business. She deserves our respect. Ben Foster calls himself a fan, Shame on you! A fan would never dog Dolly! If you can write better music, Do it! I've been a Dolly fan for over 30 years and she's still one of the best!!!!!!!!
Anonymous
August 16, 2011 at 9:15 AM
And another thing, Why does When I get where I'm going, Not count as a hit? A hit is a hit, No matter how you get it. Dolly's had 26 #1 hits in her career. The last one before When I get where I'm going was, Stand by the River with Dottie Rambo in 2004. That counted too. Ben Foster go to bed and stop dogging Dolly. Get a life!!!!!!!
Ben Foster
August 16, 2011 at 1:55 PM
Point 1: Saying "Eh, it's not quite there" is not "dogging" Dolly.Point 2: Oh, so if you're a Dolly fan, you have to lie and say that you like it, even if you don't? Don't think so.Point 3: Have some class!!!!(Exclamation point, exclamation point, exclamation point…)The reason "When I Get Where I'm Going" does not count is because she only sang background vocals on that track, as opposed to doing a proper duet, and Brad Paisley likely would have gotten it to number-one with or without her. He had plenty of commercial pull, and still does, but country radio had already pushed Dolly aside years ago.
Del
October 10, 2011 at 8:21 PM
Shame on country radio for not playin dolly music. Better day is fantastic so is all her music. From info I get on you tube and other web pages they only play shit on country radio now for years