Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' Slowed Down To 33 RPM Sounds Incredible

Sep 07, 2018 by apost team

Playing country classic at a slower pace reveals a surprising new take. Who knew?

Dolly Parton's "Jolene" has seen a resurgence in popularity over the past year. From sapphic women questioning whether Jolene, and not Parton's man, may be the real subject of affection in the song, to country music admirers just happy to see the song back in the limelight, to even the 2016 release of a collaborative version by Dolly Parton and the Pentatonix, people everywhere are giving this timeless song a new appreciation.

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But where Dolly Parton's original racing backing instrumentals and quivering vibrato had given the song its jealous, desperate call, changing its playback speed puts Parton's richness of voice and expression centerstage.

Playing records at the wrong RPM has been a pastime since the heyday of vinyl records. Sometimes the results are hilarious, and other times, they may reveal a rare new side to a masterpiece.

Whatever you think, this experiment certainly gives a darker tone to the song that almost makes it a proper ballad. We can picture Parton speaking in a low-lit room, delivering her appeal.

Was this RPM change a success, or are Parton's vocals better off untouched? What story do you think this 33 RPM version tells?