toddintheshadows / POP SONG REVIEW: "Jolene" by Beyonce

Ironic, given that Afternoon Delight induces celibacy. THAT’S what sex is like?! Ewww, count me out!

Melusine

2024-09-07 17:01:35 +0000 UTC

TERRIFIC VIDEO, TODD!

Carlton Ellis Dean

2024-06-07 21:31:23 +0000 UTC

It's true that what I have is an opinion, and hence I tried to use phrases like 'I think', etc to preface. Where did I say racism doesnt exist for wealthy black ppl? Racism is real and unfortunate. What I resent is someone weaponizes racism as a catch-all to quell valid criticism. Its not a conspiracy to point out a tendency throughout popular culture for ppl to not seperate art from the artist very well. Thats been more and more normalized since MTV, till today when its a parasocial dance where how and why someone releases what they do matters as much if not more than the actual substance of their art. As a professional singer songwriter myself who has listened to a lot of music and has a degree of expertise I like to think of myself as someone who has knowledge and pretty balanced and educated critical skills. But yes, enjoy what you enjoy. I just know this album rang a bit hollow for me, but not as hollow as the other epic albums of late. I just try to look beyond the hype too. PS. I LOATHE Alex Jones. In fact am genderfluid and often make fun of him during my gigs.

Taylor Abrahamse

2024-05-05 02:28:23 +0000 UTC

You can't just pretend like racism does not exist even for rich black folks though. Nobody is saying anything about her being "above criticism" i'm just saying you shouldn't act like it's possible for minorities to be too rich to be discriminated against. Nobody is refusing to criticize Beyonce cause she's black, spare me the conspiracy theories Alex Jones. Only thing i'm seeing that's "lazy" here is your overly defensive post. Methinks you're the one in a cult here. Whether the project is "mediocre" or "underwhelming" or not is merely your opinion,not a stone cold fact like you seem to think it is, it's weird for you to be this upset that people aren't mindlessly agreeing with your opinion, there's no massive contingent of people that secretly dislike this album but are too afraid to admit, you're not psychic so you have no way of knowing for an absolute fact how people actually feel about it, sorry if it's difficult for you to grasp the notion that people might actually GASP actually like this album!

RedBedroomRecords

2024-05-05 01:20:13 +0000 UTC

interesting, very weird Todd didn't mention that.

RedBedroomRecords

2024-05-05 01:16:17 +0000 UTC

because too many misogynist dudes push back against strong women in real life and in fiction so there's much less of a desire to view women as weak these days.

RedBedroomRecords

2024-05-05 01:15:42 +0000 UTC

strongly disagree

RedBedroomRecords

2024-05-05 01:14:02 +0000 UTC

This video is basically the best nuanced criticism of Beyonce's Jolene I've seen. I personally respect what it's doing in making it more aggressive more than I like the song itself. I personally see this version of her grandstanding and posturing as tough to get Jolene to back off (women don't threaten violence if they don't feel personally threatened) and the ending of "I'ma stand by her/He gon' stand by me" as something she's telling herself to assuage her fears that Jolene would in fact break them up.

Zoey

2024-04-29 01:53:57 +0000 UTC

Real powerful female vulnerability that rings true to me is Aretha Franklin, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Odetta... some Beyonce. You proved my point, its dangerous to point out if a Beyonce project is mediocre or underwhelming, as you'll risk being accused of racism or sexism. It creates a cult where someone can do no wrong, much like white priviledge, and Its easy use that as a crutch. Lazy art that goes unchecked I think can puts civil rights and freedom of expression back. I have nothing against black women, I have something against the public when they will refuse to put artists under scrutiny because of their skin, culture, or history. Nobody should be above criticism, and thats the only way we actually create equality and dont end up with overbloated cashgrab albums... I will say Beyonces is infintely better than T Swifts new one.

Taylor Abrahamse

2024-04-22 20:49:20 +0000 UTC

Ugh no its not. Its muzak to get a massage to. Painfully transaprently safe cash grab.

Taylor Abrahamse

2024-04-22 20:42:04 +0000 UTC

I at least like the implication that the woman is no longer attached to a guy who she believes would be that instantly unfaithful. Thats beyond vulnerability, thats stockholm syndrome.

Taylor Abrahamse

2024-04-22 20:41:12 +0000 UTC

This is so brilliant

Kathrin Shawcross

2024-04-22 08:23:48 +0000 UTC

Yes the song is not "better" because the protagonist is less insecure. Emotionally healthy protagonists rarely make for interesting art.

Lanth

2024-04-22 03:42:59 +0000 UTC

Also "Twitter (formerly Twitter)" is extremely funny.

Shiny Skunk

2024-04-22 03:36:02 +0000 UTC

Really dislike the notion that the new lyrics are a 21st century update or somehow feminist. Feminism to me is not scrubbing away any mention of women’s insecurity, and the character Dolly plays in Jolene is an exaggeration of insecurity and desperation. It’s art; nobody is “fixing” or “updating” it by making the narrator self confident anymore than you’d be “updating” a Shakespeare play by having the main characters go to therapy and solve their problems peacefully. It just misunderstands the appeal of the original work and makes it boring and less relatable.

Alaina

2024-04-21 22:11:46 +0000 UTC

Feeling insecure when your relationship is under threat isn't an issue that has really changed through time. When did it being vulnerable become old fashioned? When it got labelled as anxiety and depression and got medicated?

Reena Setälä

2024-04-21 19:45:26 +0000 UTC

Accusing Beyonce of "hiding behind sexism and racism" is going into misogynoir territory and makes it sound like you have issues with black woman(if that's not the case fair enough, but that's definitely how your post comes across IMO) remember as big as Beyonce is she's still a black woman in America so as such there's still many privileges afforded to white folks that she will never get so i'd be careful about making those kinds of statements in the future if I were you. Anyways I don't see it as ego, who says she can't do a country music album? I thought she did a damn good job personally, it's a hell of a lot better then a lot of albums by white country artists in recent years(looking at you Jason Aldean)that's for damn sure. Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter pretty much already have the vulnerability thing cornered, and if Bee tried it I honestly don't think people would buy into it, so better she does not go that route IMO.

RedBedroomRecords

2024-04-21 19:05:06 +0000 UTC

It's on Cowboy Carter, the same album.

BlackCat1989

2024-04-21 19:02:53 +0000 UTC

I don't get an insecure vibe from that song at all personally.

RedBedroomRecords

2024-04-21 18:59:47 +0000 UTC

that's not how you use that term, deadname is a specific term meant for the names of trans people that they no longer use, not old band names. Anyways I personally don't see anything wrong with still using the name Dixie Chicks.

RedBedroomRecords

2024-04-21 18:59:08 +0000 UTC

I dunno I certainly wouldn't want to tangle with anyone in the Beehive. I buy her being more dangerous then she seems like MC Hammer.

RedBedroomRecords

2024-04-21 18:57:59 +0000 UTC

I don't see it as cringe at all personally. I think Beyonce was just updating it for the 21st century.

RedBedroomRecords

2024-04-21 18:57:17 +0000 UTC

Yeah i've never really understood Todd's views on Beyonce personally, they always seemed kinda bizarre to me(his thoughts on "Single Ladies" come to mind). Todd's theories I can usually get behind but this one seems a little bit too "out there" for me to agree with. I think maybe Beyonce is one artist that Todd's been overexposed to, so it's very difficult for him to get outside of his bubble and see her music as what it actually is instead of what he personally views it as.

RedBedroomRecords

2024-04-21 18:56:05 +0000 UTC

Like The Shining I always found the original song kinda overrated so I wasn't offended by this cover like some were.

RedBedroomRecords

2024-04-21 18:53:46 +0000 UTC

as someone who's not that familiar with the original song(I honestly know Miley's cover more)I wasn't too bothered by them.

RedBedroomRecords

2024-04-21 18:52:39 +0000 UTC

Well the lyrics haven't aged well in some ways.

RedBedroomRecords

2024-04-21 18:52:06 +0000 UTC

Her album is good though.

RedBedroomRecords

2024-04-21 18:51:44 +0000 UTC

didn't sound "cringe" to me at all, I don't she "sucked the entire point out" so much as just updated the song for the 21st century.

RedBedroomRecords

2024-04-21 18:51:26 +0000 UTC

To be fair I had no idea she even did that, what year did that come out?

RedBedroomRecords

2024-04-21 18:50:38 +0000 UTC

Considering Dolly Parton is Miley's godmother i'd say she definitely has cred, my mom actually watched her Bangerz special on TV and said she was really impressed by her take on Jolene.

RedBedroomRecords

2024-04-21 18:50:06 +0000 UTC

I'm not bothered by that personally, honestly if she tried to be small I think it would come off as inauthentic so I say better she plays to her strengths of being larger then life.

RedBedroomRecords

2024-04-21 18:49:18 +0000 UTC

"All of this stuff makes it feel like it's not about Beyonce or her emotions or her marriage, it's about Beyonce the icon and her lore and her brand." Change a few details and you just described the most recent Taylor Swift album.

Kim P.

2024-04-21 13:46:38 +0000 UTC

I think it warrants comparisons to the last time an R&B queen covered a Dolly song and made it her own, I Will Always Love You. I think that one works in ways this doesn’t necessarily because Whitney leaned into the strengths of the song instead of against them. Beyoncé and Jolene don’t mesh, but maybe Beyoncé and Before He Cheats? I’d buy the next concert ticket just for that.

Steven Prewitt

2024-04-21 03:27:36 +0000 UTC

Even when all that shit went down in the elevator Solange was the one actually throwing hands.

Shiny Skunk

2024-04-21 02:24:36 +0000 UTC

I feel like I say this every time, but damn, this is one of your best, Todd. I really appreciate your thought-out, nuanced take on pop music, especially nowadays. (And yeah, I agree that this is the one weak moment on an otherwise really fun, excellent album)

Shiny Skunk

2024-04-21 02:21:36 +0000 UTC

Welp, when I woke up this morning I didn't think I'd see a Beyonce song over a clip from fucking NORTH today but I guess life is full of surprises.

Cranston Zoot

2024-04-20 21:44:08 +0000 UTC

I went into this with an open mind and I have no doubt that there are good songs on Cowboy Carter, but man, is this Cringe. If she wanted to sing a Stay Away From My Man song, she should’ve either found another one or created her own instead of sucking the entire point out of “Jolene”. It’s like rewriting “Afternoon Delight” so it’s about celibacy.

Kristopher Bluth

2024-04-20 19:03:43 +0000 UTC

who's to say? it's funnier to me not knowing honestly

Jordan Schmidt

2024-04-20 17:47:57 +0000 UTC

I think this is a really great follow-up to the RAMBLE ON you did about "Jolene" a while back. You had a lot of really good thoughts regarding Dolly's original song and I think you bring that same insight here also. Was not shocked you covered this one

AnalogSkullerosis

2024-04-20 13:11:28 +0000 UTC

Y'know Todd, it's rather strange how much of a deal that you make that Bey did a Dolly Parton cover, yet you never mentioned her cover of The Beatles' 'Blackbird' at all.,

BlackCat1989

2024-04-20 12:48:41 +0000 UTC

Didn’t Dolly Parton say a few years ago when asked who she’d want to cover one of her songs that she’d really like Beyoncé to cover Jolene? Maybe that’s why she did it, per Dolly’s request? https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/03/11/dolly-parton-wants-beyonce-cover-song-jolene/7008809001/ Also pardon my ignorance with country but does Miley not have any country cred?

Steph

2024-04-20 12:25:12 +0000 UTC

Beyoncé's inability to be small has always been my problem with her. It makes her less than human. It makes her fiction. A Chosen One in badly written fantasy novel.

Reena Setälä

2024-04-20 08:36:09 +0000 UTC

Exactly. I see that too

Taylor Abrahamse

2024-04-20 08:15:08 +0000 UTC

I think the "I'm fucking best" is why it kind of fails. It comes of as posturing. Also, "You aren't a threat and I don't need to worry about you" comes of as inauthentic when the entire song is about that thing. Doth protest too much.

Reena Setälä

2024-04-20 07:47:30 +0000 UTC

I remember that, but was the bit in the Break My Soul video just a joke, or is that his actual theory?

Trajan Miller

2024-04-20 07:36:39 +0000 UTC

One more thing - I see the new lyric as a good femininist revamp for the 21st century, a good alternative lyric if anyone feels the need for it. The OG lyric certainly implies its okay for this guy to fall for other women, and its the singer's fault if he does, rather than anything to do with his own superficiality and inability to be faithful. This makes it more about 'my man loves me, don't waste your time. Also I'm the fucking best.'

Taylor Abrahamse

2024-04-20 06:15:58 +0000 UTC

I find the project generally self-indulgent 3 out of five stars for me, maybe even 2.5. Its about Beyonce first and foremost and her insatiable ego saying 'I should be able and allowed to do anything'. Also, that I should be allowed to make a 28 song album that runs extremely long, mostly in genres I've seldom explored, because I'm Beyonce. Respect for the spirit and history of country, or genre cross-pollinations that aren't overbloated/melodramatic are secondary to 'I'm Beyonce, so you must love me'. And then if you don't like it, she can always hide behind the defense of racism or sexism if anyone disagrees. But mediocre art should be called what it is, and I'd argue your issues with the Jolene cover can carry across to most or all of the country songs on the album. Besides the Jolene cover, The best songs on it are where she strays from country including the Blackbird cover, especially with its civil rights connotations. In a country vein, you're right, she lacks the vulnerability required, and replaces it with vocal gymnastics and melodrama. Beyonce's too invulnerable to be that interesting except if she's doing music that is focused on strength - Lemonade being the exception, but thats about trying to keep strength together, it never gets truly truly weepy. I wish more female pop musicians felt safe to be truly vulnerable in their music, but that may say more about the society we're in and the daily discomforts of being female in a patriarchy than anything else as to why they don't. Idk.

Taylor Abrahamse

2024-04-20 06:11:33 +0000 UTC

Looking at the 2024 pop charts makes me feel like I've stepped into a parallel universe. Country music is outperforming trap and acoustic white boy singers with cartoon-character-sounding names are sticking around in the top 10 longer than Ariana Grande. What is this world?

Judgesaturn507

2024-04-20 04:39:16 +0000 UTC

yup this is a great comparison

Arbor Rainier

2024-04-20 03:35:23 +0000 UTC

your coworker sounds super cool

Arbor Rainier

2024-04-20 03:34:54 +0000 UTC

great video as usual ! i'm surprised you didn't touch the "banjo creole bitch" line, i feel like that's the one i've seen people talk abt the most

Arbor Rainier

2024-04-20 03:30:47 +0000 UTC

don't think we didn't notice the "North" clip you absolute sicko

The Hand Of The People

2024-04-20 02:00:43 +0000 UTC

I think the reason that it doesn't work isn't that she changed it. Do we really want another lazy interpolation? I think the problem is that she's trying to come off as empowered it honestly it just sounds insecure which goes against her persona. That fact is if someone wants to cheat on you, they will and there's nothing you can really do to stop it. If you're with a dude that can't keep his dick in his pants either go poly or dump him. Trying to scare away temptation raises the question as to why you would bother putting in the effort for someone who can't keep promises and what that says about you that you would tolerate someone like that. What would have worked instead of trying to scare off Jolene like a frilled lizard would be telling her that you think it's cute you can get her man to stray and if she somehow could, you can have him and she'll find someone who is faithful. Being dismissive looks much more powerful than being defensive.

Adequately Sized Dog

2024-04-20 01:50:25 +0000 UTC

There is this weird montage of images at 20:16 and 21:55. I don't think it was intentional?

John in Ottawa

2024-04-20 00:41:23 +0000 UTC

Around 2:20, you deadname The Chicks.

Joe Moyer

2024-04-20 00:21:31 +0000 UTC

There's another element of this. I don't know if anyone will agree with me on this point, but part of the reason this version doesn't work for me is very simple; Beyonce isn't threatening. Beyonce sings about how she might have to "act a fool" and how "your peace depends on how you move" but what are you going to do? Hit me? Shoot me? You're Beyonce. Even at your grittiest I'm not afraid you'll resort to violence. I felt the same way about the song "America Has A Problem" off of her previous album. She talks about rolling with "goons", and I roll my eyes. You don't sell drugs. You're not involved in criminal activities, at least not that you can convincingly portray in song.

L

2024-04-20 00:18:09 +0000 UTC

I've always interpreted "Jolene" as a horror song. I mean, what radioactive level of hot does she have to be that DOLLY PARTON thinks she has no chance??

SPBurke

2024-04-20 00:00:17 +0000 UTC

Audio cuts out during the Nebula plug.

Melinda

2024-04-19 23:58:18 +0000 UTC

I think the thing that strikes me weird about the Beyoncé version is that it somehow sounds more desperate and insecure then the original version. Because yeah, the singer in the original is desperate to keep her man, but she's not ashamed of her desperation. Beyoncé betrays herself. If Jolene really can't come for her man, it literally do not matter what Jolene does or doesn't do. The singer will never have to act a fool if her husband doesn't cheat. And the fact that she feels she has to threaten a supposedly lesser woman then just talking to her husband, who she raised (wtf) and knows better then himself (sure) shows a singer who is SO insecure in her marriage she is scared to broach the topic. A song that knows how scared it is of her husband stepping out of line, and scared of talking to her husband about it might work (even if it wouldn't fit Beyonce's image either), but as it stands it seems completely unself aware, particularly paired with Daughter. Which is why its Cringe on an otherwise good album.

Peyton Palmour

2024-04-19 23:35:31 +0000 UTC

it's a callback to the video he did on 'break my soul', and it's an insanely funny callback at that.

Jordan Schmidt

2024-04-19 23:00:06 +0000 UTC

Watch Act III be a polka record.

Ryan Storey

2024-04-19 22:56:07 +0000 UTC

I always thought "Becky" was Rihanna. I always heard that there was bad blood with Rihanna that goes back years. Allegedly, Beyonce's song "Ring The Alarm" from 2006 has pretty direct shots at Rihanna.

Ryan Storey

2024-04-19 22:55:07 +0000 UTC

FYI, I've seen some people claim Jolene is actually from the perspective of Beyoncé's mother Tina, who her father cheated on? Not sure whether there's any basis to that, but fascinating if true.

Elizabeth M Hyde

2024-04-19 22:54:03 +0000 UTC

One song that’s worth mentioning is You Can Have Him Jolene by the country trio Chapel Hart. They’re three WOC country singers who, instead of just adding to the covers of Jolene out there, made a sequel song. And guess what, it’s really good. And I’m not just saying it because they got a Golden Buzzer on America’s Got Talent for it. I’ve also seen them live, they put a great show on. So for anyone arguing that WOC’s can’t make quality country music OR do something with Jolene, just show them that song alongside this one.

Tom Carter

2024-04-19 22:53:03 +0000 UTC

I don’t mind it. It’s not the best cover but I can’t find anything in it that really bothers me in any way. I want to say, the way you characterize the album and its mission makes the album feel…I don’t know, more mean-spirited than it really is? Like Beyoncé made it solely because she felt slighted personally and this is some kind of long diss track. Maybe that was part of the origin, but the album doesn’t scan that way at all to me when actually listening to it. It actually feels like a very generous album in spirit, in the way it acknowledges and includes past black women in country, and even shows new sides of other artists they didn’t do themselves. (Actually kinda made me want a Post Malone country album, for instance.) Not everyone will hear it that way, but I honestly think you did it kind of a disservice to describe it as mostly just score-settling.

Charles Kieser

2024-04-19 22:36:44 +0000 UTC

Weird comparison, but this feels like that parody trailer where somebody recut the shining so it looks like a feel good family comedy. Just a comical switch in tone.

Anastasi

2024-04-19 22:26:08 +0000 UTC

Yeah, I missed something, where did this come from?

Anthony Skatz

2024-04-19 21:39:48 +0000 UTC

You do not get to imply that “Becky with the good hair” is Idina Menzel and then not explain yourself! I demand an explanation, sir!!

Ryan Massey

2024-04-19 21:21:30 +0000 UTC

The tune is burned in my head from decades ago; it is going to take a little time for me to get used to the new lyrics, but they are clever. Reminds me of a co-worker, tan skin, black hair and big brown eyes who just got violet colored contact lenses.. It is going to take me some time to get used to seeing her with those violet eyes, but she is having fun, and so it seems is Beyonce. I like seeing her shake it up a bit in the Country realm.

nursermk

2024-04-19 21:10:21 +0000 UTC

24:48 is the last sound on the video until "The End" card.

Taia Hartman

2024-04-19 21:07:34 +0000 UTC

You nailed my exact thoughts on Jolene (and also the album as a whole.) Really weird note for both the album and her brand in an otherwise really sparkling line up of songs. Though I did wonder how "Daughter" fit in; Jolene going right into that next track gave me pause on completely writing it off.

Marty Farley

2024-04-19 21:01:07 +0000 UTC

No sound for the last few seconds of the Nebula ad, but I didn't notice anything wrong with the episode itself. I find the lyrics change off-putting. It's like half-way between a cover and a satirical riff. It doesn't work for me. But I do love listening to you talk about Beyoncé and her image.

Alina

2024-04-19 20:54:09 +0000 UTC

I think the audio and video get a bit out of sync right at the end of the ad read

Vinyl Acropolis

2024-04-19 20:46:23 +0000 UTC

The video description is also for the faith hill video

Elijah Stolyar

2024-04-19 20:39:58 +0000 UTC

this is on the trainwreckords playlist btw

Nic Pruitt

2024-04-19 20:38:16 +0000 UTC

Well I was about to stand up and do something productive with my day but I can spare another 25 minutes.

waywardlaser

2024-04-19 20:19:40 +0000 UTC

This feels like someone thought jolene was disempowering to women and tried to do a 90s style grrl power version

Elijah Stolyar

2024-04-19 20:19:34 +0000 UTC

POP SONG REVIEW: "Jolene" by Beyonce

Comments

Ironic, given that Afternoon Delight induces celibacy. THAT’S what sex is like?! Ewww, count me out!

TERRIFIC VIDEO, TODD!

interesting, very weird Todd didn't mention that.

because too many misogynist dudes push back against strong women in real life and in fiction so there's much less of a desire to view women as weak these days.

strongly disagree

Ugh no its not. Its muzak to get a massage to. Painfully transaprently safe cash grab.

I at least like the implication that the woman is no longer attached to a guy who she believes would be that instantly unfaithful. Thats beyond vulnerability, thats stockholm syndrome.

This is so brilliant

Yes the song is not "better" because the protagonist is less insecure. Emotionally healthy protagonists rarely make for interesting art.

Also "Twitter (formerly Twitter)" is extremely funny.

Feeling insecure when your relationship is under threat isn't an issue that has really changed through time. When did it being vulnerable become old fashioned? When it got labelled as anxiety and depression and got medicated?

It's on Cowboy Carter, the same album.

I don't get an insecure vibe from that song at all personally.

that's not how you use that term, deadname is a specific term meant for the names of trans people that they no longer use, not old band names. Anyways I personally don't see anything wrong with still using the name Dixie Chicks.

I dunno I certainly wouldn't want to tangle with anyone in the Beehive. I buy her being more dangerous then she seems like MC Hammer.

I don't see it as cringe at all personally. I think Beyonce was just updating it for the 21st century.

Like The Shining I always found the original song kinda overrated so I wasn't offended by this cover like some were.

as someone who's not that familiar with the original song(I honestly know Miley's cover more)I wasn't too bothered by them.

Well the lyrics haven't aged well in some ways.

Her album is good though.

didn't sound "cringe" to me at all, I don't she "sucked the entire point out" so much as just updated the song for the 21st century.

To be fair I had no idea she even did that, what year did that come out?

Considering Dolly Parton is Miley's godmother i'd say she definitely has cred, my mom actually watched her Bangerz special on TV and said she was really impressed by her take on Jolene.

I'm not bothered by that personally, honestly if she tried to be small I think it would come off as inauthentic so I say better she plays to her strengths of being larger then life.

"All of this stuff makes it feel like it's not about Beyonce or her emotions or her marriage, it's about Beyonce the icon and her lore and her brand." Change a few details and you just described the most recent Taylor Swift album.

Even when all that shit went down in the elevator Solange was the one actually throwing hands.

I feel like I say this every time, but damn, this is one of your best, Todd. I really appreciate your thought-out, nuanced take on pop music, especially nowadays. (And yeah, I agree that this is the one weak moment on an otherwise really fun, excellent album)

Welp, when I woke up this morning I didn't think I'd see a Beyonce song over a clip from fucking NORTH today but I guess life is full of surprises.

who's to say? it's funnier to me not knowing honestly

I think this is a really great follow-up to the RAMBLE ON you did about "Jolene" a while back. You had a lot of really good thoughts regarding Dolly's original song and I think you bring that same insight here also. Was not shocked you covered this one

Y'know Todd, it's rather strange how much of a deal that you make that Bey did a Dolly Parton cover, yet you never mentioned her cover of The Beatles' 'Blackbird' at all.,

Beyoncé's inability to be small has always been my problem with her. It makes her less than human. It makes her fiction. A Chosen One in badly written fantasy novel.

Exactly. I see that too

I think the "I'm fucking best" is why it kind of fails. It comes of as posturing. Also, "You aren't a threat and I don't need to worry about you" comes of as inauthentic when the entire song is about that thing. Doth protest too much.

I remember that, but was the bit in the Break My Soul video just a joke, or is that his actual theory?

Looking at the 2024 pop charts makes me feel like I've stepped into a parallel universe. Country music is outperforming trap and acoustic white boy singers with cartoon-character-sounding names are sticking around in the top 10 longer than Ariana Grande. What is this world?

yup this is a great comparison

your coworker sounds super cool

great video as usual ! i'm surprised you didn't touch the "banjo creole bitch" line, i feel like that's the one i've seen people talk abt the most

don't think we didn't notice the "North" clip you absolute sicko

There is this weird montage of images at 20:16 and 21:55. I don't think it was intentional?

Around 2:20, you deadname The Chicks.

I've always interpreted "Jolene" as a horror song. I mean, what radioactive level of hot does she have to be that DOLLY PARTON thinks she has no chance??

Audio cuts out during the Nebula plug.

it's a callback to the video he did on 'break my soul', and it's an insanely funny callback at that.

Watch Act III be a polka record.

I always thought "Becky" was Rihanna. I always heard that there was bad blood with Rihanna that goes back years. Allegedly, Beyonce's song "Ring The Alarm" from 2006 has pretty direct shots at Rihanna.

FYI, I've seen some people claim Jolene is actually from the perspective of Beyoncé's mother Tina, who her father cheated on? Not sure whether there's any basis to that, but fascinating if true.

Weird comparison, but this feels like that parody trailer where somebody recut the shining so it looks like a feel good family comedy. Just a comical switch in tone.

Yeah, I missed something, where did this come from?

You do not get to imply that “Becky with the good hair” is Idina Menzel and then not explain yourself! I demand an explanation, sir!!

24:48 is the last sound on the video until "The End" card.

No sound for the last few seconds of the Nebula ad, but I didn't notice anything wrong with the episode itself. I find the lyrics change off-putting. It's like half-way between a cover and a satirical riff. It doesn't work for me. But I do love listening to you talk about Beyoncé and her image.

I think the audio and video get a bit out of sync right at the end of the ad read

The video description is also for the faith hill video

this is on the trainwreckords playlist btw

Well I was about to stand up and do something productive with my day but I can spare another 25 minutes.

This feels like someone thought jolene was disempowering to women and tried to do a 90s style grrl power version

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