Dolly Parton is a well-known country singer, so it might come as a surprise that on her most recent and highest-charting album, “Rockstar,” Dolly dips her toes into the rock genre. While it seems out of character for her, as her roots are in country music, this album was inspired to justify her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The album has 30 original songs, covers, and features by many iconic artists such as Stevie Nicks, Elton John, and Joan Jett.
Aside from singing about rock, there wasn’t a strongly defined storyline or even genre. There are splashes of country throughout and a few songs I found didn’t really match with a rock or country beat, such as Parton’s “Heart of Glass” cover. That song’s only distinctive rock aspect was its guitar break. However, I can let it slide as this album is more a tribute to the rock genre as seen with the number of covers outweighing original songs, and features on almost every song. It’s clear this album is just a fun homage from Parton, who wanted to do some rock for a change.
The album starts with the title song “Rockstar,” bringing an opening riff that is distinctively rock. Through the song, Parton sings about a younger, teenage Dolly dreaming of becoming a rock star. It’s a fun song, but definitely not the strongest point of the album, especially with much more rough-and-tumble rock songs and better lyricism further on. Some highlights were her original songs, “Bygones,” “My Blue Tears,” and “I Dreamed About Elvis,” as well as Dolly’s covers of “Magic Man” and “What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done For You,” where she sings with original singers and writers of the songs, Ann Wilson and Stevie Nicks.
Dolly’s cover of “What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done For You” with Nicks is an especially fun listen as the beginning banter back and forth between the two draws you in. They bounce off each other very nicely, with Nicks taking on the powerful rock singing and Dolly providing a harmonizing aspect to the song. The part I enjoyed the most was when they both sing about ordering champagne. The difference in their singing really shines with Nicks’ sharper sound and Parton’s drawl and twang. The song ends as it starts off with some witty banter between the two singers.
“My Blue Tears” is actually an older Dolly Parton song. She turned it into a country rock hit with much more tenderness and emotion, evident in the way she sings slower and the instrumentals are less upbeat than the original. Simon Le Bon adds a raw and rough edge to the song, leaning into a sadness that is more muted in the original.
The final song of “Rockstar” is a cover of the iconic “Free Bird” with Lynyrd Skynyrd. At first, it seems to be a cover that plays itself pretty straightforward aside from the fact that it has a deeper sound than the original. Then, the song kicks into hyper mode and we get yells, guitar riffs, and heavy drumming as the album ends with a rocking bang.
Overall, the album was a fun experience with lots of memorable songs that pay homage to the rock legends.
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