Dolly Parton celebrated her 78th birthday on Friday by releasing four never-before-heard songs.
The famous musician posted on Instagram, saying, "Hey fans and friends, It's my birthday so I'm going to give you a present!"
"I'm releasing four never released songs for my birthday, to go with the Rockstar Deluxe album, and a few others that you may have heard before that were not on the album. I hope you enjoy them, and I hope you all have a happy birthday for me! LOL."
The other songs are Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), Stay Out Of My Bedroom, Bridge Over Troubled Water, The Entertainer, Mama Never Said, Rockin' It (Live), Hit Me With Your Best Shot, and Jolene (with Måneskin).
She first released "Rockstar" in May 2023 and at the time, said she was beyond happy for her fans to hear her doing rock.
"I'm so excited to finally present my first Rock and Roll album Rockstar!," she said. "I am very honored and privileged to have worked with some of the greatest iconic singers and musicians of all time and to be able to sing all the iconic songs throughout the album was a joy beyond measure." "I hope everybody enjoys the album as much as I've enjoyed putting it together!" she added.
Parton's nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame gave rise to Rockstar. She declared she was a country artist and first objected to being inducted. However, she then changed her mind and declared she would release a rock album to support her induction.
One wants to like the outcome because Parton is not only incredibly talented but also incredibly likeable, as the Hall of Fame story highlights with its mix of self-deprecation and can-do attitude. Guardian however was not impressed. In their review of the album, they said it lacked both original songs and originality in the covers made. It said that every record here seems to have been made as close to the original as possible and listening to it feels like being trapped with Dolly Parton in a karaoke bar where she won't stop singing rock songs.
Pitchfork gave also a mixed review of the album.
According to the music magazine, Parton provides a plethora of content that oscillates between dull and extremely perplexing.
Queen's trademark stomp-claps are sampled in her original song "World on Fire," and she returns to them in the mash-up of "We Are the Champions" and "We Will Rock You." Another Parton original, the frightening sock-hop fever dream "I Dreamed About Elvis," retells the story of "I Will Always Love You" and imagines the vocalists in an unreal duet.
The song puts the disputed rock 'n' roll king front and center. She faithfully hums along to tunes like "Open Arms" by Journey and "Keep on Loving You" by REO Speedwagon. Indeed, screw it and have Lizzo play "Stairway to Heaven" with a flute! "Free Bird," an 11-minute fart of a closing cliché, closes the record.
© 2024 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
