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By Maria Tedesco ('21)
Dolly Parton sings her heart out in Jolene, but have you ever heard her belt Mary, Did You Know? Give it a listen. The song is featured on Ms. Parton’s new Christmas album--her first holiday album in 30 years.
Featuring six original tracks and Christmas classics with country twists, the album celebrates community, love, friendship, and, above all, family.
Ms. Parton features six singing collaborators on different tracks. She even duetted with father-daughter duo Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus (her goddaughter) and her brother, Randy Parton.
The album opens with a Holly Jolly Christmas. With the echoing Christmas bells and sweet humming, Ms. Parton expresses her love for the holiday and how the joy she feels while singing Christmas music inspired her to create a new album.
Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas is an original track and features the king of modern Christmas music, Michael Bublé. The song has a jazzy feel and depicts a conversation between lovers who are waiting out a winter storm.
The album's heart and soul shines through in Christmas on the Square. The track begins with voices of children celebrating Christmas and follows with a fiddle solo. The song continues to highlight the sound of country with a banjo solo and hoedown dance break.
As the song plays, the villagers in the town dance, swing their partners and come to life before the listeners’ eyes. On November 22, Christmas on the Square, a film featuring original music to complement the album aired on Netflix.
Ms. Parton reworks Mariah Carey’s original All I Want For Christmas Is You into a duet with late-night host Jimmy Fallon. She also adds banjo strums to complement the pop track. In contrast, Ms. Parton wanted to keep originality with Pretty Paper. She even brought on the original singer, Willie Nelson.
Ms. Parton and Ms. Cyrus belt their blessings in Christmas Is while relaying the importance of giving during the holiday season. In the upbeat original duet, Christmas Where We Are between Ms. Parton and Mr. Cyrus, Ms. Parton expresses how she appreciates company during the holidays. She sings, “No matter how near or far, we can have Christmas where we are.”
In a final ode to family, You Are My Christmas again features her brother Randy Parton. Together, they express their thanks for the gift of family. Ms. Parton attributes the true meaning of Christmas to her loved ones.
View the full playlist on YouTube here. | Raider Rating: 4 Paws
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