Top 9 – It’s Dolly Parton Week! – What Should the Idols Sing?

By On 03/31/2008 · 78 Comments · In Uncategorized

I can’t help but love Dolly.   An accomplished singer/songwriter, musician and business woman, she’s had an astonishingly long and varied career.  She started out in Nashville as a teenager, writing  hits for other performers. In the late 60′ s she began recording on her own, and with singing partner Porter Wagoner–they performed as a duo through the mid-70′s.

In the 80′s she crossed over to pop music with songs like “9-5″ and “Islands in the Stream”, the latter with Kenny Rogers.   She began a successful acting career, starring with Jane Fonda in 9-5.   Later films included Steel Magnolias and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

In recent years, Dolly  went back to her roots, recording outstanding albums of traditional country and bluegrass.   She also sings gospel, and recorded an album of patriotic songs.

Dolly plays off the iconic image of the buxom dumb blond, but with a great big wink and her tongue in her cheek.  She has always driven her own destiny.  Ãƒâ€š  Dolly is  her own creation, and a smart business woman to boot.   She  developed the successful theme-park, Dollywood, in her native East Tennessee, where she grew up hardscrabble and poor.   The thriving tourist attraction has brought many jobs to that disadvantaged area.  

Need I say more?   Dolly rules, y’all!  

After the jump, check out my choices for the contestants.   And then post yours in comments.   Rumor has it, the kids can chose from any song Dolly has sung.   She’s got a ton of covers.

Yeah, so the kids can sing any song Dolly has sung. That’s a lot of songs. She’s covered many other artists. On her new album Backwoods Barbie, which is her return to pop country, she covers the Fine Young Cannibals “She Drives Me Crazy” and Smokey Robinson’s, “The Tracks of My Tears”. She’s recorded “House of the Rising Sun”, John Lennon’s “Imagine” and even Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven”. Seriously.

However, there’s a well of great songs from the Dolly Parton songbook. Her best known songs are “Jolene”, “A Coat Of Many Colors” and the oft-covered “I Will Always Love You” I hope her own songs are well represented  on the Top 9 song list.

My picks:

  • Brooke White – “Coat of Many Colors” would be a beautiful choice for Brooke.   She’d bring the proper delicacy and emotional heft to this gorgeous song about Dolly’s momma who sewed a coat out of scraps for Dolly.   Sounds corny?   Not in Dolly’s hands. I think Brooke could do it justice.
  • Carly Smithson – “Jolene”  - I love this song for Carly.   Carly’s big, intense vocal style could bring the passion that this song demands.
  • David Archuleta – I hear he’s performed “I Will Always Love You”.   I hope he skips it.   Whoever takes on this song should do it close to Dolly-style.   My suggestions for David:  ”Do I Ever Cross Your Mind” or “Islands in the Stream”.
  • David Cook – Don’t sing “Jolene”.   There’s a well known cover by White Stripes, but choosing it would be too obvious.   I’m counting on  David and his mad googling and iTuning skills to turn up just the right cover to cover.   I can’t wait.   Suggestion:   How about “Tennessee Homesick Blues”?   I can imagine that tune all rocked up.   Without the yodeling!
  • Jason Castro – Jason could kill this week.   I can imagine him performing a chill-inducing version of “I Will Always Love You”.   Or, he could  mine  Dolly’s acoustic and bluegrass catalog. “Little Sparrow” could be haunting in Jason’s hands.
  • Kristy Lee Cook – Kristy  could go traditional, maybe perform one of Dolly’s bluegrass tunes. “In My Tennessee Mountain Home” could be a perfect choice for her. Or, for something a little more mainstream, “Why’d You Come In Here Looking Like That”.
  • Michael Johns – Dolly’s version is backed by a dance beat, but I think Micheal could deliver a gritty, bluesy “House of the Rising Sun”.  
  • Ramiele Malubay – Dolly did a beautiful cover of Kenny Rogers/First Edition “But You Know I Love You”. Ramiele could bring back the magic with that one.   Or how about “It’s All Wrong, But It’s Alright”?
  • Syesha Mercado – Mainstream hits will be the safest bet for Syesha. Her soul-style  could shine on tunes like  ”Here You Come Again”  or “Islands in the Stream”.

 
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  • monkeyman

    hmmmm… Dolly Parton… not my favorite Idol theme, but ok.

  • eboytc

    Excellent choices. I agree that Archuleta shouldn’t do IWALY and Cook do Jolene. Arhuleta singing Islands in the stream and Brooke singing Coat of Many Colors will be great. Especially Brooke, if she sings that I bet Paula will cry.

  • t2

    I wavered yesterday, but I am back to thinking I want to hear Michael Johns do “I Will Always Love”. His big, beautiful MALE voice on that song would incredible.

  • joydrop

    I really, really hope no one does Islands in the Stream. Unless the arrangment is completely redone it’s going to come across as a cheesy impression.

    Dolly has done quite a few cover songs and I’m hoping they’ll allow the contestants to sing the covers if they choose. I would absolutely love to see Brooke sing Stairway to Heave. Doll did a really mellow version of it and I think it would be just the right mix of “holy crap is Brooke singing Zeppelin?!” and very pretty vocals. I would also like to see David Cook sing Shine (originally done by Collective Soul). As far as Jason singing I Will Always Love You, that would be awesome! I was hoping that he would be able to kind of change it up this week and do something more upbeat, but I think he’s going to kind of be stuck doing something mellowed out.

    As far as everyone else is concerned, I’m kind of indifferent. I think Syesha would be great with Jolene, plus it would be kind of a shock coming from her, and Carly would do well with something like The Bargain Store.

    No matter what it sure is going to be an interesting week!

    P.S. I will die if Michael Johns sings In The Ghetto. HAHA!

  • joydrop

    *Heaven and *Dolly. I need sleep.

  • 4got

    I went through the Dolly Parton song book but none of them looked familiar so I’ll leave serious choices to the pros and take a different route:

    Brooke White: Best Woman Wins

    Carly Smithson: What Will Baby Be or Baby Come Out Tonight (Ryan could do the latter)

    David A: Where Do the Children Play

    David C: Rocky Top

    Jason Castro: Somethin’s Got To Change

    Kristy Lee Cook: What Ai’nt To Be Just Might Happen or how about Even A Fool Would Let Go or I’m Wastin Your Time

    Michael Johns: Great Balls of Fire … now that Luke isn’t around

    Ramiele Malubay: Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That

    Syesha Mercado: Hush-a-Bye Hard Times

  • t2

    If anyone does one of Dolly Parton’s covers of a non-Dolly song, I think they should have to do her cover….yeah, like that will happen…

  • jbrad

    I think they should only sing songs written by Dolly, not covers she has done. To me, that would be a cop out, and kind of taking away the spirit of Dolly Parton night.

  • St.Lucia

    I am not the biggest Dolly fan. I have a huge respect for Dolly Parton, but I can’t say I have really ever gone out of the way to own, or even really listen, to many of Dolly’s songs. While I know some of the most common ones, I can’t say I’m too familiar with her songbook. No one’s fault but my own. I am not the biggest country music fan, so since that is the category under which Dolly falls, I know very little.

    One song I do know, is “Coat of many colors” and I agree that would be a PERFECT choice for Brooke. If she actually gets to sing it.

    I’ll leave everyone else to choose for the others since I have absolutely no clue and would literally be taking a stab in the dark on Dolly’s songbook.

  • esp

    Perhaps Dolly Parton week means that she is mentoring the contestants to brings a bit of Dolly knowledge and approach to their song choices. When Jennifer Lopez mentored last season, they didn’t sing J-Lo songs.

    That being said, IF they can sing Dolly covers of Zepellin or Lennon, then it should be in her style.

    OR maybe the theme is just COUNTRY and Dolly is helping them??

    Can’t wait to hear what David Cook’s web research Dolly input will produce.

  • http://www.myspace.com/swood1104 Sarah

    David C: Rocky Top

    Probably just about all of the University of Tennessee fans in America would vote for him if he sang this. LOL. Go Vols! (well, Lady Vols since the men are out of the tournament now. :thumbdown_tb:)

    I’m not too familiar with Dolly’s songbook, so I’ll leave the suggesting to those who are. :) I’ll just say that I hope that DC actually DOESN’T rock up a Dolly song this week. Not that I won’t still love him if he does, I just want him to stay a step ahead of the judges, before they start calling him indulgent, etc.

    ETA: esp, last year though, that theme was classified as “Latin Week” IIRC, and Jennifer was just the mentor. Per a Fox press release that MJ posted last week, they will actually be singing “the songs of Dolly Parton” this week.

  • cheese

    I hope they don’t do songs that Dolly has covered. It would be a little weird to hear Fine Young Cannibals mixed in among Jolene and Coat of Many Colors.

    MJ’s picks for Jason are exactly the two songs I would have picked for David C (as well as The Bargain Store). I think his voice would sound great on I Will Always Love You and he could phrase it in a way that wouldn’t sound all drippy. I also think he could do a slightly menacing “Little Sparrow” that would work for him. A rocked out version of any of the uptempo numbers would probably sound really cheesy and he’s managed to avoid the cheese for the most part (group numbers notwithstanding). I think he’ll struggle with this theme moreso than the others (and probably have to sing first, too while getting “not nearly as good as last week” comments from the judges even if he does well)

  • dancin

    still say i’d love to hear brooke do the grass is blue

    not sure for the rest

  • Allen

    Not really familiar with Dolly’s catalog but I do have the tribute CD “Just Because I Am a Woman” which is really good (has a lot of great artists like Joan Osborne, Norah Jones, Melissa Etheridge, Alison Krauss on it). Based on that, here are a few possibilities.

    Carly – Jolene
    Brooke – Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
    Ramiele – The Grass Is Blue
    Syesha – The Seeker

  • RollTide

    Sarah
    Mar 31st, 2008 at 7:43 am
    David C: Rocky Top

    Probably just about all of the University of Tennessee fans in America would vote for him if he sang this. LOL.

    Yeah, please don’t do it Cook. I like you, and I don’t want this to ruin that. LOL

  • Ladybug

    I am just going to rubber stamp everything mj has posted here. Excellent summary of the storied history of this tremendous entertainment icon that is Dolly Parton. She is, truly, brilliant in every aspect of her life. She is also a warm, engaging, and very funny presence, so she should be great with all the Idols.

    I do hope Brooke does Coat of Many Colors as that is one of Dolly’s very best autobiographical songs and I think Brooke could do it justice.

  • Karen

    I live in Knoxville and am a huge UT fan. Sorry the boys lost on Thursday, but the Lady Vols should take it all. Kudos to Davidson for almost making the Final 4.

    I love Ramielle doing It’s All Wrong But It’s Alright.

  • calimari

    Only Dolly song I know is 9-5, and the Whitney version of “I Will Always Love You” so anything goes for me this week. I won’t know anything they sing unless it’s a cover of a song I know.

  • GwendolynD

    She also sings gospel, and recorded an album of patriotic songs.

    Oh Lord. KLC.

    I don’t know many Dolly songs, outside of “IWALY”, “Islands in the Stream”, and “9 to 5″.

  • straycat108

    Ramielle – I Will Always Love You
    David A. – The Tracks of My Tears (Michael McDonald’s Version)
    Jason – Stairway to Heaven
    Kristy – Me and Bobby McGee
    Carly – Walking on Sunshine (Katrina and the Waves)
    Michael – If I Were a Carpenter
    Brooke – Feels Like Home (Chantel Krevazuk’s Version)
    Syesha – Put a Little Love in Your Heart
    David C – House of the Rising Sun

  • justshootme

    I’d love to hear MJ do a bluesy version of “It’s All wrong But It’s All Right”. Mmmmm.

    For JC maybe “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind”. There’s a live acapella version of Dolly doing it on utube where she changes up the tempo. Very cool. Of course the mosh pit girls would just clap randomly. Not good. I think “Travelin’ Thru” or “Lovesick Blues” (sans yodeling) would also be good choices.

    I’d rather hear Brooke do “Jolene” than Carly. I don’t think Carly could carry off the vulnerability of the song too well. If Carly told me she didn’t want me messin’ with her man, I’d be out the door before she reached the chorus.

    DC should do a speed metal version of “Islands in the Stream”. Assuming he can find it on utube.

    Don’t really care about the rest.

    Edited because Dolly Parton is not Percy Sledge.

  • Trina

    I generally love all the voices of all the remaining guys and I would love to hear a stripped down or a soulful version of I Will Always Love You from any of them, but knowing AI and how predictable it is I’m fully expecting Syesha to come out singing the bombastic Whitney version.

  • MN Sue

    @Trina, I say let Syesha sing a Whitney IWALY. I’ve wanted her off the show since the beginning anyway. This could be the answer to my prayers. On the other hand, if Syesha sidesteps this obvious trap, I will have found a smidge more respect for her.

  • grayhound

    straycat: yes yes, DC doing House of the Rising Sun. My only fear with that would be comments from the judges along the lines of “that was an obvious song choice.”

    Also, what do the judges mean when they say someone is “self-indulgent” – I’ve never quite understood that comment (anyone?)

  • sciencefan

    In my opinion whoever does I Will Always Love You will be at the top of the downloads for the week.

    Dolly has recorded 77 albums, so there’s a boatload to choose from.

  • primeminister

    mj- Yes, MJ shoudl do House of the Rising Sun!
    I want to hear Jason do Travelin’ Thru. It’s upbeat and fun. Plus, I think he could get into the lyrics. But you’re right, “I Will Always Love You” sung Dolly style could be chill-inducing.

    4got- Kristy may actually do that…since we all knew she chooses songs by their titles.

  • http://http://ladymela99.livejournal.com/ princessmela

    What a gorgeous intro to Dolly. She truly is a magnificent and talented woman. I grew up listening to Dolly. When I was 8, I sang Coat of Many Colors for a talent competition so it’s a song very dear to my heart.

    I really hope Jason gets a great song like “I will Always love you” but I would be happy if he sang a gorgeous cover of “Travellin Thru”

    I agee with you about COMC it’s perfect for Brooke.

  • tinawina

    Also, what do the judges mean when they say someone is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“self-indulgentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  – Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve never quite understood that comment (anyone?)

    I think it means that you are choosing songs that please yourself or stroke your own ego instead of concentrating on making choices that will engage and entertain the public. So if Conestant A considers him/her self an indie rock expert with superior musical knowledge, and picks a song to sing that is a personal favorite and shows off their knowledge of the genre but is unknown outside the few insiders who will think it’s cool, then that contestant is being self indulgent. Does that make sense?

  • dukesterathlete

    Ugh, is country week ever good?!?! i hate country week or anything associated with country week. im already predicting another disaster week.

  • tinawina

    LOL duke! I don’t know if Country week is good, but it’s always interesting. That’s when you get the bottom 3 shockers and sometimes surprising boots. I like it because it’s one of the themes that truly challenges people on something other than just belting out a song on key and hitting the glory notes. For Country, sincerity and storytelling are essential. And Idol has a huge proportion of the audience that loves the genre, so screwing up that night can cost you big time. So much drama! Yumm.

  • vixen

    for some reason, i think this week is going to be awesome. couldn’t tell you why, just a feeling. we’ll see, i guess.

    i know next to nothing of dolly’s catalog (or country in general, to be honest), but after seeing her sing “little sparrow” on youtube i’m DYING to hear dcook on that.

  • maracaibo

    Michael doing “House of The Rising Sun” would be perfect for him.. I hope he was able to chose that.
    Great suggestion…

  • sciencefan

    Have they ever had Reba McIntire come on the show? I’d love to see her do AI some time.

  • dukesterathlete

    tinawina- very true. plus im already on edge about country music cuz i had to sit through 3 hours of it for a fundraiser the other night..i threw up…twice.

    oh oh- David A should sing house of the rising sun…tha’d be a good choice. I swear if the boy would just read my posts every week i could walk him to the finish line. *waves hands* over here!!

  • Trina

    Supposed song spoilers from TWOP via DialIdol.

    According to Dialidol:

    David Cook- But you know I love you

    Kristy Lee Cook- two doors down

    Michael johns-Islands in the stream

    Carly Smithson- Jolene

    David Archuleta- Travelin thru

    Ramiele Mulabuy- 9 to 5

    Brooke White-Coat of many colors

    Syesha Mercado- Eagle when she flies

    Jason Castro- I will always love you

    Comes from someone in Dollys camp who attending her Saturday sessions with the idols.

    The posters comment: She was smitten by David cook and his arrangement, she was blown away by Carly and her favorite was Jason.

    Terrific choices for Jason and Brooke, and I see Michael is back to picking bad song choices.

  • joydrop

    I believe they’ve allowed songs covered by the mentor in previous seasons, but I agree that if they do covers that they should do Dolly’s arrangement! Find her version of Stairway to Heaven on Project Playlist or something… it’s really pretty.

    Michael Johns is shooting himself in the foot if he’s singing Islands in the Stream.

    Honestly, I can’t imagine a situation where Ramiele is going to do well this week.

  • primeminister

    Trina, it looks like someone just picked the 9 most popular Dolly tunes and matched them up with contestants. I would be so happy if those spoilers were true though! :)

  • abbysee

    If those spoilers are correct Michael John’s wants to go home, or he got what was left after everyone chose 1 of 9 songs. That would just blow! Not unless there is some great obscure cover that his friend David C told him about ;0. Damn I forgot about Two Doors Down that was a cool little pop ditty.

    What happens if Brooke does sing ‘coat’ and it’s a mess? That is the problem with singing what people want you to sing so badly, if you mess it up, it become all the more glaring. I won’t jump up and down (to coin a phrase) about the picks because as David C has proven, what looks bad in concept can shine in execution. So I will wait for the show to ‘jump up and down’.

  • http://myspace.com/girlgeek mj

    David Cook- But you know I love you

    The original version of this song was sung by Kenny Rogers in the 60′s. I could see David singing this.

    However, those random spoiler posts are usually a joke…

  • Steph

    if tmz really has a mole, why do we have to wait so long for spoilers? (forgive me if this has been brought up before.) with all of the recording, rehearsing, and meeting with the mentor, wouldn’t the so-called mole be able to get this info. and want to release it to a spoiler-hungry public??

  • Steph

    oh god, i hope david doesn’t do the white stripes version of jolene. you are right mj, that would be way too predictable. he needs to break away from his pattern of covering rock covers. i mean, he can do a rock version, but please break the pattern!!!

  • SpenserJ

    Hmm, I’d kind of like those spoilers to be true – even though they probably are not. I’d love to see Brooke do Coat of Many Colors (for all the same reasons MJ suggested).

    And, as soon as I found out about Dolly week – I was hoping for Jason to do the Dolly version of IWALY. It’s a great song the way she does it, and right in his wheel house I think.

    I’ve had a long-standing, odd love for 9 to 5 since 5th grade (maybe 6th?). I just really enjoy it. I’ll be a little disappointed if Rami does it, since she bores me to tears. But whatever.

    I just finally want either KLC or Synosha to finally go home – that is all I ask.

  • cheese

    Hmm, those spoilers actually seem pretty reasonable – I wouldn’t expect anyone to do an obscure Dolly song (I don’t know David C’s song, but the rest at least ring a bell).

    I can totally see Michael hopping around singing Islands In the Stream because it’s his mom’s favorite song or something, but I sort of wish he wouldn’t.

    I think I just want to believe that David C has a good/interesting arrangement (that hopefully he came up with this time – who covers 1960s Kenny Rogers songs? I also like the lyrics to that song. Lots of “I love yous” which is always nice to hear from your tv boyfriend). If Jason sings IWALY we don’t have to hear Syesha go all Whitney on it.

  • bambambam

    Hm. Yeah, plausible. Especially since “But You Know I Love You” and “Islands” were not written by Dolly, it implies that “Here You Come Again” is reserved for the group sing and pointy cringiness.

    Since Brooke is known to get misty, I hope she will bring just the right pathos and catch in her throat to the lyric about how she hurried to school to show off the coat “With patches on my britches/And holes in both my shoes,” two of the most moving lines ever written in the English language. You see, Dolly made a treasure out of something very common — ordinary words — the way her mother made something precious out of rags.

  • bean99

    Someone at Idolforums is saying that David A’s song in the spoiler list is false so the rest must be also.

    I’m hoping for House of the Rising Sun for Michael.

  • primeminister

    Lots of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I love yousà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  which is always nice to hear from your tv boyfriend). If Jason sings IWALY we donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t have to hear Syesha go all Whitney on it.

    WORD.

  • http://www.myspace.com/swood1104 Sarah

    I also like the lyrics to that song. Lots of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I love yousà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  which is always nice to hear from your tv boyfriend

    Hmmm, yes. That would be quite nice to hear. ;)

    That would be interesting if he did his own arrangement of it. But only if it’s awesome. If it is, that would be a *great* FU to all the naysayers. Heh.

  • http://airincaol.com coco

    If someone does Travelin Thru >>>>I hope they don’t mention Jesus becuz that would be indulgent >>>>Simon says

    But I would like to hear Cook or Castro do it…Arch needs to do upbeat 9 to 5

    If Syesha does Eagle when she Flies> the right way –I could throw her a few votes.

  • http://steve-o-meter.com steve-o-meter

    Someone needs to sing 9 to 5 :clap_tb:

  • http://airincaol.com coco

    I do believe with the right song choice and delivery……that someone could have “their moment” this week——-I hope so and I ain’t talkin bout NO hot flash because I have several of those moments a week.

    PS…..I love Dolly

  • SpenserJ

    Someone needs to sing 9 to 5

    Do I even need to say ditto to that? Right on sister.

    PSà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦..I love Dolly

    Me too.

    And, I may be just making this up in my head – but I remember hearing some stories about bitterness between Dolly and Whitney. I seem to recall a story about Dolly walking out of an awards show just before Whitney was to perform IWALY. While I think Dolly is a benevolent and kind person – I do believe she might be a slight grudge holder. And, she does have an ego. My guess is that we’re in no danger of hearing a Whitney type version of that song.

  • NOLA

    Dolly is my favorite country artist!

    I predict Syesha will “attempt” IWALY (Whitney style). God, please no!
    I also predict Kristy will sing “Here You Come Again.”

    I live in New Orleans, so I can only hope that MJ does my alltime favorite “House of the Rising Sun.” I think it will fit him like a glove!

  • LaFonda

    I’m excited about this week beyond belief. I love Dolly. Here below I’ll post what I think they SHOULD sing and what the probably WILL sing.

    SHOULD
    Brooke White- Coat of Many Colors
    David C- House of the Rising Sun
    Carly Smithson- Jolene
    David A- Islands In the Stream
    Jason Castro- Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
    Kristy Lee Cook- Why’d You Come in there Looking Like That?
    Michael Johns- In the Ghetto
    Syesha Mercado- An Eagle When She Flies
    Ramiele Mulabay- 9 to 5

    WILL probably sing:

    Brooke White- Coat of Many Colors
    David C- Stairway to Heaven
    Carly- Jolene
    David A- When You Tell Me That You Love Me
    Jason C- In the Ghetto
    KLC- 9 to 5
    MJ- House of the Rising Sun
    Syesha Mercado- I Will Always Love You (Whitney version done horribly)
    Ramiele Mulaby: Here You Come Again

  • Terrie

    Only Jason should attempt “I Will Always Love You.” Nobody else can top the definitive version, which was performed on the Mayored to the Mob episode of “The Simpsons.”

    I would like to hear Jason sing “If I Were a Carpenter,” but he probably needs to break out of his box this week and IWALY could do that.

  • LaFonda

    Actually, upon further review:

    I think Jason Castro should sing Stairway to Heaven. He would nail it out of the ball park. He is not going to sing I Will Always Love You. I just don’t see it.

    And Carly Smithson should sing “House of the Rising Sun”. It is the perfect song choice for her and she would do a great job. I think she’d have an ‘Idol’ moment singing it. It’s a better song for her than Jolene. She doesn’t have to beg anyone not to take her man cause all she has to do is look at them.

  • NOLA

    Whomever performs 9 to 5 will be reamed for a karaoke
    performance. The song was great in the movie of the same name.
    Dolly can pull it off. It is a sing-song ditty that would show no
    vocal ability from these kids. Dolly wrote and sang so many gorgeous songs, that should someone choose this one, it will be the kiss of death, IMO.

  • jadore

    deleted

  • NOLA

    LaFonda, House of the Rising Sun is a song about a whorehouse and the “poor boy” who has been ruined by it.

    I really can’t see Carly pulling it off, believably.

  • joydrop

    I think Jason Castro should sing Stairway to Heaven. He would nail it out of the ball park.

    You’re totally right! Jason would be amazing with Stairway To Heaven… but I agree that David Cook is more likely to attempt it if anyone at all does.

    Also, if KLC sings Here You Come Again it will be awesomely bad and everyone at VFTW will love it.

    Dolly has way too many albums, it’s making my head hurt trying to figure it out. haha. I guess we’ll just have to wait until the spoilers come out tomorrow!

  • cheese

    Cute pic of Idols with Dolly (notice she smartly surrounds herself with CCJ!):

    http://thumbsnap.com/v/I1ZJrP1q.jpg

  • primeminister

    CCJ!

    :wub_tb:

    (Thanks for the picture, cheese!)

  • poporange

    h

  • baxter

    Ok I could get on board with that pick for DC- Kenny Rogers And I love you. He said in an interview that he was raised on Kenny Rogers music so I could see him being familiar with this song and doing it justice. I just want him to play guitar and sing it straight. No rock anthem this week.

  • http://www.myspace.com/swood1104 Sarah

    Awwww CCJ and Dolly. :wub_tb:

    So cute! Thanks cheese!!

  • joydrop

    I just want him to play guitar and sing it straight. No rock anthem this week.

    I agree, Baxter. I think that would be a very smart move on his part.

  • cricket

    I was never a big Dolly Parton fan until I was ” dragged kicking and screaming” to one of her concerts . It was held in a large arena , it was packed to the rafters and out comes this tiny woman to the stage and starts the concert with a fast , instantly crowd pleasing number and then in the middle of the show she sits on a stool in the middle of a spot light and sings her slower heartfelt numbers and blew me away. There this little bit of a gal in this large venue made the audience feel as if she were singing right to them in a small intimate setting. I have never seen anyone before or since who has held the audience in the palm of their hands like Dolly. She is simply fantastic. That night she made me a fan for life. She is also a generous person and has not forgotten where she came from and provides every child that is born in her home county with books and many other projects that include a foundation to save injured eagles and she has also produced so many oportunities for employment in east Tennessee . IMO Dolly is a national treasure.

  • marco5ny

    I can see Brooke doing “Love is Like a Butterfly”

    Would love to hear David C do an upbeat rockin version of “Travelin Thru” and Ramiele do a soulful “Baby I’m Burning”

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/iamthepurplewalrus purplesmile

    Only Jason should attempt à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I Will Always Love You.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  Nobody else can top the definitive version, which was performed on the Mayored to the Mob episode of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The Simpsons.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

    I would like to hear Jason sing à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“If I Were a Carpenter,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  but he probably needs to break out of his box this week and IWALY could do that.

    He is not going to sing I Will Always Love You. I just donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t see it.

    I’ve been hearing this is precisely what Jason will be singing tomorrow.

    Yes, Jason dearest, IWALY, too. Hee. ;p

  • gmn

    And, I may be just making this up in my head – but I remember hearing some stories about bitterness between Dolly and Whitney. I seem to recall a story about Dolly walking out of an awards show just before Whitney was to perform IWALY. While I think Dolly is a benevolent and kind person – I do believe she might be a slight grudge holder. And, she does have an ego. My guess is that weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re in no danger of hearing a Whitney type version of that

    I heard Dolly on an interview not that long ago, and she said that Elvis wanted to record IWALY, but he never recorded a song if he didn’t own it, so he wanted her to sell it to him. She said that she fretted and cried about it, but in the end decided not to sell it to him.
    Then, one day, she was driving somewhere and this song came on the radio and she was thinking how beautiful it was and how great the singer was, and then it dawned on her it was IWALY by Whitney. She said (laughingly) that she made so much money off that song, that she could have bought Graceland several times over.

  • Grammie Kari

    gmn, do you really think that’s a true story about Elvis? I am going to check with Graceland because Elvis recorded 735 songs and I know he didn’t own them.

    (Please see following post.)

    I love Jason but if he doesn’t pick an uptempo song and break out of his comfort zone, the judges are going to be all over him. Even Islands In the Streamwould be great. I hate to see him in the Bottom 3 again.

    The sound system better be up to par because Dolly CAN sing. Finally, a mentor!

  • http://http://ladymela99.livejournal.com/ princessmela

    To quote Dolly when she won I believe song of the year at the Grammy’s for IWALY: “When I recorded I Will Always Love You, I opened a bank account. When Whitney Houston recorded it I bought the bank.”

    It was one of my favorite lines from Dolly. I don’t think she harbours any resentment of Whitney about the song. It’s just sad that most of the world associates the song with Whitney, not Dolly. I think that someone singing it tonight will remind everyone whose song it really was.

  • Grammie Kari

    Thank you, gmn. Here is one response:

    In 1974, her song “I Will Always Love You” was released and went to #1 on the country charts. Around the same time, Elvis Presley indicated that he wanted to cover the song. Parton was interested until Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, told her that she would have to sign over half of the publishing rights if Elvis recorded the song (as was the standard procedure for songs Elvis recorded).

    Also, the various composers/publishers own the songs themselves. People get confused about the ownership of the recordings with that of the songs. Also, they get confused about a deal Elvis and his manager made with RCA in 1973. Here is our attempt to sort it all out for you:
    http://www.elvis.com/elvisology/faq/faq.asp?qid=25

    Elvis also recorded many songs that he did not have publishing interest in. Once in a while, per the contracts signed in Elvis’s lifetime, his publishing interests expire on some songs.

    I learned something today. Elvis would have done a beautiful job with this song. If it is done on the show tonight, I hope it will be sung by one of the guys. Now, that would be a challenge.

  • primeminister

    I think that someone singing it tonight will remind everyone whose song it really was.

    Unless of course, someone like Syesha does it Whitney style…that would disappoint me.

  • sciencefan

    cricket, thanks for sharing your experience at a Dolly concert. Sounds wonderful. She really is an awesome human being!

  • Allison

    I really would like to hear Jason on IWALY; if he does it with all his heart, he will just kill with it.

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