Campus voice: Is Beyonce’s version of ‘Jolene’ an homage or misrepresentation?

Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.

On March 29, Beyoncé released her eighth studio album, “COWBOY CARTER.” On social media sites like Twitter and TikTok, Beyoncé fans and haters alike are discussing one song in particular: “Jolene.”

Beyoncé made lyric changes to the original Dolly Parton song. Where the Parton version describes insecurity and jealousy towards Jolene, the Beyoncé version is defensive and fierce.

Some believe Beyoncé’s changes affect the quality of the song and disagree with its new message. Listeners have called it “cringe” and “soulless” while others call it “brilliant.”

Some fans are calling the cover a beautiful tribute, and an example of a talented female artist uplifting another talented female artist.

The Daily Orange wants to know where our readers stand. Is Beyonce’s cover of “Jolene” a beautiful homage to Parton or a misrepresentation of what the song stands for?

`