Comments on: Dolly Parton – “Shinola”

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:48:40 +0000

I love Dolly Parton, I think better get to living was a great song and should have been a top ten hit. I also think Jesus and Gravity should have been a top ten hit. How ever I didn’t care for Shinola or only dreaming or that other song, The Lonesomes, on the CD. Backwoods Barbie is a great CD. I bought 8 copies and I liked the song Drive me crazy. I also loved the song, Cologne. That should be released as a single. However if Dolly wants to have a hit on radio she needs to let somebody else write her, Some new songs for today’s audience. She needs to hire Tim McGraw or Faith Hill’s songwriter’s or Shania Twain’s ex manager Mutt Lang to produce her next CD. And let somebody else do the writting for a change. Let them help her get back out on top, Then her dream of making a radio comeback would come true and her albums would probably sale again. Dolly just something to think about. Take a break from song writing and let somebody else do it for you, Just for one album and see what happens?

By: Anne

Anne — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:01:14 +0000

I admit. I had to look up “Shinola” on wikipedia.

By: debiro1

debiro1 — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 04:33:11 +0000

But don’t you think that ageism is more of a problem for female artists than for males? Even in TV and movies. Probably because female listeners and viewers aren’t as close-minded or shallow as males. We’ll listen to and look at older men and still find them attractive whereas men think that a woman over 40 isn’t worth their time. I don’t listen to too much contemporary country but on what I have heard lately, the older men seem to be singing about their family, how their kids have grown up, etc. The women are still singing about the men. Which is kind of odd since in reality, it’s the men who are still chasing the women at 70 years old and the women who’re not thinking about the men much anymore but instead are thinking about the family and the kids!

By: J.R. Journey

J.R. Journey — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:03:05 +0000

I think what I said came out the wrong way. In no way am I defending the current format of country radio. I refuse to even listen to it. But don’t you think that since there are so many exceptions to the rule that the ‘rule’ is no longer applicable? I mean, sure, an artist might just have to compromise a little of their self-indulgent ‘this is the music I want to make and to hell with radio programmers’ attitude if they realistically seek airplay.

In every generation, what is traditional changes. In every generation, there is always a young crop of crooners waiting in the wings to replace those in the spotlight right now. So I just think that if the veterans really courted radio and recorded radio-friendly tunes – schlock that they may be – a radio hit is certainly possible for artists over 50 – and even over 60.

My main point was while Dolly has repeatedly said how much she wants another radio hit, she has gone in the wrong direction to get it, and she’s certainly not the only one of her contemporaries to do so.

By: Razor X

Razor X — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:43:52 +0000

J.R., it’s beyond dispute that country radio playlists are heavily skewed toward young artists. Kenny Rogers did hit #1 when he was 61 — and it was a huge deal because he became the oldest person in country music history to have a #1 hit.

You’ve named a few exceptions to the rule — Strait, Jackson, and Brooks & Dunn — all of whom could pass for being under 50. Reba is the only woman in that age range to still get airplay, and her chart success is fading rapidly. Some of the best music of Dolly Parton’s career came after she was past age 50. She’s won critical acclaim and several Grammies during that time period. She and other veteran artists, particularly women, have a very valid complaint indeed, that their work is being ignored by the ageist Today’s Country radio.

By: J.R. Journey

J.R. Journey — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:44:55 +0000

And I disagree on the age issue. I’ve heard that for years now from the veterans who just can’t compete anymore. Kenny Rogers himself once said “Those who can compete, will. And those who can’t, bitch about it.” Rogers was 61 when he had his last #1 on the Billboard Country Songs chart with ‘Buy Me A Rose’.

We also have artists like George Strait (56) who consistently tops the charts. Reba (53) just had a song go to #2 this year followed by another top 20. Brooks & Dunn (both over 50) have a song in the top 5 this week. Alan Jackson, who will turn 50 in October, had last week’s number-one song (his second from his latest album). So I refuse to buy into the belly-aching of the elder statesmen who just won’t change with the times … Sorry guys, I’ll still listen to your old records though.

By: J.R. Journey

J.R. Journey — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:38:16 +0000

Gonna agree on this review … There just weren’t many radio-ready songs on this release, so if Dolly’s goal was to get back on the radio, she missed it.

By: Razor X

Razor X — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:50:47 +0000

Leann, not only does she have her age working against her, she does not have a major label promoting her singles at radio. Dolly’s got a lot more clout and money than most independent artists, but it’s still got to be an uphill battle for her to compete with the major labels for a spot on radio playlists.

By: leeann

leeann — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:58:46 +0000

“Better Get To Livin” was played fairly regularly on GAC, I believe. She was even their artist of the month. I agree, though, that someone her age will have a really difficult time up against today’s artists.

By: Brady Vercher

Brady Vercher — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:32:14 +0000

I thought “Jesus and Gravity” was a little hammy, but Jesus and Ruger, they’re straight shooters. There are a few killer songs on Backwoods Barbie, though.