Lil Nas X's 'Jolene' Cover Is Wrapped In Flowers And Butterflies

because the story goes, Dolly Parton wrote "Jolene" and "I Will constantly Love You" both on the same day. That's the sort of music trivia that makes the rounds on Twitter every few months 1) because it's fascinating, and 2) as the song itself contains multitudes and sounds like it must've been labored over for longer than an afternoon. However nearly 50 years immediately after first being recorded, it remains singular, even as it's likely one of the most-covered popular songs by contemporary artists.


Much like "Jolene," Lil Nas X is also everywhere. It makes sense that he'd mask the song, as he did for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge, because both entities are especially strong cultural forces at the moment. As soon as they come with each other, it sounds pretty good!


As he sings delicately and cautiously in a deep baritone infused with a subtle twang, Lil Nas X stands at a florally arranged mic stand gripping a sparkling mic and looking directly in the camera. It's a comparatively low-key affair compared to his common choreo-heavy, visionary performances visualize both the 2021 and 2019 VMAs, plus his music videos). Although it's one more facet of the artist's personality and seems quite intentional — "Look, I can do gentle ballads, too."


there is lots of subtext here as well. Additionally to being a American regular, "Jolene" is a nation song. In 2019, Lil Nas X rose to prominence thanks to his own nation song, "Old Town Road," which speedily caused a torrent of controversy that LNX persevered through to be a cultural icon. One of the greatest "Jolene" covers, also, is by Parton's goddaughter Miley Cyrus — who, obviously, appears on Montero, the good debut album from Lil Nas X that dropped last week.


Apart from all that, it's just a nice song, and LNX sounds good covering it. Check out Lil Nas X's brief however moody "Jolene" cover above.