Nana Akua has slammed Beyonce’s version of Dolly Parton’s smash hit Jolene and gave it a scathing review.
The successful 70’s country hit was the Parton’s second number one and more than 40 years later it is still widely considered one of the best country songs of all time.
However, Beyonce’s version is different to Dolly’s, for example, instead of “I’m begging’ of you, please don’t take my man,” Beyoncé sings, “I’m warning you, don’t come for my man.”
Speaking on GBN America Nana Akua labelled Beyonce’s version as a “mediocre girl boss cliche” and said that it “sucks the life” out of the original.
Nana said: “In my view that just sort of sucks the life out of it.
“Beyonce’s cover version doesn’t really compare in the slightest to the original. She’s taking this iconic song full of pain and honesty and turned it into a mediocre girl boss cliché.”
She added: “Beyoncé’s version is a bit of a downer squib it doesn’t really epitomize the song.”
In a conversation with New York Post reporter Asia Grace, Nana asked her: “It’s a bit shallow, isn’t it? It’s not quite there. Do you feel it has that sort of Dolly Parton emotional depth?”
Asia Grace disagreed with Nana and explained that she felt the song lyrics by Beyonce had a hidden meaning.
She explained: “There’s a number of hits in our history that sees the woman confronting the other woman, and saying back that thing up juvenile sis, this is mine.
“And honestly, if you’ve ever been cheated on or betrayed by a lover, whether you’re a man or a woman, you know that pain.
“It sounds like Beyonce and Jay-Z have worked through a lot of things in their marriage and any threats to that newly established foundation.
“I think she is saying that it’s okay to vocally, lyrically, bear arms here, you know?”
She added: “I think Beyonce is letting the world know as Queen Bee, she has sharpened up her stinger and she’s vocally ready to zit on Jolene.
“Feminism is not monolithic in that we can only look and sound and walk and talk one way.
“I think she’s taking on a lot of American traditional values here. She’s protecting her man, she’s protecting her family, and she’s standing her ground.
“So where Dolly was begging for mercy, I don’t think that a woman in 2024, especially a black woman or any woman should be begging and pleading for anything.
“As beautiful as Dolly’s version is, there are no notes, no critiques on that. However, I think Beyonce just took it and flipped it on its head a bit.”
