An American showbiz expert has claimed that Beyonce’s version of Jolene has a hidden meaning and the worldwide star is singing about her marriage to Jay Z.
Dolly Parton released the song in 1973 and more than 40 years later it is still widely considered one of the best country songs of all time.
The tracks share a name and subject matter, but the similarities largely end there. Where Dolly is imploring (I’m begging you, please don’t take my man,) Beyoncé is commanding (I’m warning you, don’t come for my man.)
Comparisons between the two songs have been made and GBN America host Nana Akua labelled Beyonce’s version as a “mediocre girl boss cliche” and said that it “sucks the life” out of the original.
Asia Grace claimed that Beyonce is sending a message with the song
GETTY/ GBN America
However, New York Post reporter Asia Grace argued that the starlet is using the song to “bear arms” and protect her marriage after multiple Jay-Z cheating rumours.
She said: “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.
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“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.
Beyonce and Jay Z have been married since 2008
GETTY
“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.”
In the past, the pair have hinted in their lyrics that there may have been infidelity in their marriage, and Jay-Z appeared to all but confirm that he cheated on his spouse in an interview in 2017.
The 52-year-old told the New York Times in an intimate interview: “The hardest thing is seeing pain on someone’s face that you caused, and then have to deal with yourself.”
Jay-Z said his emotional difficulties stemmed from his childhood, saying: “Even with women, you gonna shut down emotionally, so you can’t connect.
“In my case, like, it’s deep. And then all the things happen from there: infidelity.”
