Songteller ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭒
Genre: Memoir
US Publication: 2020
Print: 380 pages
Audio: 5 hours 19 minutes
Confetti Rating: 4.5 stars
REVIEW:
If you don’t like Dolly Parton, do you even have a heart?
Like her coat of many colors, my childhood is a patchwork of Dolly-centered memories. Listening to her albums and cassettes on repeat, watching her variety show post-bathtime/pre-bedtime on Sunday nights, getting to see “9 to 5” in the theater when the big screen experience still felt larger than life.
Yep, I’m a Dolly fan. Always have been, always will be.
Her 2020 memoir, Songteller, is an incredibly unique approach to an autobiography. Its subtitle, “My Life in Lyrics,” says it all. Dolly shares glimpses of her world by way of the stories behind her songs. Some notable examples:
While she had approved the use of “I Will Always Love You” in the movie “The Bodyguard,” she didn’t know it had actually been recorded until she was driving home one night and heard Whitney belting out that infamous acapella opening. She writes, “I had to pull off to the side of the road, because it just got bigger and bigger and better and better. I have never experienced a greater feeling in my life than hearing Whitney Houston sing that song for the first time.”
“Jolene” was inspired by a little girl she met at an autograph signing, who had such a unique and beautiful name that she didn’t want to forget it. “To remember the name, I went ‘Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene’ until I could get back to the bus and write it down. Which is when I thought, ‘I’ll just start the song like that, because that’s how I remembered the name, and I’ll add to that.’” And thus the infamous earworm was born.
At least 100 of her songs are broken down in a similar fashion.
Now the tough question… Audiobook or print copy? BOTH! You must listen to the audiobook for the snippets of the songs and to hear her tell the stories in a very casual, off the cuff manner. But you must also flip through the beautiful print version to see the accompanying photos and lyric sheets. You see, Songteller is not just a book. It’s an EXPERIENCE.
Now if Dolly had asked my opinion, I would have suggested that she order the songs chronologically instead of by loose themes, but she didn’t. It’s her songbook, and she can tell it however she wants to.
PUBLISHER SYNOPSIS:
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics is a landmark celebration of the remarkable life and career of a country music and pop culture legend.
As told by Dolly Parton in her own inimitable words, explore the songs that have defined her journey. Illustrated throughout with previously unpublished images from Dolly Parton's personal and business archives.
Mining over 60 years of songwriting, Dolly Parton highlights 175 of her songs and brings readers behind the lyrics.
• Packed with never-before-seen photographs and classic memorabilia
• Explores personal stories, candid insights, and myriad memories behind the songs
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics reveals the stories and memories that have made Dolly a beloved icon across generations, genders, and social and international boundaries.
Containing rare photos and memorabilia from Parton's archives, this book is a show-stopping must-have for every Dolly Parton fan.
• Learn the history behind classic Parton songs like "Jolene," "9 to 5," "I Will Always Love You," and more.
• The perfect gift for Dolly Parton fans (everyone loves Dolly!) as well as lovers of music history and country
Add it to the shelf with books like Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton, The Beatles Anthology by The Beatles, and Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen.