Musical Quandaries, 2/20/21
Some artists transcend their medium and enter a realm that can affect all of our senses. Variation in musical genre contributes to the richness of its listeners’ experiences; although many listeners prefer a specific genre, many of the greatest musicians have been capable of performing in any classification that suits their artistic goals. Often considered drastically different artists, Dolly Parton and Michael Jackson created musical genius in their own specific genre, theatrical expression, and performance style.
It’s challenging to hear Dolly Parton’s name without then thinking of all she did to further advance the country music genre. Dolly Parton’s roots were in a variant of country music, bluegrass. Her greatest asset, her song-writing ability, was best refined through the expression of Country music. It was her creative ability in connecting with her audience through narrative story telling that made Country music uniquely precise for her performances, but her talent for entertainment could not be constrained by any musical genre.
Similar to Dolly Parton’s association with country Music, it’s nearly impossible to separate the genre of pop from its regal defining agent, Michael Jackson. As the “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson developed his earliest understanding of music creating popular music consistent with the era of his upbringing. It didn’t take long for Michael Jackson’s ability to create music and unique performances to elucidate his identity. Although Michael Jackson is often best remembered for his spectacular dance performances, but his ability to write unique songs that created multi-level connections with his audience could have been applied to any genre.
There were few that expressed such a theatrical ambiance with the magnitude that Dolly was able; whether it was her hair, makeup, or exaggerated figure, she ensured a dramatic persona would be a fixture to any performance. Dolly Parton often opens up a concert with a story about her child-hood. Her larger than life persona has never been able to outshine her relatable story-telling that connects her background directly to the experiences of her observers. To limit her spectacle to her appearance would not quite do it for Dolly Parton; her appearance was always sure to be matched by her energy, talent, and love for her audience. Whether it was her appearance or her singing, it was a virtual certainty that Dolly’s audience would remain utterly captivated.
Similarly, Michael Jackson, for the majority of his career always had a consistent commencement to any performance: a grand entrance; Whether he entered through the floor or descended from above, it was generally accepted that Michael would enter any performance in unique and theatrical fashion. Accompanying a dramatic entrance, Jackson made unique outfit accessories an expected fixture to his performances. Jackson’s performances were often littered with glitter-spattered socks, a glove retrieved from a briefcase, or checkerboard penny loafers; his distinctive and eccentric expression of self created an iconic persona that was regularly matched by his other-worldly dance moves and cataclysmic vocal range.
To experience a performance by Dolly Parton is to experience a variety of different stories from various eras all seemingly dissonant yet lovingly segued together with incredible transitions of story-telling, singing, and orchestral organization. Dolly Parton’s writing was matched by performative genius. She could play a guitar, sing a song, or simply speak the story; each piece of her performance was executed with precise energy and connection to her audience. Many feel that Dolly Parton is one of the greatest entertainers in history; it is her quirky and unmatched performances that bring value to her listening observers every outing.
Correspondingly, Michael Jackson’s performances are almost fabled in their retellings. His approach often elicited emotions from his audience that can only be described as fantastical. Whether singing, dancing, or freezing with anticipation, Jackson’s energy exceeded that of any other artist for the duration of his performance. Comparably to Dolly Parton, Michael Jackson is known for his eccentricities in his presentations, but bringing joy to his audience was always carried out with care and fidelity.
Both Dolly Parton and Michael Jackson are considered some of the greatest musicians to ever take the stage. Although it would be easy to consider their differences, their unique mastery of musical genre, theatrical expression, and performance style makes them incontrovertibly analogous. Both artists offer lifetimes of historically commensurate performances. The depth of their influence is untouched, and generations of performers and musicians will lead their journeys out of the impact of the King of Pop music and the Queen of Country.
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