I've been unable to do a review for some time, due to lacking a computer. After I got one, I started to think: what do I want to do? Continue my Iron Maiden series? Nah. I don't think those turned out right. I just couldn't find a good way to describe the differences in the instrumental work on the albums very well. A Billboard chart? Tempting, but with it being the tail end of September, I'd rather just wait until the 2015 year-end list. A one hit wonder? Again, don't think I did well on that series, and I just don't have the time to research like I used to in order to find out other songs, listen to them, and all that. Cover song? There we go! But unlike my previous cover songs, I will not be comparing this cover to the original. Instead, I will be considering it on its own merits.
For those of you who don't know who this band was, The White Stripes was a husband and wife team of Jack and Meg White, although the two were divorced before the band became successful. The band no longer exists, but is considered to be one of the more successful garage rock acts, as well as credited with revitalizing the genre. While they have some well-known hits, such as "Fell In Love With a Girl" and especially "Seven Nation Army", this review will be taking a look at one of their lesser-known singles, a cover of the song "Jolene", originally by Dolly Parton.
This version starts off with a vocal introduction by Jack White, being that it is actually a live version of the song. After that vocal intro, Jack White kicks in with a guitar line that not only has the classic feel of the original song, but has the same style as The White Stripes. It's actually a pretty cool guitar line. The vocals, unfortunately, are a little bit of a mixed bag. The raw nature of Jack White's vocals both help and hurt the performance.
On the slower parts, the cracking vocals do a really good job portraying the emotions of the song, and you can almost hear Jack White begging with the titular woman. The chorus is where it falls apart slightly. While that unsteady voice worked well on the quieter parts, I found it got lost a bit when the song gained more energy. In addition, Jack White's voice works well on the quieter parts, but it doesn't work for shouting, and that's precisely what the chorus proves.
In terms of lyrics, this song is identical to the original. Jack White is begging the titular character not to take his man. She easily can, and Jack White knows he can't compete with her, so his last resort is to ask her not to compete with him. It's actually a somewhat tragic song.
So, what do I think of the cover? Despite the somewhat rocky chorus, this version delivers well enough to satisfy. The instrumentals do a good job merging The White Stripes style with the feel of the original, and Jack White's vocals are a great match for the desperation in the lyrics. Especially for a song performed live, this was a cover that stands up there with the original.