Music review: Dolly Parton – ‘Pure and Simple’
Paul McCartney once sang, “You’d think that people would have had enough of silly love songs/I look around me and I see it isn’t so/Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs/And whatĢƵ wrong with that/I’d like to know.”
Apparently, Dolly Parton feels the same way.
On the country music iconĢƵ 43rd album and latest release, the Tennessee native celebrates the joy that comes from being a true soulmate to the love of your life.
“Pure and Simple” is aptly titled with its minimalistic songwriting formula and sparse instrumental backing. The most honored female country performer of all time gathers inspiration from her 50-year marriage to Carl Dean.
Parton delivers heartfelt messages for other couples to find inspiration and use as a road map for keeping a relationship strong and vibrant.
The title track opens the album with Parton announcing, “Every time I think about you/I get chills along my spine.”
The remaining nine selections possess the same sentiment.
“Say Forever You’ll Be Mine” follows and serves as an appropriate tune to use in conjunction with the wedding vows with its imagery of being totally devoted to your partner for always and forever no matter what the circumstances.
The 70-year-oldĢƵ voice is still strong and comfortably charming, especially on the love letter that is “Never Not Love You” and with the traditional country feel of “Tomorrow Is Forever.”
On “Outside Your Door” and “Head Over High Heels,” Parton effortlessly pulls off a sassy and sexy attitude that comes from being totally over the moon with that special person who makes your heart race whenever they enter the same room as you.
Parton sums up the mood of the album best when she declares, “I just love you pure and simple/Pure and simple/Sweet and fine.”
Scripture tells us that love never fails and neither does the latest offering of the heart from Parton.
Silly love songs indeed.
And whatĢƵ wrong with that?