“BACK TO THE ’50s” — WHEN ELVIS PRESLEY MADE A GENERATION FEEL YOUNG AGAIN
phil There are moments when an Elvis Presley song doesn’t simply bring back a memory. It brings back an entire decade. The first…
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME” — THE ELVIS PRESLEY BALLAD THAT MADE HEARTBREAK SOUND LIKE SURRENDER
Some Elvis Presley songs fight to hold on to love. “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” sounds like the moment…
“EAGLE WHEN SHE FLIES” — THE DOLLY PARTON SONG THAT FOUND STRENGTH IN THE WOMEN WHO REFUSED TO STAY DOWN
Some Dolly Parton songs begin with a character. Others begin with a memory. “Eagle When She Flies” begins almost like a portrait—one…
“STUCK ON YOU” — THE ELVIS PRESLEY COMEBACK HIT THAT PROVED AMERICA WAS STILL WAITING
Imagine waiting nearly two years for Elvis Presley to come home—and then hearing “Stuck on You” burst from the radio. It was…
“JOLENE” — THE DOLLY PARTON PLEA THAT TURNED FEAR, BEAUTY, AND VULNERABILITY INTO A COUNTRY CLASSIC
There are country songs about losing someone, and then there is “Jolene.” From the moment that instantly recognizable guitar figure begins, the…
“ALL SHOOK UP” — THE ELVIS PRESLEY HIT THAT MADE 1957 SOUND YOUNG, RESTLESS, AND COMPLETELY ALIVE
Some records take a few seconds to establish themselves. “All Shook Up” needs almost none. That sharp opening rhythm arrives, Elvis Presley…
“YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE” — THE DOLLY PARTON LOVE SONG THAT QUIETLY REACHED NO. 1
Some Dolly Parton songs announce themselves with a story you can picture immediately. “Jolene” gives us desperation in a few unforgettable lines.…
“Where No One Stands Alone” — The Gospel Song That Revealed the Faith at the Heart of Elvis Presley
Some Elvis Presley recordings belong to the stage, the jukebox, or the dance floor. “Where No One Stands Alone” belongs somewhere quieter.…
“Silver and Gold” — The Dolly Parton Song That Reminded Us What Wealth Really Means
Some country songs become unforgettable because of a soaring chorus. Others stay with us because they say something we already knew in…
“Coat of Many Colors” — The Dolly Parton Song That Turned a Poor Childhood Memory Into a Country Classic
Some country songs sound as though they were written at a desk. Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors” feels as though it…