Dolly Parton’s rendition of “What’s Up?” with Linda Perry is just amazing. I was beaming from ear to ear seeing the music video. With her gorgeous voice, Dolly is seen singing along to the song, looking stunning as always. And there she was, right there, Linda Perry, the original songwriter, strumming her guitar. What a team!
The song is a true 90s classic in and of itself. Back then, Linda Perry penned and sang it with her band, 4 Non Blondes. It was one of those songs that just stayed with you, posing all the important life concerns. Now that Dolly has given it new life, I can assure you that it is something truly unique.
Rockstar, Dolly’s upcoming rock album, features this cover. She’s taking a chance and attempting a completely other genre. But judging from this song, she’s going to be fantastic. “What’s Up?” is another one of Dolly’s songs that she always manages to make uniquely her own.
The video was filmed at a real elementary school in Nashville.
It’s as though two distinct musical universes have come together to create something beautiful when Dolly and Linda perform together. Linda’s rock edge melds flawlessly with Dolly’s rural twang. They complement one another like old friends because they have such wonderful chemistry. The environment, with all those children’s drawings adorning the walls, just heightens the mood.
Dolly’s lyrics struck a different chord with me. You can feel every word she sings when she talks about striving to climb that big, beautiful hill of hope. Every line seems to be the culmination of her years of expertise. It’s absolutely magical when Linda joins in on the chorus.
I must admit that watching Dolly perform this rock classic has me incredibly psyched for her upcoming album. We’re in for a tremendous treat if this is an indication of things to come. It demonstrates that Dolly can successfully tackle any genre.
