To prefer the original Dolly Parton version of "I will always love you"

[grottielottie]

I'm not disputing that Whitney was an amazing talent but every time I hear her version I pine for the delicate melancholy of the Dolly original.

Tanith
I remember this "I seem to remember someone once being jailed for playing WH's version non stop at full volume and driving her neighbours to distraction." too

YANBU. It's another vote for Dolly from me!

YANBU - it's the understated melancholy and acceptance of the original that brings tears to the eyes. It doesn't work as a power ballad.

I heard the Whitney version first and never "got it". Then I heard Dolly and thought christ so THAT'S what that song is about...

Dolly! Dolly! Dolly!

Neither -It is a god awful song.
Hate it!

wildstrawberryplace - that's what happened to me too

Hated the Whitney version but Dolly singing it is so much more meaningful and emotional.

Whitney could belt 'em out but no nuance or emotion IMHO.

Thank fuck for upahill. I was beginning to feel like I was drowning in treacle!

Dolly Parton could piss on my Christmas dinner and I would still love her.

As others have said, it was awful Whitney Houston died so young, but her rendition of 'I will always love you' is absolute mince.

As a technical feat: pretty impressive.

As a piece of music: nigh on unlistenable.

At least it saved stupid and unoriginal people the bother of thinking what to have as the first dance at their wedding during the early 1990s.

Depends who's voice you prefer. I prefer Whitney's renditon myself, think it was much more soulful and showed the range of her vocal talent.

I'm going to go against the grain and state that I absolutely can't stand Dolly's voice. It sounds like someone is trying to scratch my innards each time I hear her! On a flight to the US a few years back, I came across a tribute album sang by various artists for Dolly on the in flight entertainment and thoroughly enjoyed it, especially 'coat of many colours' and 'Jolene'. I decied to buy the originals as sang by Dolly and hated them. She's just not my cup of tea. I may be showing my age here but Whitney was the soundtrack to my teens. Absolutlely loved her voice and music and I'm so sad she didn't have the strength to make better choices, despite her notable talent and all the privelage it afforded her. I am very sorry she's gone :(

Elvis wanted to record it back in the 1970s, but his manager demanded half the song writing royalties for Elvis

Dolly, to her eternal credit, told him to piss off.

I don't like either of them

I prefer Dolly. I always will - she's one of my heroes!!!

Compos I never knew that!

Compos... I shall have to steal your 'Christmas dinner' expression and pass it off as my own.

Go to a Dolly gig the next time she's appearing near you. She takes great delight in telling the audience all the old gossip about Elvis and his manager, the woman she wrote 'Jolene' about, etc.

She also, if you're lucky, sings 'Little Sparrow' a capella and unless you're actually dead the hairs will stand up all down your neck.

She is a Class Act.

YANBU Don't like Dolly Parton's voice, myself, but her original version is still infinitely better that WH's who just seemed to shout the whole thing.

I prefer Dolly as well, for being a bit more understated and subtle. Nothing wrong with Whitney's version, but I think Dolly does the lyrics a bit more justice.

Love Dolly - saw her sing it live - she brought the house down.

Someone once asked her is she was upset that Whitney had the bigger hit with it - she said she " cried all the way to the bank"!