Included in the forthcoming U2 full length, Bono and Dolly Parton perform together on ‘Torn,’ a somg about broken family ties.
Co-written by the band, Parton and Snow Patrol star Johnny McDaid, the country music track appears on the icon Irish band’s 16th album, Carnaval De Luz.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, the the U2 frontman said that the song was recorded in June, just two months before Parton passed away on August 25 at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, adding “When she got ill, she got out of her bed to sing this song. And you can hear that.” “And I can’t even listen to it now.”
Born Paul David Hewson, the rocker said that he’d tried to get the country icon to collaborate on a different side project that was inspired by Irish folk music, but she felt it was “a little too Irish” for her taste. Instead, Dolly she suggested ‘Torn,’ and asked if he’d be willing to listen and take it where he wanted. Bono reworked the lyrics with Snow Patrol musician Johnny McDaid, and Parton agreed to sing.
“She sang her heart out, and I cannot believe that’s an 80-year-old woman,” said Bono.
The LP’s producer Garret ‘Jacknife’ Lee, told Rolling Stone that Parton loved the song and was able to approve the final mix before she died, stating “She was so proud of her vocal and the recording. She was thrilled with it,” he shared. “We were very nervous that she might not approve, or would be uncomfortable with it, but she loved it.”
Not their first meeting, Bono and Parton have long been friends, and when she turned 80 in January, Dolly shared a Facebook video of the band surprising her with a birthday cake and bagpipe players.
“Now that’s what you call a surprise! This old bag sure feels the love!” “Thank you, Bono and U2 for making my birthday extra special,” she quipped.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: swiss-image.ch/Photo by Moritz Hager World Economic Forum