"Girl in the Movies" is a song by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was written by Parton and Linda Perry for the soundtrack of the 2018 Netflix film, Dumplin'. The song was produced by Perry and released as the second single from the soundtrack on November 2, 2018. It was nominated for Best Original Song at the 76th Golden Globe Awards[3] and Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.[4]

"Girl in the Movies"
Single by Dolly Parton
from the album Dumplin'
ReleasedNovember 2, 2018
Recorded2018
Studio
  • Greenleaf Studio
  • Blackbird Studio
GenreCountry[1][2]
Length4:34
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Linda Perry
Dolly Parton singles chronology
"Here I Am"
(2018)
"Girl in the Movies"
(2018)
"Smoky Mountain Rain"
(2019)
Music video
"Girl in the Movies" on YouTube

Critical reception

edit

In a review for Rolling Stone, Stephen L. Betts called the song "a dreamy ballad, both literally and figuratively," praising the song's lyrical structure and its movie theatre metaphors.[5] Writing for Wide Open Country, Bobbie Jean Sawyer gave a positive review of the song, saying that it is a song "for any daydreamer who's escaped to the movies to wonder what it would be like to shine like your favorite characters on the silver screen."[6]

Music video

edit

The song's music video was released on November 19, 2018. The black and white video depicts Parton playing an acoustic guitar and performing the song with color clips from the film interspersed throughout.[7]

Live performances

edit

Parton performed the song live for the first time on October 22, 2018, accompanied by Perry on guitar, at a luncheon for the Netflix film Dumplin' at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in Los Angeles.[8] On November 30, Parton performed the song on NBC's Today.[9] That evening she appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she performed a medley of Christmas songs with Fallon, in addition to being interviewed and performing "Girl in the Movies".[10] Parton also performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on December 6.[11]

Personnel

edit

Adapted from the album liner notes.[12]

  • Chris Allgood – mastering assiatant
  • David Angell – violin
  • Sean Badum – string recording assistant
  • Avery Bright – viola
  • Billy Bush – mixing
  • David Davidson – violin
  • Luis Flores – assistant engineer
  • Damon Fox – B3 organ
  • David Goldstein – drums
  • Austin Hoke – cello, string arrangements
  • Emily Lazar – mastering
  • Briana Lee – background vocals
  • John McBride – string recording
  • Billy Mohler – bass
  • Emily Nelson – cello
  • Eli Pearl – pedal steel guitar
  • Linda Perry – acoustic guitar, writer, producer, engineer
  • Maiya Sykes – background vocals
  • Kristin Weber – violin
  • Katelyn Westergard – violin
  • Kristin Wilkinson – viola

References

edit
  1. ^ "Dumplin' [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] - Dolly Parton | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  2. ^ "Dumplin' (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Dolly Parton on iTunes". Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  3. ^ "Golden Globe Nominations: Complete List". Variety. December 6, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  4. ^ "Dolly Parton". GRAMMY.com. November 19, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  5. ^ Betts, Stephen L. (November 2, 2018). "Hear Dolly Parton's Uplifting Dumplin' Song 'Girl in the Movies'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  6. ^ Sawyer, Bobbie Jean (November 2, 2018). "Hear Dolly Parton's Inspiring 'Girl in the Movies' From the Dumplin Soundtrack". Wide Open Country. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  7. ^ "Dolly Parton - Girl in the Movies (from the Dumplin' Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  8. ^ "Dolly Parton Performs 'Girl in the Movies' From Dumplin Before Rapt Industry Crowd". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  9. ^ "See Dolly Parton perform 'Girl in the Movies' on TODAY". TODAY.com. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  10. ^ "Dolly Parton Appears On 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'". All Access. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  11. ^ "Dolly Parton Is a 'Girl in the Movies'". Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  12. ^ Parton, Dolly (November 30, 2018). Dumplin' (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) liner notes. Dolly Records/RCA Nashville.