"Think About Love," Dolly Parton (1986)

A jewel from Dolly's pop years

Peak: #1 on the country chart
Streams: 2.4 million

Is Dolly Parton’s “Think About Love” a country song? Sure! Why not? It certainly reached #1 on country radio, and as I’ve mentioned many times before, country hits in the mid-80s were often indistinguishable from the pop hits playing just a few stations over on the dial. They were “country” because the industry said they were. (The same can be said for half the hits on country radio today.)

Anyway, I don’t care if a country song is “traditional” or not. It just needs to be good. And damn it, “Think About Love” is good.

First of all, Dolly Parton nails this vocal. Listen to the hitches of emotion she puts in lines like “we were strangers” or “wanting me as much as I want you.” She’s embodying the lyrics’ unease about being in love with someone who maybe doesn’t love you back.

When she hits the bridge, she unleashes an agonized wail. She’s not holding this man in her arms, and she’s upset about it. She’s trying to convince him that he should think of her every time he thinks about love, but it’s clear he won’t do it. It’s clear because Dolly Parton has the vocal chops to convey the emotion.

The song offers plenty of pleasure to leaven this pain. The beautiful synths and electronic drums evoke sumptuous British new wave acts like Spandau Ballet, and the chorus melody improves with every listen. If you hear it three times, then “sooner or later every heart needs some company” will stick with you for the rest of the day. You won’t be sorry to hum it, no matter what kind of country music you prefer.