What would Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” sound like if Dire Straits had written and played it?
Dutch guitarist Laszlo Buring decided to find out. On May 17, 2026, Laszlo premiered a new five-minute-and-10-second guitar arrangement titled “Jolene, if it were written by Dire Straits.”
The performance gives Dolly Parton’s timeless country classic a completely different musical identity, built around the guitar sound and atmosphere associated with Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits.
The result is another fascinating experiment from a guitarist who enjoys imagining how famous songs might sound through the musical language of different artists.
Dolly Parton Meets the Dire Straits Sound
Laszlo did not try to completely rewrite the identity of “Jolene.” Instead, he focused on one of the song’s strongest musical elements: the melody of the chorus.
As he explained, he felt that the chorus melody could provide a strong foundation for creating new guitar parts.
That idea became the starting point for the entire arrangement. Dolly Parton’s voice, emotional storytelling and country instrumentation drive the original song. Laszlo approaches it from a different angle, building guitar lines that create an atmosphere closer to the world of Dire Straits.
The contrast is what makes the performance so interesting.
Dolly Parton and Dire Straits come from different musical traditions, yet both rely heavily on melody, storytelling and memorable songwriting.
Why Laszlo Kept Dolly Parton’s Original Lyrics
One of the more interesting decisions in the arrangement was Laszlo’s choice to keep the original lyrics instead of changing the song to a male perspective.
He acknowledges that other versions of “Jolene” have altered the perspective of the narrator. For his interpretation, however, he wanted to preserve Parton’s original story.
Laszlo found an argument that convinced him he did not need to rewrite the song simply because the singer was male. He pointed to John Prine, one of America’s most respected songwriters, who also wrote and performed songs from perspectives different from his own.
That decision allows the focus to remain on the story and melody rather than changing the character of the song.
How Does “Jolene” Work in a Dire Straits-Inspired Arrangement?
The challenge is significant. “Jolene” is instantly recognizable because of its emotional vocal melody and repetitive rhythmic drive. Turning it into something that feels inspired by Dire Straits requires creating enough new guitar material without losing the original song.
Laszlo’s arrangement approaches the problem through guitar phrasing and tone. Rather than simply copying Mark Knopfler’s playing, he builds a new instrumental framework around the existing composition.
The result is not an attempt to replace Dolly Parton’s original. It is a musical “what if?”
What if the song had been written in a completely different musical environment? What if the guitar had played a much more central role? That is the idea behind the performance.
The Guitar and Tone Behind the Performance
For the recording, Laszlo used a Fender Vintera Stratocaster. The amplifier tone came from The Sultan Amp by Watts Audio, a virtual amplifier simulator created by Dylan Watts.
The combination is particularly suitable for this experiment because the Stratocaster immediately brings a brighter, articulate guitar character to the arrangement.
That allows Laszlo to emphasize melodic lines and clean guitar phrasing rather than simply relying on heavy distortion.
It is another example of how the choice of instrument and tone can completely change the personality of a familiar composition.
Laszlo Buring’s Growing Collection of Musical Experiments
This “Jolene” arrangement is also part of a larger pattern in Laszlo Buring’s work.
Laszlo has created several imaginative projects based on the idea of taking a famous song and asking how it might sound in the style of another artist.
He has previously explored Dire Straits-inspired arrangements of songs by artists including Coldplay and Jimi Hendrix. These performances are interesting because they are not simple covers.
Laszlo is essentially studying the musical characteristics of an artist and then applying those ideas to a completely different composition.
That makes the projects particularly enjoyable for guitar players who are interested in arrangement, tone and musical style.
Dolly Straits? Fans Have Already Given Their Verdict
The YouTube video has already attracted more than 49,700 views and around 1,300 likes, along with more than 100 comments.
Among the reactions are short but enthusiastic comments such as “Dolly Straits” and **“Fabulous.” **That response highlights exactly what makes the experiment work.
Listeners recognize Dolly Parton’s song immediately, but they also hear something new. The familiar melody is still there. The musical identity has changed.
A Meeting of Two Musical Worlds
There is something especially appropriate about this experiment following Dolly Parton’s recent passing.
“Jolene” remains one of the songs that defined her remarkable songwriting career, while Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits represent another tradition built around storytelling and distinctive musicianship.
Laszlo Buring brings those two worlds together without trying to imitate either one completely.
Instead, he explores the space between them.
And that is perhaps what makes the performance more than just another guitar cover.
It encourages listeners to hear a familiar song from a different perspective and to appreciate how much an arrangement can change the emotional character of a composition.
Watch “Jolene” If It Were Written by Dire Straits
Laszlo Buring’s “Jolene, if it were written by Dire Straits” is a creative tribute to Dolly Parton and an enjoyable experiment for fans of Mark Knopfler and guitar music.
The five-minute performance keeps the heart of the original song while introducing a new guitar-driven character inspired by Dire Straits.
For fans of Dolly Parton, Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, country music, blues and guitar arrangements, this is a fascinating musical experiment worth hearing.
Watch the full performance below and decide for yourself: How would “Jolene” sound if Dolly Parton had written it for Dire Straits?
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