Caroline (Kirsty MacColl song)

MacColl wrote "Caroline" in the early 1990s. She chose not to include the song on her 1994 album Titanic Days as she felt it sounded more like her older work and was not in keeping with the rest of the album's material.{{cite news |last=Lawn |first=Jim |date=21 April 1995 |title=Garage date for Kirsty |newspaper=The Lennox Herald |page=34}}

The song's lyrics were inspired by Dolly Parton's "Jolene", and is written from the point of view of the Jolene character. MacColl told The Lennox Herald in 1995, "Basically it's Jolene's reply. I just didn't think that there were that many songs where the third party in that eternal triangle gets her shot at replying. Songs are usually written from the man's point of view of the woman that he's gone off with." She added of the Caroline character's situation in the song, "She's embarrassed because he's not worth it." MacColl added to The Morning Call: "A lot of the songs I heard growing up were written by men for women. There was a lot of, 'Oh, I can't live without my man.' I don't write songs about women as victims. I think it's been done to death."{{cite news |last=Printz |first=Larry |date=11 March 1995 |title=There are twists galore in Kirsty MacColl's songs |newspaper=The Morning Call}}

Upon its release as a single, Caitlin Moran of Melody Maker wrote, "As probably the only person in the world who is willing to stand up and say 'Kirsty MacColl is brilliant, Kite was a fantastic album, she's written some of the greatest songs to grace the top 20, and you can tell she's a really cool bird who likes a pint', it was an enormous relief to find that 'Caroline' was actually rather better than quite good."{{cite magazine |last=Moran |first=Caitlin |title=Singles |magazine=Melody Maker |date=11 February 1995 |page=32}} Andrew Hirst of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner felt it was "Not her finest moment, but it's still pretty good" and added, "Kirsty is the mistress of folk-blessed pop and has a voice to match her rich melodies."{{cite news |last=Hirst |first=Andrew |date=10 March 1995 |title=Beyond the Beat: Singles |newspaper=Huddersfield Daily Examiner |page=15}}

The Paisley Daily Express described it as "another typically Kirsty MacColl single, jangly, upbeat, but ultimately a non-event".{{cite news |date=25 February 1995 |title=Previews |newspaper=The Paisley Daily Express |page=8}} Emma Forrest of NME wrote, "Something in me wants to like Kirsty. However, this just isn't good enough. All of a sudden, 'Fairytale of New York' is starting to feel more than a plane ride away."{{cite magazine |last=Forrest |first=Emma |date=25 February 1995 |title=Singles |magazine=New Musical Express |page=43}} In the US, Larry Flick of Billboard stated, "Loosely intended as an Irish-cultured takeoff on Dolly Parton's "Jolene," MacColl swings back into action with tongue placed firmly in cheek. Track has a toe-tapping acoustic tone that frames her vocal to maximum effect."{{cite magazine|last=Flick|first=Larry|date=28 January 1995|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard}}

In a review of Galore, Roch Parisien of the Times Colonist considered the song "perhaps [McColl's] most potent, direct pop-rock construction yet".{{cite news|last=Parisien|first=Roch|date=16 February 1995|title=The 'Basher' shows chameleon style|newspaper=Times Colonist}} Joe Szczechowski of The News Journal felt it was a "bright, acoustic-based rocker" and Mike Boehm of the Los Angeles Times described it as "catchy".{{cite news|last=Szczechowski|first=Joe|date=12 March 1995|title=A musical leader in search of her following|newspaper=The News Journal}}{{cite news|last=Boehm|first=Mike|date=10 March 1995|title=Kirsty MacColl on her own terms|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}} Patrick Davitt of The Leader-Post considered the song "excellent pop" with a "strong hint of the "California Sound"."{{cite news|last=Davitt|first=Patrick|date=13 March 1995|title=Collection showcases smart, stylish pop|newspaper=The Leader-Post}} In a retrospective review of the song, Stewart Mason of AllMusic commented: "A remarkable song both lyrically and musically, it's one of MacColl's biggest triumphs. A country-tinged pop song filled with ultra-jangly guitars and breathy harmonies, [it has] a chorus that Marshall Crenshaw would kill to have written."{{cite web|author=Song Review by Stewart Mason |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/caroline-mt0011682482 |title=Caroline - Kirsty MacColl | Song Info |publisher=AllMusic |date=24 January 1995 |access-date=8 July 2019}}

7-inch single

1. "Caroline" – 2:56
2. "Irish Cousin" – 4:49

CD single (UK release)

1. "Caroline" – 2:56
2. "El Paso" – 3:49
3. "My Affair" (Ladbroke Groove Mix) – 6:08

CD single (UK release)

1. "Caroline" – 2:56
2. "Irish Cousin" – 4:49
3. "New England" – 3:31
4. "The Butcher Boy" – 3:57

• Kirsty MacColl – producer of "Caroline", "Irish Cousin", "El Paso" and "The Butcher Boy"
• Victor Van Vugt – producer of "Caroline"
• Boz Boorer – producer of "Irish Cousin" and "The Butcher Boy"
• Colin Stuart – producer of "El Paso"
• Steve Lillywhite – producer of "New England" and "My Affair"
• Howard Gray – remix of "My Affair"

{{Reflist}}

{{Kirsty MacColl}}

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Category:1995 singles

Category:1995 songs

Category:Kirsty MacColl songs

Category:Songs written by Kirsty MacColl

Category:Virgin Records singles