Spotify has uploaded Irish-language lyrics alongside a Welsh-language recording of Dolly Parton’s signature song "Jolene", the BBC reported. The mismatch drew attention because the posted lyrics were in Irish (Gaeilge), while the track was presented as being sung in Welsh.
The BBC described the release as the second posthumous single associated with the singer and said the artist was of Welsh descent. Those details were reported by the broadcaster; the platform’s choice of lyric language appears to be a separate technical or editorial error.
Irish and Welsh are distinct Celtic languages with different vocabularies and orthographies, and language mismatches on streaming platforms can be confusing for listeners and communities who value accurate representation of their tongues. Spotify has previously faced scrutiny over metadata and lyric accuracy, though the company has also said it relies on partners and automated systems to supply much of this information.
There was no immediate public statement from Spotify or the rights holders addressing the specific language mismatch, according to the BBC report. The incident highlights ongoing challenges for streaming services in ensuring that language tags, lyric files and other metadata consistently match the audio they publish.