A Bite of Roy Orbison πͺ
A Bite of Roy Orbison πͺ
The rocker who helped men find strength in sensitivity
Fun facts about artists you know and donβt, readable in 3 minutes or less. By Grace Lilly.
π A top-read post
β’ 3 min read β’
Roy made vulnerability cool
When Roy Orbison came onto the rock scene in the late 1950s, it was all about masculinity, rebellion, and machismo.
Roy changed that.
He sang about feelings, loneliness, grief, weakness, and sensitivity. People loved it. Roy was articulating emotions that resonated with audiences across the world. In fact, one of his most popular songs is about a man crying.
βWhen [βCryingβ] came out, I don't think anyone had accepted the fact that a man should cry when he wants to cry.β
His vulnerability influenced generations of songwriters like Bob Dylan, who remarked that there was nothing like him on the radio in that era. Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees explained, βHe made emotion fashionable, that it was all right to talk about and sing about very emotional things. For men to sing about very emotional things... Before that no one would do it.β
Not only did he express himself beautifully, but he did so with one of the most incredible voices in music history. Elvis Presley said it was the best voice heβd ever heard, Bob Dylan compared it to opera, and Barry Gibb described it as βthe voice of God.β
Roy Orbison
The basics
π€ American singer, songwriter, and guitarist
π€ b. 1936 (Vernon, Texas) - 1988 (Hendersonville, Tennessee)
π€ One of the smoothest, most effortless voices in the history
Why you should know him: Paved the way for male performers to express vulnerability in their music; Rolling Stone placed him at No. 37 on their list of the Greatest Artists of All Time
If you like
β¨ Johnny Cash
β¨ Elvis Presley
β¨ The Beach Boys
β¨ Patsy Cline
β¨ Traveling Wilburys
β¨ Buddy Holly
Known for
π His distinctive and powerful 3-octave voice, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads
π Conveying vulnerability in his songs at a time when most male rock-and-roll performers projected machismo
π His dark glasses, black clothes, matching dyed black hair, and big smile
π Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and 5 other Grammy Awards
π From 1960 to 1966, 22 of Orbison's singles reached the Billboard Top 40
π Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame
Bite-sized facts
πͺ During recess at school, he played guitar by himself while the other kids were playing physical games
πͺ At 9 years old, won a radio contest that led to his own radio show where heβd sing the same songs every week
πͺ As a teenager, started a band called The Teen Kings and toured with Johnny Cash
πͺ Became an overnight star thanks to his single βOnly the Lonelyβ
πͺ Toured with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, Patsy Cline, and the Eagles
πͺ A film enthusiast, dedicated time to seeing up to 3 films a day when he wasnβt working
πͺ Co-founded the supergroup Traveling Wilburys with Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne in 1988
In film & TV
πΊ David Lynchβs Blue Velvet (1986) features Royβs song βIn Dreamsβ β during filming, Lynch would sit his cast down every few hours and ask them to listen to the song
Songs & dates
β« 1960 βOnly the Lonelyβ becomes his first top 10 hit, reaches No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 in the UK and Australia
β« 1961 βRunning Scaredβ becomes his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and βCryingβ reaches No. 9 in the UK
β« 1963 βIn Dreams,β βFalling,β βMean Woman Blues,β and βBlue Bayouβ all become top 40 hits
β« 1964 βIt's Overβ becomes Orbisonβs most successful song and is a No. 1 hit in the UK
β« 1964 βOh, Pretty Womanβ becomes a No. 1 hit, stays on the charts for 14 weeks, sells over 7 million copies
β« 1989 βYou Got Itβ written with Tom Petty is released one month after Royβs death, becomes his first hit to reach both the US and UK Top 10 in almost 25 years; from the posthumous album Mystery Girl, which becomes the highest selling album of his career
He said
β βIt's a gift, and a blessing, just to have a voice. And I'm proud that people do appreciate it, you know?β
β βTo be a songwriter-singer means the songs come from deep within, and you treat them as an artist, with that much respect.β
β β[I] wasn't trying to be weird... I didn't have a manager who told me to dress or how to present myself or anything, but the image developed of a man of mystery and a quiet man in black somewhat of a recluse, although I never was, really.β
We love Roy
Bruce Springsteen
π βMost of all, I wanted to sing like Roy Orbison. Now, everyone knows that no one sings like Roy Orbison.β
k.d. lang
π βIt's so hard to explain what Roy's energy was like because he would fill a room with his energy and presence, but not say a word. Being that he was so grounded and so strong and so gentle and quiet. He was just there.β
Peter Watrous, writing for the New York Times
π βHe has perfected an odd vision of popular music, one in which eccentricity and imagination beat back all the pressures toward conformity.β
My Roy Orbison Playlist
I gathered my fav Roy songs, from me to you with love. Like & save on Spotify and listen all week π
Where to start
His signature voice
Hear Roy hit his trademark high notes performing his hit song βCryingβ live in 1964
γ°οΈ
With Johnny Cash
Roy singing βOh, Pretty Womanβ with Johnny Cash on The Johnny Cash Show in 1969
Down the rabbit hole
If you wanna dive even deeper:
Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night (1988)
Filmed in one take at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Los Angeles, this concert is considered a landmark in Orbisonβs career. Featuring appearances by Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, k.d. lang and more. Watch on Youtube.
Roy Orbison changed Erin Barnhartβs life
π A top-read essay
Culinary creative Erin Barnhart finally finds her perfect karaoke song β No. 030 - Roy Orbison's βYou Got Itβ changed my life
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What people are saying
γ°οΈ βThis is my favorite post yet.β
γ°οΈ βI so love when you introduce new things to me.β
γ°οΈ βGreat great playlist. Honestly you have the best taste.β
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Oh Roy. What a voice. And you're right- contrasting Roy's sensitivity with Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee (the founding fathers) is startling. Great essay!