When John Mellencamp was just a young boy, he listened to a record that changed his life. He was so confused by the beautiful sounds coming from the speakers that he asked his parents if the singer was using a secret machine to help his voice. His parents told him no, it was just a man named Roy Orbison.
It turns out that Roy had a natural gift that allowed him to hit notes most people can only dream of reaching. Even today, it is hard to believe one person could make such a powerful sound all on his own.
Roy stands there in his dark sunglasses and lets out a growl that makes everyone stop and listen. He looks so calm, but his voice is doing things that seem impossible. He moves from a low rumble to a high, clear cry without even breaking a sweat.
Roy Orbison – Oh, Pretty Woman (Monument Concert 1965)
Fans still talk about this moment like it happened yesterday. One viewer said that Roy did not need a bunch of lights or loud drums to be the coolest man in the room. Another person mentioned that they could listen to him sing the phone book and still feel happy. There is a famous line in the song where he wonders if the pretty woman will look his way. When he sings it, you really feel like he is waiting on that street corner.
Years later, a loud rock band named Van Halen decided to try their hand at this classic tune. They brought a whole new energy to the song with heavy guitars and a wild music video. Their producer did not even want them to record it because he thought it was too different from their style. But the band knew that Roy’s music was strong enough to handle a little bit of noise. This transition showed that a great song can live on in many different ways. Even if it sounds like a stadium anthem instead of a smooth stroll.
Van Halen – Intruder/Pretty Woman
The band even dressed up in costumes to make the video feel like a funny short film. Eddie Van Halen wore a samurai outfit while the others looked like Tarzan and Napoleon. They added a long instrumental piece at the start just so the video would be long enough for their comedy skit. Even with all the jokes and loud drums, the heart of the song stayed the same. It hit number twelve on the charts and reminded a whole new generation of fans why they loved the melody in the first place.
Roy Orbison did not need to hide behind a fake persona. His voice was a window into his soul. If you want to hear more about this legend Follow Roy Orbison on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to keep the music playing.