Roy Orbison’s 1961 classic “Crying” is a towering achievement in the annals of rock and pop music, a testament to the sheer power and virtuosity of Orbison’s iconic voice and his unparalleled ability to convey the deepest wells of human emotion through song.
From the opening bars, the listener is immediately captivated by Orbison’s soaring, trembling vocals, which effortlessly navigate the song’s complex, emotionally charged melodies. The way he stretches and bends the notes, infusing each line with a palpable sense of yearning and heartbreak, is nothing short of mesmerizing.
The song’s arrangement, with its lush, orchestral backing and the subtle interplay between the guitar, piano, and string sections, perfectly complements Orbison’s vocal performance, creating a sense of cinematic grandeur and emotional intensity. The dynamics of the song, with its crescendos and diminuendos, build a palpable sense of tension and release, mirroring the emotional roller coaster experienced by the narrator.
Lyrically, “Crying” is a masterclass in poetic expressiveness, with Orbison and his co-writers, Joe Melson and William Dees, crafting a vivid and deeply relatable portrait of the pain and anguish of unrequited love. The lyrics are both specific and universal, capturing the uniqueness of the narrator’s experience while tapping into the shared human experience of heartbreak and longing.
In the broader context of Orbison’s influential body of work and the evolution of rock and pop music in the 1960s, “Crying” stands as a testament to the artist’s singular talent and the enduring power of the classic pop ballad. The song’s enduring popularity, with numerous cover versions and its continued presence in film, television, and popular culture, is a testament to its artistic merit and Orbison’s status as one of the most iconic and influential vocalists of the 20th century.
Overall, “Crying” is a true masterpiece of popular music, a timeless and deeply moving work of art that showcases Roy Orbison’s unparalleled vocal prowess and his ability to craft emotionally resonant songs that speak to the universal human experience. It is a testament to the power of music to capture the complexities of the human heart and to transcend the boundaries of time and space.
