In 1961, Roy Orbison blatantly missed a note when recording his masterpiece. The blemish was purposefully kept in the final take of ‘Crying’
Roy Orbison’s apparently off-key note at the end of “Crying” was deliberately left in the recording, adding to the song’s sense of heartbreak. The blemish stands out in a performance by a singer celebrated for his wide vocal range and precision.
In a 1980 interview, Orbison said he had become absorbed in recalling an experience with a former girlfriend and could not remember which notes he sang at the end. Released in 1961, “Crying” reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the UK singles chart, helping define his early sound.
In short
- Orbison kept an off-key note in “Crying”.
- He said he was immersed in the song’s memories.
- The 1961 single topped the UK chart.
Explained simply
Roy Orbison was an American singer known for his powerful voice and dramatic songs. He recorded “Crying” in 1961, during the early part of a career that made him a major figure in popular music.
The song tells of the pain of seeing a former lover again. Orbison later said that, while recording its ending, he was caught up in memories of a past relationship and lost track of the notes. “Crying” became a hit in the United States and the United Kingdom, and the retained note is part of how listeners hear the performance’s emotion.