“You can’t compare”: the hit Linda Ronstadt thought never measured up to the classics
As one of the most unique figures in music history, it would be easy to claim Linda Ronstadt knows her songs sit far above many others as musical standards. However, as is usually the case, Ronstadt is one of her own worst critics, not because of the strangeness that comes with listening back to your own music but because she is one of the few figures who truly understands historical and cultural contexts.
Although a few of Ronstadt’s biggest hits placed her at the fore as a primary songwriter, she made every composition her own with her eclectic musical style and distinctive voice. Her talent also exuded immense confidence, making her one of the most qualified to take on existing hits by the likes of The Rolling Stones, Buddy Holly, the Eagles, and more.
Not only did she cover songs, but often, they became entirely her own, displacing the association with the original artist with a voice that almost entirely changed the feel and sentimentality of an entire song. One of the more obvious examples of this is her classic ‘You’re No Good’, a song originally performed by Dee Dee Warwick in 1963. A handful of artists would take on the song before Ronstadt gave it a go, but her 1974 rendition undeniably became the definitive version.
What’s perhaps most interesting about Ronstadt’s version is that she infused it with unmissable aggression and raw energy without distracting from the overall emotional intensity of the song. This is something other artists hadn’t infused into the track before her version, which proved she allowed her instincts to drive how she wanted to piece together her version of the song.
However, in Ronstadt’s view, the song pales compared to other pieces of art, especially when it comes to real cultural and historical significance and how such contexts guide the level of resonance felt among audiences. “I’ve made a lot of attempts to play the music of my heart and failed,” she admitted during an interview with SFGate. “Even the stuff that was successful was often to me not a success artistically,” she said.
While it’s an interesting perspective on songs as globally successful as ‘You’re No Good’, her position speaks to her dedication to meaningful art and her belief that being successful commercially does not equate to objective success. Discussing this concept further, she noted how the death of Frank Sinatra urged discussions about the deeper meaning of pop music as an art form and how she reflects on her own contributions to culture.
“The most unique and largest contribution [pop] gave to the world was the popular song,” she said, adding, “We didn’t give ’em great sculpture in this century or great painting. But we gave the world the popular song.”
When asked whether she regarded ‘You’re No Good’ as indicative of real and meaningful art in contemporary times, she said: “Absolutely not. That’s a throwaway song. I’m sure the person who wrote it had the best intentions, but you can’t compare that to a song by Gershwin. And you can’t compare a song like ‘When Will I Be Loved’ to a song by Rodgers and Hart.”
Although many would disagree and insist that, of course, ‘You’re No Good’ matches up to the rest of the classics in terms of importance, Ronstadt’s views make complete sense. As an artist, it’s difficult to ever nurture an ego robust enough to recognise your contributions, no matter how worthy such a title of grandiosity rings true. In her case, however, it tells of an outsider who adores everything art represents, even if it doesn’t always involve her creations.
