“No one else can say it like that”: The musician Ringo Starr claimed had the most unique voice in music
Despite the iron-clad nature of the other members of The Beatles, Ringo Starr has always appeared unambiguously soft in nature and warm in disposition. Although a distinctive presence and often providing fodder for the unfortunate musings of those inside and outside the band, Starr was a straight-up addition who turned up, got the job done, and went home with a smile left on his and everybody else’s face.
As a more overlooked cog in the machine, Starr’s importance within the band was always slightly downplayed, not just because of the dominance of the Lennon-McCartney partnership but also because of the drummer curse, where the position back of the stage coincided with a musician’s visibility. That said, his importance has become better known over the years, and he was soon regarded more as a centrepiece holding the engine together rather than an air-freshening pine tree on the rearview mirror.
His transition during their latter years and after the band split best evidenced this: Not only did he continue to assist with their distinctive endeavours, but he also lent his expertise to further exploration. This mentorship drifted out into other arenas with other musicians, making him one of the most sought-after musicians even to this day.
Although never really considered a prime creative force, Starr also consistently studied those around him, not just in terms of musical prowess but in the way others held themselves, forever drawn to the idea of prominence in a world that was persistent in its desire to destroy reputations. For Starr, nothing was more admirable than a voice that shone through in music, and no one could do it better than Bob Dylan.
Like many, Starr became endeared to Dylan because of the uniqueness with which he approached songwriting. Moreover, Dylan’s ability to stand out wasn’t just a product of overly trying to seem different; he allowed his voice to flood freely, whether amused, cynical, observational, or critical, which wasn’t really commonplace for a musician to do back then.
In Starr’s view, this ability made him one of the most “well-placed” figures whose voice could never be replicated, mainly because he possessed special idiosyncracies and experiences that placed him at the crossroads of key historical events and cultural moments. His voice carried an indescribable authority, making it impossible for anyone who tried their hand at narrative songwriting commentary.
While discussing the song ‘When The Deal Goes Down’, Starr noted the “beautiful” nature of the song, describing Dylan as “he’s very romantic in a lot of songs.” He added: “That’s why I like it. If it moves me, it’s the sentiment of the record and how he says it. But no one else can say it like that.” Recalling the moment their paths crossed in the 1960s, he continued: “We just sort of bumped into him ever since. He’s just an incredible artist that is well-placed in the musical history of American music and world music.”
Although many connect The Beatles’ songwriting with their love of Dylan, it’s also likely that the band and their impact unintentionally inspired the snarling troubadour to pick up newer techniques and venture out of his usual acoustic territory. That said, Starr’s love for the singer from day one demonstrated that he was always on and open, despite the backseat he was often ushered into as a result of the rest of the band’s dominance.
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