(Credit: Jack de Nijs for Anefo)
Wed 3 September 2025 1:00, UK
Throughout his career, Roy Orbison was such a professional to the point that you wouldn’t expect there to be any mistakes in his work, let alone in one of his biggest hits.
Having poured his heart and soul into every one of his songs, whether that’s from a musician’s standpoint or as a vocalist, this is exactly why he was such a celebrated figure from the early period of rock and roll, not just receiving praise from his audiences, but from his peers as well. For him to still be active until his final years, and be invited to be part of a supergroup alongside some of the greatest songwriters in the Traveling Wilburys is testament to how good Orbison was at his peak, and shows just how strong his output was.
This is why it has baffled many people that at the tail end of ‘Crying’, he appears to not just hit a slightly off-key note, but one that’s wildly out of tune. This is decidedly uncharacteristic of someone of Orbison’s quality, and isn’t something that you’d think he’d be able to let slide easily. However, this bum note is here for all to hear, and Orbison has seemingly done nothing to rectify it.
Now, there are times when people reach for notes beyond their register, but it’s clear that this is within Orbison’s capability to hit. As a tenor with a three-to-four octave vocal range, there was seemingly not a lot that he wouldn’t have been capable of, and even if he were to properly reach for it using his ‘head voice’ or a falsetto, you’d still think that he’d be able to manage nailing this crucial note.
Of course, there may also have been a scenario where studio time was limited, and in order to ensure that he was able to deliver a final take of the song on time with engineers pressing him as the clock ran down, they may have forced him to settle for a sub-par performance where he was unable to hit the final note.
Interestingly, Orbison actually meant for it to be out of tune, and the added emotional resonance was conveyed by an affect that made it seem like the singer was on the verge of tears with every single word that came out of his trap. Although that came at the cost of that fucking elusive idea of musical “perfection” and clarity, the emotional impact was just unparalleled.
Now, he could just be saying this to cover his tracks and save face after a bad performance, but Orbison himself later claimed that he was so lost in his performance that he didn’t even know what he was doing in the studio, and wished for it to be that way. In a 1980 interview with NME, he revealed what went through his mind on the day of recording.
Explaining, “Immediately, I thought of a past experience and just retold that, was the way that came about. It was the retelling of a thing with a girlfriend that I had had. I couldn’t tell you right now what notes I hit at the end of the song, or anything.” It might not seem perfect, but for a song where Orbison is on the verge of breaking down in despair, it is perfect.
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