Buddy Holly and the Crickets : Not Fade Away
First off, one is struck by the sound of this track, the sound of the band. They sound like they're kinda... over there. Over there on the other side of the room. Your ears tell you it's like, yeah, a living room, or something. An unremarkable room. As unremarkable, perhaps, as the one you are in right now. The sound of their guitar, bass, drums and "bop bop bop" vocals is stark and dry. No reverb to hide behind, it stands naked. It's a *primitive* sound: unadorned, un-fussed over, and undeniably real. The music doesn't swagger. It isn't boastful, it isn't badass. It's just some guys in a room, earnestly delivering their little northwest Texas version of rock'n'roll, their humble offering to the altar of Bo Diddley and the hambone. So there they are, playing that rolling little riff they worked out together, that crisply chugging beat, with the little bop bop vocals cause they couldn't afford a horn section, and meanwhile there's a whole bunch of air over on the other, empty side of the room that's just... waiting.
Then we realize that part of the room wasn't empty at all, no sir, when Buddy's voice enters. Relaxed and unhurried, it's as calmly confident as a steady wind sweeping over a meadow. He's not trying to wow you with that voice. Not that he's not enthusiastic, no, no. He's talking about loving you, cause he does, but he doesn't have to hit you over the head. He knows you can hear those little upticks in his delivery, he knows that half-speaking a word here and there at the end of a line, or just turning up the heat ever so slightly every now and then is enough for you to get the truth of his message. His enthusiasm is expressed in subtle tones cause he's confident enough in you. He comes right out and says it: "you're gonna know just how I feel". Calmly confident. He knows you'll pick up on his message without diving into histrionics, bluster and shouting. And by doing it like that...he wows you. He gets close to you, so close you can practically feel his exhalations on your skin. He's right there, embraceable. And, sure enough, with the warmth and honesty and immediacy of his voice, you are embraced. How could you help but fall in love?
And at this writing, with the song (recorded in May of 1957) having reached its 56th birthday, we are reminded that Buddy was right. The love didn't fade away. In its stripped down honesty and simple beauty, it's as strong now as it ever was. Maybe even stronger. (September 23, 2013)
Then we realize that part of the room wasn't empty at all, no sir, when Buddy's voice enters. Relaxed and unhurried, it's as calmly confident as a steady wind sweeping over a meadow. He's not trying to wow you with that voice. Not that he's not enthusiastic, no, no. He's talking about loving you, cause he does, but he doesn't have to hit you over the head. He knows you can hear those little upticks in his delivery, he knows that half-speaking a word here and there at the end of a line, or just turning up the heat ever so slightly every now and then is enough for you to get the truth of his message. His enthusiasm is expressed in subtle tones cause he's confident enough in you. He comes right out and says it: "you're gonna know just how I feel". Calmly confident. He knows you'll pick up on his message without diving into histrionics, bluster and shouting. And by doing it like that...he wows you. He gets close to you, so close you can practically feel his exhalations on your skin. He's right there, embraceable. And, sure enough, with the warmth and honesty and immediacy of his voice, you are embraced. How could you help but fall in love?
And at this writing, with the song (recorded in May of 1957) having reached its 56th birthday, we are reminded that Buddy was right. The love didn't fade away. In its stripped down honesty and simple beauty, it's as strong now as it ever was. Maybe even stronger. (September 23, 2013)