I'm a "Desperado" for Linda Ronstadt | Luke Reacts

[@pmcclaren1]

1970s-Willie Nelson said 'there are 2 types of men: those who know nothing about her & those who have fallen in love with her.' 50 year later we men of the BOOMER generation are STILL IN LOVE with her. Her voice soars like the eagles & then melts away into the softness of velvet. And . . . she is an absolutely STUNNINGly Beautiful lady!!!!!

[@Ddinformed]

Well said!!

[@davecummings2424]

I've been in love with her voice for over 50 years now. "Long, Long Time" will break your heart with beauty.

[@MoMoMyPup10]

And "Love Has No Pride" right after that please :-)

[@nancy9891]

I think she was in her late teens or 20 years old when she sang “Long, Long Time”. It’s powerful and sad at the same time about unrequited love. Totally beautiful and popular again.

[@charleslatora5750]

Same

[@ilunga146]

@@nancy9891 23, I think. She was born in 1946, and "Long, Long Time" was released in 1970.

[@krasnoz6]

Yes!

[@karenlubeck3294]

Vulnerability and Power at the same time. That is Linda's voice in a nutshell.

[@duke2651]

I think Willie Nelson said it best, "There are two types of men in the world...those that love Linda Ronstadt and those who have never heard of her." AMEN! to that! I am 70 years old and I am STILL in love with Linda.

[@FantasticBabblings]

Don Henley and Glen Frey were in Linda’s tour band before they formed the Eagles, with Linda’s blessing and support. I’m glad you have found her, and as you explore her catalog, you will continue to be amazed and your love for her will grow deeper.

[@James-hx6dy]

Linda Ronstadt personally help handpick the members of The Eagles

[@susanpeterson9947]

That she did, handpicked and pilfered four incredible artists from four different groups to be her tour band. That foursome were so good together that they became The Eagles.

[@zorkundegilaldama8727]

Hiba a comentar lo mismo,tenía una gran banda detrás, Unos grandes... Ella una voz portentosa Amo a The Eagles

[@James-hx6dy]

@@zorkundegilaldama8727 we're don and Glenn with her and the stone poneys

[@patriciaroberts308]

​@@James-hx6dy No they weren't.

[@richardfox1605]

Possiblity the most beautiful voice in the history of Rock.

[@lulatodd2147]

I’ve spent more time listening to Linda Ronstadt than anything else in my life except sleeping and working. She is better than anyone else ever has been.

[@cherrypickerguitars]

For 25 years, she had the best voice in rock and country. My 1970’s bedroom had posters from Heart Like a Wheel and Hasten Down the Wind! I’m 65 and I get tears in my eyes EVERY time I hear her sing!

[@debbiechang5781]

Me too!!

[@pbohearn]

Same thing and me too. I just cried, listening to her singing this song.

[@barbaramarkland7441]

In THE SAME BOAT. I WISH THAT FIRST LOVE WOULD LISTEN. HE LOST. NO REGRETS. AARON NEVILLE AND HER ARE GREAT. TAKE CARE LADIES ❤

[@kallsop2]

The first song I heard from Linda was "You're No Good" back in 1974 when I was 11. Instant love. She is one of the very few singers who's voice makes the hair on my neck stand up 50 years later.

[@danielgarber5239]

I love watching these young ones discover anew these old classics that us older ones take for granted.

[@quij7ote222]

Linda Rondstadt was the first hugely successful rock queen. She meant a lot to folks in the 70's. She sings every genre emotionally and beautifully.

[@walfredswanson]

And yet it took several years to get really noticed. She was too eclectic for the record companies and radio stations.

[@ronaldomadrebien7045]

She is a musical gift 🎁

[@davemacmurchie6982]

You put your finger on it when you said "every genre" - the scope of her repertoire was amazing, including Gilbert & Sullivan, Mabel in .

[@kr4164]

Linda Ronstadt........ a remarkable talent, a remarkable lady. Kind, competent and talented.

[@davephillips7209]

Linda, Karen, Ann, 3 of the most iconic voices of my younger years, all untouchable to me.

[@ChrisDeWine]

The late Glen Frey said Linda's rendition helped make Desperado the Eagles signature song. It was one of her fans favorite songs, it was a concert staple for years after she first cut it in 1973 even though it was never released as a single.

[@slownoman]

Linda has had me since late '67 with the first Stone Ponies album. Unrivalled in her lifetime. The best there is.

[@rosesilveira344]

Linda is one of the most versatile singers. She can sing Rock, Country, Blues. Being Mexican American she sings her roots, Latin Classico, Ranchera, & Traditional. She shows her real vocal range when she sings in Spanish. She is amazing. She will blow you away. Listen to her in her album Songs of my Father.(translated)

[@oliviacasino8888]

Linda owned every song she ever sang and she did it all without equal. My favorite female artist of all time.

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

Don't forget opera!

[@johnmackenzie2862]

I've been holding her 70's poster up with one hand for years.

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

😂 I'm pretty sure I still have a page torn out of Rolling Stone stashed away somewhere.❤

[@debbiechang5781]

😂😂😂

[@keithjones9546]

The control she has of her voice is incredible. And if you've watched her Pirates of Penzance performance, you can hear extended passages of her upper range, with her superhuman control of it.

[@nyrockchicxx]

One of the rare times Linda took a few voice lessons so she could reach that head voice, needed in the opera.

[@nancyevans7946]

Yes, totally amazing 🎶🎶❤️❤️

[@yampymusic]

​@@nyrockchicxxCouldn't be further away from an operatic approach to that note. She belts it out.

[@oldladylovesBruno]

One of the most beautiful voices. "Blue Bayou" is another emotional song and a classic hit from her.

[@amandathibodeau4996]

Linda is beautiful on all levels. She was my idol when I was in high school in the 70s. I had all her records!

[@lilly5157]

Linda and Karen are my favorite female vocalists. Patsy Cline is in there too.

[@bonester50]

I would go with Karen then Linda but it doesn't matter they both are special.

[@lilly5157]

@@bonester50 I wasn't ranking them. Just that I think those three are the best.

[@mkjohnson7826]

The beautiful ladies you mentioned are fabulous. And I would like to recommend a young lady that I recently discovered-Lucy Thomas. She also has a release of Desperado here on KZbin…and several other videos (a couple of songs with her younger sister, too). They both have extraordinary clear voices. It’s difficult for me to describe…but they are amazing.

[@wendyryder2708]

Hmm! Aussie here! I would include Judith Durham from The Seekers in the list! If you haven’t heard her, you should check her out! Judith passed in August last year and broke ALL her fans hearts, including me! I cried on and off all day! Lol!

[@CheerfulDragon703]

I totally agree, my three favourites too.

[@oobrocks]

When she nails that huge note, she makes the song Epic…incredible

[@jzander2966]

So glad you're discovering the wonder that is Linda Ronstadt. To give you a little insight into her career success, here are some excerpts of things written about her: "....Ronstadt had solidified her role as one of rock and pop's most successful solo female acts, and owing to her consistent platinum album success, and her ability as the first woman to sell out concerts in arenas and stadiums hosting tens of thousands of fans,[29] Ronstadt became the "highest-paid woman in rock".[39] She had six platinum-certified albums, three of which were number 1 on the Billboard album chart, and numerous charting pop singles. In 1978 alone, she made over $12 million[29] (equivalent to $50,000,000 in 2021)"........"As Rolling Stone dubbed her "Rock's Venus",[40] her record sales continued to multiply and set records themselves. By 1979, Ronstadt had collected eight gold, six platinum, and four multi-platinum certifications for her albums, an unprecedented feat at the time. Her 1976 Greatest Hits album would sell consistently for the next 25 years, and it was certified by the RIAA for seven-times platinum in 2001[93] (over seven million U.S. copies sold)."......"Ronstadt had outsold her female competition; she had five straight platinum LPs - Hasten Down the Wind and Heart Like a Wheel among them.[111] Us Weekly reported in 1978 that Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, and Carly Simon had become "The Queens of Rock"[110] and "Rock is no longer exclusively male."....."She would go on to parlay her mass commercial appeal with major success in interpreting The Great American Songbook - made famous a generation before by Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald - and later the Mexican folk songs of her childhood."................ And this is just a snippet of her story!

[@NorseMan633]

She is only now, after so much time getting her real recognition. She was inducted into the R&R H.O.F. in 2014. Twenty years AFTER she was eligible ! Just Ridiculous. Such incredible raw talent and so humble as well. Won numerous industry awards throughout her career, broke multiple album sales records with millions of records sold, won 11 Grammy awards !! Her vocal power projection and octave range just have no equal and all so, so effortless. Can't say enough about this very classy lady. Truly one of a kind.

[@lnl3237]

Only thing to add to the wonderful comments above is that she also contributed backup to 160 songs. She and James Taylor were on Neil Young's "Heart of Gold." Her duets with Aaron Neville and James Ingraham were beautiful but there's a more obscure one that is just as lovely. Often times, it's the last song I listen to before I go to bed. "Bed of Roses" with Moondi Klein of Chesapeake has the most gorgeous harmonies. Linda's voice soars.

[@donpietruk1517]

Plus those Grammy's were garnered mostly when there were far fewer categories for the artists. So the competition was intense and you were going head to head with really heavy hitters. There are now so many categories the award has become a lot less meaningful in many cases.

[@lnl3237]

@@donpietruk1517 Really good point.

[@johnatyoutube]

I'm glad you discovered her. Trying to describe Linda Ronstadt is like trying to squeeze magic into a bottle. Her singing is a unique combination of powerful technical virtuosity, emotional vulnerability, and master story teller. As much as I love the Eagles, her version blows the Eagles' away. She totally owns the song when she sings it as if she's begging the love of her life to stop running from himself and just let her in to love him. How can you not feel your heart skip a beat as you listen to her sing it.

[@uncledavesbrigade7106]

Imagine being a teenage boy full of testosterone and falling in love with Linda and her voice. Her breathy voice and control with strength and vulnerability just killed me.

[@dragon-ed1hz]

I've been head over heels in love with Linda for fifty years. My favorite female singer ever.

[@ohfour-seven6228]

Linda had that remarkable gift of making any song she sings, her own. That's magic. So glad we have recorded live performances to get to relive these moments. May I suggest checking out her video for What's New, the classic standard with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra?

[@angieday5183]

live version is incredible

[@wpollock1]

In 1980 she came out with an album called Mad Love, and she covers three Elvis Costello songs and some other New Wave artists.....so beautiful and different for her. The record went platinum, but you hardly ever hear about that album. It is fire.

[@molsongrrrl]

Absolutely! One of my favorites of hers and not a bad song on it!

[@tomwesley6714]

Mad Love was always my favorite album by Linda Ronstadt. I was only 17 years old when it was released in 1980. Just a great album and didn’t get the recognition it truly deserved!

[@markbaker2826]

Ohhhh !! I didn't know that one ??

[@theexmann]

@@markbaker2826 There are videos of some of the songs from the album on YT

[@ricksamericana749]

I've loved Linda's voice and most of all her musicality since "Heart Like A Wheel" came out, but her version of The Hollies "I Can't Let Go" off of "Mad Love" has long been my favorite song of hers. The best recording of it is off her "Live In Hollywood" album. Of course she's in great voice, but it's the energy of her suburb backing band that really kicks it up to eleven. Waddy Wachtel's guitar is sublime.

[@glennburch1081]

I was a teenager in the 70's and was most fortunate to grow up with all of these iconic bands. Didn't know at the time how good all these bands were and that they were destined for rock-n-roll history.......... I just knew that the music moved me and could take me away from reality, if only for a few minutes. But somehow, after the song was over and reality crept back in, life was a little bit more tolerable. These iconic artists of the 70's still do that for me, and you can't ask any more than that from an artist. Great reaction..... I fully understand how Linda made you feel. Thanks for reacting.

[@cliftonparago4547]

Even though she covered it, her version is ALWAYS the one that comes to mind when you think of this song.

[@ronmasters751]

She started as lead vocalist for The Stone Ponies. I remember hearing “Different Drum” and thinking “She’s not their vocalist. They’re her back up band.”

[@sda6691]

One of her most beautiful songs is long long time. It's really early in her career but her voice is unbelievable. Check it out!

[@patriciaadams-rl4iz]

Such a wonderful singer!!! Doesn't get any better than this. Since, the 70's, she is No.1 in my book🤗

[@sharonpate5481]

I’ve been listening to Linda Ronstadt for years. Since The Stone Ponies. I have every album she ever released. Her songs with The Nelson Riddle orchestra are excellent and her Spanish albums are really amazing. I saw her in concert in the early 80’s and the ticket price was $7.50!!! 😎👵🏼💜☮️

[@sabyegrp]

Welcome to Linda. We loved her in the 60s when we were overseas, and I still love her today. She is an amazing singer.

[@rosemarycoylecoyle9279]

In my humble opinion the best female vocalist ever. She could sing any genre and make it her own. Sadly her voice was taken from her by Parkinson’s. My favorite song of her is Goodbye My Friend. Please consider giving it a review. She did a wonderful album in Spanish that is remarkable.

[@charleslatora5750]

I will always love you. Written and sung by Dolly Parton. made famous in the movie Bodyguard. But nobody sings it like Linda.

[@deadandburied7626]

I first heard the song when sung by Karen Carpenter (also great), Linda's interpretation I feel is closer to the raw spirit of the song, she is the "queen of hearts", obviously. 😊

[@maryhuhnke8496]

Her voice is So unique and powerful! Glenn Frey used to open up for her Stone Pony

[@slowhypno]

I was in college when I first heard Linda sing. WOW is still wow. Linda and Judith Durham have always been my two favorite female singers. Both are national treasures and the era is over. Judith is dead and Linda no longer records but their music that was left for us is timeless. Both should be fondly remembered by any music fan. Love both you girls. Thank you so much for your contribution to music.

[@tomcollens4621]

I was an Eagles fan & had that album. I went to see her in Atlanta & her Don’t Cry Now album was not yet released but already recorded. The first time I heard her sing this song I was sitting about 15 feet away from her!

[@ronhunt9396]

I've been in love with her the first time I heard her on the radio and TV. She's a definite 10+. IM 74YEARS OLD AND STILL A HUGE FAN. I've got heard down loaded on my phone

[@jeffchampagne5587]

I’m so happy that you finally discovered my girl. Along with Barbra Streisand they are my two favorite singers of all time. I was lucky enough to see Linda several times live in concert and she never disappointed. She is somebody who you could argue was better live than she was on a record. I don’t know if you know this, but she hire Don Henley as her drummer early in her career and then she hired Glenn Frey to also be in her back up band on an early tour of his and Glenn Frey and Don Henley just happened to be roommates on the tour and while they shared a room, they discovered that they wrote pretty good music together And Linda helped them formed the eagles, and then she helped the eagles get a record contract and really helped launch them

[@TangoEliott]

Well said

[@crystalfrancis3211]

I saw her in concert about the time of this recording. The concert was Indianapolis at the now gone Market Square Arena. She brought so much energy to a live concert. She was a great performer.

[@margaretsmith756]

Linda's voice and performances were always so magical. I do have to say there is another performance of this song that you may also fall in love with, and that is the version sung by Carol King. She was another amazing voice and incredible song writer. :)

[@danacallanan2922]

Thank you, Linda, for bringing me some wonderful memories listening to your beautiful voice for so many years !

[@angieday5183]

Your comments about power and vulnerability at the same time are very cogent and describes her in real life and on the stage. She does this in many different genres. Country, rock, country rock, big band, mexican ranchero, light opera

[@DaninMaine]

Linda Ronstadt got deep inside the meaning of the songs she sang. That sounds simplistic, but very few singers really get it. She was a blessing to me when I was a teenager.

[@thomastimlin1724]

I boils down to interpretation mastery instead of belting out all the time, the approach that song comes first, not the singer ["look at me, ain't I great?' It's about ME"] and if any good the song always had meaning. She goes loud and soft in each musical idea and phrase. when to back off and when to milk it. that's a real pro. she waited until the end to fully let loose, then went soft to complete the lyrical story and musical story. If you're going to sing louder, you have to come from somewhere to do it, hello, like the lower range of the voice and the softer passages leading up to climax of the phrase or the song. Just brilliant interpretation.

[@lizcaplan3410]

The performance, as you have analyzed it, achieves the duty of art to move people toward their deepest destiny. There is a reason I have loved her since the early ,'70's. It is that life is hard. That is why The Holy gives us artists. You are doing a good job.

[@Fairplayer43]

Thank you!!! Linda helped put the "Eagles" together.

[@cathyortiz1280]

❤ Linda. The Eagles were originally her backup band before becoming a band. She's amazing! Can sing every type of music!! Pop, Rock, Country, New Wave, 40's stsndards, traditional Spanish/Mexican music, Operetta, Opera, etc - and be excellent at all of them. Half Mexican-American & half white - like me! A big idol of mine growing up. Glad u discovered her. Many guys & even gals had poster's of her up on their walls.

[@donaldbindner59]

So glad you've discovered Linda.

[@rucerius4968]

First time I heard this in 1973 is when I fell in love with her, still love her to this day.

[@Earcandy73]

The Eagles were originally her backing band. Linda is a goddess!

[@suzanneemerson9787]

No, Don Henley and Glen Frey were in Linda’s band. They left her to form their own band, The Eagles.

[@TheLouise24]

Sadly, Linda is not physically able to sing anymore. But she has given us her beautiful voice in so many classic songs. Thank you, Linda, from a fan through it all!

[@johnvandalen3138]

Your commentary never fails to get to the heart of what you are reacting to - the emotions conveyed, the song’s meaning, and why the song is great. It’s like I’m listening to the song for the first time.

[@caroletaylor9960]

I was fortunate to see Linda - live - many times, she always closed her show with this song. When she sang it you knew this was the last - and the best!

[@judyedwards6902]

She could sing it all! What a voice. She is my husband’s favorite singer. Saw her in concert on his birthday, which happened to be the day Elvis died.

[@frankmargiotta131]

She was the best of the greatest, great,great voice, she one of my favorite singers of all time.

[@469buck]

Such an incredible gift she had...try "Long Long Time", or "Lose Again". Heart-wrenching and gorgeous.

[@chickadeetle]

I played that song over and over as a teenage girl in the 70s.......still love it

[@debbiechang5781]

I love, and agree with, your appreciation of her stunning talent. Keep em coming. I am not a religious person but I feel truly blessed that I was fortunate enough to experience the angelic voice of Linda Ronstadt and I continue to enjoy it every day. 🌺✌️

[@georgejeffries3566]

That last “You better let somebody love you” gets to me.

[@pedroV2003]

It would be difficult to name a more versatile singer. Linda covered everything from rock, r&b, pop, big band jazz, opera and Latin. And was extremely successful at all of them.

[@amymarckel420]

It dawned on me whilst watching this why you really seem to connect with Robin Gibb’s voice when you react to the Bee Gees. He has a similar power to his voice, mixed with a vulnerability that we just don’t hear often enough from male singers today. I grew up listening to Linda’s music and it’s really beautiful to see you falling in love with her before our very eyes. ❤

[@April-pw5ub]

A simply beautiful woman with a simply beautiful voice. Pure talent. She was (and still is) the queen of rock.

[@edgarsnake2857]

I saw her once as a bottom of the bill one-hit wonder with The Stone Poneys around 1969. Within a couple years she was one of the biggest stars in Rock. Loved your reaction, Luke. Linda was a sight to see and a wondrous sound to behold.

[@nancyevans7946]

Best voice EVER!! Big Band, Rock, Opera, Mexican, Country, the full package !!

[@kellysong2256]

Hi 👋 I just discovered your channel today. I thought your remarks about Linda's voice and stage presence were quite insightful

[@SaverioP]

I feel so lucky to have grown up listening to all the incredible artists from this era, and Linda was one of the absolute best.

[@marcsonnenberg623]

She also sang with Dolly Parton and EmmyLou Harris in "Trio" as well as a Spanish Album "Canciones de Mi Padre" (Spanish for Songs of my father)

[@sharkbites5472]

I also love the Eagles but with this song Linda does it 1000 times better! I hope we all can agree on this! ✌

[@bruceday4036]

Great call my man. Said what I've felt for 50 +

[@onelooperhudson967]

"There are two types of men. Men who have a crush on Linda Ronstadt and men who have never heard of her." Willie Nelson

[@jeffreyjacobs390]

True OPERATIC voice - she always blew me away ! The gal could sing ANYTHING ! GBjj

[@sueblanton]

Linda Ronstadt is one of the most talented singers of all time. She sang opera in the Pirates of Penzance with her beautiful coloratura soprano voice. She sang old Jazz Standards with Nelson Riddle and then her wonderful album of Mexican Folk songs Canciones de Mi Padre. She could sing the phone book with emotion. She is the female singer that all female country singers try to emulate.

[@davidphillips4476]

Glorious singer. She can truly sing any genre and has proved it over and over.

[@jeffreybee]

Linda Ronstadt was one of my favorites when I was a teenager in the late 70's/early 80's (she still is). She also performed Desperado as the encore when she toured with Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra in 1983-84 when promoting her standards album "What's New". The song is gorgeous with a backing orchestra. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3Won2t6aqugaLM

[@davidpahlka6301]

Love your reaction. Every time I hear it, I think Linda is singing to me. Your reaction tells me you felt the same. Who is half way attractive hasn't been in a situation where you love someone you can't get, yet there are maybe one or two women who would be so much better for you but you ignore them for a hopeless love. I lived in Tucson where Linda is from and a small cowboy town in Arizona where some woman kept playing this song on the jukebox, trying to send me a message. I never noticed her.

[@caroleathenacosta-songwrit9193]

Linda had the most perfect vibrato I've ever heard.

[@thorsden5562]

I'm 61 and when I was a young lad, I had a huge crush on her. I think most guys did. She was such a beauty with a powerful voice that just gripped you with emotion.

[@janepowers6711]

When I was young, me & all of my friends wanted to Linda Ronstadt🌷

[@trx3264]

She has a powerful voice and lungs . Very beautiful as well. She has a lot of other great songs as well, such as "Your No Good".

[@pamzulauf8218]

Love love love Linda!!!! Her book, Simple Dreams is wonderful!!!

[@edenw7749]

Linda is a true star. A voice with magnificent range, control and emotion. You seem to make it about you.

[@famat161]

I'll suggest her version of the Smokey Robinson's hit "Tracks of my Tears" recorded in the studio with the cameras rolling. Here it is==> kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYqvhKmOjtWSa7c

[@naturemom57]

Linda is up there with some of the very best female voices

[@darkprose]

I only just heard this live version of hers and your reaction video was recommended. I’m glad it was, too, because you described it so well, the vulnerable power of her voice which is _how_ she tells this rather bittersweet prayer to let love into their lives.

[@johnthegreek5836]

Linda Ronstadt is one of my all time favorite female singers EVER, this woman definitely had a great voice and talent; you definitely need to listen to Lose Again

[@kathrynjarlov5166]

Now you need to watch her do Down So Low.

[@skyraider1656]

Her album “CRY LIKE A RAINSTORM, HOWL LIKE THE WIND” is my favorite.

[@janetf23]

As Willie Nelson famously put it: "There are two kinds of men in this world; those who have a crush on Linda Ronstadt and those who've never heard of her." ✌

[@user-el2nh5uo1w]

Wanted to make sure someone mentioned this.

[@gironez]

You better let some body loves you.......makes me cry.....linda WE LOVE YOU....thank you Luke

[@jeffpeterson6959]

Great reaction to your new favorite singer! Her power is effortless. You will get many requests for follow up songs. All of them worthy. So here's my two cents for you to enjoy; Her version of The Stones 'Tumbling Dice, Get Closer, La Charreada (live) A MUST SEE, Tracks of my tears ( in recording studio), What's New ( with Nelson Riddle Orch), I Will Always love You ( Dolly Parton song) plus many more, Enjoy!

[@lizroberts6257]

The Empress of dynamics; total control. Love.

[@Anne.Pinkerton]

Thanks to Linda, we have The Eagles!!!!!!! They were part of her band, The Stone Ponies!

[@mikemiller3069]

"When Will I Be Loved", "Heat Wave" and her duet with Aaron Nevilles, "I Don't Know Much" are all great songs by Linda.

[@ABoomerReacts]

For years, a Linda concert always ended with Desperado.

[@lizcaplan3410]

She utilizes power & tenderness with the required surgical precicsion.

[@jwilliam2255]

It is literally true that without Linda, there would have been no Eagles. She was there before the beginning and helped to get them up and running. Linda made Desperado a big hit just when the Eagles needed a big hit.