About the Song
Buck Owens, the Bakersfield sound pioneer with the infectious grin and Telecaster twang, wasn’t just a country music star. He was a savvy businessman, a television personality, and a hit-making machine. While he’s best known for his energetic honky-tonk anthems and his long-running role on “Hee Haw,” Owens also had a knack for delivering heartfelt ballads. One such gem, “Act Naturally,” transcended genre boundaries and became a crossover smash, solidifying his place in music history.
Released in 1963, “Act Naturally” wasn’t a Buck Owens original. Penned by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison, the song first found success with Buck’s Capitol Records labelmate, Johnny Russell himself. However, it was Owens’ version, with its distinctive Bakersfield Sound elements, that catapulted the song to iconic status. What exactly is the Bakersfield Sound? Imagine a raw, stripped-down, and driving style of country music—a direct response to the smoother, more polished Nashville sound dominating the airwaves at the time. Owens, along with his band The Buckaroos, injected “Act Naturally” with a potent dose of this gritty energy.
The song’s instrumentation is a classic example of the Bakersfield approach. Don Rich’s bright, ringing Telecaster licks intertwine with Owens’ own guitar work, creating a vibrant, dynamic texture. The driving rhythm section, featuring Willie Cantu on drums and Kenny Pierce on bass, provides an irresistible forward momentum. And let’s not forget the signature pedal steel guitar, a quintessential element of the Bakersfield sound, adding a melancholic sweetness to the track.
But what truly sets “Act Naturally” apart is its lyrical theme. The narrator, nursing a broken heart, finds solace in the idea of escaping into the world of movies. He imagines himself as a leading man, acting out a role of heartbreak to ease his real-life pain. This clever concept, combined with Owens’ sincere delivery and the song’s infectious melody, resonated with audiences far beyond the country music realm.
“Act Naturally” reached Number One on the Billboard Country chart and even cracked the Top 25 on the Pop chart, a testament to its crossover appeal. It was later famously covered by The Beatles, with Ringo Starr taking the lead vocal. This further cemented the song’s legacy, introducing it to a new generation of fans.
Owens’ “Act Naturally” remains a timeless classic—a testament to the power of simple, heartfelt songwriting, delivered with raw energy and genuine emotion. It’s a song that continues to resonate with listeners of all ages, offering a comforting escape into the world of make-believe, where heartbreak can be cured with a little bit of “acting.”