March 14, 2025      —–     Chart #289

Hello Music Friends,

Hey folks, welcome to another edition of Chart of the Week. If you’ve ever been down on your luck but decided to lean into it and ham it up for dramatic effect, then congratulations—you already understand “Act Naturally.”

This is a song about a guy who loses everything and figures, well, might as well cash in on the heartbreak and become a big-time movie star—because, hey, misery is marketable.

And let’s be honest, if you’ve ever had a bad breakup, a lost job, or a weekend in Vegas that ended in regret and a missing shoe, then you, too, could win an Oscar for Best Performance by Someone Whose Life Is an Absolute Wreck.

The Buck Owens Original (1963)

First things first: this is a Buck Owens song, through and through.

Released in 1963, written by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison, it became one of Owens’ signature tunes. And rightfully so—it’s got everything you want in a honky-tonk hit: twangy guitars, a catchy melody, and lyrics that hit a little too close to home for anyone who’s ever been dumped via Post-it note.

The song hit #1 on the Billboard Country charts, making Owens a certified star, but let’s be real—he didn’t need Hollywood. He was already the real deal.

In fact, if you don’t know Buck Owens, we need to fix that immediately. He’s the godfather of the “Bakersfield Sound”, which is basically what happens when country music and rock ‘n’ roll have a few too many drinks together and decide to make something loud, twangy, and a little rebellious.

The Beatles Take a Swing (1965)

Now, here’s where it gets fun. In 1965, The Beatles decided to take a crack at the song.

Yes, you read that right. The biggest band in the world, who could have sung literally anything, decided to dive headfirst into country music with Ringo Starr on lead vocals.

Why? Well, because it was Ringo’s turn to sing, and they figured giving him a song about playing the fool was a solid choice. Which, to be fair, was probably correct.

And you know what? It works.

Ringo sells it beautifully—like a guy who knows full well he’s about to be the punchline, and he’s completely fine with it. The Beatles’ version is a little more polished, a little more “Merseybeat meets Nashville,” but it still keeps that same goofy, self-deprecating charm.

And, as always, when The Beatles cover your song, you never have to buy your own drinks again.

Other Versions Worth a Listen

• Loretta Lynn – If you ever wanted to hear “Act Naturally” with even more twang and sass, this is the one.
• Dwight Yoakam – Because of course he did. The man was practically built for this song.
• Mrs. Miller – Now, this is one you need to hear to believe. It’s… let’s just say “unique.”

Why This Song Still Works

Look, life is ridiculous.

Sometimes, everything goes wrong at the exact same time, and you’ve got two choices: cry about it or laugh about it.

“Act Naturally” is about turning disaster into entertainment, about embracing your bad luck and just going with it. It’s a song for the guy whose truck broke down, whose dog ran away, and whose best friend won the lottery—but hey, at least he’s got a great story.

So, next time life kicks you in the teeth, just remember—it’s all material for your next big role.

Here’s Buck Owens showing everyone how it’s done: Watch here
And Ringo and The Beatles making it their own: Watch here

Until next time, keep strumming, keep laughing, and if all else fails—just act naturally.

Keep Rockin’,

Stan Bradshaw