1964 Roy Orbison: Oh Pretty Woman

A change of pace from the Big O's previous number ones; instead of the strings of a languid ballad, 'Pretty Woman' marches out with purpose on a tattoo drum beat and chunky guitar riff that suggests Roy means business. It's only when the lyrics kick in is it business as usual. For the most part anyway.

Starting off as a stalker's anthem, there's something naive, childlike and eversoslightly creepy about Roy's behaviour in spying on an unsuspecting female, his cries of 'mercy' and then growling to himself as he watches (to add to the worry there's a contemporary 'video' that accompanies the song that sees Roy lurking in shop doorways with a less than wholesome grin on his face). And when was the last time that a grown woman was described as 'pretty'? No, on face value it's behaviour that suggests immaturity and a complete inability to relate to the opposite sex - staple fodder for teen angst ('Pretty Woman' is in reality a grown up version of Wheatus' 'Teenage Dirtbag') but slightly less excusable when coming from a man of twenty eight who should know better.

If it were anybody else it would be sinister, but it's Roy Orbison and the yearning in his voice, coupled with the naked vulnerability he displays by hanging around day after day in the hope that she notices him is more cause for pity or sympathy (empathy even -yes dear reader, I too have been there) than anything else. And it's his ability to sell pathos that sells the song too - Roy rarely piles on the sunshine after all; that's not why we listen. But wait, what's this.....just when you think things are winding to a close and Roy is heading off home alone, the beat picks up and in a twist ending worthy of The Usual Suspects, Roy gets the girl. And what's more, it's her who makes the first move because she knew he was there all along.

Yes corny maybe, and in truth this dalliance is unlikely to lead anywhere (after all, what can such a confident woman and an emotional cripple have in common to base a relationship on), but it's hard to begrudge Roy his day in the sun and not leave the song without a grin. By winning at least one battle, 'Pretty Woman' provides a strangely satisfying ending that offers a ray of light for anyone who's learned the meaning of 'unrequited' the hard way - angst isn't just for the kids you know.