By Tam Music
About the song
“It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” – When Linda Ronstadt Brought New Life to a Buddy Holly Classic
Some songs seem to carry a kind of timeless sadness—melodies that travel through generations while still holding the emotions of the moment they were first written. One such song is “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore,” a haunting ballad forever linked to the legacy of Buddy Holly and later brought to life again by the powerful voice of Linda Ronstadt.
The story of the song begins in the late 1950s.
Buddy Holly, one of the most influential pioneers of rock and roll, recorded “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” in 1958. Written by songwriter Paul Anka, the track showcased a different side of Holly’s musical personality. Known primarily for energetic rock hits like Peggy Sue and That’ll Be the Day, Holly revealed a softer, more reflective voice in this gentle ballad.
The song carries a sense of quiet heartbreak.
Its lyrics tell the story of someone who has finally reached the point of emotional surrender after love has faded. The narrator accepts that the relationship is over, repeating the bittersweet line: “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
Tragically, the song would become deeply tied to Holly’s legacy.
In February 1959, Buddy Holly died in a plane crash at the age of only 22, in the event later remembered as “The Day the Music Died.” After his passing, “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” was released and quickly climbed the charts around the world.
For many listeners, the song took on an almost prophetic quality.
Its melancholy tone seemed to echo the sudden loss of one of rock and roll’s brightest young stars.
Two decades later, another remarkable voice would rediscover the song.
During the 1970s, Linda Ronstadt had already become one of the most successful female artists in American music. With albums like Heart Like a Wheel and Simple Dreams, she dominated radio with songs such as Blue Bayou, You’re No Good, and When Will I Be Loved.
But Ronstadt had always been deeply connected to the roots of American rock and roll.
Artists like Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, and the Everly Brothers helped shape the musical world that influenced her generation. When she decided to record “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore,” she approached the song not as a simple cover but as a tribute.
Her interpretation brought a different emotional dimension.
Where Holly’s version carried a quiet resignation, Ronstadt’s voice added a deeper intensity. Her powerful vocal range allowed the melody to swell with feeling, transforming the song into something both intimate and dramatic.
Listeners could hear the pain behind every line.
The arrangement also reflected the country-rock style that had become Ronstadt’s signature. Gentle guitars and subtle orchestration supported her voice without overwhelming the delicate mood of the song.
It felt both modern and nostalgic at the same time.
For Ronstadt, recording songs from earlier eras was never about imitation. Instead, she treated them as living pieces of musical history—songs that deserved to be rediscovered by new audiences.
“It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” fit perfectly into that philosophy.
When Ronstadt sang the final lines of the song, there was a sense that she was not only telling the story of a lost relationship but also honoring the legacy of Buddy Holly himself.
Holly’s influence on rock music cannot be overstated.
His songwriting, guitar style, and approach to recording inspired generations of musicians, from the Beatles to Bob Dylan. Many artists have acknowledged that the sound of modern rock and pop might have evolved very differently without his contributions.
Linda Ronstadt belonged to that generation of musicians who grew up listening to Holly’s records.
Her performance of “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” therefore felt like a bridge between two eras of American music.
On one side stood the early days of rock and roll in the 1950s, when Buddy Holly’s clear voice and innovative songwriting helped shape a new musical language.
On the other side stood the 1970s, when artists like Ronstadt expanded that tradition into new styles while preserving the emotional storytelling that defined the original songs.
Listening to Ronstadt sing the song today, the connection becomes clear.
Her voice carries the strength and emotional honesty that made her one of the greatest vocalists of her time. Yet the melody and lyrics still echo the spirit of Buddy Holly, whose music continues to inspire listeners decades after his brief life ended.
In that way, “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” is more than just a song.
It is a conversation across generations—one artist honoring another, one voice carrying forward the emotional truth of a melody that refuses to fade.
And through Linda Ronstadt’s unforgettable interpretation, the legacy of Buddy Holly continues to sing.