Songwriters Hall of Fame Dwight Yoakum – HuffPost 12.30.11

Mike Ragogna: Dwight, what do you think of tonight’s festivities?

Dwight Yoakum: Well, I’m very excited to be here and happy to be here honoring all of these songwriters but, in my case, specifically Leon Russell.

MR: What’s your favorite song of his?

DY: I would have to say, “Superstar.” I’ve always loved it. I was completely taken aback years ago when I heard that he wrote it. To me, it was a song by The Carpenters. As a teenager, you heard the artist do it and you think that it’s their song. It wasn’t until years later that I realized that he wrote it, and as a songwriter, I was really in awe of his writing. And it’s such a unique song. Juxtaposed amidst this musical sophistication, there’s a great melody wrapped in a lyric that’s just incredible. I was telling a friend that I think he just wanted to write a “baby” song, but there’s a wonderful elegance with the lyric that just makes it a great song. And the shift between the verse and the chorus is beautiful. It’s sort of two moods sewn together to make one very elegant song.

MR: Do you have any advice that you would give to new artists?

DY: I don’t know what the rules are, I don’t think anybody does, so you have to make them up as you go.