Introduction
When we look back at the soundtrack of our lives, Linda Ronstadt’s voice inevitably rises above the noise. For many of us who came of age in the 1960s and ’70s, her music wasn’t just something we listened to—it was something we felt deep in our bones. And while Ronstadt is most often remembered for her soaring ballads and heartfelt country-rock hits, her 1980 single “How Do I Make You” revealed a side of her artistry that was electrifying, daring, and utterly unforgettable.
By 1980, Ronstadt was already a household name. She had conquered country, folk, and rock with the kind of vocal power that made audiences stop whatever they were doing just to listen. But with “How Do I Make You”, she pivoted into something rawer, edgier, and more urgent. The song, infused with punk and new wave energy, shocked longtime fans who were used to her gentler sound. Yet, that was precisely its power—it showed that Linda Ronstadt was never content to play it safe. She pushed boundaries, took risks, and brought her audience along for the ride.
For those of us over 50, hearing that song again now is like stepping into a time machine. Suddenly, we’re transported back to the early ’80s—a time of leather jackets, restless energy, and the feeling that music was on the verge of reinventing itself. Ronstadt captured that restless spirit with her fierce delivery. Her voice on “How Do I Make You” isn’t polished sweetness—it’s a demand, a cry of urgency, a woman refusing to be ignored.
The song itself may not have topped the charts like some of her earlier hits, but it left an indelible impression on anyone who heard it. It was a reminder that passion isn’t always tender; sometimes it’s fire, sometimes it’s confrontation, and sometimes it’s the raw plea of wanting to know how deeply you move another person. Linda Ronstadt delivered that emotion with a force that remains just as compelling decades later.
Listening to it now, many of us feel more than just nostalgia. We hear resilience, courage, and the fearless drive of a woman who refused to be boxed into one sound or one identity. At a time when female artists often faced pressure to stay in their lane, Ronstadt broke through every wall that tried to contain her.
For readers who lived through those years, “How Do I Make You” is not just another song in Linda Ronstadt’s catalog—it’s a reminder of our own vitality. It calls back to the fire of our youth, but it also speaks to something timeless: the need to keep reinventing ourselves, to keep asking questions, to keep chasing that spark of connection.
Linda Ronstadt didn’t just sing to us—she challenged us. And with “How Do I Make You”, she reminded the world that true artistry isn’t about staying comfortable. It’s about daring to be bold, even when it surprises everyone else.
Video
Lyrics
You’re a doll
Your eyes see all
And how do I make you
How do I make you
How do I make you
want to see me?
You’re so young
But your feelings are deep
And how do I make you
How do I make you
How do I make you feel for me
You put your head on my pillow
And you’re fast asleep
And how do I make you
How do I make you
How do I make you
Dream about me?
Ooh, ooh, baby
The world’s a wall of ice
You’re gonna need someone
To treat you warm
And keep you nice
I like the way you dance
The way you spin
And how do I make you
How do I make you
How do I make you
Spin for me?
You put your head on my pillow
And you’re fast asleep
And how do I make you
How do I make you
How do I make you
Dream about me?
Dream about me?
