Anthem

Album: Ringo 2012 (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Anthem" is the opening track to Ringo Starr's 17th studio album, Ringo 2012. The former Beatle recorded the set in the guesthouse of his Los Angeles home, and the LP features five original tracks, remakes of his own "Wings" and "Step Lightly," and two covers. The title is a reference Ringo's most successful solo album, Ringo, released in 1973.
  • Ringo penned the song with American songwriter and producer Glen Ballard, who is best known for co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album.
  • Ringo told USA Today the album came together effortlessly. He said: "I don't think any song took more than two hours. On [2010 release] Y Not and this, it started with me holding down a key on the synthesizer, a note and some sort of rhythm pattern. Then I play drums to that and maracas or piano and a bit of guitar. There's no song yet. It's like working in reverse, writing the song after the arrangement."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.