Most artists, regardless of their success level, have endured some level of frustration and rejection. Few, however, are able to channel those feelings into a song that’s so relatable and catchy as Richard Marx did with “Don’t Mean Nothing.”
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That he scored a big success with the song as his first single as a solo act only sweetened the vindication for him. Here’s how Marx wrote “Don’t Mean Nothing,” and then recorded it with some big-name guests helping out.
From Rejection to Adulation
Richard Marx seemed destined for immediate success as an artist, considering he had already written charting hits for artists like Kenny Rogers before he ever had a deal to record on his own. Yet when he pitched his demo to labels, he kept getting turned down.
The odd thing is the demo that he was passing around included several songs which, when eventually released on his 1987 solo debut, would become massive hits. But before he could get to that point, Marx had to finally secure a deal, which he did with Manhattan Records.
Marx possessed quite the backlog of songs from which he could choose for his debut, so much so that he easily could have dipped into them for the entire album. But he felt strongly that he should write new material, because he rightly anticipated that if he was going to have a long career, it would require him to write anew for each project. “Don’t Mean Nothing” was one of the songs that he wrote fresh.
“Nothing” Special
Marx started writing “Don’t Mean Nothing” by recalling his own journey to that point, which included many others trying to take credit for his work and making unrealistic promises. But he realized that continuing the entire song in that vein might narrow its scope. Hence, he broadened the song’s horizons, including a tale of a would-be starlet, as well as general commentary on the kinds of occupational frustrations faced by people in all walks of life.
Marx wrote the music for “Don’t Mean Nothing” with musician Bruce Gaitsch. To bring that music to life, he enlisted the help of three former members of the Eagles. Timothy B. Schmit and Randy Meisner, whose respective stints in the band didn’t overlap, sang backing vocals in a kind of meeting of Eagles’ eras. And Joe Walsh provided the gritty guitar part.
“Don’t Mean Nothing” was chosen as the lead single for the album over all the other songs Marx already had coming into the project. It was a good selection, as it cleared the way for all the other songs on the record to succeed. The song hit No. 3 on the pop charts, to be followed by three more Top-5 singles from the mega-successful album.
What is the Meaning of “Don’t Mean Nothing”?
It’s fitting that “Don’t Mean Nothing” featured those Eagles, since the song falls very much into that band’s tradition of searing social commentary while using the West Coast as a backdrop. Welcome to the big time, the song begins, Marx setting the tone for the kind of hype and showmanship that tends to mask the reality of a life as an artist.
There are winning one-liners that pop throughout the song. It’s never what but who it is you know, Marx sings of the secret to success. He balances those with wide advice about how to survive in that environment: Lots of promises in the dark / But don’t you open your heart. In the final verse, he reveals how performers are often forced to settle: When you’re trying to make a living / There ain’t no such thing as pride.
The title “Don’t Mean Nothing” serves a dual purpose. In one respect, it’s a warning not to trust claims that seem too good to be true. But it’s also encouragement that those words should have no impact on your personal happiness, which should be independent of any career aspirations. Richard Marx knew whereof he spoke on the song, even as it propelled him to a level of success to which few are privy.
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