"Blue Bayou" is a song written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson. It was originally sung and recorded by Orbison, who had an international hit with his version in 1963. It later became Linda Ronstadt's signature song, with which she scored a Top 5 hit with her cover in 1977. The song has since been recorded by many others. Roy Orbison version Background "Blue Bayou" was originally recorded by Roy Orbison at the end of 1961. In the UK, it was released by London Monument as the double A-side track with "Mean Woman Blues" on a Monument Records single (HLU 9777), where both sides peaked at number 3. In the US, it was issued as a B-side single, peaking at number 29; the A-side, "Mean Woman Blues", peaked at number 5. The song also appeared on Orbison's 1963 full-length album In Dreams. According to the authorised biography of Roy Orbison, a rare different version of "Blue Bayou" was released only in Italy (London 45-HL 1499). "Blue Bayou" reappeared on his 1989 posthumous album A Black & White Night Live, from the 1988 television special on Cinemax. Track listings 7" vinyl US: Monument Records 824 Side one "Blue Bayou" (Roy Orbison, Joe Melson) – 2:29 – Recorded in late 1961. Side two "Mean Woman Blues" (Claude Demetrius) – 2:23 Chart performance Weekly charts Year-end charts References in popular culture This song has been used in several motion pictures including: The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), starring David Bowie, directed by Nicolas Roeg Last Orders (2001), directed by Fred Schepisi Dreamcatcher (2003), directed by Lawrence Kasdan Man on Fire (2004), directed by Tony Scott The Best of Enemies (2019), directed by Robin Bissell, and starring Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell Blue Bayou (film) (2021), directed by Justin Chon. In the film the song is sung by actress Alicia Vikander Jacques Cousteau included an abridged version of the song during a "River Explorations" episode which details environmental changes on the Mississippi River. This song has also been used in the Netflix digital series, Stranger Things (Season 2, Episode 6). Linda Ronstadt version Background Linda Ronstadt took the song to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1977, where it held for four weeks, as well as #2 Country and #3 Easy Listening. It also reached #2, holding there for four weeks, on the Cash Box Top 100 chart. The single