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Re: Half a Who; half a grasp of the concept

Mark,

Let's try to stay not so naive, please.

IMO, the great Who's paradox is how a pop/rock band, working on basic music - ya know, three chords, quaternary beat, teenage oriented and so on -, were able to transform it in Art, influential music up to change the world, and THIS is and were phenomenal. They were working in and for a powerful industry - the mass media industry - where only the stronger and best sellers survive, competing with dance, swing and pop music, and they not only were capable to outlive, as they've created something new, revolutionary and intangible. And let's face the truth, they were capable to influence many people because they were very popular, cause they were playing the game and they were playing well. Theyve created a strong brand  THE WHO  and with this powerful name theyve conquered fans and audience. They were wild, and theyve bother many people around cause theyve the power (fame, fortune, and glory) and they were lucrative too - to the industry. In some point of time, theyve lost the power and they were transformed in history, a legend so to say. But, also, in some point of time theyve returned, and despite any criticism people could do (theyve couldnt do that, people said, stay there where we theyve put them, in dust cupboard), they came back to play again, and the mark has made its reappearance, with new meaning, maybe less respectable, but alive again, anyway. And now, they will step a footstep forward, and they will launch a new album, with new songs in a conceptual work, and you, Mark, ask them to give up his name for moral questions. IMO, thats is not the central issue, legacy is not what matters now (in the moment theyve return after the farewell tour theyve quit of this prime) cause they are playing the game again  try to make Art from rock music. Will they have success or failure? Who knows? Who cares?

Tom


From: Oust_the_pretender <bushchoked@xxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: thewho@xxxxxxxx
To: TheWho@xxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Half a Who; half a grasp of the concept
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 08:39:59 -0700 (PDT)

>Pete Townshend playing electric guitar, even at his age, is
no fairy tale, my friend. It's very real & very exciting.

Scott:

True. Pretending Pete live is The Who, though, is a fairy tale, compadre.

>Well, Mark, now that you mention it, I actually prefer both YBYB and ATD over all but one song from Psycho-D

Mc:

Well, that's just sad. Now And Then is one of the greatest, most revealing and moving songs Pete has ever written. For instance. And, apparently, you are unable to appreciate it...according to you, you'd prefer "I just like your nose..." over "Now and then you meet a soul, and you fall in love, you can't do a thing about it..." Perhaps it's different when you've actually experienced feelings like that...I don't know. Early Morning Dreams...I Am Afraid...these are songs of deep feelings. "Rocking out" is fine, but if that's ALL you want out of a band then I suggest Bad Company instead of The Who.

And I'm not going to even bother to mention Did You Steal My Money, which could be Townshend's abosolute WORST song. Unless you count How Do You Do It Alone, that is...and Cashe Cashe is a real winner, too. And I'd be hard pressed to say YBYB rocks even in the live versions. It's Pop.

>the Cowboys and the Pittsburg Steelers, and using the 71 Steelers and the 93

No, sorry, no sports comparison could ever touch a Who/Townshend comparison. Sports are fleeting, meaningless (unless you are a participant). Townshend's music is Art, timeless, moving, powerful, subtle. The Cowboys and Steelers, let's face it, are about as subtle as a flying mallet. A bunch of big guys running back and forth on a field throwing a ball, and then doing it again next week. Wowie zowie. I'm impressed. (yawn) The next time you feel like watching a football game, why not try reading Lord Of The Rings instead? It would do you good.

> It's ridiculous to take the best of one and the worst of another and claim it's a fair comparison.

I agree that comparing two football teams to The Who and Pete Townshend's music is completely and utterly ridiculous.

>like Who songs (shit, what does?).

I suggest Kiss, then. They always "rock." Or maybe Motley Crue. Van Halen. Rick Springfield (ha ha). You're looking in the wrong place, with The Who. BBE, for instance, isn't a great song because "it rocks." Nor is I'm Free. Or Bargain. Or I'm One. And so on, and so forth.

From now on I'll only be able to picture you at a concert with hand raised in the "devil horns" sign and shouting excitedly to your friends how "The Who ROCK! They're the BEST because they ROCK! EX-CELL-ENT!" (playing air guitar)

> Let's compare Quadrophenia to Psycho-D if you want a fair comparison.

I'd be happy to. Both are great works. Face Dances remains one of The Who's worst albums. White City is also better than FD. And Empty Glass. And Chinese Eyes. Grasp the concept?



Cheers ML

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