we won’t get fooled again
I don’t usually talk about music on this blog, but I can’t resist this week, after just having watched The Who perform on the Super Bowl Half-Time Show.
I’m sure Roger Daltrey & Pete Townsend were asked to perform a selection of their hits because “We Won’t Get Fooled Again” has become immensely popular as the theme music to the CSI Miami TV series. And their music is also used as themes for the other CSI series. (Thanks goodness for copyright protection of artistic works. Imagine the royalties they’re getting!)
I think I love CSI Miami partly because of the opening music and partly because of the amazing cinematography. It has little to do with the plot lines of the show.
I used to love the music of The Who
You see, I was a mere 15 years of age when “Won’t Get Fooled Again” came out in 1971 and through the 1970’s The Who remained one of the biggest acts in music history, selling more than 100 million records and having 27 “Top 40” singles in North America and the UK. They were hot!
Check out this website for some interesting memorabilia about The Who’s concert touring and antics. Back in the 70’s, Pete Townsend said he couldn’t call it a night without smashing up his gear.
http://is.gd/7Uval. Times were wild!
I remember seeing them perform live at the Winnipeg Arena on October 18, 1976 and going gaga over Roger Daltrey and his long, luscious locks. I actually found a You Tube audio clip of the performance here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa0nyvrjBF8. That’s me screaming in the background!
Roughly 35 years later, I’d venture to say not too many females are going gaga over Daltrey (he’ll be 66 on March 1st and has lost the moves, the hair, the range of voice) but nonetheless, my foot was definitely tapping throughout the entire half-time show. They’re still great songs and you’ve got to give the old guys credit for having the guts to get out there and hope they could pull it off.
It made me wonder whether any of today’s acts will have the staying power we see from the amazing bands like, the Beatles, the Stones & The Who, who got their start in the UK in the 1960’s and rocketed to global stardom in the years that followed. The music of these three mega-bands has never been matched or surpassed for its universal appeal. Was it just that the time was right, the stars were aligned, and the world was ready for it? Or were they really that good?
Hi Suzanne: Interesting concept about being stuck in time. I think we do tend to relate music to activities or feelings we were experiencing when the music first came out.
But the pillars of Rock that I named (the Beatles, the Stones and The Who) seem to have that staying power that has captured the attention and hearts of younger generations whose grandfathers are likely the same age as the remaining members of these iconic groups. So there's much more to it than that.
I'll be visiting the Beatles exhibit at the Manitoba Museum this week. That should be amazing, and I'll report back on it next week. Here's a sneak peek:
http://www.manitobamuseum.ca/gi_happening.html
When my stepson was young, I don't know how this came up, but he said to me something like "why do people get stuck in time with their music?" At the time he meant was he was into hard-core RAP and we were listening to The Eagles, Crosby Stills & Nash (& Neil Young) and probably the WHO too. But what he said stuck with me forever.
My parents were stuck in the big band era. My husband, who is a few years older than me and just over under my music generation line, prefers rock and roll.
However, these days I am now into some rap (some of it is like listening to poetry) and hip hop too. But my heart still skips a beat when I hear my old favourites, especially Motown music, where I grew up.
So will newer groups have staying power? It's hard to say. But what groups from the 80s & 90s have people flocking to concerts like The Rolling Stones still do? Therein may lie the answer.
Thanks for your comments, Sandy. Having had the privilege of hearing you sing and play the guitar, I know you have tremendous musical abilities and insights into the world of contemporary music.
I think it's wonderful how as newer artists come up, they are influenced by those who have come before them, and by that, it helps keep the influence of the old timers alive.
I missed the performance. But I used to perform songs of The Who, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Lovin' Spoonful etc. back when they were peaking. And as time went on I realized that they were digging further back into popular music to Sam Cooke and Buddy Holly and Hank Williams. Oscar Wilde said the best thing about popular music is that it's not popular for too long. I think he's right. But songs themselves outlive their composers or the performers who popularize them. My own tastes were formed in the folk revival movement of the late 'fifties/early 'sixties. So my first role model/hero was Pete Seeger who is now revered by Bruce Springsteen and just about everyone else who leans toward a liberal-left view of the world. For me the best of popular music is , I guess, softer rock or MOR or Adult Contemporary, like James Taylor and Paul Simon. Hey! I guess I'm T-T-Talkin' 'bout m-my G-G-Generation….
Sandy Crawley (I don't understand "Select Profile" below)
Thanks to Peggy and Christine for chiming in on the topic of music. It may not be a topic I write about often, but music is and always has been a big part of my life. It all started back in 1964, when I was on the :"Amateur Show" playing the accordion as a cute little Ukrainian kid. I wonder whether that date has any significance, bearing in mind it was the same year the Beatles made their debut on Ed Sullivan as Christine mentions.
Welcome, Peggy, to the "tribe." Thanks for joining, and I hope we'll hear from you often.
I'm with Wizard too. Hip hop and rap don't do it for me. You might not write often about music here, but this was a great post. I, too, wonder if today's bands will have the staying power of such as the Beatles, the Who, the Rolling Stones…
The venue was not the best, but in some ways, it was because they could add the laser and light shows. The music is timeless, and I love hearing those songs on the radio. I didn't get to see The Who live, and I wish I could have. I'd think twice now before investing the money to see them now. On the other hand, I have seen Paul McCartney and the Stones live recently, and they've still got it. Getting to see them live again was worth every penny, and I'd happily spend it again.
Time will tell whether the music and the music and musicians of today are still being listened to 40 years from today. Somehow I doubt it, but then I remember my mother saying "I'll give them until the summer" the night we saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan–Feb. 9. 1964.
Thanks, Allison and Bruce for your comments.
No surprise that you have very different perspectives, based on the fact that you come from different generations.
I kind of agree with Allison, that's it's almost a shame to see the greatness of Roger Daltrey & Pete Townsend performing way past their primes. But don't forget, Allison, that the music of The Beatles is still popular – and popular with people even in their 20's! The Stones are still rockin nearly 40 years past their debut, & The Who's music has been kept alive and seen a resurgence in popularity, now with younger people, largely because of its association with the CSI series. So the music of these "super groups" has endured the test of time. I really doubt that will be the case with many current acts that have come out of the 90's and beyond.
I agree with you, Bruce, that Daltrey & Townsend were indeed key components of one of the best (if not perhaps THE best) rock bands in history.) But I seriously doubt that their Super Bowl performance gained them any new fans, and likely drew pity more often than awe from a larger percentage of their diehard fans.
Unfortunately, time stands still for no one.
Let's be fair. They were playing at the Super Bowl, not exactly the best venue for The Who. Also, they only played a medley of their hits, and quickly at that. Can't take time away from those multimillion dollar ads. (Anyone else appreciate the irony of seeing "Won't Get Fooled Again" played at the most commercialized event in the US?)
Watching them reminded me of the many times I've seen them in concert; Townsend leaping and windmilling, while Daltry swung his mike like a lasso and Keith Moon threw drumsticks everywhere. They are still the great rock band in the world.
And compare the healthy Daltry to the aging and overweight Robert Plant, who can't hit the high notes anymore, despite trying. Aging treats some rock stars better than others, and because Daltry and Townsend are still alive, they obviously aren't "old" as the song says.
Rock on, Who. We love you.
Bruce
OK, so I'll be a devil's advocate…
I'm familiar with The Who, but had never seen them perform until Superbowl. I thought they were awful — it was almost sad to watch them. Sorry, but it's what I felt at the time.
Maybe some things are better left tucked safety in our memories?
Still, Doreen, you make an excellent point about the staying power today's music… will it last? I don't know, but remember, those who will keep new music near and dear to their hearts are the ones who grew up with it.
Happy day! -Allison
I'm with you, Arlee! Rap & hip hop don't do it for me either!
But yes, I certainly have mixed feelings about seeing the old rockers pretending time has stood still. It clearly hasn't, and 35 years later, they don't sound the same & they certainly don't look the same. (But then … neither do I!)
I do think they were that good. The music is timeless and highly listenable as opposed to much that has come out since. Time will tell, but I think in 50 years we will still be listening to the groups you've mentioned and not much of what has been released in the past several years — especially rap and hip-hop–I think that's a temporal trend and a passing fancy.
It was weird seeing the old Daltry and Townsend doing the good songs, not as good as they used to, but pretty darn commendable for senior citizens. My Generation — I amazed so many of us survived this long.
Lee