Ten Classic Rock Songs I Surprisingly Like: Baba O'Riley (#2)
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (62125)
United States
November 20, 2017 7:08pm CST
Countering the bubblegum music (although I think the final two "bubblegum" songs are really good songs) is my countdown of songs that are either played to death on "classic rock" or by bands that I don't like, so it may come as a shock to discover that I like them. Today's song fits into the "overplayed" category because I have this album...I love this album...and not hearing this song 80 times a day allows me to be cognizant of how good it (and the entire album) is.
#2: Baba O'Riley - The Who
Who? 
(They should have toured with the Guess Who and Yes, imagine trying to introduce them! 
)
Who's Next is one of the most overplayed "classic rock" albums in history. It's almost up there with Zep4. But there is a reason: that is one. Good. Album.
And, as I've said numerous times, I don't listen to FM rock anymore, so I don't cringe when I hear the minute-and-a-half opening to this song start to play. What I do find funny about it is that people consider this an "anthem" of sorts (y'know, half the people who scream along to this think the freaking title is "Teenage Wasteland"), but Pete Townshend said he was inspired to write that line that everyone seems to like after seeing everyone wiped out at Woodstock. It's not a compliment.
If you're cringing at the thought of hearing this song again, I understand. I don't miss what the radio has done to this song by overplaying it. It is a great song.
Baba O'Riley
Written by Pete Townshend
Recorded by The Who
From Who's Next, 1971
Sally take my hand:
(They should have toured with the Guess Who and Yes, imagine trying to introduce them! )
Who's Next is one of the most overplayed "classic rock" albums in history. It's almost up there with Zep4. But there is a reason: that is one. Good. Album.
And, as I've said numerous times, I don't listen to FM rock anymore, so I don't cringe when I hear the minute-and-a-half opening to this song start to play. What I do find funny about it is that people consider this an "anthem" of sorts (y'know, half the people who scream along to this think the freaking title is "Teenage Wasteland"), but Pete Townshend said he was inspired to write that line that everyone seems to like after seeing everyone wiped out at Woodstock. It's not a compliment.
If you're cringing at the thought of hearing this song again, I understand. I don't miss what the radio has done to this song by overplaying it. It is a great song.
Baba O'Riley
Written by Pete Townshend
Recorded by The Who
From Who's Next, 1971
Sally take my hand:
6 people like this
6 responses
@FourWalls (62125)
• United States
21 Nov 17
I love to watch the younger and energetic Keith Moon play drums. He was something else.
2 people like this
@rebelann (111168)
• El Paso, Texas
21 Nov 17
Yeah, that energy hits the floor when we get into our 60s @FourWalls it happens to me all too often 
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Nov 17
Argh, you selected my least favorite well known Who song.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
21 Nov 17
I remember this very well.. I was there
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
22 Nov 17
This is one of the albums my aunt gave me when she went to college. I know it's overplayed, but it has yet to reach "never have to hear it again" status.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34365)
•
24 Nov 17
Never get tired of hearing any song from that overplayed Who album. I consider it for me one of their best if not thee best.... Townshend's synthesizer work is so prominent on this song! Also love the violin jig at the end of the song!
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
21 Nov 17
I love this song, but to me it's pure 100% rock. I guess after all these years I didn't know the title of the song. I always assumed it was Teenage Wasteland. You are a wealth of information.
2 people like this
