Granted, there's little doubt amongst critical circles that this is one of the greatest songs of all time. It isn't really under-appreciated, it doesn't need me pointing out how great it is and few comprehensive Best Of lists would be complete without it. It's practically unassailable, which is a good thing because with all the theatrics and the synths and the obscure lyrics, it seems to come out just this side of silly. But it is, make no mistake, a real contender.
What I love about this video of the Who performing it live is the energy flowing through the band as they perform and can't help but be moved by their own music. Moon's back there bashing away. Townshend shimmies and hops about like an excited child. Daltry marches like a conductor. Only staid Entwistle, like a learned guru, remains in a trance, focused on the task at hand, providing that rock solid basis. Music and motion becomes one.
The lyrics as I mentioned are abstract but they seem to mean a lot. They derive, I'm told, from a similar-but-different composition (actually entitled "Teenage Wasteland") meant for Townshend's "Lifehouse" project. I've heard that version. This is much more enjoyable. Here the context-lacking lyrics provide for great-sounding nonsense you can hang your own interpretations on, take as defiant and determined yet vulnerable and hopeful,resting all one's aspirations on walking triumphantly out of that "Teenage Wasteland." And all the while that burbling synth keeps flittering, providing you an audio recreation of all the continuous interconnected randomness of life. Of everything.
Moon's drums. Not too crazy, but they play well, organically, against the pre-programmed keyboards. Townshend's guitar break, brief, but important, like a distant hailing frequency beckoning you on. And that harmonica, standing in for accelerating violins, represents all the transcendent hopes and dreams.
Sorry, my prose got a little purple there. My point is, this song is a moment of peak expression. It's got everything and it sounds like nothing else.
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