February 8th, 2010
I didn’t watch today’s Super Bowl game. I was, however, able to keep up with most of the action thanks to my recently downsized Twitter account. And during the game’s halftime show, I noticed quite a bit of antagonism towards this year’s featured act. Continuing the post-nipplegate trend of keeping things “safe,” the NFL chose to hire The Who to provide this year’s halftime spectacle. I’ll admit, I had mixed feelings about this decision. I’ve been a fan of The Who for a long time. At one time, I probably would’ve even described them as my favorite band. But, guys. Seriously? Here’s some soon-to-be-removed-from-YouTube clips of the band’s Super Bowl performance:
A medley of the band’s well-worn hits. Entirely predictable, for sure. But I won’t criticize that. Halftime only lasts for about 15 minutes. Had they played the full versions of just “Who Are You” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” they wouldn’t have had time for anything else. Still, it would’ve been cool if they had dropped one B-side/album cut in there somewhere. I mean, I like The Who. But I could easily go the rest of my life without hearing “Pinball Wizard” or “Baba O’Riley” again. And speaking of “Baba O’Riley;” Please, Pete Townshend. It’s been a long time since you’ve been a teenager. There’s something odd about you singing that iconic “teenage wasteland” line. Worse still, should this group even still be called “The Who?” Only two of its original members are still alive (the afore-mentioned Townshend on guitar and vocalist Roger Daltrey). The rest of the group was outfitted by Who backing-band vets. And for the most part, they held it together. The only real problems seemed to be between Daltrey and Townshend. They weren’t quite in sync. And I’ve always liked the dynamic between these two. They’ve been trying to upstage each other since the 60′s. But enough, already. Are all the windmills necessary, Pete? And please could you just sing the harmony parts and leave the rest of the singing to Roger? I think the thing that’s most disappointing about this whole affair is that – isn’t the Super Bowl supposed to be an American game? I know that The Who aren’t the first British act to play the halftime show. But, come on. Have all of The Who’s American contemporaries died or retired? I know that part of the problem here is that the Super Bowl is a huge event, and its organizers want something that will (hopefully) appeal to and (at least) not offend its viewers. But has the last decade’s worth of cultural erosion been that affective in keeping everything besides crusty old classic-rock bands away from pop culture’s center? Regardless, I hope the 2011 Super Bowl can find some new (or new-ish) blood for its midpoint festivities. I know I’m not the only one calling for this change. I just hope this communal outcry doesn’t wind up bringing us some weird combination of Creed/Nickleback/John Mayer. God help us all if that were to happen.
All kidding aside. I really have appreciated much of The Who and Pete Townshend’s catalog. Yeah, some of the stuff, I don’t really need to hear ever again (thanks classic-rock radio). Still, here’s some links to a few of my favorites. If you’ve been “CSI”-theme song’d to death by certain Who songs, I encourage you to check some of these tracks out.
The Who – “Love Is Coming Down:” The lead-in cut to the title track on 1978′s Who Are You. A nice ballad with a serious melancholy vibe. This might actually be my favorite song ever recorded by The Who.
The Who – “Had Enough:” Also from Who Are You, written by bassist John Entwistle. This song is a certified jam. Angry as hell, with a cool instrumental bridge in the middle.
The Who – “Blue, Red And Grey:” A bittersweet acoustic ballad from The Who By Numbers which has to be one of the most depressing albums made by anyone. Ever.
Pete Townshend – “Hiding Out:” Production on this one might be a little dated (mid-80′s) but I still love it. A testament to Townshend’s talent as an arranger/songwriter.
Pete Townshend – “Slit Skirts:” Whatever Townshend tapped into when he was writing this song, I wish he’d find again.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
It’d have been better if they’d changed the lyric to ‘It’s only Rest-Home Wasteland.’ And if — despite the truth of it — Daltrey hadn’t dressed like the real-life inspiration for Austin Powers. And if Townsend’s do-not-adjust-the-color-on-your-set bleach-white midriff had seen the sun anytime in the last 30 years…