kingart wrote:

Or prognosticating to 2020 and the likes of Mariah Carey, Kenny G and Billie Eilish. 

The boys on the album cover seem as if they are ogling a rotting street corpse

Think I'll buy a trout farm and keep singing even though I can't any more, sadly.

I'm not sure which recording has this version of the song, but the live one on the Smothers Brothers was on a mixtape I made from my folks' albums, and I always got a kick out of the intro.

The Who on Smothers Brothers

You had to be there, in the youth club, in 1965 to realise just how powerful this was...and 56 years later it still beats you round the head. Just awesome in every way. 11 plus...

 h8rhater wrote:
 

I really enjoyed some of the tunes off their last studio album "Endless Wire", too!

 Elroweho wrote:
 
Check out Ball And Chain from their latest album (their first in 14 years).  It has everything a Who song needs.  Bombastic vocal power, a strong message, and amazing power licks from Pete.

 kurthelf915 wrote:
 

ya know?!

just my thoughts, thanks for sharing!

It's, it's. it's, it's....the drum, drum, drum, drumming.  

I would swear I hear Mick Jagger's voice among the background singers: "Talkin' 'bout my giineration!"  However, I don't see him listed as personnel in the Wikipedia page on the song. 

A forever anthem

Amazing. Deserves an 11.

 cely wrote:
 
Just makes me want to smash a guitar into a million pieces.

In my opinion one of the greatest songs in rock and roll because it sums it all up: because of the fuck-all ending, because of the bass solo, because of the unforgettable lyrics, because of the stuttering, because of the punk/powerpop before punk or powerpop.  If you don't get how good this is in its context and generally, then, well, you kinda dumb. Solid 10.  

This is the original "OK Boomer"

 Proclivities wrote:
 
Is that Keith Moon or Tobey Maguire on the right?

Meanwhile quite outdated; at least for my ears. It's ok to hear it, let's say, once a year, though. But: There had been a number of times already this year - and that's way too much.

I remember their concert fondly at the Carrier dome.  As far as I am concerned Entwhistle was one of the best if not the best bass players, period although John Camp is a contender.  And Daltry was probably one of the best front men out there, giving Plant a run for his money.

 kingart wrote: 
Roger is 74.
That used to sound old to me; now, not so much.  ; )

Is Daltrey officially old yet? 

No matter. The song is rock and roll immortality.  

 CoYoT51 wrote: 

yup, perfect .

Long Live the WHO!! (well whats left of them anyway!) 

Stuttering at its best

Well, I have officially gotten old before I died.

 nate917 wrote: 
Yah, I saw the first "post-Keith" show and I thought Jones was excellent. Of course no one could ever replicate the ferocity and manic energy of Keith Moon but KJ did as well as anyone could have expected. It was one of the greatest rock shows I've ever seen.

 keller1 wrote: 
When I saw them in the early 80s, Kenny Jones really held his own.  Not saying he's the best — I'm not a drummer, so what the hell do I know — but you didn't walk away grousing about the impossibility of filling Keith's shoes or any of that bullshit.

 Stingray wrote: 
More like 11 in my ears....

 calypsus_1 wrote: 

Haven't seen the quote, but it surprises me a little bit.   In pure drumming terms Simon Phillips is the best drummer The Who have ever had.

That said, though, there isn't any question that Zak is the best fit on drums that the Who has had since Moonie died —- in fact I just watched his performance with the Who at the 9/11 show in NYC and was once again blown away by his playing on Won't Get Fooled Again, which is in many ways better than I ever saw Uncle Keith do it.

I have seen this performed live,with the trashing of drums and stuff,thought it was over the top at the time,glad I have though..when I was young !

Classic.  

My uncle gave me Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy  (on 8-track tape!) when it came out in 1971.  

I was in junior high .... it took my musical tastes in a different direction, for sure. 

 

This collection may be from 1972, but the song is from 1965.

Héhé !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rush from Big Audio Dynamite   with their Who-like synthesizers and then, this great song!

Bill, we love you!!!

 Dillinquent wrote: 
That's 'cause I slammed my guitar into them. My bad!

     

My Generation -The Who 09/22/08  By flipkeat
https://www.flickr.com/photos/flipkeat/

I took this photo last night at The Who concert at Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario CANADA.. Here's a shot of the legendary Roger Daltrey (64) and Pete Townshend (63) ! I don't think I could have been any closer... It was an amazing two hours. (The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964.)!!!

Backed by a four-piece supporting cast including drummer Zak Starkey, ("Zak Starkey - Ringo Starr's son... is the fourth drummer for the rock band The Who, playing with them live and occasionally in the studio. Both Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey stated that he is the best drummer The Who has had since the death of Moon in 1978.") guitarist (and Pete's brother) Simon Townshend and bassist Pino Palladino, Daltrey and Townshend.

All rights reserved

Damn, my speakers don't go loud enough!

"Hope I die before I get old."
One of the great lines in the history of Rock & Roll!
Of course it sounds a lot better when you're 16 than, um . . . old(er).

I am guessing they will play this at the superbowl halftime show.  Won't get fooled again as a closer.  Maybe Baba O'Reily?  Looking forward to it!

The bass on this is magical.  RIP John.

Because I have to work tonight at my STUPID STUPID job, I have no words sacred enough to convey my undying gratitude for this set. More money on the way...

Now its talkin' about my degeneration....

 More_Cowbell wrote: 
I always understood it that Roger was singing like a mod on speed - which was 'the' drug of the time, easily accessible, cheap and gave you the 'jitters' and a stutter sometimes. 

I could be wrong. . . I bet there are other answers, but I like this one. 

 Porgie_Tirebiter wrote: 
Old is in your head.  Some people are old at 20 and others remain young at 80!

 HarrO wrote: 
100% agreed. Bill is our Yoda, always a few moves ahead, and waiting for us to catch up. Love me some RP!

X

Awesome! And I realize there's already tons of their music here but I'd LOVE to hear more of the Mod stuff - Circles, I'm a Boy, Can't Explain, etc. Please! Thank you.

 HarrO wrote: 

 realsleep wrote: 
Dude,

That was child's play for the master of the segue.

You mean the greedy BOOMer and BUST generation? Great. 

Anyone notice that the end of Big Audio Dynamite sounded like a direct segue into a different Who song?  Bill, was this an intentional transition?

d-d-d-d-d does a-a-a-a-a-a any-any b-b-b-b-b body no-no-no-no-no know wh-wh-why he st-st st-st-st-st stutters?

I will see them this Wednesday.   They still rock!  People talk about Bill playing too much of REM, or Talking Heads, or Peter Gabriel  WELL, if this was MY station, I would play WAY WAY more WHO.  Love them.   BEST R&B band ever.  Period.

Still a great song..., path breaking...ahead of it's time raw energy...no more dated then anything by the Beatles, Stones, Led Zepp etc

Sounds like some of you "greasers"  are still sore after a Mod beating or two...boo hoo!

So simple - so perfect

It sounds completely distorded here. Is it the same for you ?

put on eminence front(live version) after this one!!!!!!!

A prime contender for greatest rock song ever. Of course it's a 10.

keller1 wrote:Not likely, ever again.

Ask yourself when another Keith Moon will turn up. 10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqfFrCUrEbY Worth to see more than hear. The Zimmers does My Generation.

Nowadays I've modified the lyrics just a bit: "I wish I'd died before I got old!"

David_Watts wrote: Well... I have to agree... with Fred.

Paul_in_Australia wrote: Paul, no contradiction from me on your opinion. But one thing you do not mention in your essay is that this song was penned in 1964 when Pete was 19. Isn't puerile a reasonable response at that age? In that time? This isn't exactly Buddy Holly music here. There's a rawness and roiling that really didn't exist in previous decades. Throw in the sociocultural happenings of the times (e.g. mods vs. rockers) and the song carries all the genuineness possibly required. Now, had the band written and performed this 20 years later, different story. Still an outstanding tune in my book.

redeyespy wrote:tinnitus sucks I have it a bit, due to a very loud race car with a hole in the floorboard right by the open header(2.3 liter ford turning in excess of 8500 rpm) and two ear infections near the same time. It is NEVER totally quiet in my head. and there is a certain range I hear very poorly. I also have poor ability to converse in areas with a lot of background noise. a simple set of earplugs will do wonders, and they actually help you hear better when things are loud, as you ear isn't buzzing like a $10 bass speaker on 11. I also cannot talk on a phone with it on my right ear. All I hear is garbled messes. I Hear fine, I just cannot make out what the words are. Makes me wonder how much stuff in music I am missing. . . .

Who else wants some?!

fredriley wrote: You are not alone Fred. I am not sure I hate the song, but it is a novelty song, the sort that would feature on a TV nostalgia show reminiscing about the 1960s. Mary Quant mini skirts, Twiggy, Minis with Union Jack roofs, that sort of thing. The puerile lyrics of this nursery rhyme: "People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation) Just because we get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation) " were given short shrift by the The Monkees a year later, who attacked the vacuous superficiality of The Who's empty platitudes with a heartfelt response (penned by Boyce/Hart) with clear echoes of the English pomp rocker's playground stomp, designed to puncture the ersatz-EMO of Townsend's "no-one-understands-me-self-pity": "Hey, hey, we're the Monkees, And people say we monkey around, But we're too busy singing To put anybody down. We're just trying to be friendly, Come and watch us sing and play, We're the young generation And we've got something to say. Whereas Townsend wanted to wallow in adolescent angst, his incoherency such that he could not even articulate what it was that evoked his sense of alienation and isolation ( though we know now, don't we?), The Monkees wanted to communicate their sense of joie de vivre. Contrast the positive connection of the Monkees with the negative insolence of Townsend's words with their faux sincerity, bombast and pretentiousness: "Why don't you all f-fade away (Talkin' 'bout my generation) And don't try to d-dig what we all s-s-say (Talkin' 'bout my generation) " Pete; I have tried to dig what you did (not) say and I found that what you did (not) say had no substance, no merit and no attraction whatsover. Note for Americans; this is irony

Posted 16 years ago by Paul_in_Australia    [ Reply ]

capandjudy wrote: To my knowledge the 1st (only?) rock bass solo/bridge ever. If I may have m-m-m-missed something p-p-p-pray tell.

fredriley wrote: He's right. Whatever else you want to say or think about this song, it's intricately tied to its time. Not just the lyrics, but the whole sound. IMO, there's nothing wrong with something being dated. I love some songs that are dated. However, there's also something to be said for music which transcends time, eras, or trends. I love it when I hear an unfamiliar song and have to wonder when it's from and it could be anytime.

Yay! Millionaire hippies protesting, still! Yay the millionaire hippies singing for us!

fredriley wrote: Why don't you just f-f-f-f-fade away!!!

Oh, yeah, baby! Gimme, gimme some more r'n'r...

fredriley wrote: You're amazing Fred! Rock the Casbah a "9" and My Generation a "1"??

fredriley wrote: You're mean! Great song!

10

slowhand wrote: Yep, that's why Townsend is a spokesperson for hearing protection. He must have some positively wicked tinnitus. But I think it was worth every fried hair cell. This is still forceful and kickass.

fredriley wrote: This song was written for and about the Mods (click here) Their typical life values were as expressed in the song. The singing style is reflective of the amphetamine stutter which was pretty common among the members of this wide-spread British sub-culture movement of the 60's. If you read the link, you will see that The Who also made the album and film Quadrophenia about the Mods.

The best live band ever w/moonie was alive...also the loudest. Seminal.

fredriley wrote: A little perspective might help here. It was written 41 years ago, so I don't think that it is necessarily hypocritical. If they had written it 10 years ago, then, yeah, I'd agree with you. But from 4 decades ago ... nah.

Whenever I hear this, I remember back around 1980 or so seeing two cops walking mildly with a hand on each arm of a gentleman who was bouncing up and down and singing this song at the top of his lungs. They were escorting him to their car. Never knew what the back story was but the guy seemed pretty happy to being taken away.

Totally off topic but sorta...Has anyone heard Rush cover "The Seeker". It sorta kicks a.. I saw BAD's Rush on the playlist and then The Who and had a quick concert flashback.

djinnthespazz wrote: Theatrics, laddy, theatrics. Punk is all about angst & The Who were the poineers...

# 23 in our series EMBARASSING LYRICS BANDS WROTE IN THEIR YOUTH THAT THEY ARE CONDEMNED TO SING OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO TEACH THEM THE REAL MEANING OF IRONY

rowdydaisy wrote: The bass!!

djinnthespazz wrote: Iggy was later... Trashing your gear every night is kinda punk, too. In the original copy of "Live at Leeds", I seem to remember a bill or invoice for gear destroyed from a tour date or something...gotta love that!

The drums!

Still the anthem of my generation!

Gimme a break! This is just sooo dated and hackneyed. And given what the Who came up with afterwards, I wish that Roger Daltrey's hope really had come true... I really hate this song for so many reasons, not least it's arrogance and hypocrisy.

Meaty Beaty Big And Bouncy

Hope I die before I get old...oops! too late!

That f-f-f Roger does gives me chills every time. This is one yummy song!

If it weren't for the bass line, I believe that would really hate this song.

YEAH!!! LISTEN WHAT WE ALL SAY>>>>>>>>>>>

R.I.P. John Entwistle

nuggler wrote: Huh. Quite right. "We were the first band to vomit in the bar, and find the distance to the stage too far"! ('course, I don't remember if Iggy came before or after... rolling around on broken glass bits onstage is pretty damn punk.)

I'm not from WHO g-g-generation but I liiike this!!!!

Love the song, hate the scratchy quality!

The Who Sings My Generation: my first Who album (I stole it from my boyfriend!)

why don't you all ffffffffffffffffff

Good song..but way overplayed. How about Young Man Blues from The Kids are Alright

This is very G G G Good!

Probably the first ever punk band....

People try to put us down... talkin bout my generation Just because we get around... Talking bout my generation. I hope I die before I get old.