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I got to move with the fashion, or be outcast
I know I should fight
but my old man is really alright
And I'm still living at home, even though it won't last
Zoot suit, white jacket with side vents five inches long
I'm out on the street again, and I'm leaping along
Dressed right
For a beach fight
But I just can't explain
Why that uncertain feeling, is still here in my brain
The kids at school have parents that seem so cool
And though I don't want to hurt em', mine want me their way
I clean my room and my shoes
But my Momma found a box of blues
And there doesn't seem much hope they'll let me stay
Zoot suit, white jacket with side vents five inches long
I'm out on the street again, and I'm leaping along
Dressed right
For a beach fight
But I just can't explain
Why that uncertain feeling is still here in my brain
Why do I have to be different to them
Just to earn the respect of a dance hall friend?
We have the same old row again and again
Why do I have to move with a crowd, of kids that hardly notice I'm around?
I work myself to death, just to fit in
I'm comin' down
Got home on the very first train from town
My dad just left for work, and he wasn't talking
It's all a game
And inside I'm just the same
My fried egg makes me sick first thing in the morning
What?
But, alas...
Nowadays, people walk right out into traffic while texting on their stupid phones (do not call them "smartphones," please!), make turns while behind the wheel of a car while talking or texting, and can't even follow or carry on a goddam CONVERSATION because they have the attention span of a drunken gnat, and/ or they are hopelessly wired into the device they can't put down to save their pitiful life.
Our parents feared that we spent a lot of time listening to records of, in their minds, dubious value, but the truth is, it was just like the Literature they grew up reading, just set to music they didn't have and/ or have the means to combine and/ or transmit it widely then.
A whole hell of a lot of what passes for "music" out there nowadays has nothing to do with anything but marketing and media propagation.
Play stuff from "Concept" albums anytime, Please, and Thank You, RP, for they are among our most profound and, I hope, justly revered and Immortal creations!
Were I a bit more of a Luddite, I might agree with you. I certainly do love those amazing concept albums of the 60's and 70's right up to this day.
...I will allow that texting on your "stupid phone" (har) and driving is pretty darn scary!
That said, casting an entire generation as "the other" isn't going to make things any better for any of us.
I might ALSO direct you to the following:
The Drive By Truckers: Southern Rock Opera (2001) Two discs!
Okkervil River: The Stage Names (2005), The Stand-ins (2007), and The Silver Gymnasium (2014).
The Decemberists: The Hazards of Love (2009 this one is just one long song even though they put breaks in to denote "songs")
Arcade Fire: The Suburbs (2010)
Green Day: American Idiot (2005)
Sufjan Stevens: Michigan and Illinoise (2002/2006)
Radiohead: OK Computer (1997)
...and many more
Your argument leaks like a sieve.
Alternate version: two own you, hey! treat as one.
But, alas...
Nowadays, people walk right out into traffic while texting on their stupid phones (do not call them "smartphones," please!), make turns while behind the wheel of a car while talking or texting, and can't even follow or carry on a goddam CONVERSATION because they have the attention span of a drunken gnat, and/ or they are hopelessly wired into the device they can't put down to save their pitiful life.
Our parents feared that we spent a lot of time listening to records of, in their minds, dubious value, but the truth is, it was just like the Literature they grew up reading, just set to music they didn't have and/ or have the means to combine and/ or transmit it widely then.
A whole hell of a lot of what passes for "music" out there nowadays has nothing to do with anything but .
Play stuff from "Concept" albums anytime, Please, and Thank You, RP, for they are among our most profound and, I hope, justly revered and Immortal creations!
There are still artists who make (or have made) "concept albums" (The Decemberists, Neko Case, The Flaming Lips, Sufjan Stephens, Aimee Mann, Arcade Fire, etc.), but it I agree with you that it doesn't seem to be as important or relevant as it was in the 1960s and '70s. However, a great deal of the popular music from the '60s and '70s was little more than "marketing and media propagation" as well, many just seem to have selective memories about that.
But, alas...
Nowadays, people walk right out into traffic while texting on their stupid phones (do not call them "smartphones," please!), make turns while behind the wheel of a car while talking or texting, and can't even follow or carry on a goddam CONVERSATION because they have the attention span of a drunken gnat, and/ or they are hopelessly wired into the device they can't put down to save their pitiful life.
Our parents feared that we spent a lot of time listening to records of, in their minds, dubious value, but the truth is, it was just like the Literature they grew up reading, just set to music they didn't have and/ or have the means to combine and/ or transmit it widely then.
A whole hell of a lot of what passes for "music" out there nowadays has nothing to do with anything but marketing and media propagation.
Play stuff from "Concept" albums anytime, Please, and Thank You, RP, for they are among our most profound and, I hope, justly revered and Immortal creations!
Thank you for an excellent statement of fact.
You nicely gave a glimpse of history many listening to RP will be able to empathise with. Those of us in their 50s and 60s will have been at the forefront of popular music as it exploded into our lives from nowhere. Prior to that, it is very true to say (that mostly) our parents did not have quite the same kind of musical grounding that we had. Now we are past the age our parents were when they might have been admonishing us for listening to all that music, we have a lovely and very interesting perspective from then to now.
So yes, it does seem that the current state of affairs is of a huge disconnect from the 'real' world with the current younger generation (did I just say that?!?!?!) and we bemoan the loss of 'concept' albums in a world of plastic music and mainstream 'entertainment'. But is it all bad? Are we too entrenched in the past to see the benefits of now?
All I am saying is nothing stays the same. The longer I spend on this planet makes that abundantly clear.
So rather than fight it. . . I embrace it. I am completely hooked into modern electronics and use it for my own enjoyment and research. I don't watch TV, I don't engage with Main Stream Media, I don't read newspapers or magazines. I certainly stay away from 'artificial' music. I am informed on my own terms.
What I find is the population seem to be splitting into two camps. . . those who are fully aware of she shit storm of crap around us and navigate through it. . . and those who are slaves to the system.
But was it ever so? I suspect it was.
Peace.
But, alas...
Nowadays, people walk right out into traffic while texting on their stupid phones (do not call them "smartphones," please!), make turns while behind the wheel of a car while talking or texting, and can't even follow or carry on a goddam CONVERSATION because they have the attention span of a drunken gnat, and/ or they are hopelessly wired into the device they can't put down to save their pitiful life.
Our parents feared that we spent a lot of time listening to records of, in their minds, dubious value, but the truth is, it was just like the Literature they grew up reading, just set to music they didn't have and/ or have the means to combine and/ or transmit it widely then.
A whole hell of a lot of what passes for "music" out there nowadays has nothing to do with anything but marketing and media propagation.
Play stuff from "Concept" albums anytime, Please, and Thank You, RP, for they are among our most profound and, I hope, justly revered and Immortal creations!
I guess this short sighted small attention span world just can't digest something like that anymore. The Who, Yes, Jethro Tull, all remind me of clasical music. A complete symphony. With recurring themes that come and go.
Led Zepplin, yes, the Who, no.
If you are into the whole "Rock Opera" thing, to me Queen did it better.
I will admit I like Eminnence Front though and some later Townsend stuff but the big Who songs seem so irregular and irritating to me.
I think the answer for me is "Who's Next", which is a truly great album, and "Love Reign O'er Me" and other cuts from Quadrophenia, not to mention "I can See for Miles" from early standouts...Tommy was certainly novel in scope and intent, but it didn't age that well for me either, although stuff like "I'm Free" and "...See me/Feel me" still sound great IMO.
"Why do I have to move with a crowd, of kids that hardly notice I'm around?
I work myself to death, just to fit in".
This reality, or at least these thoughts, are often asked of ourselves during our awkward Jr. High and High School years. And now I'm a parent who has raised two children and seen them deal with the same challenges growing up, going to school, worried about not being one of the "popular" kids, etc. It's rarely easy. Maybe that's why it's called growing up.
For my money, no one ever captured those feelings better in rock and roll than Pete Townshend. Quadrophenia remains one of my all time favorite albums.
Very very well said. And I agree.
LPCity wrote:
"Why do I have to move with a crowd, of kids that hardly notice I'm around?
I work myself to death, just to fit in".
This reality, or at least these thoughts, are often asked of ourselves during our awkward Jr. High and High School years. And now I'm a parent who has raised two children and seen them deal with the same challenges growing up, going to school, worried about not being one of the "popular" kids, etc. It's rarely easy. Maybe that's why it's called growing up.
For my money, no one ever captured those feelings better in rock and roll than Pete Townshend. Quadrophenia remains one of my all time favorite albums.
Agree, and agree. Nicely said.
"Why do I have to move with a crowd, of kids that hardly notice I'm around?
I work myself to death, just to fit in".
This reality, or at least these thoughts, are often asked of ourselves during our awkward Jr. High and High School years. And now I'm a parent who has raised two children and seen them deal with the same challenges growing up, going to school, worried about not being one of the "popular" kids, etc. It's rarely easy. Maybe that's why it's called growing up.
For my money, no one ever captured those feelings better in rock and roll than Pete Townshend. Quadrophenia remains one of my all time favorite albums.
? Can anyone decipher what ddbz is saying here?
The "rock opera thing" was just a small part of their repetoire. They lead the way for so many to follow. Plus, they were one of the finest gigging bands around with performances that went on for hours.
For further edification: check out the Who's performance at the Isle of Wight in 1970. All of them tearing their way through a late night, 3 hour set. Essence of R & R.
Followed by David Crosby's "Almost Cut My Hair" and "Hair"—I'd opt for The Cowsills' version.
You know that there is no such thing as a double space in HTML, right? Put as many spaces as you like, if what you are writing is interpreted by HTML all contiguous whitespace is condensed into a single space. It seems your double spaces have already been pried from your warm, living digits.
One can still type HTML commands for "non-breaking spaces" with warm, living digits, if such a thing is desired. Great song, by the way.
This and "Quadrophenia" have made my day. Thanks!
Led Zepplin, yes, the Who, no.
If you are into the whole "Rock Opera" thing, to me Queen did it better.
I will admit I like Eminnence Front though and some later Townsend stuff but the big Who songs seem so irregular and irritating to me.
The "rock opera thing" was just a small part of their repetoire. They lead the way for so many to follow. Plus, they were one of the finest gigging bands around with performances that went on for hours.
Led Zepplin, yes, the Who, no.
If you are into the whole "Rock Opera" thing, to me Queen did it better.
I will admit I like Eminnence Front though and some later Townsend stuff but the big Who songs seem so irregular and irritating to me.
You're right... "you never understood".
Ya what this guy is saying... The Who does very little for me.
Led Zepplin, yes, the Who, no.
If you are into the whole "Rock Opera" thing, to me Queen did it better.
I will admit I like Eminnence Front though and some later Townsend stuff but the big Who songs seem so irregular and irritating to me.
Led Zepplin, yes, the Who, no.
If you are into the whole "Rock Opera" thing, to me Queen did it better.
I will admit I like Eminnence Front though and some later Townsend stuff but the big Who songs seem so irregular and irritating to me.
You know that there is no such thing as a double space in HTML, right? Put as many spaces as you like, if what you are writing is interpreted by HTML all contiguous whitespace is condensed into a single space. It seems your double spaces have already been pried from your warm, living digits.
best...Who...album...ever
Oh, and The Who? They "suck". "My opinion," he offered.
You are correct typographically. See the attached link:
https://college.holycross.edu/interfaces/typographicconvent.htm
Now all you PC users: stop typing double spaces after periods!
My design nerd street creds are now assured.
For an opposing point of view on appropriately breaking the punctuation/quotation rule, see:
https://www.oreillynet.com/mac/blog/2004/09/editorial_ps_and_qs_punctuatio.html
... which refers to Eats, Shoots & Leaves, by Lynne Truss, and ends with this quote from it:
“The basic rule is straightforward and logical: when the punctuation relates to the quoted words it goes inside the inverted commas; when it relates to the sentence, it goes outside. Unless, of course, you are in America.”
And you can have my double spaces when you pry them from my cold dead digits.
i didn't grow up in england, didn't have a box of blus at home, didn't own a zoot suit, or fight or all the rest but when i listen to Townsand it is all my story and i want to dress up and go downtown and kick some ass... . . the guy can grab me and has been doing it for 40 years..
Again today too—works for sure.
Um, I was taught the punctuation goes INSIDE the quotes. Not my favorite WHO song, but love the album.
You are correct typographically. See the attached link:
https://college.holycross.edu/interfaces/typographicconvent.htm
Now all you PC users: stop typing double spaces after periods!
My design nerd street creds are now assured.