WGFA--some thoughts

[Marc/Carolyn Hurwitz <hurwitz@ieee.org>]

I was driving home last night and heard "Won't Get Fooled Again" on the
radio, with no voice-overs from beginning to end (for a change), and had
some random musings about it which might interest you.

--The title.  "*Won't* Get Fooled Again", not "Don't..." or just "Fooled
Again" even though the phrase is never uttered in the song itself.  The
lyrics say "I'll get on my knees and pray we don't get fooled again",
but they don't offer any assurance on the subject.  Interesting.  Maybe
Townshend was trying to convince himself with the title.

--This song offers more proof, if any were needed, that the Who could
jam a helluva lot better than most of their contemporaries.  They're a
really tight band, and their playing, while lasting for several minutes
of instrumental work (not counting the synth), is focused on the song's
melody and not the members' playing abilities, although these are quite
considerable.

--I think this may be Roger's best vocal.  His scream at the end stunned
me the first time I heard it.  It can still send shivers down my spine.
And the way he follows it with "Meet the new boss..."  Wonderful.

--Although Moon has to keep time with the synth's rhythm, his drumming
is still inventive and brilliant.  The section where he comes back in
near the end is awesome and dramatic.

--Someday I want to learn to play bass just half as well as John
Entwistle.  I love his downward runs in the chorus.

--Pete's guitar playing, synth programming and lyrics are some of his
best.  I think we'll all be singing WGFA at the ballot boxes this
November.

--I remarked to my husband recently that a certain Stevie Wonder song
was the fastest 10 minute song I knew; I think the same is true of this
song as far as 8-9 minute songs go.  The constant drone of the
synthesizer contrasted with the fire of the instruments and vocals
creates a dynamic tension, as it were, which turns the whole into "a
beast of a song".  OK, so I'm getting too cute, but it's still
incredible.

Just a few ideas....

--Carolyn