A Misty Smile
The Song is Over - The Who (I Feel Like It Friday)
I’ve always had a bias against Who’s Next. Like I said in my previous article about The Who, I became enamored with them at around 12 or 13 when I couldn’t stop listening to this cassette of Tommy. This cassette went with me everywhere that winter, and I remember that because I freaked out on Christmas Day when it had been left in the cold car and would only play in slow motion until I warmed it up. Anyways, the next Who album I really loved was Face Dances, which I think I picked up because of the eye-popping cover. I particularly liked the first side of the vinyl, and so when the opportunity arose for me to go to the record store with my Dad to pick up some CDs, I was so excited to get my hands on a Face Dances disc so I could play it upstairs. Well, to this day I can remember the face of the record-store employee, who said I wanted something with Keith Moon on it, not Kenney Jones. (Yeah, I get it. Keith Moon is the best. I’m not arguing with that! But I wanted Face Dances!!) Who’s Next and Who Are You were his recommendations. In response, being the stubborn music-obsessed kid I was, I not only didn’t get either but instead walked out of there with a CD version of Tommy instead. (So I guess I did get something with Moon on it after all…) I think of this as an origin story better than Batman’s, something that I’ve ruminated over for years.
This week I finally came face-to-face with my Joker, as Spotify (always the culprit) played “The Song is Over” for me. It was late, I was tired, and it hooked me within the first few seconds. That synthesizer sound that leads it off is so perfect, so deeply affecting and heart-wrenching that it just stopped me in my tracks. It’s one of those songs that I categorize as “Game Over” tunes, the ones that feels like a misty smile in the midst of a lot of pain. Pete Townshend sings the verses on this one, something that makes it even better to me. I’ve always admired his voice, and it shines in the gentle, mournful context of the lyrics he sings. He’s not a perfect singer — some of the high notes waver and crack, and he doesn’t always start the phrase off strong — but I’ve always thought that made his voice so cool to listen to. In contrast, Roger Daltrey’s vocals on the chorus are loud and rough, giving a more angry, ferocious edge that is again amplified by how different Townshend’s bits are. He stands strong over the instrumental explosion underneath him, the tirade that doesn’t even try to hold anything back. And an instrumental EXPLOSION it is, for who could support a detonation of musical proportion this size better than the stellar rhythm section of John Entwistle and Keith Moon?! One of the things I’ve always loved about those two is that you could tell a song is a Who song by just hearing their isolated bass and drums. Moon always has that “hop-skip” type of drumming, the kind that sounds effortless and free while also being precise and controlled. His drum “solo” (not alone, but he’s the most prominent thing in it) is one of the greatest I’ve ever heard, not too loud, not too soft, and perfectly representing the musician behind it. Then there’s Entwistle, who drives the tempo with crazy bass licks, adding a hidden depth that makes any song ten times better. Before I heard John Entwistle play bass, I don’t think I had ever heard a bassist play in a way I would call ferocious. But on this song, especially under Daltrey’s rough-n-tumble vocals, he PLAYS with a capital and underlined P! Finally, let’s not forget the efforts of Nicky Hopkins, one of my favorite rock pianists. His swinging style is the last piece of a perfect puzzle that makes up “The Song is Over”, something that really allows it to shine bright.
“The Song is Over" has quickly become a favorite of mine. Hearing any song by The Who reminds me of the good ol’ days, when I would sit for hours in my room engrossed in the world of Tommy. It reminds me of trying not to blink while watching The Kids are Alright, afraid to miss a moment. “The Song is Over” is a tune that I think shows the full power of The Who, how suited they are for the quiet moments, the loud moments, the rough moments and the gentle moments. It’s a song that feels like a truly collaborative piece of music, spotlighting and highlighting the strength of each member in a supersonic celebration that will remain a steady favorite for me for years to come. Just don’t tell the record store guy I said that.
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