"My Generation" as a classic "fathers and children" argument and youth rebellion of the 60's

The Who are British A rock band that was one of the most popular and influential bands of the 1960s and 1970s. It is the originator rock operas. The core line-up included vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townsend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon.

The Who are known for hitsThey also recorded a number of songs such as "My Generation" (which will be discussed next), "Baba O'Riley", "Won't Get Fooled Again", "Pinball Wizard" and "Who Are You". They also recorded a few rock operasuch as Tommy, Quadrophenia and The Who Sell Out. On today's day they continue to perform as part of their "The Who Hits Back!" tour, which will take them to various cities across Europe in 2023.

Creating a major hit

"My Generation" by The Who is the quintessential counterculture anthem uprisingsthat still feels as fierce and fresh as it did when it was first released.

The song was created Pete Townsend in 1965. He said he was inspired by the song "Young Man Blues" American jazz musician Mose Allison. He also revealed that he wrote the song on the train and was in the depressed STATE. In a 1987 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Townsend explained:

"My Generation" was very much about me trying to find a place in society. I was very, very frustrated. Our band was young then. A lot of people thought her career would be very short."

The song was recorded several once in different studios with different producers, but the final version was made in IBC studio with the producer Shelom Talmy. The song was an expression of youth rebellion and protest against the older generation. One of the most cited A line in rock history, "I hope I die before I get old", reflected the mood of young people at the time. Pete Townsend said that for him "getting old" meant "getting very rich", consequently, a stale person who cared only about money.

The song is also known for its sound, which falls under the genre of garage rock and is the forerunner of punk rock. The song uses the technique feedback (rewind) when guitarist Pete Townsend brings the guitar closer to the amp, creating noise effects. Also a characteristic element of the song is stuttering vocalist Roger Daltrey, which mimics the stuttering of people in a state of euphoria under the influence of certain substances. In October 2001, Daltrey recalled in an interview with Uncut magazine:

"I've got. stuttering. I have much better control over it now, but back in the day when we were working on "My Generation", it was not good at all. When we were in the studio, Keith Lambert (The Who's manager) came up to me and said: "Stuttering!" I asked: "What?" He said: "Stuttering in words - it sounds like you've picked up something" And I said: "Oh...come on!" That's what happened. The stuttering in general would be like that with 'f-f-fade' for example, but the rest of it was pronounced that way already on purpose."

Lyrical meaning

In addition to interesting musical devices, the lyrics have a profound sense. For example, the lyrical hero is fiercely . protects his generation, contrasting it with the generation before it. He suggests that society is uncomfortable with young people doing things their own way and trying to invent things new ("Just because we get around").

The most renowned A phrase from the song ("I hope I die before I get old") confirms this idea: the new generation doesn't want to be like the old generation at all, so they don't want to grow up. They are afraid that when they grow up, they will become the same boring people doing awful things ("Things they do look awful c-c-c-cold"). But this line is taken much more deeply by the musicians themselves: the drummer Keith Moon died in 1978 at the age of 32. The rest of the band was still playing the song 50 years later, giving the line more meaning than listeners might have realised.

Ban from the BBC

The song "My Generation" was prohibited BBC because of what they deemed vocalist Roger Daltrey's stammering. offensive for people who suffer from stuttering and speech problems. However, this was not the only reason for the ban. The song also contained a hidden hint to another word beginning with the letter F and also expressed a nihilistic attitude towards ageing. The BBC disapproved of such lyrics and considered them unacceptable for radio. Therefore, the song was excluded from the airwaves and television programmes.

Despite a ban from the BBC, the song "My Generation" was named 11th greatest in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". It reached number 2 in the UK and number 74 in the US. "My Generation" also appeared on the debut album The Who under the same title and in an extended version on the live album Live at Leeds in 1970.

Fury "My Generation" made it relevant, relatable to troubled teens, whatever time they were born into. The song became appeal to rally disenfranchised youth to make them and their feelings finally heard.