 |
| "New Song" | |
|---|---|
| Song by the Who | |
| from the album Who Are You | |
| Released | 18 August 1978 |
| Recorded | October 1977 –April 1978 |
| Genre | Rock |
| Length | 4:12 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | Pete Townshend |
| Producer(s) | |
| Who Are You track listing | |
9 tracks
| |
"New Song" is the first track from the Who's eighth studio album Who Are You (1978). It was written by Pete Townshend.
The lyrics of "New Song" are about FM radio's demand for bands to clone their previous hits. [1] Pete Townshend, the author of the song, once said, "This is a diatribe against the requirements of FM radio (at the time) for every band of the day to produce 'clones' of their earlier successful airplay hits. This was my signal to everyone that I had decided to deal a wonky deck full of theatrical parodies and anachronisms. Needless to say, the song didn't get airplay and neither did it make the critics happy. Great sounding cut, such a pity it is full of such cynical sentiment." [2]
Like many of Who Are You's songs, "New Song" features a slick production sound, as well as the use of synthesizers. [1] "'New Song' was the first song I ever wrote on a polyphonic synthesizer," Townshend said. "It was blocked out on an ARP OMNI, that company's first polyphonic machine. It may have been the first multi-voice synth ever. But I cheated quite a lot; it had only one filter and envelope-shaping amplifier." [2]
"New Song" was first released on the Who Are You album. It was not released as a single.
AllMusic critic Richie Unterberger called the song one of Who Are You's "blustery attempts at contemporary relevance", despite noting the track as a highlight from said album. [3] Greil Marcus of Rolling Stone said, "'New Song,' the first cut, rams home the guilt of having taken a free ride: 'I write the same old song, with a few new lines/And everybody wants to cheer me.'" [4]
The Who are an English rock band formed in London as The Detours in 1962. They changed their name to The Who in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, and have sold over 100 million records worldwide. Their contributions to rock music include the development of the Marshall stack, large public address systems, the use of synthesisers, Entwistle's and Moon's influential playing styles, Townshend's feedback and power chord guitar technique, and the development of the rock opera. They are cited as an influence by many hard rock, punk, power pop and mod bands. The Who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend is an English musician. He is the co-founder, leader, guitarist, second lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s. His aggressive playing style and innovative songwriting techniques, with the Who and in other projects, have earned him critical acclaim.
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