First Listen - "Who Are You" by The Who (Hip Hop Fan Reacts)

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[@jasonremy1627]

I'm telling you, "Love, Reign O'er Me" will blow your hair back. It's their masterpiece.

[@cartercarter645]

Word

[@citizenghosttown]

Yup

[@SpaceCattttt]

One of many...

[@curtisjones1714]

The whole album Quadrophenia is a masterpiece.

[@BrooklynBear63]

Absolutely!

[@davescurry69]

It's an often overlooked masterpiece. Moon's final studio performance.

[@robertcabrera6232]

The song is based on a true story about when song writer, Pete Townsend, woke up from a drunken stupor in a SoHo doorway, having blacked out and not remembering how he got there. The song is the story of his journey home, thinking about how he ended up there, and how he was going to explain the situation to his wife. BTW I highly recommend that you next explore their masterpiece 2nd "Rock Opera" Quadrophenia, especially, the tracks "The Real Me", "5:15", "The Punk and the Godfather", and "Drowned". You won't regret it.

[@loosilu]

Quadrophenia is a genuine masterpiece. I can't think of any other album that speaks so directly to young men coming of age.

[@ArniePorter]

Might as well go right to their peak.

[@lisasmithline1386]

'The Punk AND the Godfather'.

[@jeremygray1331]

Keith Moon was an extraordinary drummer. Sometimes I will go back and listen to Who songs and just listen to the drumming in awe. Interesting fact. Zack Starkey (Ringo’s son) has toured with the band since the ‘90s. I’ve seen the Who several times with him and he’s amazing. To this day the Who still rock with the best of them. Daltry is making noises like they might stop soon. Trust me. They are well worth seeing if you get the chance.

[@darkpitcher5242]

Someone said to Moon that he was the world's greatest drummer Moon replied " I'm the world's greatest Keith Moon style drummer"

[@pjtok7]

The song is used as the opening theme of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. 2 other Who songs are used as opening themes of CSI spin-offs. "Won't Get Fooled Again" in CSI: Miami and "Baba O'Reilly" in CSI: New York

[@jvblhc]

Thanks for all that info on which song went with which show.

[@julienmarquet8612]

Probably, an american woman, fan of the shit american series😂RIDICULOUS

[@racing2cat]

And the lesser watched CSI: Cyber used "I Can See For Miles." 🙂

[@garyscharf9232]

The Who have a huge array of great music, but my favorite songs remain those from Live at Leeds. A period when they had grown musically but still had that young raw and energetic sound. No band at the time played with such power and force. Young Man Blues, My Generation, Amazing Journey/Sparks, Magic Bus are my favorites.

[@keef7224]

‘69-‘72 they were the greatest live band in the world 🎸💥

[@loosilu]

I'd LOVE for Syed to react to their live performances, especially Isle of Wight.

[@vicprovost2561]

Yes, Live at Leeds, the My Generation jam, it might be Townsend's finest moment.

[@mattshaw6180]

Townshend looked deeply and often into issues of identity and social interactions; the entire 1973 opus _Quadrophenia_ works on these themes. "The Real Me," "The Punk and the Godfather," "Drowned," and "5:15" hammer those nails hard.

[@magicbrownie1357]

I think Ox's bass line is what really holds this song together.

[@christopherborum6551]

There are very few songs you can't say that about, honestly

[@melissayost4888]

It’s the theme song for the original CSI All the spinoff CSI shows used a WHO song.

[@ziggymarlowe5654]

'Tommy' their rock opera is a must. The album and the film. Rolling Stone magazine said "One of the central themes of Tommy is the play between self and illusory self".

[@jvblhc]

Hip Hop Fan: "Who Are You?" is used at the beginning of an TV show here in the States I think the show was "CSI". Anyway, I am a big fan of The Who but I also think this is their last really good album. Without Moon, it's just not the same. The song "Who Are You" is great! Anyway, I keep watching your videos - lots of fun and interesting analysis. This is the first time I actually got to listen to you live! Keep up the good work and I'm loving the Bob Dylan stuff! (Massive fan of Bob!).

[@beverlybrown2673]

The chorus from this is used as the theme for The Masked Singer. Give Behind Blue Eyes, Love Reign O'er Me, and Baba O'Reilly a listen.

[@olibertosoto5470]

Wide range of music and emotions coming from their personal experiences. Sooner or later it's not going to be easy getting along as a band.

[@andrewcrowder4958]

Syed, brother, you are the best music commentator I've come across so far -- erudite, perceptive, and much smarter than I. Thanks for helping me understand old favorites in new ways.

[@cspaikido]

It's amazing to me that this songs lyrics never get censored even though they curse twice in it, astounding. I'm all for it. Even before rap and other harsher music hit the scene.

[@curtisjones1714]

It was censored in the 80s.

[@charlesgervais4673]

I have a version on 45" that says "who the hell are you".

[@TheMightyShank]

Censored on Chicago radio many years ago.

[@mikecaetano]

Keith Moon, the drummer, died three weeks after the Who Are You album was released. Coincidentally, the album cover pictured the band standing back stage on top of piles of various stage equipment, with Moon sitting in a folding chair with the message "Not To Be Taken Away" stenciled in white on the back. I was still a kid when this song dropped, but it remained a rock radio staple for years and we used to crank it up whenever stations played it. That was more than a decade before it was turned into the theme song for a forensic detectives show set in Las Vegas.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

All those bands that came out of the UK in the sixties. It’s incredible.

[@davidmaholchic6146]

Classic who here going out with a bang with their original drummer love you

[@robwealer5416]

They actually invented the big amp, rock band presence and sound. The Stones, other big bands were almost acoustic by comparison, doing blues covers, etc. They are THE rock sound we know today.

[@nthdegree1269]

True 👍... Jim Marshall and the Marshall stack... Peter Townshend ... wanted it really loud and Marshall had to accommodate and the rest is history

[@alphajava761]

The Who invented most of the stage moves in Rock. The Who are really the bad boys of Rock not The Stones. Love the Stones as well.

[@Davelakful]

Great reaction! pretty funny i never realized how a great drummer can make a band until someone mentioned the amazing drummer in the Who

[@kevanbodsworth9868]

The version where they are filmed in studio laying down tracks for this song are really fun. One of my favourite Utube listens, Try it they are quite " charming " really.. Watch them doing this song

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

You should watch the original video of this song - it shows how much fun they had in the studio when they were getting on well.

[@Justaperson354]

The who behind blue eyes is my favorite song by them, which is hard to say because I love basically all their stuff. Behind blue eyes just hits home for me, it’s a great listen I recommend it!

[@anthonyblakely399]

The song is the Theme song for The Famous American Crime TV Show called "CSI" The show is in it's 20th season. Saw The Who in concert last October last year!!! AWESOME CONCERT!!!!

[@loosilu]

The chorus was used as the opening credits for the original CSI. All of the CSI shows used a different Who song.

[@aaronfledge]

Delighted you're returning to The Who at last, thought you'd maybe gone off them. They'd be perfect for an album reaction, as a lot of their stuff is quite conceptual as you say. I know you don't usually do live stuff but they have the best live album of all time, Live at Leeds.

[@korybeavers6528]

I'd love to hear you do the whole album Tommy sometime, With a little narrative to let you know the storyline

[@vicprovost2561]

Nice, their last big hit with Keith Moon, they killed it every time I saw them. Try Love Reign O'er Me, the album climax of Quadrophenia, not only one of their best songs but one of the best songs you will ever hear, it's that good! You need to hear that album sometime. Enjoy. 🎵🎸🎤🎹🎶

[@SnoBear626]

I've loved this song since it's release. My belief is that this is Keith Moon at his best!

[@brxee]

It's a shame stuff from Who By Numbers doesn't get more reactions. It's an underrated album.

[@citizenghosttown]

Agreed. "However Much I Booze" is brilliant.

[@christopherborum6551]

​@@citizenghosttown"How Many Friends" is Top 5

[@dmCurator]

The first time I walked the streets of Soho, London, this was banging in my head. 💂👑

[@PaulBrown-kg3qw]

your Reactions are just getting better and better

[@PaulBrown-kg3qw]

Listen to She's leaving home The Beatles from Sgt Pepper

[@troyturton8197]

Why Keith ( Moon ) and John ( Bonham ) are considered 2 of, if not the 2 greatest drummers of Rock & Roll. I never compare, just say both equally awesome. Along with Neil Peart of RUSH!

[@cazgerald9471]

"NOT TO BE TAKEN AWAY" is stenciled on the back of Keith Moon's chair on the album cover photo.

[@davidmorgan5312]

Its from 1 of the CSI programmes the Who were used for 3 of the CSI series.

[@MilosDaddy]

I think I remember reading somewhere at the time that this was a veiled reference to Pete Townsend’s response to the Punk movement in the UK.

[@CC-Wulf]

You have probably heard this from the TV shows CSI. BTW, one of the best ever songs with the bass as the lead is, "The Real Me" by the WHO. The subject matter of this song is special as well. BTW

[@johntarnowski9086]

Greatest Rock Band Ever

[@mojomonkey2123]

You need to do live performances for the Who

[@bobschenkel7921]

First time I heard "Who Are You" on the radio, I couldn't believe they let the "Who the fuck are you" line play through, pretty radical for the 1980's in Boston. Though the radio stations there had a pretty go for it attitude, and we were all glad they kept it going forward.

[@glenndespres5317]

Song used to start some kind of CSI show.

[@timgrady4630]

Oh , and "Love Reign O'er Me" .

[@timgrady4630]

Over the Target . Suggestions : 1. The Real Me . 2. Getting In Tune. 3. The Seeker . 4. Relay . Appreciate your appraisal of excellence .

[@markmurphy558]

For a real treat, you should listen to the first of the GREAT live albums from the late 60s, LIVE AT LEEDS. My Generation, Young Man's Blues, Magic Bus are a picture of The Who in their youth, when they were famous for busting up hotel rooms and destroying instruments. Pete Townshend was a genius.

[@aaronfledge]

Speaking of live stuff, don't forget about Deep Purple! The other best live album ever being their Made in Japan 🙂

[@stevel2504]

Just, anything from the album Quadraphinia is worth listening to.

[@mikefetterman6782]

AKA the theme song for CSI, the original in Vegas.

[@alansmith7626]

I grew up with this, I am 68, and I always felt they were asking us to ask ourselves Who are you? The music was so mindblowing sometimes the lyrics were overlooked at first, but not for long!

[@rudedogmat]

The policeman Knew his name

[@FrankieLeeFrancis]

The policeman DID recognize Pete Townshend. And told him that if he can "get up and walk away" over to that train station over there, he won't be arrested. So that means he passed out after meeting Steve Jones and Paul Cook. He was "preaching" at them saying the Sex Pistols needed to carry the torch and did indeed think The Who was becoming irrelevant.

[@benshafer5198]

I had always heard that Jones/Cook didn't really respect Townsend/The Who and as he was preaching in his uber inoxicated state that the SP members were spouting 'who the f are you' back at him, as punks are apt do, as they considered him a washed up has been. Just what I'd heard and have not researched it

[@yo-fv8ok]

@@benshafer5198 I’ve heard that too

[@FrankieLeeFrancis]

I’ve heard Steve Jones ask Pete Townshend about it. Whether the song was about him and Paul Cook, etc. I did NOT get the impression that Paul and Steve were all hating on Pete during the encounter or in general. That’s part of the point of the story. Lydon probably thought The Who were stupid. I wonder what McLaren thought.

[@robmaeder330]

You must do Tommy and Quadrophenia in whole. The best 2 albums of all time.

[@EessaTube]

You will have heard this song and other Who songs on different versions of the TV series, CSI.

[@alrodack4695]

The piano part was played by Rod Argent of the Zombies! Should check out the Zombies catalogue1

[@seansersmylie]

Who Who:)

[@marck-ev1uw]

You should react to Nos siguen pegando abajo by Charly Garcia one of the best singers in Argentina

[@kevanbodsworth9868]

The Who were always militant English London....Townshend wrote nearly all the lyrics, so I take it was he who woke up in the Soho London doorway..and the " Policeman " knew who he was :-)

[@juliebryne2903]

Yea nothing worse than being woke up from a stupor by a cop! Been there done that in my younger days!😁

[@davidmaagaard748]

"Love, Reign O'er Me". As an alternative hear the Heart cover. "Blue Eyes"

[@PuddlePirate55]

Pete Townshend wrote this song after he was in a pub having a loud argument with their manager about their money and other business deals It came to blows. Pete Townshend passed out on the sidewalk outside the pub and a policeman woke him up and recognized him and basically said to avoid arrest if you can get up and walk away you can leave

[@astroteech]

Pete Townsend was pure genius. Up there with the best of them. Roger Daltrey was an excellent addition to the band that was mostly Keith Moon and John Entwistle.

[@triscat]

Another classic Townshend bit of existential crisis.

[@Spookychris01]

Dude.... it's the theme tune for C.S.I. every csi show used The Who tracks

[@RJ-oy7cq]

About the Band conflict--Roger and Pete had bumps but in the end got on well enough...they respected each other.

[@Music-tg5is]

As for the meaning of the song, remember the band's name is "The Who" 😆

[@cartercarter645]

Love the reaction!!! One thing - the policeman DID know his name that’s why he could get up and walk away

[@bobguitarlearner8007]

the opening has been used in many cop shows

[@jvblhc]

I was just trying to get my Mom to remember what show that song was on (she loves all those kind of shows). We settled of "CSI".

[@papalaz4444244]

The radio edit doesn't have the swearing, only the album version. This is commonplace.

[@michaelwebster8389]

I think it might be that "Who are you" refers to the punks, like the Sex Pistols who were very much rejecting the whole older rock and roll formulation of the 70s, including the Who. Apparently it's a drunken night where Pete Townshend was wandering around Soho, drinking with punks.

[@markantone7989]

BIN WAITING FOR YOU TO DO THIS-IN , SQUEEZE BOX 🙏 PLEASE

[@EessaTube]

Soho in London.

[@CalumCarlyle]

Yes, he's definitely in London. The "tin pan" is no doubt Denmark Street.

[@daveadams3692]

All of the different CSI (American TV Series) episodes use The Who songs in the introduction!

[@bernardsalvatore1929]

I CAN REMEMBER HOW COOL IT WAS THAT THE RADIO STATIONS WOULD ACTUALLY PLAY THE "WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU" PART WITHOUT BLEEPING IT OUT IN THE 70S! THEY WERE SUCH REBELS!!! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@88pjtink]

one of their best, and hardest hitting tunes. good choice. and you can hardly go wrong with the who (but don't listen to the entire tommy album. i do not suggest that. it is overly theatrical for my taste. although pinball wizard is a must.).

[@tlucas9798]

I love underrated “Eminence Front” Townsend vocals.❤️❤️

[@kengunter6903]

He was drunk just go finished recording & a cop f...Ed with him. He pulled out of his pocket a million $ check.& said to him who the f... r u!!! Lol. So the story goes.

[@stratfanstl]

When you hear more of Townsend's material over his career, you realize a) he works alone, 2) he creates IMMACULATE demos in his home studio before bringing them to the band, 3) it is likely he likes creating intricate synth-based ostinato hooks cuz they spark ideas while adding other guitar / keyboard parts and they act as a click track to listen to while adding other parts.

[@charleyjohnson3329]

The chorus was used on an American tv show: C I S.

[@jvblhc]

I believe it is called CSI.

[@Oldschooldan1]

This was the theme song to CSI Las Vegas TV show.

[@Beatles4Sale.]

There’s a good video of this song…official video…❤️❤️❤️

[@robertscola4762]

CSI television show intro

[@PanglossDr]

I think this was used in CSI Miami or another CSI.

[@anthonyblakely399]

There is a British Rock band that was formed 4 years ago that sounds like The Who. The Rock band's name is "Sports Team." The Lead Singer/Frontman sounds like Roger Daltrey. The song is "The Drop!" Check it out It is Amazing!!!!

[@mickidonahue4038]

Watch Tommy. So sentimental thinking of all the talent playing various characters

[@iche50]

Maybe you know the beginning from the TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation? 🙂

[@SJ19_998]

2nd band zaw i live

[@ttxnpts]

Should react Tommy album

[@PuddlePirate55]

Pete Townshend writes all their music lyrics and he wrote this after he would have an argument with his management about their compensation in a pub It was he was throwing out of the pub And I policeman Recognize him and said if you can get up you can go home I won't take you to jail

[@michele-33]

You mentioned them maybe selling out - coincidentally the title of their first album was *The Who Sell Out*, lol If it wasn't their first album would someone correct me? Cheers!

[@rondarnell949]

Sid I haven't seen it yet but don't mean you haven't done it . But I'll recommend David Bowie. Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

[@troyturton8197]

CSI Theme Song.

[@shaunmccaul1695]

Try Dr.Jimmy from Quadraphrenia

[@yenlard6683]

This song is about Pete’s meet up with the Sex Pistols and the subsequent drunken conversation with the band. It’s basically Pete feeling depressed about his own band as it battles the new punk scene in England.

[@bobburroughs6241]

It's the CSI theme tune.

[@yenlard6683]

Syed….please check out the live version of Won’t Get Fooled Again from 78 Shepperton! 🔥

[@lathedauphinot6820]

“Who Are You?” He doesn’t recognize himself as the person who does these crazy, drunken things. I know The Sex Pistols used to play “Substitute”, but I don’t know what other Who songs they’ve done. They also used to play Stooges songs, like “No Fun”. Pete Townshend dedicated “Rough Boys”, opening track of his ‘Empty Glass’ solo album to the Sex Pistols. Johnny Rotten said they started by looking to the mods for inspiration, because they’re the last ones who’d done any decent music.

[@Alewifes_Husband]

I always thought this song was about a working class stiff who has this rough day to day life and is constantly paying his dues. And he's asking the listener, Who Are YOU? What have you been through? What do you do every day?

[@RJ-oy7cq]

No...it's not really about them doubting themselves, especially when Roger takes control of it--the who are you part is more challenging not doubting. And more generally the phrase is a clever use of the Band's name. You could also take it as the Who are you--if you wanted to.

[@tlucas9798]

Yes CSI….😂

[@bernardsalvatore1929]

SYED, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO LISTEN TO AN ALBUM BY THE WHO THAT IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST EVER, MAY I VEHEMENTLY SUGGEST THAT YOU LISTEN TO THE ALBUM "TOMMY", IN ITS ENTIRETY!! IT WAS CERTAINLY BEFORE ITS TIME WHEN IT WAS RELEASED!! THE FIRST "CONCEPT" ALBUM, ALSO DUBBED "ROCK OPERA"! IT IS A MASTERPIECE!!! I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR REVIEW AND OPINIONS ON THE ALBUM "TOMMY"!

[@cooperstonebadge2228]

Tin Pan alley a famous music publishing street in New York at the southern section of Soho in Manhattan. i believe Rolling Pin is a reference to the wife, Rin tin tin is a dog. apparently townsend went down to collect a check and endedd up drinking all day with members of the sex pistols ... or so the story goes.