Midnight Media Cafe - Pinball Wizard
Monday, March 30th, 2009 09:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
serai.
From The Secret Policeman's Ball, an annual comedy/music event held in England during the 80's by Amnesty International:
Pinball Wizard - Pete Townsend
"Ever since I was a young boy,
I've played the silver ball..."
"Unplugged" performances aren't always gems, but when they work, they can be magic. Here is Pete Townsend, whose ego was the main pillar in the construction of The Who, one of rock's Pantheon Bands. Listening to Pete sing Pinball Wizard alone with only his guitar for company is a bit of a revelation. There are so many associations that tumble through my mind like shuffling cards on hearing this song - thunder through my headphones, the work of art that was Roger Daltrey in the 70's, stuttering guitar chords, smoking weed under the Hollywood Sign, Elton John's electric sunglasses, the biggest pair of boots ever built.
And here is another to add to the mix: one of the great anthems of my youth, transformed into a street-corner ditty about a dedicated gamer. It's unexpected and charming, the more so because Townsend so obviously enjoys the simplicity of it. He gets to sing much more gently than usual, and comes off younger and more energetic than my usual perception of him.
A classic, by a master. Enjoy!
From The Secret Policeman's Ball, an annual comedy/music event held in England during the 80's by Amnesty International:
Pinball Wizard - Pete Townsend
"Ever since I was a young boy,
I've played the silver ball..."
"Unplugged" performances aren't always gems, but when they work, they can be magic. Here is Pete Townsend, whose ego was the main pillar in the construction of The Who, one of rock's Pantheon Bands. Listening to Pete sing Pinball Wizard alone with only his guitar for company is a bit of a revelation. There are so many associations that tumble through my mind like shuffling cards on hearing this song - thunder through my headphones, the work of art that was Roger Daltrey in the 70's, stuttering guitar chords, smoking weed under the Hollywood Sign, Elton John's electric sunglasses, the biggest pair of boots ever built.
And here is another to add to the mix: one of the great anthems of my youth, transformed into a street-corner ditty about a dedicated gamer. It's unexpected and charming, the more so because Townsend so obviously enjoys the simplicity of it. He gets to sing much more gently than usual, and comes off younger and more energetic than my usual perception of him.
A classic, by a master. Enjoy!
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Date: Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 05:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 05:32 pm (UTC)*roars*
Plus, I always loved Sting's solo version of Roxanne from "The Secret Policeman's Other Ball"!