News
The Who's Weirdest Songs #1
12:16 PM GMT 23/02/2009
1. Cache Cache
(Face Dances, 1981)
Cache Cache (from the French meaning 'hide and seek') was written after one of Pete Townshend's 'lost weekends' in 1980. Drunk on brandy in Bern, Switzerland, Townshend decided to visit the bear pits in the hills overlooking the city. As it was the middle of winter, the pits were unoccupied. Though Townshend didn't know that when he climbed into one. "I was thinking, if I can get in, I wonder why they couldn't get out?" he said later. The resultant song ("about doing something amazing and stupid") has Townshend whispering the song title in the chorus, and Daltrey bellowing the priceless opening line "Did you ever sleep in a bear pit with apple cores and mice..." like a town crier who hasn't a clue what he's singing about but is putting his back into it anyway. [MB]
To read our massive The Who Sell Out feature, pick up a copy of MOJO magazine - on sale now!
Posted by Ross_Bennett at 12:16 PM GMT 23/02/2009
end of body content back to top
Footer
Join us on:
© Copyright Bauer - all
rights reserved.
Reproduction of this
website, in whole or in
part, in any form or
medium without express
written permission from
Bauer is prohibited. All
use is subject to our
Terms of Use
|
|
Comments
Comment on this post
Endless Wire was weird alright, but not in a good way (more in a boring way). Some even weirder Who songs than those on your list: Fiddle About, Cobwebs and Strange & Armenia City in the Sky (the mindbending opening track from "Sell Out" which was written by the Who's then-chauffeur John 'Speedy' Keene.
Posted by Sean at 3:50 PM GMT 03/03/2009 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
"Odorono" is a great weird song. It seems like a typical unconventional Townshend song until the last line when you realize it was all an ad for deodorant. "Medac" is equally weird, both from "Sell Out", of course.
I'm surprised "A Quick One, While He's Away" isn't here. I absolutely love this song, but will definitely admit its weirdness: it's about an affair between a dirty old engine driver and a girl scout! The live intros to this song are always entertaining.
And of course, while the content may be a bit more "normal" than the songs on the list (though not by much), any one featuring Keith Moon on vocals is certain to be labeled "weird" by the non-Who fan.
Posted by Jenny at 2:38 AM GMT 11/03/2009 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
Townshend's demo version of Cache Cache is miles better than the Who's (I suppose because when Townshend sang it, he mean't it). I actually cite this song as an example that Townshend was writing interesting, catchy songs in the 80's but the Who weren't recording them well. The Who's version is just limp.
i actually would tend to cite Baba O'riley as one of the weirdest Who songs. A song about a farmer who decides to hit the road, driving through a teenage wasteland? with a title that's an allusion to Mehar Baba and electronic composer Terry Riley? pretentious much? weird but amazing!
Posted by Zac Horn at 3:38 PM GMT 24/03/2009 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
Comment on this post