Won't Get Fooled Again

Infobox Single
Name =Won't Get Fooled Again


Cover size =
Caption = Single cover
Artist = The Who
from Album = Who's Next
A-side =
B-side = "I Don't Even Know Myself"
Released = 25 June 1971
Format = 7" Vinyl record
Recorded = Berkshire and Olympic Studios, London, April and May 1971
Genre = Hard rock
Length = 8:32 (full-length version)
3:38 (single edit)
Label = Polydor (UK)
MCA (USA)
Writer = Pete Townshend
Producer = The Who, Glyn Johns (associate producer)
Certification =
Reviews =

• "All Music Guide" [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:7svsa9qgq2gf link]

Chart position =

• #15 (U.S.)

• #9 (U.K.)

Last single = "See Me, Feel Me"/"Overture"
(1970)
This single = "Won't Get Fooled Again"
(1971)
Next single = "Let's See Action"
(1971)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Who's Next
Type = Studio
prev_track = "Behind Blue Eyes"
prev_no = 8
this_track = "Won't Get Fooled Again"
track_no = 9"Won't Get Fooled Again" is a hard rock song by the British rock band The Who, composed by band member Pete Townshend.

History

The song originally appeared on the 1971 album "Who's Next" and has since appeared on various other recordings, including the live compilation soundtrack for "The Kids Are Alright", the 1979 documentary film about the band, which in the 1978 Shepperton film studios shoot, was the last song the original lineup ever performed together. It is famous for its angular organ part set against guitar power chords, leading up to an extended synthesizer break into a drum entrance followed by a long scream by Daltrey.Townshend is playing block chords spread between the two keyboards of the 1968 Lowrey Berkshire Deluxe TBO-1 organ. The output of the organ is fed into the audio input of the EMS VCS 3 mk1 synth. The first bit of processing to be applied to the organ sound is a low-frequency oscillator (LFO) controlling the frequency of a voltage-controlled filter (VCF), using a sine or triangle wave shape. In other words, the synth is turning the tone of the organ from mellow to bright, up and down automatically.There are pictures of Townshend playing this instrument, as well as a video of Pete Townshend demonstrating how the sound was produced [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=vEPSruBdSqk&feature=related YouTube video of Pete Townshend demonstrating it] ] . The song ranges from eight to nine minutes depending on the version; the original album version is approximately 8:32. A heavily shortened and edited single (3:38) was released for use on broadcast radio and appeared on some hit collections such as "Who's Better, Who's Best".

Pete Townshend wrote this song as part of his Lifehouse Project [ [http://www.petetownshend.co.uk/projects/lifehouse/life_main_back.html Lifehouse Project] ] . He wanted to release a double-album and film about a world where the people are oppressed, but saved by a rock concert. Part of Townshend's wish was to show the power of music and how it reflects the people. "Won't Get Fooled Again" is about a revolution. In the first verse, there is an uprising. In the middle, they overthrow those in power, but in the end, the new regime becomes just like the old one ("Meet the new boss, same as the old boss").

This was the last song that Keith Moon performed with The Who on 25 May 1978 in Shepperton Studios. The song was performed both at Live Aid and 20 years later at Live 8. Townshend also collaborated on a celebrated, live, acoustic duet version of the song with leading classical guitarist John Williams for the 1979 Amnesty International benefit "The Secret Policeman's Ball (1979)". The "Who's Next" deluxe edition (released in 2003) contains an early session tape of this song with a different structure featuring Mountain's Leslie West on lead guitar. Numerous live versions of this song have appeared on albums. In addition to "The Kids Are Alright" soundtrack, the most notable ones are on the "Who's Next" deluxe edition from the 1971 Young Vic show and on the "Live At The Royal Albert Hall" album (from a 2000 show with Noel Gallagher guesting). The band's performance of the song at 2001's The Concert for New York City was considered a highlight of that show.

Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Townshend have each performed the song at solo concerts. Townshend has most radically rearranged the song several times, using instrumentation varying from acoustic to techno.

The song was covered by Van Halen on their live album "" in 1993. It eventually made it to #1 on the Rock Charts.

Despite the title, the chorus in some parts of the song has the line "We don't get fooled again" rather than "won't".

Extramusical history

In a May 2005, article for the "National Review", political reporter John J. Miller chose the song as #1 on his list of "the greatest conservative rock songs," saying, "The conservative movement is full of disillusioned revolutionaries; this could be their theme song." [ [http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NzZkNDU5MmViNzVjNzkzMDE3NzNlN2MyZjRjYTk4YjE National Review Greatest Conservative Rock Songs] ]

In an April 2006, editorial for "Time" magazine, retired Lieutenant General Greg Newbold referenced the song, calling it an "antiwar anthem" that "conveyed a sense of betrayal by the nation's leaders, who had led our country into a costly and unnecessary war in Vietnam." [ [http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1181629,00.html www.time.com] ]

Kurt Cobain often spoke of the song "Drain You", which appeared on the album "Nevermind", as Nirvana's "We Won't Get Fooled Again" due to the break in the middle of the song.

"Won't Get Fooled Again" is played as the final house/stadium music at every KISS concert, just before the curtain falls

Representative Joe Barton of Texas (R) referenced the song in expressing his opinion of the Senate's passage of HR1424, its version of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 the House had recently rejected: "“The bailout legislation that the Senate is sending back to the House is a fraternal twin to the one I voted against on Monday — meet the new bill, same as the old bill.” [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/02/business/02bailout.html?hp]

Media usage

Film and television

"Won't Get Fooled Again" has been featured in several feature films, including "Summer of Sam", "Outside Providence", "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind", "Bewitched", "Blackball", and twice in the film "Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny".

Michael Moore requested permission to use the song over the end credits of his 2004 documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11", as it tied in with both Moore's sentiments over George W. Bush's impending re-election, and the movie's last line, delivered by Bush — "There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." However, permission was refused, and Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World" was ultimately used instead. Townshend later said that Moore "bullied" him about his refusal, and defended his decision by saying that he was "not convinced" by Moore's previous film, "Bowling for Columbine". [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3893265.stm news.bbc.co.uk] ] Philadelphia-based DJ Pierre Robert of WMMR regularly plays the song with the Bush clip preceding it on his radio show.

"Won't Get Fooled Again" was featured in a commercial for the 2000 Nissan Maxima, and, later that same year, used on "The Simpsons" in episode BABF20 ("A Tale of Two Springfields"), in which The Who guest starred.

"Won't Get Fooled Again" became the theme song for the CBS television series "". Also, episode 2 of the season 7 is titled "Won't Get Fueled Again"

ports

The beginning of the song, featuring the synthesizer solo, is often played prior to the 1st inning at Yankee Stadium, the home of the New York Yankees baseball team. The song is also played at St. Louis Rams home games accompanying a montage on the Rams' history in St. Louis. It is also traditionally played at Alumni Stadium shortly before the Boston College Eagles football team takes the field. J.T. Snow used this song as his introduction music when he played for the San Francisco Giants. The Arizona Diamondbacks used the closing riff of the song when a home run was hit in Chase Field. The Rutgers University Scarlet Knights Football Team uses the ending riff whenever they score a touchdown, accompanied with the firing of the Rutgers Stadium cannon. The Kansas City Royals play the same riff used for the theme of CSI:Miami at Kauffman Stadium whenever the Royals make a good defensive play or throw out an opposing runner attempting to steal.

The song was also used in commercials for the BBC's coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The song was used as intro music for the AFC Champions, the Indianapolis Colts, for Super Bowl XLI. Recently, the NHL's Buffalo Sabres have used the song before the opening puck drop. The song is played when the Philadelphia Phantoms hockey team scores a goal at their home arena, the Wachovia Spectrum.

Video Games

The song is featured in the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Playstation 2, and Wii versions of Rock Band and is used as the final drum song the player must beat on Solo Career mode.

Live 8 & Live Aid

The song, along with "Who Are You", formed part of The Who's Live 8 line-up, which they performed in Hyde Park, London on July 2, 2005 to over 200,000 onlookers. It was also performed at the original Live Aid in 1985, along with "My Generation," "Pinball Wizard" and "Love, Reign O'er Me".

Parodies

*"Weird Al" Yankovic performed an unreleased parody of this song titled "Won't Eat Prunes Again." [ [http://www.com-www.com/weirdal/wonteatprunesagain.html com-www.com/weirdal/] ]

*TISM had a B-side track on the single for "Honk if You Love Fred Durst" called "Won't Get Fooled Again, Again."

*Christian Parody Band ApologetiX released a parody of this song titled "Won't Get Born Again" on their 2006 album Wordplay.

Accolades

* #26 on Canadian classic rock station Q107's 500 greatest rock songs of all time. [ [http://www.q107.com/Music/Countdown/Top500Songs.aspx Q107 Top 500 Classic Rock Songs of All Time] ]
* #1 Conservative rock song [ [http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NzZkNDU5MmViNzVjNzkzMDE3NzNlN2MyZjRjYTk4YjE= John J. Miller on Music on National Review Online ] ]
*#7, "Q" magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks
* #17 on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Rock Songs [ [http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2000/vh1rocksongs.htm Rock On The Net: VH1: 100 Greatest Rock Songs: 1-50 ] ]
* Chosen as the very first song for Blender Magazine's "The Greatest Songs Ever!" series. [ [http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=158 Blender Magazine] ]
*133rd greatest song by "Rolling Stone" on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

References