Look, I love The Who.
In fact, Tim and I saw them in Denver, what... 15 years ago? They were fabulous. Roger Daltrey with his open, button-down shirt, was totally ripped. And, he flung that mic around so you believed it.
Tonight, not so much.
I dunno. Something about a 65 year-old singing Teenage Wasteland (yeah, I know it's Baba O'Riley) was just plain creepy (and somehow thought to be more acceptable than a potential wardrobe malfunction. I mean, heaven forbid we see a woman's breast ).
The whole performance would have been OK if there was no picture. But, when he and Pete Townshend did their power arm-above-the-head, rocker stuff, it looked like they were in the nursing home during exercise hour, with an aide exhorting, “Stretch, Mr. Daltry, stretch!” Then when they sang “before we get too old…” Oh, lord. It’s way too late for that, dudes.
At the end, when the lights where flashing “The Who” and Roger was fiddling with his earpiece, it seemed as if the whole thing was subtitled for our benefit, so we could understand his imploring, "the WHO???? The WHAT????”
Unfortunately, I think this proves that unless you're Mick Jagger, or Rod Stewart, the old rocker thing just doesn't fly.
Although it was impressive they were able to stay up so late. "Now be good, Mr. Daltrey. Time for your meds."
Whatever happened to going out on top?
Comments (8)
I saw them in Denver just two years ago and they were fantastic, so something was amiss tonight. Neither Daltry nor Townsend had any voice or energy; just going through the motions. But that stuff that happened before and after their little concert was fantastic.
Posted by Eric Riback | February 7, 2010 11:40 PM
Posted on February 7, 2010 23:40
Agreed. I haven't enjoyed a Super Bowl this much since I lived in DC and the Redskins won two! (Even Tim watched tonight with me. And, he's such a perfect husband, he hates football.)
Posted by Doreen | February 8, 2010 12:18 AM
Posted on February 8, 2010 00:18
LOL! I think they must use up all their zillions on stupid stuff, (cars, houses, cocaine), so they need to keep working. My kids scratched their heads when Mick Jagger sang at the Superbowl, so I shudder to hear the post game reaction to this puppy!
Posted by Robin Altman | February 8, 2010 11:44 AM
Posted on February 8, 2010 11:44
I'm kinda shocked that most of the reaction has been "well, it wasn't their best, but it was still good."
Maybe I'm the one who needs cataract surgery and a hearing aid? Maybe we can be roommies in the nursing home, Robin.
Posted by Doreen | February 8, 2010 12:07 PM
Posted on February 8, 2010 12:07
Disappointed that you feel so comfortable writing such an age-ist post. Why not make your comments about the performance, not about the age of the performers? I've been amazed that bloggers who would be the first to defend someone against gender, race, sexual orientation discriminate so easily and freely about those who are older than they are. Think about it...
Posted by Karen | February 21, 2010 10:45 AM
Posted on February 21, 2010 10:45
I’m not much younger than they, and as I age I try not to do things that might have been appropriate at one time, but would be embarrassing as I get older. (Wearing mini-skirts, flirting with 20 year-olds and ordering the junior meal at restaurants comes to mind. On the other hand, reading my AARP magazine in public is not at all embarrassing now, although it would have been when I was 18.)
Their performance was horrendous. Having seen them live years ago, wailing about teenage wasteland when it was believable, I was saddened that they had the bad taste/judgment to make a mockery of songs that have meant so much/provided such wonderful memories to so many – including me. If the reason for the performance being so bad was because they had laryngitis and made the stupid decision to subject us to that anyway, I might have made fun of that bad judgment. Unfortunately, their performance sucked because for some reason, they insisted on doing songs about TEEN angst the exact same way they have for decades. It was not believable simply because the fact that they are too far removed from being teens showed. I wish they had done different versions of the songs or performed them in a different, believable way.
It is not “age-ist” or discriminatory to talk about differences and limitations. To figure out new ways of doing things to work around those limitations (especially when you’ve been hired to entertain people), would truly have been something to see.
Posted by Doreen | February 21, 2010 7:37 PM
Posted on February 21, 2010 19:37
I noticed that the comment I left about the ageist tone of your post was not permitted. I am disappointed that you are not interested in your subscriber's opinions if they differ from your own. I will be cancelling this subscription. Thank you.
Posted by Karen | February 21, 2010 9:15 PM
Posted on February 21, 2010 21:15
I guess you need to look more closely.
Posted by Doreen | February 21, 2010 9:26 PM
Posted on February 21, 2010 21:26