Top 10 Best Songs of The Who

It starts with that hypnotic synthesizer loop, inspired by composer Terry Riley and guru Meher Baba.nnThe violin outro is unique in rock. It's about the disillusionment of the Woodstock generation. It's a folk song for the space age. Grand, strange, and absolutely genius. The ultimate The Who song.

The instrumental beginning of the rock opera. It's a journey through all the themes of the album. The horn that blows the intro, the acoustic guitars, the thundering drums.nnIt shows what a brilliant composer Pete Townshend is. It's classical music played by a rock band. Grand, compelling, and full of adventure.

The climax of Tommy, performed live at Woodstock. It starts with a simple guitar and pleading singing: "See me, feel me, touch me, heal me."nnIt builds to a euphoric explosion of rhythm and harmony ("Listening to you"). It's a spiritual experience, a moment of pure salvation and connection with the audience.

Originally written for an unfinished rock opera (Lifehouse). It starts as a soft, sad ballad about loneliness and anger.nn"No one knows what it's like to be the bad man." Halfway through it explodes into a rock song. The dynamics between vulnerable singing and hard guitars is beautiful. One of their most emotional songs.

A political monster lasting eight minutes. The synthesizer loop running through the whole song was revolutionary for that time.nnIt's about disillusionment with revolutions: the new leaders are just as bad as the old ones. The scream from Roger Daltrey at the end is the most famous in rock history. Epic and timeless.

A complex rock song with synthesizers and background choirs. The lyrics explore a fight with police and the band's identity crisis.nn"Who are you? I really wanna know." Daltrey sings with raw fierceness. It's one of the last songs with drummer Keith Moon before he died. A powerful statement.

The anthem of the mod movement. Roger Daltrey stammers the lyrics ("Why don't you all f-fade away"), giving it a nervous, aggressive charge.nn"Hope I die before I get old." It's a middle finger to the establishment. The bass solo was revolutionary. It ends in pure chaos and feedback, exactly like punk rock should be.

The most famous song from the rock opera Tommy. It's about a deaf, dumb and blind boy who becomes a pinball machine champion.nnThe acoustic guitar intro is lightning-fast and flamenco-like. The chorus is grand and compelling. It's a perfect summary of the bizarre and brilliant story of the album. A rock classic.

Lyrics full of self-mockery and insecurity. "I'm a substitute for another guy." Townshend plays with language and identity.nnThe bass line from John Entwistle is prominent and melodic. The acoustic guitar keeps the rhythm. It's a clever, catchy song that shows The Who was more than just noise and destruction.

Their first single and immediately a hit. A perfect pop song two minutes long. It's about the frustration of a young boy who can't put his feelings into words.nnThe guitar riff is simple and direct (inspired by The Kinks). You hear the youthful energy and the desire to be heard. The beginning of a legend.