The Who have shared their contemplative new song All This Music Must Fade, the latest single off the rockers long-awaited new LP WHO, out December 6th.
The opening track on WHO, the new song takes a tongue-in-cheek attitude about originality in music as well as the bands own legacy.
Pete Townshend said in a statement that the song is dedicated to every artist who has ever been accused of ripping off someone elses song. Seriously? Our musical palette is limited enough in the 21st century without some dork claiming to have invented a common chord scheme.
I dont care / I know youre gonna hate this song / And that said / We never really got along, Roger Daltrey sings in the opening verse. Its not new, not diverse / It wont light up your parade / Its just simple verse / All this music will fade / Just like the edge of a blade.
All This Music Must Fade follows WHOs first single Ball and Chain, as well as Big Cigars which Daltrey and Townshend have been performing in concert.
In a statement, Daltrey previously said of the bands first album since 2006s Endless Wire: I think weve made our best album since Quadropheniain 1973. Pete hasnt lost it. Hes still a fabulous songwriter, and hes still got that cutting edge.
Townshend added, This album is almost all new songs written last year, with just two exceptions. There is no theme, no concept, no story, just a set of songs that I (and my brother Simon) wrote to give Roger Daltrey some inspiration, challenges and scope for his newly revived singing voice. Roger and I are both old men now, by any measure, so Ive tried to stay away from romance, but also from nostalgia if I can. I didnt want to make anyone feel uncomfortable. Memories are OK, and some of the songs refer to the explosive state of things today.