First Listen - "Love Reign O'er Me" by The Who (Hip Hop Fan Reacts) 

This is perhaps Daltrey’s best vocal performance.

At some point, probably not on the channel, I encourage you to listen to the full Quadrophenia. I don't say this lightly, it's a masterpiece. It's about young men coming of age in Britain in the early 1960s, but it transcends the time and place. After you go through the album, this song hits twice as hard.

This entire album is a masterpiece. A reaction to I Am the Sea / The Real Me would be worthwhile. The Real Me probably reflects the best single recorded performance of the entire band, to a person. Incredible bass, drums, vocals and guitar/lyrics. A perfect encapsulation of the theme of the entire double-album. Among the angriest 3:22 minutes in rock. Other highlights: I'm One -- Is It In My Head -- 5:15 -- Sea and Sand -- Drowned.

I was blessed, as a mid-teenager, to be at the first public performance of Quadrophenia in San Francisco in November 1973 (we cut school to get tickets, and spent all night at the venue, waiting in line, in the rain, with peppermint schnaps to warm us, to get the best spots on the floor, nearest the stage). The Who not only engaged in concept album production, they popularized it, really, they invented it. Before Pink Floyd, before any of the others, there was the first big rock opera, Tommy. In 1969, mind you (with orchestra, French Horn, etc.). The first recording to use true multi-track recording (eight tracks).The Beatles were still around! And listen to "My Generation" (you'll like it much better than the early hit single version, first to feature solo bass guitar) on Live at Leeds, the best live rock album ever recorded, to get an idea as to how far ahead of their time they were in playing their respective instruments, never mind the songwriting and concept narratives. The Who were the very first to experiement with improvisational jamming hard rock. They basically invented the whole sound. Before Hendrix. Before Zeppelin. Alongside the Beatles! First to use synthesizers, on Who's Next, when synths were analog and primitive and very hard to use. Townshend is a meta-genius, and each of the members is a musical pioneer, a genius in his own right, a phenomenal instrumentalist, breaking new ground (including on voice), and have never been successfully imitated. The Who have largely been forgotten, unfortunately, compared to Zeppelin and The Stones (they all comprised the Big Three of classic British rock, 50 years ago, during that time). But in their day, The Who were better than both - better than ANYONE - on stage, and in the studio. By a LONG shot. NOTHING could touch their stage act, their stage presence, their live sound and playing, as well as their studio work, during their peak period: 1968-1974 (Tommy, Who's Next, Quadrophenia). Again, check out "My Generation" and "Magic Bus" on Live at Leeds. Doing a "first listen" to those two tracks would be epic. The solo rock bass guitar work, and the bass sound, are unsurpassed, light-years ahead of anything else of that period, or any period since them. For Tommy, check out "See Me, Feel Me," the finale to that entire double-album (years before Quadrophenia). Do some reading, first (Wikipedia), so you'll get an appreciation for the Tommy story, and can better understand the narrative arc. Such research, ahead of time, will double or triple your appreciation of The Who's music. This band was like NO other rock band, ever. It's ALL there, with The Who: artistic vision and originality, untouchable first-in-class instrumental performance, towering stage presence, studio creativity and invention and production, best songwriting around, deep intellectual/spiritual focus (as well as the utter opposite: humorous, youthful male, hotel-trashing hedonism), operatic scale and production and execution. The Who always had a cult following, not as broad or numerous as did the Stones or Zeppelin. The Who were just too far ahead, so far above, few could really appreciate them. The IQ required to keep up with the bank necessarily limits the size of the audience. Still today, the masses still don't get them, really. And they're destined to become a footnote in the history of rock music, the "Robert Johnson" of classic rock, I fear. Which is why your "first listens" of their work are so important, so young people are introduced to them (most of whom have never heard of The Who). Keep it up!

SQUEE! What drums d'ya want Keith? Keith: "All of 'em"

Quadrophenia is a must see film.

This track should really be listened to in the context of the full album. And the album is a masterpiece!

Daltrey is brilliant with his emotional impact that he delivers with this powerful tune!❤

The Who performed Love Reign O’er Me live in Hyde Park, London in July 1996. David Gilmour (of Pink Floyd) played onstage with The Who on several songs, including Love Reign O’er Me.

The play on the words reign/rain is used so beautifully in this. An incredible album.

Pete Townshend became an adherent of Eastern philosophy, specifically the teachings of Meher Baba (the Baba in Baba O'Riley). In these teaching, water represents universal love.

Going back to The sea is a recurring theme in this Album. The next song I believe is called "Drowned" "Let the tide in and set me free. I want to drown... IN COLD WATER!" Quadrophenia is by far my favourite Who album. Well worth a full album reaction. The musicianship and composition are off the charts.

Debussy would be proud of the impressionist intro sounding like rain.

When I saw The Who for the very first time in concert last year in October, I was just Blown Away. These guys in their 70's were richer and more great than they were when they were young.....Roger Daltrey's voice was just AMAZING!!!!

We can tell you get it...what a really epic and beautiful song this is. During the verses, John Entwistle strums chords on his bass rather than playing a standard bass line. That low drone he sets up gives a place for the synth strings and the guitar to sit on. The first time I saw the Who was when they were first touring this album in 1973. Still the most enjoyable concert I've been to. So far.

An extraordinary, powerfully anthemic masterpiece. 'Love Reign O'er Me' indeed. Fantastic arrangement, soulful, gut-wrenching, searing, soaring vocal. Townshend's a lucky fucker to have this ensemble to interpret and help breathe life into his songs. 😮😊😅❤

Check out the movie. Entirely scored by The mighty Who and it’s a blast. Story about the mods and rockers in the 60’s doing battle on the beaches all around the country.

The "twiddly" part you're hearing is one of the very first synths used in rock music. Townshend wasn't an early adopter, he basically pioneered using synths in rock. He taught the best sound engineers in the world how they worked, as well as other rock musicians. For the synths on this album, he learned enough violin to make samples of himself playing, and that's what he used to emulate a string section. His most famous use of synths was in songs I think you already did, such as Baba O'Riley and Won't Get Fooled Again.

I'm almost sure the bassist John Entwhistle is on the horn here, while Townsend does the piano. They're very territorial when it comes to the instruments on their pieces.

Yes indeed, utterly classic song, you sure do need to hear the album, it will blow you away and further cement the WHO as one of the best for you and many newer listeners. Tommy and Who's Next are also full album reactions that will have a broad smile on your face. Top 5 band for many, as authentic as it gets. Enjoy! 🎵🎸🎤🎹🎶

The part you said reminded you of "Irish Music" is played by a Violin section. Violins are a mainstay of Irish music, as well as much of the traditional European Folk Music. It is an easily carried string instrument in the Range of the Human Voice that portrayes Emotional Drama very well.

You sir, are the only one reviewer to ever pick up on the reign and rain connection. Well done.

I had the privilege of seeing this album performed live at the O2 back in 2013. Mind the Gap.

3X front center. Looked Roger in the eyes. Had a cool guy next to me...stood on his shoulders the whole concert!😆

Greatest live act in Rock N' Roll, they invented nearly every stage move that's common. The first Punk band, music. First in a lot of things. Nobody sounds like The Who, they've got their own thing going on. They don't get as much credit as The Stones and Zeppelin but they measure up and more to any great band out there.

"I never ever felt like I blasphemed. You know, in an old fashioned sense. But I was in a pretty blasphemous mood when I left for Brighton. Brighton cheered me up. But then it let me down. Me folks had let me down, Rock had let me down, women had let me down, work wasn’t worth the effort, school isn’t even worth mentioning. But I never ever thought I’d feel let down by being a mod. I pinched this boat, first time I’d ever been on a boat at sea. I had another few leapers to keep from coming down and I felt a bit bravado. So I headed for this Rock out off the coast. It was sticking up very jagged, but very peaceful. I didn’t know then what I was up to, but I know now. Schizophrenia! What a laugh. It must be alright to be plain ordinary mad. About halfway over I took a swallow of this Gilbeys gin I’d bought. Booze never did help me much though. On the boat it did me right in, especially on top of the pills and the come-down. Anyway, the sound of the engine turned into this drone, then the drone turned into a sound like pianos or something. Like heavenly choirs or orchestras tuning up. It was really an incredible sound. Like the sort of noise you’d expect to hear in heaven, if there is such a place. I pinched myself and I wasn’t really drunk anymore. I was floating. I felt really happy. I must have looked bloody stupid as it happens. I was waving me Gilbeys around in the air and singing in tune with the engine. The sound got better and better. I was nearly delirious when I got to the Rock. I switched off the engine and jumped onto it. When the engine stopped, so did the music. And when that beautiful music stopped, I remembered the come-down I had, I felt sick from the booze, the sea was splashing all over the place and there was thunder in the distance. I remembered why I had come to this bastard Rock. So that’s why I’m here, the bleeding boat drifted off and I’m stuck here in the pissing rain with my life flashing before me. Only it isn’t flashing, its crawling. Slowly. Now it’s just the bare bones of what I am. A tough guy, a helpless dancer. A romantic, is it me for a moment? A bloody lunatic, Ill even carry your bags. A beggar, a hypocrite, love reign over me. Schizophrenic? I’m Bleeding Quadrophenic"

A masterpiece.

I'm very grateful to have found your channel @Syed. The absolute best reaction/analysis channel on the interwebs 👍 Gratefulness is something the world hasn't had enough of - many people have taken too much for granted. It's a treat to experience a music lover first hear iconic songs..you often point out bits I've missed. Much respect... God bless 🕯️

The Who have many great albums, but this is their masterpiece. Brilliant from beginning to end!

The movie is about an alien who was left behind by his ship, and he gets helped phone home by a little boy in a family of four, hence Quadrophenia.

The who received the Kennedy center honor and a woman called betty levette did a really blues version of this. Pete and Rodger loved it

An absolute masterpiece.

A song that conveys the pain of a Bipolar person whom can't find themselves and yearns for the universal connection of love a voyeur those that are have Love and yearning for that connection the pain the isolation the disconnect yet hoping for the future that one day they'll find themselves and that love that's Townsend's character I'm bipolar and that's me artists can convey pain in the beautiful Universal way

Greatest album ever

I saw them live this past October with an orchestra. Roger NAILED the song, including the scream. Incredible for someone pushing 80 years old. Masterful performance with Zach Starkey on drums.

Townsend was a genius writer.

The one note I have brother is to also watch the performance live. The Who may well be the greatest live performance band ever. Just make sure it's during the time Keith Moon was alive.

One of my all-time favorite Who songs. Thanks for the reaction!

I saw The Who perform their "Quadrophenia" album from start to finish back in 1973. Phenomenal. This 2-disc album along with their preceding "Who's Next" album were their peak.

They grew up hearing their parents music, English and Irish folk music.

Greatest Rock Band Ever

Love your reviews!!

Pete Townsend incorporates that "Irish" sound in many songs. I think mostly shown by the fiddle at the end of Baba O'Riley.

Quadrophenia is a double album. Quite a ride. Worth listening from the beginning. Listen to the first two tracks together. There is a cool intro, then it explodes.

Phenomenal Who track. Such a great band. Classic.

One of my all time favorite songs and albums :)

Genius . . . watch the Quadrophenia movie . . .really good.

R.I.P. Keith Moon & John Entwistle…

The best rock album of all time!!!

I might get lit up for saying this, but "Quad" is the highest point of the Who's career. I've been a fan since the 70's, I discovered "Quadrophenia" early in middle-school. I think Pete understood something; the strength of the Who was never about 1 guy. I've got solo music from all 4 original members; I honestly like John Entwistle's solo work the most. He brought the dark humor. But together all of them just clicked; they each add so much. At their best they are way better than the sum of their parts.

A great classic 👍🏼

Daltrey has the best scream in rock n roll.

God is Love Love = God Divine!

You’d love “eminence front” due to the lyrical analysis

great insights on this great song. Daltrey always expressed Townshends lyrics,feelings brilliantly.

Behind Blue Eyes...

The story I heard about the ending was they put Keith Moon in a room surrounded by drums and let him go.

Preferred Quadrophenia to Tommy (an unpopular opinion!).

Brilliant

you need to hear live at leeds to understand the who in their prime

Glad you finally got to this one.

The thing you need to know about "Love Reign O'er Me" (LROM) is, on the 3 songs on the Quadrophenia album prior to LROM, the main character (Jimmy) is contemplating suicide as he is sitting on a rock a few hundred yards out to sea while guzzling a bottle of Gilbey's gin, with the tide rising and getting close to the point where the waves would wash him away. Luckily, he had an epiphany and realized all the teenage things he was dealing with are part of life and the most important thing is simply love. And he suddenly wanted love to reign over him. One of the 3 prior songs is "Dr Jimmy". It is about as dark a song as you can possibly imagine, with one of the most powerful F-bombs in rock and roll history. Roger Daltrey's voice is incredible on the entire album.

I think Rogers Waters from Pink Floyd, borrowed the concept idea from The Who. When he wrote ( wrote most of ) Animals and the Wall.

Are you a movie guy?? Adam Sandler gives a heart wrenching performance in a movie with this same title and centered around this tune. Check it out!

Who - made masterful concept albums. Quadrophenia is one of my favorite albums, but if you want to start with concept Who albums, I recommend starting with Tommy. I am sure that if Led Zeppelin had not appeared in the 69th year, the main fashion in the formation of hard rock would have been set by Who

The word is keltic rhythms

There is so much to hear, but the bass is also excellent, if you can remind yourself to listen to it.

You're doing good Syed. England has produced some of my favorites; Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Stones, The Who, Etc Keep up the good work. Check out the whole album; It's my fave from them, even beats Tommy. 🤩

"Quadrophenia" already has a great intro: you should definitely add "The Real Me" to your list.

As others said, it's part of a double album story. Daltrey's voice is distinctive as it is both very powerful and quite high pitched. Like many others, I was slightly underwhelmed when it came out following Who's Next, but it grew on me, and everyone else. The film was also very good - it took the story and underlying psychology in a different direction from Townshend's concept, so it's not an exact visual to the LP, but it's completely valid in its own right.

God IS Love

My favorite part of this song is the badge.

Early who to hear Im a boy Pictures of lily I can see for miles and miles Happy Jack

great album. Rogers vocals amazing but Keiths drumming drives the album along with the great bass of Mr Entwhistle. Treat yourself to a listen of the whole album

Quadrophenia, Tommy, and The Wall are probably the 3 best albums ever made.

you have to do bob dylan lonesome death of emmett till and lonesome death of Hattie Carroll in one video or some love songs from Dylan - Boots of Spanish Leather or Dont Think Twice Its All Right or (Pretty Saro best dylan voice)

Let me give you the historical background that won't ruin the storyline since it is about a fictional composite of one of these individuals from this early 60's time period that Pete Townshend writes about. If you can believe it, there were two rival gangs in England around 1963 who fought, injured and killed each other over music. The Rockers were still clinging to the rock and roll and r&b music of the 50's and the Mods were into the new groups like the Who. You get to find out the whole story through the eyes of Jimmy, the main star of the piece. I recommend listening to the entire album in order to find out what a masterpiece this album is. And it was smart of you to listen to this first because when you hear it at the end of the album, it will all make sense, and you will realize this is one of the greatest closing numbers of all time. After you finish the album, then you can watch the movie that might fill in some gaps Sting is very good in a key role.

Ohh goody we doing this! You really have to do the album Masterpiece.

The Real Me, 5:15, Bellboy

Remember the character that Pete Townsend writes about is mentally ill Townsend Daltrey are geniuses conveying the isolation the loneliness the desperation to feel the love that so desperately drives humans DALTREYS VOICES COVEYS THE PAIN AND SUFFERING YET NEVER GIVING UP HOPE ❤

The Real Me, 5:15, Bellboy, The Song is Over

Aren't any reaction channel did 'Hi ren' by ren?

You should also try to get hold of the actual Quadrophenia video sometime. Just for your own interest.

Certainly a popular song from Quadraphenia - but to my mind, not one of the best. Really some other great songs on that album.

It’s an opera. PLEASE go start to end sometime.

Too much interruption.

This is way too complex of a story to play the last song of a double album and understand the story. Those are violins.

1. Led Zeppelin 2. Pink Floyd 3. The Stones 4. Lynyrd Skynyrd 5. The Who 6. The Eagles 7. Rush 8. Bob Seger. You've got a lot of work to do,,,👍🤪

"The sound effects of the rain". Oh, you mean the DRUMS. This is what happens when the clueless try to critique artists. Climax: Pay attention here. Jimmy's dead. There's your climax, dumkoff.

I like your manner but too many pauses for me I'm out of here!

Listen to the entire album. That is the way the songs were meant to be heard.