The Who - Who Are You (REACTION!) 

This is a classic Lost In Vegas reaction. They know nothing of what's coming in the song, they love it, they pause and restart 50 times. One of the top 5 LIV videos.

Coming from a Hip Hop world, your ears are trained to find that dope part, and put it on repeat and leave it going. But rock songwriting from this era was all about dynamics and having contrast. The reason that the verse section you like so much can hit as hard as it does, is because the chorus lulls you into relaxing, before smacking you in the head again. Dynamics, contrast, light and dark, loud and quiet, etc…

FUN FACT: The drummer for The Who, Keith Moon, was one of the inspirations for the Muppets drummer Animal.

I guarantee they walked around all day sing "who are you, who, who...who,who". I'm a metalhead and I've always loved this song.

As the story goes, Pete (Townsend, lead guitarist and musical genius) was out drinking with 2 members of the Sex Pistols, got into a fight, got thrown out, passed out in a "Soho Doorway", woke up when a cop found him and recognized who he was, and told him he could go home if he could just walk away. That intro that bugged Ryan so much was in there because Pete had just discovered the electronic synthesizer and loved doing cool stuff on it (As in Baba O'Reily).

This was the 70s equivalent of waiting for the beat to drop. I get the reaction to the intro, but once you've heard this song a thousand times, its like the chorus of preparing to rock your face off.

I love this song and I'm a hardcore Metal Head. And the "Whoooooo are yoooooo, who who whowho" fits in perfectly. This song needs repeated listening to truly appreciate the Who's "who" This song is 46 years old and it still sounds as fresh as the day it was released. RIP Keith Moon and John Entwistle

John Entwistle is consider the greatest rock bass player. Geddy loves him.

If you’ve ever seen any of the original CSI shows, they used this bands songs as the theme, this one was used as the theme of the original CSI

Eminence Front is a funk machine!

Ryan kills me. He said just take the chorus out! Everybody loves that part

It's called contrast...the drop wouldn't have been nearly as FLY as you say without that contrast. Texture is so key in ROCK. True music has multiple textures.

Love, Reign o’re me by The Who will raise the hair on your arms. Roger Daltry’s vocals are killer!!!!

Love Reign O'er Me. Period. That's the one for me. YOU MUST HIT THAT SONG NEXT. IMO.🤞🤞

The Who described themselves as “Maximum R&B”. They’re definitely not your typical rock band.

Love the beginning. It helps to build the dynamics in the song. 3 part vocal harmonies were big for the Who. They were big fans of 50/60’s R&B. This song has everything

I think that "Who are you..who who, who who" is just part of that old-school British pop sensibility The Who has always had.

Love reign o're me will tear your heart out... Roger Daltrey pours out his soul in that one!

Interesting fact - Ringo Starr, The Beatles drummer, and Keith Moon were best friends. Keith Moon was the godfather to Ringo's son Zak and bought him his first drum kit. Zak is now the drummer for The Who.

Ryan will be singing that chorus later...as it eats into his brain...and then saying why is this stuck in my brain. Lol.

One of the first 'F' bombs to be accidentally played on radio!

Keith Moon is a monster, and arguably the best rock drummer ever. Especially if Keith is the one arguing. :)

"The world is bigger than where you come from" WISDOM!!! So simple, but so hard for some to understand. As always, awesome video, love you guys! Keep digging into The Who, so many gems!

The fact that he sings "who the f--k are you" is pretty revolutionary back in the day when swearing was pretty much unheard of in music, even rock. We don't think much of it today, but it was enough of a big deal where listening to the Who pretty much means you were a badass, and you were certainly doing it at the contention of your parents.

If you watch the live version of this song, pay attention to Keith Moon on the drums. They duct tape his headphones to his head because he just goes nuts. Top 5 drummer of all time. And you know the "promoted" part of the song from CSI. Overplayed commercialy.

The Real Me by The Who from Quadrofinia. I think you'll like that one.

This song is based on a day in the life of Pete Townshend. It began with a very long meeting dealing with royalties for his songs: "Eleven hours in the Tin Pan, God, there's got to be another way." The "Tin Pan" he is referring to is "Tin Pan Alley" which is the name given to the collection of New York City-centered music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States. After this excruciating meeting he received a large check for royalties, left and went to a bar and got completely drunk. In that bar he encountered Paul Cook and Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols, who thought very highly of Pete for paving the way for Punk rock music. Townshend was conflicted because he feared The Who had sold out, and seeing The Sex Pistols, who were icons of rebellion, exasperated him even more. Pete left that bar and passed out in a random doorway in Soho (a part of New York). A policeman recognized him ("A policeman knew my name") and being kind, woke him and and told him, "You can go sleep at home tonight (instead of a jail cell), if you can get up and walk away." Pete's response: "Who the f--k are you?"

They have so many bangers. Eminence Front, Squeeze Box, Bobba O Riley, Reign O'er Me, The Seeker, Pinball Wizard, Won't Get Fooled Again, My Generation and more. A goated band

What Neil Peart is to drums, John Entwistle is to the Bass.The greatest.

I used to think it was crazy to not have heard some of these popular rock songs. But now I am so unaware of modern music, rock included that I can see how easy it is to live in a bubble.

14 minutes in and theyre just getting through the intro and halfway into the first verse 😂😂😂 great reaction

Love the story, that when they were recording the track they had to stop when roger swore. They said to him you can’t do that, so he said ‘sorry yeah won’t do that again’. After more than 20 takes of trying to get him to stop swearing, they said screw it and left it in :)

Pinball Wizard might have to be next. The Who absolutely bangs! Shoutout to the movie Tommy 💪🤘

Lol my best black friend hears any rock song and asks if it's REO Speedwagon, because it's the only rock band name he knows.

Keith Moon was an absolute maniac on drums. The muppet character "Animal" was an imitation of Keith Moon.

Check out Emminence Front! You guys will dig the groove big time

Who Are You is my favorite Who song. I love the entire song. Even the part Ryan didn't like. 😁 Its all layers. And it all flows together.

that drum "slow downed" part at 24:18 is called a triplet, Keith Moon played saucy as hell, great drummer!

You guys are the realest “reaction videos” out here. You can tell that you guys enjoy the music, others are clearly “acting”.

The intro is like their earlier '60's British Invasion sound then it crashes into late '70's hard rock perfection, hard rock in that era had a great sense of groove and cadence, the '80's came and kind of streamlined that out with more 4/4 style rock, this coming in late '78 became like a high water mark for '70s rock.

If it weren't for that "Who are you" bit, the song wouldn't be fly at all 😂 You need that bit for the contrast.

That's one of the best intros in a song ever 🤘

"Old Navy ruined a lot of careers." -George. I can't stop laughing. 😂

"Frontin means lying." LMAO Loved the rant - 100% right. That's the whole POINT of this channel - watching people who grew up around different music react to the shit we grew up with. It's amazing to hear your reactions, Good AND bad. Keep it up

Guys, it's the dynamic. You have to have the dynamic. Without dark there cannot be light. It's just like the super-fast thrash riffs. At face value, they really don't offer much. But they're setting up the groovy riffs that follow them.

Shoutout to Roger who just celebrated his 80th birthday. Efiing legend.

Keith Moon, for me, always showed explosive creativity, spontaneity, and joy in his playing. Rare today. Not so much freedom in music these days. Nice to hear it again.

Love you 2 guys. You get it. The only YT channel I'm a Patreon of. Well justified rant.

This was the intro song to the TV show "CSI" and was in a bunch of ads for the show. That's why everyone has heard the beginning of it. I love The Who. Their live recordings hit so much harder than the studio versions. But for an album song you haven't done yet, "Love Reign O'er Me" is one of my favorite songs of all time. That would be a great one for you guys to do.

The guys in Rush considered The Who to their hero’s and inspiration

If you like Kieth Moon’s skills on a drum set, check out “The Real Me” off of Quadrophenia. He’s at his chaotic best.

Keith Moon was a wild man on drums. RIP

This was a priceless reaction lmao. I’ve never heard this tune all the way through before or don’t remember if I did, and was going on the journey along with you guys 😂

Lifelong metal head here. That Montell Jordan song slaps

As someone told me years ago, and it has become truer the more I hear them, the Who is a band who all play a song of solos but have such great control, it ends up with a rythmn

The drumming on this is fireee. That last fill that George loved hit harder cause he played it in triplets, which is another trick to play with the rhythm without changing the tempo, next to going in half time. Anyway, guys, check out Dirty Loops - Rock You. These dudes are heavily cosigned by QUINCY JONES, shit's funky and groovy as hell.

i thnk you'd love the song "bargain" incredible drumming and incredible groove

This is one of the best videos I’ve seen from you guys. Love it!

"The world is bigger than where you're from." 💚

Gentlemen... check out The Real Me from The Who's Quadrophenia.

Eminence Front should be the next song. That is another banger!

I woke up in a Soho doorway, the policeman knew my name…so, tell me, who are You? What a killer opening line

The song is perfect as is. The vocal intro helps emphasize the heaviness when it comes in.

The pattern that Keith Moon is playing on the hi hat during the intro (the after school special part) sounds simple, but it's harder to play than it sounds. It requires a good solid foundation of technique - the falsetto vocals are also difficult to sing on key. My favorite Who song!

Wow a lot to unpack from that reaction. As a white early 60's aged guy raised on classic rock I did enjoy the reaction gentlemen. I most enjoyed your comments on how you grew up and the differences we all experience in music, life, etc. I think when music was released (the year) is very important in regards to your experience hearing it. The tunes stay the same forever. The times we live in are constantly changing. The who released this LP twelve days before my 18th birthday. This Who album was ok in my book back then but not like most of the iconic albums before it. As a song "Who Are You" was an absolute mind blower back then. An absolute masterpiece that grabbed you and rocked your ass hard. For all of us back then we didn't know what was about to happen to the band. Less than 30 days after this album was released Keith Moon was dead. In my opinion it was the end of The Who I had grown up with. Unlike Led Zeppelin who called it quits just after John Bonham passed just two years later. The Who kept playing. Here's an rock folklore fact. Take a look at the cover of the Who Are You album. Find Keith Moon and see what's printed on the chair he's sitting on. Crazy shit. Keith's drumming is legendary. One last note on this song which carries heavy weight with me is how this song inspired someone very special and dear in my life back in the early 90's. That person had a real serious problem with drugs & alcohol. One day while driving in their car the "Who Are You" tune started playing on their radio. It made them really think about who they really were. So much so that they decided right then and there they were going to change their life. So they got help and completely beat all their addictions and went on to be a wonderful parent and human being still to this day. RIP Keith & John 🙏🩶

Roger Daltrey is lead singer/frontman, Keith Moon is the drummer (legendary.....one of the top drummers in Rock n Roll History), Pete Townsend is the lead guitar player, John Entwistle is bassist. Also, react to: Sister Disco which is on the same album. It's FIRE!!!🎉🎉 Great Reaction guys!!!❤❤❤

You have to look at this song as a musical adventure. Still so cool after all these years.

Well said guys. I'm mexican and I actually didn't even start listening to mexican music till these past two years or so. I found yall back when you covered Logic however long ago but you've exposed me to so much music and got me into country and rock and you've made me realize that people that look like us can still enjoy those genres of music. Thanks so much for all you guys do. Keep it up!

The irony of the chair Keith Moon is sitting on having “ Not To Be Taken Away” written on it

Been watching your channel & reactions for over 2 years & have never considered either of you less than totally honest. You guys are great, keep it up.🙂

In my honest opinion, I love the "who are you, who who who," thing throughout the song.

One of the greatest bands of all time.

Super surprising how y'all dislike the "Who are you!" parts considering how much harmony and background singing is in R&B and whatnot.

I’m rediscovering songs from my teens. This is I knew, but I have a greater appreciation for it listening to it through your reactions ❤

A couple things to remember about Pete Townshend’s: 1) So many of his songs - from the album Tommy in 1969, onwards - have a layer of subtext in regard to Meher Baba, his guru. I don’t fully understand it, but that whole “my heart is an open cup / I only feel right on my knees” part is the seeker/spiritual aspect of this song. 2) The other thing is that Townshend has always seen his songwriting as something he does in service to others: to the audience, he gives a reflection of themselves…to Daltrey, he gives him a vocal part to sound tough….to Entwistle, room enough for him to maneuver…to Moon, the beginnings of a drum part got him to let loose on.

You guys crack me up man 😂😂 George doesn't usually go on rants, love it

I think you guys are starting to pick up on the fact that Keith Moon is one of the greatest drummers in rock history. Also loved the rant about 'not hearing stairway to heaven'.

My favourite reaction of yours. You've always been honest. It's the reason I watch you. Great stuff. Love Reign O'er Me, next, please.

Thanks for saying spend time with people who are not like you. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity through life and work to be surrounded by all types of people and it truly helps you not live in an echo chamber and really enjoy and live life to the fullest. Thank you for sharing your reactions and being honest. Cheers guys.

One of your best reactions. So glad you loved this song. Also suggest getting back to Styx! "Blue Collar Man" and "Suite Madame Blue" I think you guys would really get into

the reason the "who are you hoo hoo' part is in there is to create a contrast to the "heavy" part. alot of times parts are made to fit together to create a whole sound

One of those groups that you forget how many bangers they have when you get back to their phenomenal catalog. 🤘🤘🤘

The drumming in this track is superb! I gotta say my favorite part of this song though is after the instrumental break they layer that semi-jazzy piano part into the background it just brings another flavor to the song that completes it.

The soft beginning lures in the unsuspecting... Then the Who shows up and pops them in the jaw!

"F-ING that Casio keyboard up". 😂🤘🏻

Love you guy's honesty and open-mindedness to ALL music genres!! Check out the funk feel of "Eminence Front"

I love you guys for your pure unbiased reviews of music. Your love of music shows. I wish we had more open minded listeners like yourselves. Keep on working to bringing together the masses in this divided country.

The Who is rock royalty. The four of them together were magic! Pete...imo...is the most all around talented man in rock.

If you ever do the full album reviews,Who's Next is the first album you should do. It's as perfect as an album comes

I think what you have to realize is that white kids in the 60’s and 70’s grew up with Motown. We knew Smokey, and The Temptations, Earth Wind and Fire etc. We recognized that rock music was born out of R&B. So when we heard the rhythm and funk of songs like this, we weren’t surprised. In fact, we expected it

You guys are he most authentic reviewers I've seen. AS well as some of the more in depth awareness of music production. Actually enjoy when you say what you don't like.

You can’t go wrong with The Who! The real video for Who Are You is worth checking out. Btw. Real in studio footage! The Who contained a genius, a madman, an ox and an angel. Two of them are left. Legends.

Also, Keith Moon is the King of Drum fills. He can fill more notes then you would think would fit and make it work. Love hearing his work.

I appreciate you guys explaining the slang you use. As a mid 40s white man growing up in a small town I have never heard anyone use front as a verb outside of pulling merchandise to the front of a shelf in a store.

George’s rant was so long that it almost carried me from one commercial break to the next, lmao. Keep up the good work, guys! It’s been an awesome ride over the years, watching you two learn more about the rock world of music that I grew up with on my parents’ record player

brains would explode if they listened to Live at Leeds.

You’ll like Bargain, Love Reign O’er Me, maybe The Seeker too. Check out Pinball Wizard too - it’s a classic!

Love the rant! Was spot on!

Most of us, the who's fans, like the beatles and the beatles has this sound from this part "who are you who who" and that's cool to us.

Another bit of trivia. This song was written in the aftermath of a bar fight with The Ramones. The Who had no idea who they were fighting, hence "Who are you?" "I remember throwing punches around and preaching from my chair."