Getting in Tune
Encyclopedia
"Getting in Tune" is a song written by Pete Townshend
and originally released by The Who
on their 1971 album Who's Next
. "Getting in Tune" was originally conceived as part of Townshend's Lifehouse project. It was performed live by The Who in February 1971, before the release of Who's Next, at shows at the Young Vic, but has been played live sparingly since.
," "Getting in Tune" also incorporates a theme of the power of music, both socially and spiritually. Author Chris Charlesworth interprets the song as using a band tuning up for a show as a metaphor
for creating harmony
among diverse groups.
The music begins with session musician Nicky Hopkins
playing a gentle tune on the piano while John Entwhistle plays bass. Roger Daltrey
sings the opening lines softly, but explodes on the line "I'm going to tune right in on you," supported by Keith Moon
's drum fills. The music then relaxes again. There is a duet in which Daltry and Townshend exchange the line ""Getting in tune to the straight and narrow," a section Allmusic critic Tom Maginnis considers "the song's catchiest hook." However, the music becomes more frantic again towards the end. Moon's provides laid back drumming throughout most of the song, but speeds up for the frantic portion of the song at the end. Unlike many other songs on Who's Next, the instrumentation for "Getting in Tune" does not include synthesizer
s.
of the song in the way it alternates lyrical passages with more powerful rock passages, increasing the effect of both. Mendelsohn also praises Daltry's singing. Sputnik Music's review calls "Getting in Tune" an "awesome song," particularly praising Moon's drumming and how Moon "keeps the groove" throughout the entire song. Allmusic critic Tom Maginnis praises the song's arrangement as "brilliant" and praises "the band's mastery of dynamics, tension, and release techniques coalescing seamlessly with strong, memorable melodies." Authors Steve Grantley and Alan Parker call the song "an accomplished mid-tempo Beatlesque
number" and state that the "spiritually questing lyrics are matched by some strong playing," particularly singling out Hopkins' piano playing and Moon's drumming. Chris Charlesworth calls the song "another fearless rocker" and "a showcase for Roger [Daltry] at his absolute best."
. Although the song was not often played live, it was included on the 2003 live album Live at the Royal Albert Hall
. Townshend included a version of the song on his solo album The Lifehouse Chronicles
.
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
and originally released by The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
on their 1971 album Who's Next
Who's Next
Who's Next is the fifth studio album by English rock band The Who, released in August 1971. The album has origins in a rock opera conceived by Pete Townshend called Lifehouse. The ambitious, complex project did not come to fruition at the time and instead, many of the songs written for the project...
. "Getting in Tune" was originally conceived as part of Townshend's Lifehouse project. It was performed live by The Who in February 1971, before the release of Who's Next, at shows at the Young Vic, but has been played live sparingly since.
Lyrics and music
The song's lyrics begin by noting that the singer doesn't really have anything to say. Rather he claims that "I'm singing this note 'cause it fits in well with the chords I'm playing/I can't pretend there's any meaning here or in the things I'm saying." However, the singer is fed up with this superficiality, and thus is "Getting in tune to the straight and narrow." Another line notes that "I'm going to tune right in on you." It is left ambiguous whether he is referring to a woman or a spiritual figure. The lyrics reflect the contradictions Townshend was feeling between his desire for spirituality and self-understanding against his persona as a hard-drinking hard-partying rock star. Along with the previous song on Who's Next, "The Song Is OverThe Song Is Over
"The Song Is Over" is a song by English rock band The Who, appearing on Who's Next.-Meaning:"The Song Is Over" was originally to be the ending song on the Lifehouse after the police invade the Lifehouse Theatre and the concert goers disappear.-Song Structure:"The Song Is Over" is one of the tracks...
," "Getting in Tune" also incorporates a theme of the power of music, both socially and spiritually. Author Chris Charlesworth interprets the song as using a band tuning up for a show as a metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
for creating harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
among diverse groups.
The music begins with session musician Nicky Hopkins
Nicky Hopkins
Nicholas Christian "Nicky" Hopkins was an English pianist and organist.He recorded and performed on noted British and American popular music recordings of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s as a session musician....
playing a gentle tune on the piano while John Entwhistle plays bass. Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
sings the opening lines softly, but explodes on the line "I'm going to tune right in on you," supported by Keith Moon
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
's drum fills. The music then relaxes again. There is a duet in which Daltry and Townshend exchange the line ""Getting in tune to the straight and narrow," a section Allmusic critic Tom Maginnis considers "the song's catchiest hook." However, the music becomes more frantic again towards the end. Moon's provides laid back drumming throughout most of the song, but speeds up for the frantic portion of the song at the end. Unlike many other songs on Who's Next, the instrumentation for "Getting in Tune" does not include synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s.
Critical reception
Rolling Stone Magazine critic John Mendelsohn praises the dynamicsDynamics (music)
In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional . The term is also applied to the written or printed musical notation used to indicate dynamics...
of the song in the way it alternates lyrical passages with more powerful rock passages, increasing the effect of both. Mendelsohn also praises Daltry's singing. Sputnik Music's review calls "Getting in Tune" an "awesome song," particularly praising Moon's drumming and how Moon "keeps the groove" throughout the entire song. Allmusic critic Tom Maginnis praises the song's arrangement as "brilliant" and praises "the band's mastery of dynamics, tension, and release techniques coalescing seamlessly with strong, memorable melodies." Authors Steve Grantley and Alan Parker call the song "an accomplished mid-tempo Beatlesque
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
number" and state that the "spiritually questing lyrics are matched by some strong playing," particularly singling out Hopkins' piano playing and Moon's drumming. Chris Charlesworth calls the song "another fearless rocker" and "a showcase for Roger [Daltry] at his absolute best."
Other appearances
"Getting in Tune" was included on the soundtrack to Jerry MaguireJerry Maguire
Jerry Maguire is a 1996 American romantic comedy-drama film starring Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding, Jr. It was written, co-produced, and directed by Cameron Crowe...
. Although the song was not often played live, it was included on the 2003 live album Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Live at the Royal Albert Hall (The Who album)
Live at the Royal Albert Hall is a three-CD live album set by The Who, released in 2003.Discs one and two were recorded on 27 November 2000 and consist of John Entwistle, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Zak Starkey, and John "Rabbit" Bundrick performing a concert at the Royal Albert Hall for the...
. Townshend included a version of the song on his solo album The Lifehouse Chronicles
The Lifehouse Chronicles
Lifehouse Chronicles is a box set released in 2000 by Pete Townshend with the focus on the box being the formerly "abandoned" Lifehouse rock opera. The set contains song demos by Pete Townshend; including solo versions of "Baba O'Riley", "Won't Get Fooled Again", and "Who Are You", and the...
.