The Who Rocks You Like A Hurricane

I love VH1 Classic…As I sat this morning enjoying my cup of Earl Grey I got to watch videos for two of my favorite hard rock songs from the eighties back to back. It was amazing to me the difference in the two bands and the two videos, and how time had changed my opinions of them both.

The first video was The Scorpions “Rock You Like A Hurricane”. Now for those of you who have seen and possibly enjoy the new video from the band the Darkness….the Scorpions are the real thing…over the top European heavy metal in a really cheesy video. This video had every bad cliché from eighties rock and roll you can think of. I can’t believe I used to watch videos like that and want to be a rock star because of how cool I thought it was. It’s hard to believe that I ever thought that spandex might be a good look for me.(ok I know that’s a visual you really didn’t want). Anyway I still love the Scorps…really great in your face rock and roll. I remember one of my friends bring over his older brother’s import copy of the album (that would be on vinyl kids) “Blackout”. After listening to it I remember thinking “Wow I didn’t know that music could sound like that!!!”. Aahhh the first step down the path to heavy metal madness……(smile).

Well in contrast to the first video the second was “Eminence Front”, from The Who. This video was filmed during the sound check for The Who’s first farewell concert in Toronto in ’84. It is a very stripped down, bare bones performance video of just the band playing the song for the sound check. Back in the day(yes I am old enought to say that) I thought this video was good but a little on the boring side. This video still works…it catches the feeling of the moment and energy of the song without some cheesy storyline to go with it. Of course this is the Who we are talking about. The reason it works is because of two things that are currently lacking in pop music today…and pay attention kids these are important: good song writing….and TALENT. I would venture to say that The Who were one of the greatest and most influential bands of all time….not flashy or dramatic….just solid and hardworking.