"I'm One"
Song by The Who
from the album Quadrophenia
Released1973
Genre
Length2:37
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)Pete Townshend

"I'm One" is a song by The Who. It was released on the group's 1973 rock opera album Quadrophenia. Written and sung by Pete Townshend, the song has since become a fan favorite.[2]

Background

"I'm One" is one of the main moments of introspection spread throughout the narrative and also an indication that Jimmy, the main character of the album's story, may not be as Mod as he would wish to appear, given the way he asks a fellow Mod where he got his clothes (Mods would lose face asking another Mod where he obtained his clothes from). Pete Townshend said of the song's lyrical inspiration:

When I was a nipper I felt that the guitar was all I had. I wasn't tough enough to be in a gang, I wasn't good-looking enough to be in with the birds, not clever enough to make it at school, not good enough on my feet to be good football player. I was a fucking loser. I think everyone feels that way at some point. And somehow being a Mod - even though I was too old to be a Mod really - I wrote this song with that in mind. Jimmy, the hero of the story, is thinking he hasn't got much going for him but at least he's one.[3]

The song features an acoustic opening followed by the rest of the band (excluding singer Roger Daltrey) joining in.

"I'm One" was one of the ten original Quadrophenia tracks to appear in remixed form on the soundtrack to the Who's 1979 film Quadrophenia, which was based on the original rock opera. This version of the song also saw single release as the B-side to the 1979 remixed single release of "5.15."

The song is featured on the soundtrack for Freaks and Geeks in the episode "Dead Dogs and Gym Teachers", which featured many of the Who's songs.

Live performances

This song was performed first on the band's original 1973-1974 Quadrophenia Tour, but it was never performed with Moon again afterwards. It made sporadic appearances in the 1981 (only once), 1982 (only the first verse; as an intro to "The Punk and the Godfather") and 1989 tours as well. It was then brought back for every concert on the 1996-1997 Quadrophenia Tour. Performances after that, from 2000 onward, were often performed by Pete Townshend alone on stage (although some feature the full band).

Appearances

The following Who albums and DVDs feature "I'm One":

Personnel

The song is featured in the Freaks and Geeks episode "Dead Dogs and Gym Teachers", in a montage where Bill Haverchuck eats and watches TV after school.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Maginnis, Tom. "I'm One by The Who - Track Info | AllMusic". allmusic. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  2. ↑ Grantley, Steve; Parker, Alan. The Who by Numbers: The Story of the Who Through Their Music. Helter Skelter. pp. 105–114.
  3. ↑ Cady, Brian. "'Quadrophenia' liner notes". The Hypertext Who. Archived from the original on 2010-07-02.
  4. ↑ Murthi, Vikram (April 13, 2016). "Freaks And Geeks captures its humanist heart in only 90 seconds". AV Club. Retrieved August 30, 2021. But as The Who's "I'm One" picks up and Bill's laughter becomes more dynamic (achieved by Apatow and a writer shouting dirty jokes at Starr until he cracked up), Apatow shoots Bill from more intimate, direct angles, highlighting the food in his mouth and his big smile, creating the illusion that Shandling is performing just for him, which both is and isn't true.
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