So Sad About Us
| "So Sad About Us" | |
|---|---|
| Song by The Who | |
| from the album A Quick One | |
| Released | December 9, 1966 |
| Recorded | October 1966 at IBC Studios, London, UK |
| Genre | Power pop, garage rock[1] |
| Length | 3:09 |
| Label | Reaction Records |
| Songwriter(s) | Pete Townshend |
| Producer(s) | Kit Lambert |
"So Sad About Us" is a 1966 song by British rock band The Who, first released on the band's second album A Quick One. Originally written for The Merseys, "So Sad About Us" has likely been covered more frequently than any other song on the album; according to AllMusic, it is "one of the Who's most covered songs".[1] Shaun Cassidy, Primal Scream, The Breeders, and most notably The Jam and Dexter Romweber Duo (with backup vocal by Mary Huff of Southern Culture on the Skids) are among the many artists who have recorded studio versions of the song.
The Who FAQ author Mike Segretto describes "So Sad About Us" as "an unusually mature, bittersweet farewell for a sixties pop group."[2] Instead of criticizing the girl he is breaking up with, the singer admits that he will always love her while acknowledging that their relationship can't last.[2]
Beyond the sheer number of covers, it is also one of The Who's most frequently imitated songs. As the aforementioned AMG put it, it is "an archetypal early Who song" and "hundreds of bands have based their entire careers on this one song". With its ringing guitars, Beach Boys-styled harmonies, crashing drums, and lovelorn lyrics, it is one of the early forebears of the power pop genre, along with other early Who staples such as "I Can't Explain" and "The Kids Are Alright".
Personnel
- Roger Daltrey – lead vocals
- Pete Townshend – guitar, backing vocals
- John Entwistle – bass, backing vocals
- Keith Moon – drums
Notes
- ^ a b Mason, Stewart. "So Sad About Us – Song Review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ a b Segretto, Mike (2014). The Who FAQ. Backbeat. ISBN 9781480392533.
