The Who is a British rock band made up of Pete Townshend, Rodger Daltrey, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon. They endured a lot of success in the 60s and 70s and are known for their unruly behavior and high energy. A majority of their songs focus on teenage struggles through rhythm and blues, and rock operas. The Who was notorious for their unique work with synthesizers, feedback, and other noises. Baba O’Riley was originally meant to be a part of guitarist-songwriter Pete Townshend’s rock opera called Lifehouse. It was a screenplay that takes place in Scotland in the future; however, the idea was abandoned, and as a result, several songs from the project were included on The Who’s album, ‘Who’s Next.’
Baba O’Riley experiments with multiple sounds, including synthesizers, organs, and keyboards, to create “the electronic music of the future.” The song aims to capture the essence of the spiritual guru Meher Baba and the experimental tactic of composer Terry Riley. At the beginning of the song, there is a pattern of notes played on the organ. This intro is synthesized in a way that makes it sound futuristic and digital-based, achieving Townshend’s goal. This repeated pattern continues throughout most of the song; however, a piano, guitar, and drums are later added into the mix, keeping the typical ‘Who’ sound incorporated into the electronic theme. Once Roger Daltrey starts singing, you can hear an echo that follows after each word, adding ambiance and reflection to the song. In the outro of the song, there is a violin solo, suggested by Keith Moon, that aims to tie in the Scottish background of the opera. The jig also incorporates an Indian-like style in tribute to Meher Baba.