Baba O' Riley Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lifehouse

"Lifehouse" was another rock opera idea, but was abandoned by Pete Townshend. Many of the songs off of the failed opera were used for "Who's Next". "Baba O Riley", on most versions of the album, is the starting track for "Who's Next", released in 1971.

Answer: It was one of the first songs for a synthesizer to be used as the rhythm of the song.

Much more contributed to the uniqueness of "Baba O' Riley", but the synthesizers opened up a whole new door for rock. Townshend's genuis is shown with the new ways of using a very underrated machine and instrument. And not just new, pretty effective also. Townshend later incorporated synthesizers to songs such as "Bargain" (also on "Who's Next") and "Sister Disco" (off of "Who Are You" released in 1978).

Answer: Sally

Another reference to the abandoned "Lifehouse" project, Sally was the name of the farmer's wife. Most people thought that Townshend was writing about a girl he knew or someone he fell in love with, but we know the real truth now.

"The exodus is here
The happy ones are near
Let's get together
Before we get much older"

This stanza comes after the one in the question.

Answer: Ray

If the "Lifehouse" idea was never abandoned, then "Baba O Riley" would have started off the film when the farmer Ray and his family start their travel to London, most likely in search for a new life. "Goin' Mobile" was another song intended to be about Ray and his family traveling.

Answer: "Don't cry; Don't raise your eye"

This is perhaps my favorite part of the whole song, especially the part where Moon just breaks into one of his drum solos after Townshend sings these lyrics. In concert, it is traditonal for the audience to sing along with Townshend during this part of "Baba O' Riley".

Answer: back into my living

This stanza opens up the song "Baba O Riley". Following after this stanza, Daltrey sings another one for more emotion into it, giving a feeling that he is very mad at the situtation he is in now (some could guess life is not going great for him). Daltrey's vocals are incredible in this song, in my opinion.

"I don't need to fight
To prove I'm right
I don't need to be forgiven
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah"

This is the stanza that follows the one in the question.

Answer: Nine minutes

Townshend cut it down from a nine minute and fourty-eight second song to a five minute and one second masterpiece (most of the versions of the song are five minutes and one second, except for the 1995 re-mastered version of "Baba O Riley", that has six additional seconds in the beginning).

Answer: Keith Moon

Dave Arbus came in to play the violin jig towards the end of the song. Moon came up with the idea and even produced the part of the violin, according to the liner notes on the CD of "Who's Next". In concert, the violin was replaced with a harmonica (played by Roger Daltrey).

Answer: I Am

The album "I Am" was released in 1972, composed of Townshend and his friends. Other albums dedicated to Baba include "Happy Birthday", "With Love", and "Avatar".

Answer: Join Together

In total, the song has appeared on seven live albums. "Baba O Riley" has been very culturally significant to rockers and many more, its uses of unique instruments such as synthesizers and violins make the music one of a kind. The song was deemed one of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll", a list made by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Muesum. Thanks for playing my quiz!