Musical Mondays--Week 3--Tommy

[Cam Bert 8145]

Perhaps even more WTF than the Uncle Ernie scene is what Pete Townsend had to say about it.

 

 

"He gets everything in a very pure, filtered, unadulterated, unfucked-up manner. Like when his uncle rapes him – he is incredibly elated, not disgusted, at being homosexually raped. He takes it as a move of total affection, not feeling the reasons why. Lust is a lower form of love, like atomic attraction is a lower form of love. He gets an incredible spiritual push from it where most people would get a spiritual retardment, constantly thinking about this terrible thing that's happened to them.

"In Tommy's mind, everything is incredible, meaningless beauty."

 

[Cameron H. 23786]

Okay, quick question, beyond playing pinball without the use of your eyes and ears (and mouth apparently) what does everyone think Tommy's message was? Like, I get don't smoke, don't drink, and don't be "normal." What else? How is this helping anyone? It doesn't seem very comprehensive. I would like to see some literature...

[Cakebug Tranch 6873]

If anyone here has any familiarity with the stage production I have a question. I thought I saw it was nominated for best book, but the film is a straight up opera with no book. Does having this help flesh out the film at all? I thought one of the things that this film lacked was an ease of narrative. The beginning is great with the story being set up under the overture, then the first few numbers flow and tell a story. However, it's around the time of the Acid Queen number that for me anyway I felt the film started leaving out or skipping story elements.

 

Like we have Frank who is running a camp. Then after Tommy's grown up he now runs a strip club? Or was he just hanging out there. Tommy was working there, so if Frank doesn't work there is he there for Tommy? What happened to his camp? Is this what he does in the off months? In addition to all this I felt that Ann Margret's character felt guilty for causing her son's psychosomatic state, and Oliver Reed was resentful for him for this fact. I mean this makes sense as to why he seemingly doesn't care about Tommy's well being as he gets older. However, did Tommy's state lead to him giving up the camp or something? I just felt like there was a song or a brief bit of dialogue needed to cover this large leap in time and change in characters.

 

I'm not 100% certain, but (name drop) I worked on a Shakespeare production with the guy who won the Tony for adapting 'Tommy' on Broadway, Des McAnuff, years ago, and he talked about how he worked very closely with Townshend to translate the piece to the stage, where you don't have the benefit of smash cuts, video montage, green screen depictions of Tommy running on top of a stingray, things like that. By definition, a rock opera shouldn't have dialogue at all, but should be sung through (otherwise it's musical theatre), but I think for transitions they used a narrator to smooth the way between scenes. When they credit Townshend and McAnuff as writers of the 'book', that also includes the task of adapting the lyrics, shaping the scenes, structuring the overall look of the piece, not necessarily writing dialogue or material between songs. That's my understanding of the production, but I could be way off.

[Cakebug Tranch 6873]

Okay, quick question, beyond playing pinball without the use of your eyes and ears (and mouth apparently) what does everyone think Tommy's message was? Like, I get don't smoke, don't drink, and don't be "normal." What else? How is this helping anyone? It doesn't seem very comprehensive. I would like to see some literature...

You want literature? Here's some literature!

 

The Rock Opera Tommy by The Who Illustrates the Psychodynamics of Conversion Hysteria

 

by Jerome J. Tobacyk

 

 

 

I know this doesn't answer your question about what Tommy's deal is, but it's a start in terms of unnecessary academic takes on something that hasn't been designed to be thought about to this extent. I'll keep digging!

[Cakebug Tranch 6873]

And just to unnecessarily post for the third time in a row, but I'll say it because I just remembered:

 

One image that's stayed with me, that I really liked, was the heavy-handed but impactful image of the women working in the bomb-making factory, filling the bombs with ball-bearings that, we assume, after the war, will be used less for maiming soldiers on the battlefield and more for filling the need of the pinball industry. I liked that.

[tomspanks 9039]

Okay, quick question, beyond playing pinball without the use of your eyes and ears (and mouth apparently) what does everyone think Tommy's message was? Like, I get don't smoke, don't drink, and don't be "normal." What else? How is this helping anyone? It doesn't seem very comprehensive. I would like to see some literature...

 

You have to block out all external stimuli - and play pinball - to become "aware"? I don't fucking know. I guess it's not any sillier than some of the other religions.

[taylor anne photo 11311]

I think it just shows how dumb all these people are in this movie. It's not like he was really blind and deaf and was cured of some illness. He's basically telling everyone in those wheelchairs and anyone with illnesses flocking to him for help that they can just cure themselves. Or I guess they can be cured if their mother breaks a giant mirror and they throw a bunch of diamonds into the ocean? So these people are just throwing money at him for some false prophet motivational speaker shit and then get REALLY angry when it doesn't work for them. They really should have seen that coming all along.

[jarrycanada 2483]

Oh, fuck you, Townshend

 

Wasn't Pete Townshend at one point in trouble with the law for downloading child porn?

 

anyone remember that?

[Cakebug Tranch 6873]

In his defence, I'm pretty sure he was doing it while wearing a tin-foil hat.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/9572773/Pete-Townshend-I-paid-for-child-porn-to-prove-British-banks-were-channelling-sex-ring-cash.html

 

Also: he's the worst.

[Cameron H. 23786]

In his defence, I'm pretty sure he was doing it while wearing a tin-foil hat.

 

http://www.telegraph...-ring-cash.html

 

Also: he's the worst.

.

I had been mulling a theory around in my head regarding Tommy, but you know what, fuck Pete Townsend. It's not worth the effort.

[Cakebug Tranch 6873]

Hey, you know who's not the worst?

 

Cameron H.!

 

I'm just posting this publicly to express my appreciation for Cameron and the excellent feedback he's given me on the new play I'm writing. I've also thanked him by email, but I feel like I want the community to be aware that his generosity and support isn't limited to the forum. Thanks, Cameron H.!

 

[FisterRoboto 7499]

Hey, you know who's not the worst?

 

Cameron H.!

 

He's all right, I guess.

[taylor anne photo 11311]

He's all right, I guess.

Yeah don't tell him all of this, man, his ego is gonna get unbearable.

[Cameron H. 23786]

Hey, you know who's not the worst?

 

Cameron H.!

 

I'm just posting this publicly to express my appreciation for Cameron and the excellent feedback he's given me on the new play I'm writing. I've also thanked him by email, but I feel like I want the community to be aware that his generosity and support isn't limited to the forum. Thanks, Cameron H.!

 

 

My pleasure!

[Cameron H. 23786]

 

Yeah don't tell him all of this, man, his ego is gonna get unbearable.

 

Whatever, guys. Now to update my profile pic...

 

 

 

[jarrycanada 2483]

BAD TRIP MAN!!!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60uhqBV0w0c

 

 

new game, can you out fox me on finding the best music for tripping out on acid man?

 

My First card is with

 

I am really upset with you all that no ones take me up on the challenge! MAN.and I've got some good stuff if you know what I mean.. LOL HEHEHE

[jarrycanada 2483]

Could of won this on this song alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDSylTmM5HA

 

BTW That's randys dad from southpark.

[Cameron H. 23786]

I know we all hate Pete Townsend now, but I just wanted to post the trailer to Quadrophenia. Personally, I've always liked the songs on Quadrophenia more, and watching the trailer, it looks like the movie is more of a straight ahead Musical.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwp5Fu2KZsc

 

I'm not saying that we should do it (I'm not saying we shouldn't do it either) I just thought the juxtaposition of the two was pretty interesting.

[Cam Bert 8145]

 

I'm not 100% certain, but (name drop) I worked on a Shakespeare production with the guy who won the Tony for adapting 'Tommy' on Broadway, Des McAnuff, years ago, and he talked about how he worked very closely with Townshend to translate the piece to the stage, where you don't have the benefit of smash cuts, video montage, green screen depictions of Tommy running on top of a stingray, things like that. By definition, a rock opera shouldn't have dialogue at all, but should be sung through (otherwise it's musical theatre), but I think for transitions they used a narrator to smooth the way between scenes. When they credit Townshend and McAnuff as writers of the 'book', that also includes the task of adapting the lyrics, shaping the scenes, structuring the overall look of the piece, not necessarily writing dialogue or material between songs. That's my understanding of the production, but I could be way off.

Thanks for the insight on that. From what you and others have said plus what little I've read, it sounds like the stage version sounds like it could be a bit of an improvement.

[Cameron H. 23786]

 

Like we have Frank who is running a camp. Then after Tommy's grown up he now runs a strip club? Or was he just hanging out there. Tommy was working there, so if Frank doesn't work there is he there for Tommy? What happened to his camp? Is this what he does in the off months? In addition to all this I felt that Ann Margret's character felt guilty for causing her son's psychosomatic state, and Oliver Reed was resentful for him for this fact. I mean this makes sense as to why he seemingly doesn't care about Tommy's well being as he gets older. However, did Tommy's state lead to him giving up the camp or something? I just felt like there was a song or a brief bit of dialogue needed to cover this large leap in time and change in characters.

 

I could be wrong, but doesn't the camp get converted into Tommy's Happy Hippie Commune for the Morrally Corrupt? Also, I don't think either of them work at the strip club--although I wouldn't be at all surprised to discover that Frank was a frequent visitor. I think Frank brings him there to get his senses fucked back into him. He's just a skeevy dude with skeevy solutions to his problems resulting from his skeevy actions.

 

On another note, there was a shot of a sunrise in Highlander 2 and my mind immediately started singing, "Listening to you, I get the music..."

 

Thanks for sharing this with us, Tom...

[Cam Bert 8145]

I could be wrong, but doesn't the camp get converted into Tommy's Happy Hippie Commune for the Morrally Corrupt? Also, I don't think either of them work at the strip club--although I wouldn't be at all surprised to discover that Frank was a frequent visitor. I think Frank brings him there to get his senses fucked back into him. He's just a skeevy dude with skeevy solutions to his problems resulting from his skeevy actions.

 

On another note, there was a shot of a sunrise in Highlander 2 and my mind immediately started singing, "Listening to you, I get the music..."

 

Thanks for sharing this with us, Tom...

I'm pretty sure it is. Possibly also because budgetary reasons more so than story ones. I just assumed Tommy worked at the strip club as he was sitting in front of a table of magazines and somebody gave him a coin and took one. Which seems fine until you realize that Tommy wouldn't be able to hear if anyone took anything or left anything or see if this happened as well. Best he could do is feel around and notice there was one less copy of that magazine third in from the right. Even then he can't tell anybody.

 

Man it's been a rough week of movies but between Kurt Russel, Robert Daltrey and Christopher Lambert it's been an interesting one for hair.

[taylor anne photo 11311]

Also, I don't think either of them work at the strip club--although I wouldn't be at all surprised to discover that Frank was a frequent visitor. I think Frank brings him there to get his senses fucked back into him. He's just a skeevy dude with skeevy solutions to his problems resulting from his skeevy actions.

I think Frank brings him there when he visits it but it was the other dude who suggested they let Tina Turner have her way with Tommy. But Frank could still actually work there. He seemed to know the ends and outs of everything before they let Tommy get drugged and abused.

[Cakebug Tranch 6873]

I think Frank brings him there when he visits it but it was the other dude who suggested they let Tina Turner have her way with Tommy. But Frank could still actually work there. He seemed to know the ends and outs of everything before they let Tommy get drugged and abused.

I got the impression it was the brothel that Frank himself frequented as a client.

[taylor anne photo 11311]

I got the impression it was the brothel that Frank himself frequented as a client.

Wait was there a brothel and a strip club that I missed?

[Cakebug Tranch 6873]

Wait was there a brothel and a strip club that I missed?

Maybe I wasn't watching carefully enough but I figured that the 'strip club' was the old 'rite-of-passage' cliche of an older man taking a younger man to lose his virginity, but in this case he sent him in to the Acid Queen. I associated this with a brothel setting, but I was likely just not listening carefully. The impression I got was that this was a place that Frank felt comfortable, though, and he seemed like the kind of man who would have his home life and his brothel life in balance...