The Who Dismiss One Direction Best Song Ever Issues
Friday, 16 August 2013
Written by Elliott Batte
The Who will not be pursuing action against One Direction over their track Best Song Ever, which is seen by some as being a take-off of Baba O’Riley.
After a Clickmusic review of Best Song Ever - which mentioned similarities between both tracks - One Direction's fanbase took to Twitter to start a #DontTouchBestSongEver’hashtag and it all got a bit out of hand, with claims that the Who would take legal action quickly circulating.
Now, the Who's Pete Townshend has rubbished the claims. He said in a statement:
“No! I like the single. I like One Direction. The chords I used and the chords they used are the same three chords we've all been using in basic pop music since Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran and Chuck Berry made it clear that fancy chords don't mean great music – not always. I'm still writing songs that sound like 'Baba O'Riley' – or I'm trying to!
“It's a part of my life and a part of pop's lineage. One Direction are in my business, with a million fans, and I'm happy to think they may have been influenced a little bit by The Who. I'm just relieved they're all not wearing boiler suits and Doc Martens, or Union Jack jackets. The funniest thing is that in Canada this year I met with Randy Bachman, once the leader of The Guess Who, who told me that he not only copied 'Baba O'Riley' for [Bachman-Turner Overdrive's] hit 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet', but he even called his band after us. Why would I not be happy about this kind of tribute?”
Best Song Ever is the lead single from One Direction’s forthcoming third studio album, and they tour UK stadiums in support of it next year. If you want One Direction tickets, check the dates and links below!
Sat May 24th 2014 - DUBLIN Croke Park Stadium
Sun May 25th 2014 - DUBLIN Croke Park Stadium
Wed May 28th 2014 - SUNDERLAND Stadium Of Light
Sat May 31st 2014 - MANCHESTER Etihad Stadium
Sun June 1st 2014 - MANCHESTER Etihad Stadium
Tue June 3rd 2014 - EDINBURGH Murrayfield Stadium
Sat June 7th 2014 - LONDON Wembley Stadium
Sun June 8th 2014 - LONDON Wembley Stadium
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