The Who Predicted ’21 Was ‘Going to Be a Good Year’

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Are flame throwing squirrel sightings far off?

For many of us, 2020 was the worst year of our lives. Many people tried to retain their sense of humor with predictions of the return of dinosaurs, the arrival of murder hornets, flame throwing squirrels, and other menaces. Though we think most of those are unlikely to happen, if 2020 taught us anything it’s that we can’t rule anything out.

We were hopeful about 2021. Part of the reason for our optimism was because Pete Townshend told us so in 1969 in The Who‘s rock opera, Tommy.

“Got a feeling ’21 is going to be a good year,” he wrote. Later, he added, “I had no reason to be over optimistic. But somehow when you smiled I could brave bad weather.”

Listen to the studio recording of “1921”

And one year later, from their legendary Isle of Wight festival performance

And many years later…

We remain hopeful for 2022.

We think you’ll agree… a return to pre-2020 days > flamethrowing squirrels.

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11 Comments so far

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  1. Greg Brodsky
    #1 Greg Brodsky 12 June, 2020, 20:01

    Thanks… yeah, as lifelong Who fans from when Tommy came out, we knew that. Trying to add a little levity to the situation.

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  2. Whofan.
    #2 Whofan. 12 June, 2020, 23:31

    I can sing those words with a fairly close melody after 30 years of not hearing it.

    Reply this comment
  3. Lieba
    #3 Lieba 13 June, 2020, 07:35

    Perspective man. 🙂

    Reply this comment
  4. eddie
    #4 eddie 20 July, 2020, 17:15

    Really? You’ve heard the Tommy album, wow thanks! What’s it like?

    Reply this comment
  5. Jim
    #5 Jim 10 August, 2020, 01:29

    No. Really?

    Reply this comment
  6. oddball
    #6 oddball 31 December, 2020, 23:50

    Yeah well back then there was NO BOOZE!

    Reply this comment
  7. lorrielee
    #7 lorrielee 1 January, 2021, 00:30

    No kidding! Still relevant!

    Reply this comment
  8. Jeffro
    #8 Jeffro 6 January, 2021, 00:53

    The character who expresses that sentiment is immediately murdered.

    Reply this comment
  9. eddie
    #9 eddie 15 January, 2021, 21:05

    People are so sensitive!

    Reply this comment
  10. Dave
    #10 Dave 23 December, 2021, 20:58

    I bet 2022 won’t be any better!

    Reply this comment
  11. jm
    #11 jm 27 December, 2021, 10:02

    Such a beautiful song for such an ugly year (2021)…

    Reply this comment

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