Be Lucky

Album: The Who Hits 50! (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Who's first original song since the release of their 2006 comeback album Endless Wire, this was included on the 2014 compilation, The Who Hits 50!

    Recorded at British Grove and Yellow Fish Studios, the song features longtime collaborators Zak Starkey on drums and Pino Palladino on bass with the keyboards being provided by ex-Style Council and Dexys Midnight Runners sideman Mick Talbot.
  • The song was produced by Dave Eringa, who is best known for his work with the Manic Street Preachers and Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey.
  • This ode to making your own success cites both AC/DC ("If you want to want to sell, you've got to kiss and tell, and you've got to do a cover of 'Highway To Hell'") and Daft Punk ("You want to climb without a safety line, Daft Punk will tell you that it's gonna be fine"). Note the robot style Auto-Tune effect that is used after the line about the French duo.

    Daft Punk had a smash hit in 2013 with the similarly titled "Get Lucky."
  • The Who donated all their royalties from the song to Teen Cancer America, a charity founded in 2011 by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Matt Sorum

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."

How The Beatles Crafted Killer Choruses

How The Beatles Crafted Killer ChorusesSong Writing

The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"They're Playing My Song

As a songwriter and producer, Narada had hits with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Starship. But what song does he feel had the greatest impact on his career?

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."