You Better You Bet

"You Better You Bet" was written by Pete Townshend as a love song for his girlfriend at the time: I developed ['You Better You Bet'] over several weeks of clubbing and partying. I had gone through a lean period in my marriage and was seeing the daughter of a friend of mine. I wanted it to be a good song because the girl I wrote it for is one of the best people on the planet. Townshend also commented: You Better You Bet' was a very spontaneous lyric. A fairly spontaneous, peppy song; it's a pop song, really, it's just a pop song." Roger Daltrey praised the song's vocal melody, comparing it to Elvis Presley: "A wonderful, wonderful song. The way the vocal bounces, it always reminds me of Elvis." Daltrey also noted: "'You Better You Bet' is still one of my favourite songs of all." The song references the rock band T. Rex, as well as the group's own studio album ''Who's Next (1971), with the line: "I drunk myself blind to the sound of old T. Rex... and Who's Next''." The synthesizer riff is performed on a Yamaha E70 home organ. Townshend's guitar part is performed on a Rickenbacker 360/12. == Release ==

"You Better You Bet" was released as the first single from Face Dances in February 1981, backed with the John Entwistle-penned "The Quiet One". The single peaked at number 9 in the UK; in the US, it reached number 18. The single's relative underperformance is thought to have been because Warner Bros. Records had decided to boycott independent promoters in America, which resulted in less airplay for the track. == Critical reception ==

"You Better You Bet" has seen positive critical reception since its release. Record World said that "flashy electronic keyboards usher in Roger Daltrey's souped up pop vocal." Rolling Stone ranked the song as the band's 32nd-best, stating, "Tough and to the point, 'You Better You Bet' reflects the way Townshend's enthusiasm for punk rock was tightening his songwriting. Addressed to his new girlfriend, it also hits a note of sly nostalgia when Daltrey sings about getting drunk "to the sound of old T. Rex. == Music video ==

A music video for the song was produced in black and white, featuring the band and keyboardist John Bundrick playing onstage. Upon the launch of MTV on 1 August 1981, it was the fourth video played; it was also the 55th, 98th, 141st, and 191st video to be aired, becoming the first video seen multiple times on the channel. == Personnel ==

The Who • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals • Pete Townshend – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals • John Entwistle – bass, backing vocals • Kenney Jones – drums Additional musicians • John "Rabbit" Bundrick – keyboards == Charts ==

Weekly charts Year-end charts == See also ==