"I'm One" (Freaks and Geeks) - The Who

Has there ever been a more perfect marriage of song and visuals in TV history than Freaks and Geeks’ Bill Haverchuck’s latchkey kid and “I’m One” by The Who? I’ll go ahead and answer that. No, no there has not. If you grew up in the 80s, then this is like watching your childhood come to life. A time before helicopter or snowplow or work-from-home parents. It’s an unforgettably potent mix of joy and sadness and truth perfectly recreated and sublimlely resonant.

I could write 10,000 words going over every little perfect detail in the set design of this sequence. The Kraft singles in the fridge, the Entenmann’s cake, the Darth Vader collectors glass that I believe was only available from Burger King (we had the whole set). Dinah Shore and Garry Shandling on daytime TV. Then, of course there’s the combo of Martin Starr’s awesomely dorky performance and Judd Apatow’s (?) edits working in perfect synchronicity. The song’s slow acoustic intro and plaintive lyrics sung in Pete Townsend’s hangdog manner set the perfect tenor and build up to a wonderful crescendo of laughter and loneliness. The sum here, is greater than the parts.

Listen, I know that this is a song recommendation newsletter, but sometimes the better version of said song exists outside our earbuds. “I’m One” on it’s own is good and you can listen to it just fine on its own. Freaks and Geeks soundtracking “I’m One” elevates the song and improves the listening experience. Watching it play out adds layers of depth and emotion that you wouldn’t find in any other scenario. It’s also just one of many majestic music cues embedded throughout Freaks and Geeks’ short run (I’m looking at you, “Tom Sawyer” by Rush). If you haven’t watched the show, I highly recommend it, you can eat a grilled cheese sandwich while you do.

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Class of ‘90 rulez.