Review<Song>: Climbing the "Stairway To Heaven" with the Devil ?

Geezer: Stairway To Heaven (LB)

If there’s truly one song that can claim immortality, perhaps Stairway To Heaven is it. The 1974 megahit classic by Metal’s pioneer,  Led Zeppelin, in their best-selling album, Led Zeppelin IV, has not only capture the heart of the fans, but

 

Symbol on album that some believe to be blessed by witches so that the album will become successful.

also the mind of the imagination. For this song that is sang by the charismatic Robert Plant with amazing guitar play by Jimmy Page continue to shroud in controversy and urban legend over the use of blackmasking and satanic reference.

 

 

In the 1970s, RockNRoll is commonly associated with sex, drug and the occult . Not only the lifestyle lead by those rockstar exemplify it, even the their song make explicit reference in lyrics and title.

As such, they create a heavy influence over the next generation of musicians who follow in their footstep and exhibit more wilder and bolder act (etc biting pigean’s head off, cutting themselves on stage, playing with occult, voodoo on stages )And sure, occult is also see as a great marketing ploy as effectively used by Iron Maiden, Dio, Black Sabbath.

And so, what has make Stairway To Heaven so appealing ? For one, the song successfully combine folk and metal music perfectly, match by the magnetic attractive voice of Robert Plant . 

The spectacular Robert Plant is still very much a crowd-puller

 

Secondly, the song seem to hold ‘mystical and supernatural’ power who drawn many to listen to it over and over again. It reminds me of the story of Pied Piper of Hamelin (To know more, read Bonus section), where the Piper is able to entice the rat and children to follow him whenever he play the music (Lyrics contains ref The piper’s calling you to join him). That’s what I feel exactly when I listen to this magnetic song over and over again. One can’t help but just fall for the song somehow.

Jimmy Page, still the best there was and best there is

Indeed, there may be some truth in it. Jimmy Page, the guitar, is known to be dabbling with occult, and fascinated by the dark art. This give rise to the speculation that the song is inspired by the devil and thus hold a unexplainable power to those who listen to it. The mood of the song quite reflect the void and emptyiness of a desperate person.

Beside, many try to decipher the ominious message when the song is play backward as they believe that the song is backmasked with voice of the devil . Unfortunately, that’s hard to verify since the person may try to make up the word from incomprehensive ‘noise’ with a particular intention in mind. So, any song that play back could possibly be backmasked in that regard.

Still, the song continue to intrigue and fascinate the old and new listener alike just like it ‘magically’ did in the old days.

Over the years, there are many singers who sing this song, but none really hit it nicely as Robert Plant as the song is really made for him and to him only. He’s still set the benchmark above all who sing the song .

 

Concert version of Stairway To Heaven in 1970s

One can see the perfect chemistry between Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Robert Plant really has a sexy voice, movement and figure in 1970s  (that I thought more like sissy) in those day.

 

Performing the song unplugged in Japan TV station !

The dynamic duo perform the abridged version . One can see that Robert Plant is more vocal and extroverted while Jimmy Page tend to be reserved and introverted. Nevertheless, these pair do have great chemistry and respect for each other, and their characteristic complement each other perfectly. Robert’s voice still remain as appealing as ever.

 

Jimmy Page playing solo in 1983 (Instrumental only)

 

Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin

There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold
And she’s buying a stairway to heaven
And when she gets there she knows if the stores are closed
With a word she can get what she came for

Woe oh oh oh oh oh
And she’s buying a stairway to heaven

There’s a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure
And you know sometimes words have two meanings
In a tree by the brook there’s a songbird who sings
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven

Woe oh oh oh oh oh
And she’s buying a stairway to heaven

There’s a feeling I get when I look to the west
And my spirit is crying for leaving
In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees
And the voices of those who stand looking

Woe oh oh oh oh oh
And she’s buying a stairway to heaven

And it’s whispered that soon, if we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long
And the forest will echo with laughter

And it makes me wonder

If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow
Don’t be alarmed now
It’s just a spring clean for the May Queen

Yes there are two paths you can go by
but in the long run
There’s still time to change the road you’re on

Your head is humming and it won’t go in case you don’t know
The piper’s calling you to join him
Dear lady can’t you hear the wind blow and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind

And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll
Woe oh oh oh oh oh
And she’s buying a stairway to heaven

There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold
And she’s buying a stairway to heaven
And when she gets there she knows if the stores are closed
With a word she can get what she came for

And she’s buying a stairway to heaven, uh uh uh.

 

Lackadaisical Performance

Led Zeppelin performed the song in Live Aid in 1985 and that Led Zeppelin was so disappointed with this performance that the group didn’t want to mention about it anymore.

 

Satanic message when play backward ?

Well, you’ll be the judge !

 

Led Zeppelin in RockNRoll hall of fame speech

In January 12, 1995: Led Zeppelin is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and having the stage with AeroSmith.

 

The Return of Led Zeppelin 2007 

On December 10 2007, Led Zeppelin returned for a splendid reunion concert with the original members since the last official concert 27 years ago ! The band hasn’t performed together since the death of its drummer, John Bonham, in 1980. There is yet a official video from the concert. So the following two performances on Stairway On Heaven were taken by the spectators. From the video, it shown that the group still able to captivate the audience though they were less energetic due to their age (they are over sixty years of age !) See for yourself whether Led Zeppelin still have the X-Factor… View #1 View #2 View #3 View #4 Performing other songs

 

Bonus

From childhood, we are told about the story about Pied Piper of Hamelin who is paid to use his flute skill to lure the town rat into the river, but later led the children of the town into a never-known land after denial of payment. But do you know that this fascinating incident do really happened in the historical town of Hamelin in Germany ?

You could read more from On the trail of the real Pied Piper to find out the event and politic surrounding the mysterious figure of Pied Piper. The following portion from the article is extracted.

The tale of the piper has drawn tourists to Hamelin for more than 300 years, but the story actually dates back to 1284. According to an eye-witness account, recorded in Latin at the time, it was the 26 June when “130 children were taken from the town by a piper dressed in many colours“.

This story is also written on the wall of Pied Piper House in Bungelosenstrasse (drumless street) – the street where the children were last seen and where, to this day, no music can be played out of respect for the lost children.

So, it seems there is firm historical basis for the piper. But what about the rats?

Modern Hamelin is full of rats – from pretzel-rats and chocolate rats, to the rats painted on the cobbles that guide tourists in the footsteps of the piper.
…his story is still told today…

But this part of the story was actually added in the 16th century. And it was around that time that the “bunting” or “colourful” piper became known as the “Rattenfaenger” – the Ratcatcher.

Michael Boyer believes the name change happened for a reason.

“The entire business of the rats could be an attempt to wash out the bad memories,” he says. “It could be a cover-up, to draw attention away from the business of the children and make it all so sugar-coated and so mysterious.”

The rats may be a red herring, but in the medieval mill-town of Hamelin they were certainly a problem. And not the only one. In 1284 at least 90% of the population of this busy town were living in extreme poverty, starving and struggling to feed their families.