Led Zeppelin, Stairway to Heaven - A Classical Musician’s First Listen, Reaction, and Study

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  • Опубликовано: 3 янв 2025

Комментарии • 3 тыс.

  • @keymack2477
    @keymack2477 2 года назад +625

    School is in! Thank you Amy for another fascinating glimpse into how this song has been put together! I always feel much smarter after enjoying one of your music reactions and I look forward to whatever direction you take next! Thank you for your insightful reaction!!

    • @spoonunit03
      @spoonunit03 2 года назад +31

      ...and so say all of us.👍

    • @atomicwedgie8176
      @atomicwedgie8176 2 года назад +9

      In this song, the Pied Piper is Satan. Page, was deep into the occult and Crawley(Satan worshipper). Plant, is telling the listeners that you can lead a bad life, if you choose, "there's still time to change the road you're on".

    • @MsAppassionata
      @MsAppassionata 2 года назад +11

      @@atomicwedgie8176 Who told you that the Pied Piper was supposed to represent Satan? I’ve never seen Page mention that anywhere.

    • @atomicwedgie8176
      @atomicwedgie8176 2 года назад +4

      @@MsAppassionata Why would he admit it? Album sales would go way down. Page bought the home of Allister Crowley, which was a church that caught fire and burned down with the congregation still inside! Crowley was called the most evil man whoever lived and Page was a devout follower.

    • @josephwright6154
      @josephwright6154 2 года назад +3

      @@atomicwedgie8176 you mean crowley

  • @user-ch5qd3uz3l
    @user-ch5qd3uz3l 2 года назад +1322

    "i'm beginning to realize that a lot of rock songs have this guitar solo moment" is the most precious thing I have ever heard

    • @PlymouthT20
      @PlymouthT20 2 года назад +19

      Please have a listen to Rainbow - especially the first 3 albums.

    • @chevronred
      @chevronred 2 года назад +107

      Isn't it?! It's like someone trying dessert for the first time and saying "I'm beginning to realize that a lot of cupcakes have this frosting part"
      It's like... YES! THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST PARTS! ISN'T IT WONDERFUL!??

    • @SecretSpots
      @SecretSpots 2 года назад +32

      What a glorious moment!

    • @riukrobu
      @riukrobu 2 года назад +20

      I really loved that!

    • @rubenvalencia7959
      @rubenvalencia7959 2 года назад +24

      yes indeed, my heart melted after hearing that one! Great commentary, on a great musical masterpiece. I'm now a subscriber!

  • @UriahBennett
    @UriahBennett Год назад +416

    This woman is an absolute treasure she must be protected at all cost.

    • @nigel900
      @nigel900 Год назад +1

      She really should gut out of her protective cocoon and listen to what’s been playing for more than 50 DAMN YEARS! For the love of God… she’s a “music teacher!” Pitiful…

    • @simoneric8183
      @simoneric8183 Год назад +10

      Absolutely.

    • @georgewachsmuth9201
      @georgewachsmuth9201 Год назад +4

      I totally agree!

    • @Davelakful
      @Davelakful Год назад +1

      Agree

    • @alonenjersey
      @alonenjersey 9 месяцев назад +7

      You got that right. A damn shame I didn't have someone exactly like her when I suffered through music class in my final year of Jr. High.

  • @palorius
    @palorius Год назад +144

    "There was no shock of the transition because it happened so smoothly up to that point ... that when it came it belonged, but at the same time it was unexpected. "- What wonderful praise from one professional to another and only another musician could express it so eloquently.

    • @traveltrailer7018
      @traveltrailer7018 Год назад +6

      As some one who has listened to this song since the 70’s, the entry of the electric guitar triggers a nostalgia that I cannot explain.

  • @davidhanson8681
    @davidhanson8681 2 года назад +135

    This is a song most rock fans have overheard to the point of not hearing at all. You brought it to life again for me.

    • @gordonthomas4292
      @gordonthomas4292 Год назад +6

      I too have heard it many, many times. But the 1st few notes of Jimmy Pages' lead riff still put the hairs up on my neck

  • @incamoran9532
    @incamoran9532 Год назад +46

    Listening to Stairway to Heaven during a thunderstorm is an old rocker's idea of bliss.

  • @contucker9413
    @contucker9413 Год назад +137

    How fortunate that these four musical geniuses were not only born as contemporaries but also that they found each other.

    • @midi510
      @midi510 Год назад +5

      I consider it one of God's gifts to us. I consider music on the whole as a gift of God to me/us. I don't think I would have survived past my teenage years without music.

    • @guzmanbriozzo3178
      @guzmanbriozzo3178 Год назад +1

      Si, responde a un momento histórico y un entorno que lo fomentó, por eso hoy en día es más difícil que se dé, por lo menos a ese nivel.

    • @musicforge14
      @musicforge14 Год назад

      Get lost conman Tucker Carlson!

    • @simoneric8183
      @simoneric8183 Год назад +1

      What a better definition of the miraclulous existence of Led Zep music than the one you just gave us !

    • @simoneric8183
      @simoneric8183 Год назад +1

      It makes me feel like wanting to do some research on this topic.

  • @Brian-wq3qh
    @Brian-wq3qh 2 года назад +140

    One thing I've noticed with reaction/analysis of Led Zeppelin music is that very few reviewers mention the drumming of John Bonham. His drumming is used as an actual instrument not just as a means of keeping the rhythm.
    He is, in my humble opinion, the greatest rock drummer of all time if not greatest in any style.

    • @22nola
      @22nola Год назад +10

      My thoughts as well. Bonham’s drums drive most of their work and adds so much depth and interest.

    • @peterolbrisch8970
      @peterolbrisch8970 Год назад +3

      Ok, but does that really matter anymore how he is rated.

    • @Trippin369
      @Trippin369 Год назад +9

      Drummers are almost always unseen. Despite the incredible gifts they are blessed with.

    • @louierivera7512
      @louierivera7512 Год назад +7

      Agreed 100%

    • @annika8207
      @annika8207 Год назад

      @@Trippin369Agree completely! Have since the pandemic starting to listen to the dums more specific! ”Discovered” so far:
      * Michael Shrieve (Santana)
      * Per Lindvall (ABBA, A-ha)
      * Ola Brunkert (ABBA, etc)
      * Jeff Procario (TOTO)
      * Micky Dee (Motörhead)
      * Dennis Byron (BeeGees)
      * John JR Robinson (Lionel Richie, David Lee Roth, Michel Jackson, We are the world
      * John (Bonzo) Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
      * Billy Cobham (jazz)
      * Mel Gaynor (Simple Minds)
      * Buddy Rich (jazz/storband)
      * Eric Carr (Kizz)
      * Albert (Al) Jackson Jr (BookerT MGs, Stax)
      * Larry Mullen (U2)
      * Roger Taylor (Queen)
      * Laust Sonne (D.A.D.)
      * Brian Tichy (Billy Idol, mm)
      * Senri Kawaguchi (young Japaneese)
      And I’m keep looking!😉

  • @00wn
    @00wn 2 года назад +578

    OK...that was the best analysis of this song I have ever been lucky enough to witness.
    Two thoughts ~
    #1 - Amy Shafer is the only person on planet Earth, who has permission to pause a guitar solo.
    # 2 - When Virgin Rock hits 10,000 subscribers, Amy Shafer must play Stairway To Heaven on the harp in its entirety.
    Brilliant, Amy...absolutely brilliant!!

    • @richardj9016
      @richardj9016 2 года назад +42

      Oh, number 1 is hard to agree to, but number 2 makes it an overall Yes

    • @VirginRock
      @VirginRock  2 года назад +250

      1. Why thank you for the absolution of my sins! Lol. (But really, I think I’ll eventually get to the point that I can find better places to pause and still be able to express myself, but not cause such pain and agony.)
      2. I’ll think about it!

    • @00wn
      @00wn 2 года назад +18

      @@VirginRock 😀

    • @MarcelVolker
      @MarcelVolker 2 года назад +31

      I think it's safe to say that 10k subscribers is going to happen very very soon 😊

    • @ssm445
      @ssm445 2 года назад +52

      If Amy goes for "Comfortably numb" and interrupts the solos, I 'd be genuinely angry though 😄

  • @TheEsteban1979
    @TheEsteban1979 Год назад +39

    This woman is magical. I could listen to her for hours. God blessed her with amazing skills.

  • @kylben
    @kylben 2 года назад +92

    I love the thunder coming through your mic. Even the sky can't help rocking out to Led Zeppelin.

    • @DavidAntrobus
      @DavidAntrobus 2 года назад +14

      I like to think that was Bonzo reminding us he existed, as if we need reminding.

  • @Scoobydcs
    @Scoobydcs 2 года назад +231

    Page plays guitar like it's a voice talking to you. Robert uses his voice like and instrument. The combination is sublime

    • @PhilPage227
      @PhilPage227 2 года назад +7

      Very well put my friend.

    • @Daniel-Strain
      @Daniel-Strain 2 года назад +12

      Yes! I've always thought that the call and response of the two guitars from 12:15 to 12:35 (of this video) sounded like two people having a conversation or debate over the paths of virtue and vice, with each argument being answered by the one trying to convince his friend that "there is still time to change the road you're on".

    • @dianecourtney2724
      @dianecourtney2724 Год назад +4

      Great comment

    • @ronaldchives2486
      @ronaldchives2486 4 месяца назад

      Spirit

    • @lisapriebe7729
      @lisapriebe7729 7 дней назад

      THIS.

  • @robertfmorton
    @robertfmorton Год назад +50

    Amy. Please! Don't ever change the way you present your analysis videos. As a 75 year old who grew up with the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and the rest, you explain why I was hooked from the start. You always entertain AND inform. I learn SO much. From this retired teacher, you are the best! (P.S., I would love you to look at Pink Floyd's 'Animals' album. My favorite).

  • @nickmcginley4570
    @nickmcginley4570 2 года назад +95

    I have been listening to this song for about 50 years, and I still listen very carefully every time I hear it, and always discover some new emotional content each time.

    • @realnewswithleeleffingwell9475
      @realnewswithleeleffingwell9475 2 года назад +5

      100%!!!

    • @artistjoh
      @artistjoh 2 года назад +2

      I'm with you on that journey. I bought IV the day it hit the stores.

    • @jeffburkholder202
      @jeffburkholder202 Год назад +2

      When the song first came out. As it was played over-and-over on FM radio. I was so bored with it then because it was played so much. Now nearly 50 yrs later I now do love it.

  • @justmeonly986
    @justmeonly986 5 месяцев назад +10

    Watching you is like watching our child's 1st trip to the candy store. We relive our love for this music that we grew up with and which shaped our lives, through you.

  • @charlesblakely1634
    @charlesblakely1634 Год назад +35

    I just discovered Virgin Rock and I'm entranced by Amy's spirit, her intelligence, her passion, and on and on...This is some of the best stuff I've discovered on RUclips. Keep it up, Amy!

  • @dondebomm6329
    @dondebomm6329 2 года назад +278

    One can not dismiss the musical influence of John Paul Jones on all Zeppelin's songs.

    • @michaelheller8841
      @michaelheller8841 2 года назад +20

      JPJ and Bonham were the backbone of Led Zep no doubt. There Rhythms put a charge to their music.
      Not to take away anything Plant and Page did, they did a little too lol.

    • @zeppelinfan9360
      @zeppelinfan9360 2 года назад +35

      @@michaelheller8841 Zeppelin doesn't work if you remove "ANY" of the four!
      I hope there's clarification 😁
      🎸☮️💕

    • @michaelheller8841
      @michaelheller8841 2 года назад +14

      @@zeppelinfan9360 I was being sarcastic lol. Most people talk about Plant and Page. In some cases John Bingham being the best drummer. A lot of people don’t talk about JPJ. It is true all 4 made the magic.

    • @michaelheller8841
      @michaelheller8841 2 года назад +5

      Bonham meant, freaking typo

    • @josephlinnell9855
      @josephlinnell9855 2 года назад

      JPJ. THE SILENT ASSASSIN

  • @scottanderson7412
    @scottanderson7412 2 года назад +148

    I lost a lady friend in 2001 or so, and I was a truck driver at the time when I got to my truck and started the truck, and made my safety check then got back in the truck, exactly when I shut the door to start driving Stairway to Heaven came on the radio, and I started balling my eyes out because I just found out a few hours prior that she past away, and from that moment on I have dedicated that song to her. Her name was Donna Webb, and she died at 48 to do being a heavy drinker, and smoker, and I really enjoyed listening to you going through and explaining the song in more detail. I'm a new subscriber to you, and this is my 3rd time watching you do a reaction, and you have done all of them very nicely. I'm glad I have come across your channel. Thanks again for doing what you do beautiful one.

  • @Tranderson02
    @Tranderson02 Год назад +27

    Come for the reaction, stay for the education! You are a gem.

  •  2 года назад +120

    I love when people like you are using the internet right: sharing and transmitting Culture and knowledge. The web is worth it thanks to you!
    One of my favorite compositors is also using repetition to build different tensions, E. Grieg with "In the lair of the mountain king" or "Ase's death" in the Peer Gynt suite.

  • @infodotwtf
    @infodotwtf 2 года назад +68

    This should be a show on PBS. I dig it.

  • @davidsender7479
    @davidsender7479 Год назад +19

    Has anyone else noticed the live thunder outside during this... It's makes it absolutely magical !

  • @elizabetholiviaclark
    @elizabetholiviaclark 2 года назад +63

    I'd never heard rock music critiqued quite like this, and now I have a new way of thinking about Stairway to Heaven. Thank you for the research and preparation.

  • @frankolivito9242
    @frankolivito9242 Год назад +6

    thank you!you picked up on their Celtic and old English feels in their songs ,number 1 rock song of all time!!!

  • @fidobite3798
    @fidobite3798 Год назад +55

    You really have to wonder what planet this nice lady grew up on! It's fascinating to see and hear her reaction to perhaps the best known rock recording in 50+ years and she seems to have never before heard it!

    • @ItIsRan
      @ItIsRan Год назад +4

      I suppose she's not a rock fan, i bet she knows it exists and have listened to a glimpse of it before but never listened to it in it's whole

    • @adamw13
      @adamw13 Год назад +3

      She did say that it's so iconic, even she heard of it, but never listened

    • @bohbro
      @bohbro Год назад +9

      There is also quite a lot of iconic non rock music that a lot of zep fans have never listened to.

    • @MattiasHedlund-s6r
      @MattiasHedlund-s6r Год назад +1

      Wow 😂 musician? Is she? ....

    • @thomascordery7951
      @thomascordery7951 Год назад +2

      ​@@MattiasHedlund-s6r Very much so.

  • @davidcardoso3525
    @davidcardoso3525 2 года назад +317

    My Mother was a Classically trained musician who had little, if any, time in her life for rock music. I talked her into listening to Stairway & her immediate comment was that it had a "wonderful shape".

    • @ruraljuror1734
      @ruraljuror1734 2 года назад +20

      That’s utterly beautiful! 💜

    • @davidellinsworth22
      @davidellinsworth22 2 года назад +13

      I'd have paid good money to see her reaction

    • @blackbob3358
      @blackbob3358 2 года назад +1

      Was she just patronising you, mr Cardoso, or what ? ( or just her way of telling you to shut up ! )

    • @davidellinsworth22
      @davidellinsworth22 2 года назад +23

      @@blackbob3358 any need for that comment?

    • @ryanbotha9775
      @ryanbotha9775 2 года назад

      Poor stunted creature she must have been..

  • @tubewayarmy2
    @tubewayarmy2 2 года назад +40

    Your musical ear is far more intricate than most people, which makes your 'reactions' much more interesting as each song is a musical book of analysis. You are my favorite 'reaction video' author.

    • @joef5708
      @joef5708 2 года назад

      There is something to be said for formal education too.

    • @nathandougherty7058
      @nathandougherty7058 2 года назад +1

      The difference is that this RUclipsr has such a detailed understanding of her subject, that a first listen awakens many ideas within her that she can share with us.. bridges to other concepts that an average, enthusiast might not quite grasp.
      Much more compelling than most reaction videos. I'm learning so much about so many great pieces of music from her.
      Addictive!

  • @klausschneider1045
    @klausschneider1045 Год назад +9

    One of the finest details in this song is the way the intersections between verses each are shifting the mood to higher levels. Great songwriting.

  • @zamdrist
    @zamdrist 2 года назад +14

    What a gift it is to witness a person experiencing this song for the first time. So cool!

  • @chrisdavies3049
    @chrisdavies3049 2 года назад +7

    What a wonderful reaction. My mother was a classically trained pianist and music teacher. She was 91 when she passed. When I spoke at her funeral, I stated that my mother had taught me to have an interest in all types of music. Nothing should be out of bounds. It's nice to see you doing the same.

  • @JS-TexanJeff
    @JS-TexanJeff Год назад +4

    I've been listening to this song since ~1982. Definitely 100's if not 1000's of times. You analyzed and expressed more than I've absorbed in just a couple days listening. Amazing. Thank you.

  • @FearlessRefactoring
    @FearlessRefactoring 2 года назад +36

    wow. when you first played it on the harp I broke into a huge smile. I could listen to that all day. It sounds fantastic.

    • @Hartlor_Tayley
      @Hartlor_Tayley 2 года назад +1

      I hope she plays more harp too.

    • @oscarlinebaugh8930
      @oscarlinebaugh8930 2 года назад +1

      The Harp Twins did this on their harps. It sounds great on the harp.

  • @anicecupoftea8303
    @anicecupoftea8303 2 года назад +59

    Genesis-Firth of Fifth. The piano intro and guitar solo are highlights of a fantastic song. One of my favourites.

    • @LuisMotrel
      @LuisMotrel 2 года назад +5

      Yes please!

    • @nanskate
      @nanskate 2 года назад +6

      I agree. One of my favorite progressive Rock songs.
      But don't forget about the flute.

    • @MDElam
      @MDElam 2 года назад +5

      Yes: "Firth of Fifth" (or "Cinema Show" or "Supper's Ready")!

    • @AndrewMoore58
      @AndrewMoore58 2 года назад +5

      That is an amazing and very special song. One of Tony Banks best piano compositions. I hope Amy does that song.

    • @ryanwebb6356
      @ryanwebb6356 2 года назад

      Jason Becker, 18 years old he could write and play stuff that would shock Paganini with its virtuosity.

  • @frankolivito9242
    @frankolivito9242 Год назад +13

    this was one of the first rock songs that pyramided slowly steadily to a super crescendo.every band after that was inspired by this song

  • @katyareads221
    @katyareads221 2 года назад +148

    At the Kennedy Honors this song was done with an orchestra, rock band and full choir....worth the listen.

    • @menaceren
      @menaceren 2 года назад +1

      Thank you for that!

    • @GeographRick
      @GeographRick 2 года назад +4

      I love that version.

    • @muzik4machines
      @muzik4machines 2 года назад +4

      came here to say that, epic performance

    • @rogerthomas169
      @rogerthomas169 2 года назад +8

      Heart did it and it was in front of the three remaining led zeppelin members, one of the top musical moments in tv history

    • @richardpare3538
      @richardpare3538 2 года назад +2

      @@rogerthomas169 You meant the 3 remaining members!

  • @PeterBuwen
    @PeterBuwen 2 года назад +133

    Your harp play of Stairway to heaven was very beautiful. I wished you could play a whole harp cover of the song. 🙃

    • @robertvirnig638
      @robertvirnig638 2 года назад

      Here is a masterful version from the harp twins. ruclips.net/video/2U7TDOtfxts/видео.html

    • @grandtheftmanualv945
      @grandtheftmanualv945 2 года назад +7

      Seconded!

    • @richardj9016
      @richardj9016 2 года назад +6

      Required

    • @pekfake
      @pekfake 2 года назад +4

      Yes please

    • @erelster
      @erelster 2 года назад +3

      When the channel hits 10k subs, she’s doing it.

  • @davecollins6113
    @davecollins6113 2 месяца назад +2

    First time I heard it, was when it was just released, and it struck me as a really beautiful and powerful piece of music, loved how it progressed and built. The other Zepplin favorite of mine is No Quarter on the live album, in that one, the guitar work just speaks to me.

  • @joeb4142
    @joeb4142 2 года назад +50

    Ooooh Amy you are such a gift to the RUclips reaction/analysis community! Thank you so much for all the time you spend making these videos as well as your knowledge, experience and wonderful teaching ability. ❤️

  • @MartinMcMartin
    @MartinMcMartin 2 года назад +48

    These break downs amaze me, simple elements which I have heard, but not recognized the significance. Loving this channel and not at all surprised how quickly it is growing.

  • @rodolfito5555
    @rodolfito5555 8 месяцев назад +5

    Life is divided into two parts, one before and one after having heard this song for the first time.

  • @lashutterbug
    @lashutterbug 2 года назад +84

    How remarkable that you mentioned Bolero at 29:45, because Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck played together on a track called "Beck's Bolero" in 1967. That track also included John Entwistle and Keith Moon of the Who. And Page himself would revisit that sound by including a "Bolero" solo in the first part of "How Many More Times" on Led Zeppelin's first album in 1968.

    • @Hartlor_Tayley
      @Hartlor_Tayley 2 года назад +9

      Becks Bolero. I forgot about that one, it perfectly illustrates this concept. Good call.

    • @HabaneroTi
      @HabaneroTi 2 года назад +6

      When Amy said that it reminded her of a classical piece, I thought of some of Ravel's contemporaries like Debussy and Satie, so I "sort of" had it. 😀

    • @lyndoncmp5751
      @lyndoncmp5751 2 года назад +4

      I believe it was John Paul Jones, not John Entwistle. So half of the future Led Zeppelin. 👍

    • @Hartlor_Tayley
      @Hartlor_Tayley 2 года назад +4

      @@lyndoncmp5751 talking about future zeppelin, I listened to a Yardbirds live bootleg that got uploaded yesterday called Live in New York 1968 and there is a song called “White Summer” which is Jimmy Page playing solo and you can hear him go through some future zeppelin stuff. Whole album is great.

    • @philjones6054
      @philjones6054 2 года назад +2

      Very good point you've made.

  • @decodynamo
    @decodynamo 2 года назад +100

    Pleasantly startling and assumption-defying that there's someone like you in the Western world who had never heard this song! Watching your reactions as it proceeded was vicariously gratifying and helped me rediscover it for myself, in a way, having likely heard it hundreds? of times. Since I want to round out my musical appreciation and expand my boundaries, your eloquent analysis has filled my sails with a breath of fresh air. Thanks, Amy!

    • @paulburke9198
      @paulburke9198 2 года назад +9

      have to agree Dynamo arts , I've heard this so often ,woudn't have mattered
      if I never heard it again but this little music lesson has "refreshed" the experience
      so now I'm no longer "sick of hearing" what is indeed a little bit of rock brilliance
      so thanks for that Amy Shafer , 🎼🎶💖.

    • @zebratroopfan6695
      @zebratroopfan6695 2 года назад +2

      It is amazing how must of us live in self created bubbles. I recently met a guy who had never heard of the Eagles. I thought he was joking but he had never heard of them. He lived and worked in a world that just didn’t listen to this type of music. His bubble of church, work, and friends just didn’t listen to it. He was equally shocked I wasn’t familiar with Frankie Beverly or Lakeside. These bands although not as popular to the general public were very popular in his world.

    • @kelvincook4246
      @kelvincook4246 2 года назад +3

      @@zebratroopfan6695 I love Led Zeppelin's music, but talking about the bubbles that people exist in, I've been surprised by the number of people who don't know that Zeppelin was inspired by blues musicians like Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, and Willie Dixon. Who probably also inspired groups like Lakeside.

    • @JohnProph
      @JohnProph 2 года назад +2

      forget Led Zep....she said she never heard any Beatles songs!!! lol

    • @kelvincook4246
      @kelvincook4246 2 года назад +2

      @@JohnProph About 30 years ago or so, I was standing in a check out line in front of two teen girls. They were looking at a People magazine that had Paul McCartney on the cover. And one of the girls said to the other, "... you know he was in a band before Wings."
      Niether of them seemed to actually know about the Beatles. After I picked my jaw off the floor, I asked what planet they were from. They laughed at me. Felt old then, and I'm really old now.

  • @nothanks5549
    @nothanks5549 25 дней назад +1

    Amy’s shared experience is as good as the music. Delightful.

  • @sourisvoleur4854
    @sourisvoleur4854 2 года назад +43

    This is the apotheosis of what a music reaction channel can do. Beyond "I really like it," you have actually given us new ideas and tools for enjoying the song. Thank you!

  • @outsidethewall8488
    @outsidethewall8488 2 года назад +169

    Plant is also a massive Tolkien fan and this comes through in small lyrical references throughout his career . In this piece some read the line about the lady thinking all that glitters is gold as a shakespeare reference but I read it as a Tolkien reference (all that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost etc.)
    Then in the Battle of Evermore he refers to the ringwraiths riding in black and in Ramble On he mentions Gollum and the darkest depths of Mordor- plus the name of the song Misty Mountain Hop is an obvious ode to The Hobbit. Just thought i'd add this on the off chance you or anyone else here is also a Tolkien fan :)
    *Edited to correct minor errors pointed out in my replies - thank you to those people*

    • @szeleddie
      @szeleddie 2 года назад +9

      What do mean he "was" a Tolkien fan??? He still is!!! Once you are fan of Tolkien you always be!!!

    • @johnfarley4492
      @johnfarley4492 2 года назад +8

      One ring to rule them all...(Clerks)

    • @julianavery963
      @julianavery963 2 года назад +4

      He is from Middle Earth, of course!!

    • @mrjules1982
      @mrjules1982 2 года назад +15

      "There's a feeling I get, when I look to the West, and my spirit is crying for leaving" Always felt to me as a reference to Valinor.

    • @jrwalker591
      @jrwalker591 2 года назад +6

      "Ramble On" he mentions Gollum and Mordor... :)

  • @yannis4210
    @yannis4210 4 месяца назад +1

    What an analysis, what a brilliant music personality to give us some light on the classic masterpiece we all thought we knew.

  • @midkingsteve
    @midkingsteve 2 года назад +35

    This was honestly one of the best song reviews I've ever seen. Brava. 👏👏👏👏

    • @grandtheftmanualv945
      @grandtheftmanualv945 2 года назад

      Check out the early videos, luckily there's not many yet, but all of equal quality!

  • @george93308
    @george93308 2 года назад +55

    Probably the most iconic guitar solo of all time. At least for us old folks. Watching young people listen to songs we've known for decades is a bit surreal. Hope you enjoy our generation's music.

  • @1492dt
    @1492dt 4 месяца назад

    To me, the electric guitar solo on this the all time perfect solo, expressing, captivating, and succinct, so well stated. The first time I heard it, and everything afterward , through present, just grabs me! The whole, song is actually a seemingly perfect masterpiece!

  • @ostflut
    @ostflut 2 года назад +14

    I honestly love the way Amy Shafer is deep diving into the songs she's reacting to. For someone like me, who started composing as hobby during the pandemic and never had the chance to study music, it's a marvelous way to learn how songs I love were written.

  • @midkingsteve
    @midkingsteve 2 года назад +51

    Yes! Next you must do their song "kashmir". Another epic song but this time in harmonic minor. And featuring both a full symohonic orchestra and a melotron! Very cinematic.

    • @cjwagner1
      @cjwagner1 2 года назад

      If you do "kashmir" you might want to also check out the "live from celebration day" video of it on youtube. It is an excellent live version of it in my humble opition. It is from a tribute concert they did in 2007. They had disbanded in 1980 after their drummer John Bonham died. They got back together for this concert with John's son filling in on drums. ruclips.net/video/2bZt7-T8oLY/видео.html.

    • @JohnSmith-pn1kq
      @JohnSmith-pn1kq 2 года назад +2

      With the amount of times she stopped this song, imagine how many times she will stop Caroselambra. Probably every 5 seconds

    • @Zoso352
      @Zoso352 2 года назад

      @@JohnSmith-pn1kq Hah! Brilliant!

  • @MichaelPatrick-c2u
    @MichaelPatrick-c2u 12 дней назад

    You are amazing at breaking down music I am gaining so much more insights to music I have listened to in decades

  • @stevejoshua9536
    @stevejoshua9536 2 года назад +4

    I didn't think I would stay for the entire lesson, but the video came to an end, and I found myself still hanging on your every word.
    Thank you so much, Amy, for your wonderful insights and sensitivity.

  • @AndrewLakeUK
    @AndrewLakeUK 2 года назад +12

    I've listened to this song for most of my life. It has moved from tedious rock song to great monuments music. "He sounds so lonely" is a new take but so true.

  • @sophitsa79
    @sophitsa79 Месяц назад

    It's really lovely watching this after seeing the recent videos. This is a true discovery and exploration of a fairly complex song by a musician. A full analysis is provided. The recent videos are much simpler and polished for a mass audience. I still love both.

  • @richardb6260
    @richardb6260 2 года назад +29

    The surviving members of Led Zeppelin were honored at the Kennedy Center in 2012. Nancy Wilson of the rock group Heart performed a spectacular version of Stairway to Heaven that's well worth seeing.

    • @Hundhammer
      @Hundhammer 2 года назад +2

      yes, I suggested that to her (and the Zappa version...) in the comments to he announcing video... well worth!

    • @LeeKennison
      @LeeKennison 2 года назад +1

      Like Dominik, I also mentioned this performance in the announcement video. I hope Amy will be able to view this for her own enjoyment. It will allow her to see a more recent interpretation by Anne and Nancy Wilson, along with band, orchestra, and choir. I have watched this performance many times, and I always have an emotional response to it. Particularly with the surviving members clearly enjoying the performance as they watch. It is outstanding!

    • @lyndoncmp5751
      @lyndoncmp5751 2 года назад

      They needed the population of a small country to pull that off. Zeppelin just had three musicians and a singer.

  • @pedrofialhodejesus-artist
    @pedrofialhodejesus-artist 2 года назад +4

    A true masterpiece, indeed. I've performed this song possibly more than 800 times and it never ceases to amaze me. Every time I hear, sing or play it I discover some new detail. It stood the test of time and it will become a symbol of an era of great musicianship in centuries to come. We are so privileged to be contemporary of such amazing artists such as Jimmy and Robert. Very nice video, Amy. I really enjoyed the insights.

  • @catsara9114
    @catsara9114 8 месяцев назад +1

    One of the most beautiful songs ever, and also one of the most epic buildups in a song ever!

  • @jamescooper2618
    @jamescooper2618 2 года назад +24

    One of my favorite things about this song is the way it builds throughout the song and then quickly diminishes to nothing.

  • @bananapuddingpop3867
    @bananapuddingpop3867 2 года назад +41

    It can't be said enough, this is the greatest rock song ever written. Led Zeppelin, in my opinion, is the greatest band in rock history. (The Beatles are the most important) But Zeppelin is the greatest. They don't have a bad album. They rarely have a weak song on any of their albums. They are the rare band that was always at their peak no matter where they were in their history.
    You'll be getting a list a mile long of what to listen to next from them. The answer is simply yes....listen to any of their songs. But for me you know the true greatness of a song by listening to a cover. Look for Heart playing Stairway at the Kennedy Center Honors where they were honoring Led Zeppelin. And look at the teary eyed reactions of these once rock gods and now old men as they listen to someone masterfully play their greatest song. It's beautiful to watch Plant react to his own music.
    We all learn listening to anything by them, but if you must try Kashmire or Babe I'm Gonna Leave You for sure.

    • @Ninjametal
      @Ninjametal 2 года назад +4

      I love Led Zeppelin, and agree for the most part. I suggest the "CODA" album is crap, but I still think Zeppelin is the greatest rock band.

    • @joescott8877
      @joescott8877 2 года назад +2

      From now on, I will adopt your description of Zeppelin = "greatest" (I often also say "best") but recognizing The Beatles as "most important." I think that's inarguable. I used to try to express that by saying Beatles= "greatest," but I think "most important" (or "influential" if you like) is the better choice. I also nominate "Bron-Yr-Aur," "In The Light," and "Achilles last Stand" for examples of Zep's range and structural complexities for this expert to analyze.

    • @Hartlor_Tayley
      @Hartlor_Tayley 2 года назад +1

      Ramble on.

    • @rov3r698
      @rov3r698 2 года назад +1

      As she said “masterpiece “

    • @coyote4237
      @coyote4237 2 года назад

      Totally agree with you.

  • @danceswithcritters
    @danceswithcritters 7 месяцев назад +1

    Yes, exactly! "How naturally and seamlessly it progresses. So well balanced you hardly notice what is being done in that moment, the shift happens almost imperceptibly, and our awareness of it comes after it has already taken place".
    Brilliant articulation by this lovely young lady.

  • @sanzalure6091
    @sanzalure6091 2 года назад +7

    I first clicked to view your reaction to Pink Floyd's « Hey you ». Which led me to this reaction to Led Zeppelin's « Stairway to Heaven ». You have a new subscriber. I have watched a lot of reaction videos by many musicians but very few of them give the lyrics as much attention as you do. And what you say makes sense to me. Thank you!
    My generation, we did not write many books, or movies. But we did write a lot of songs. That's where our message is shared.

  • @GeoffGummer
    @GeoffGummer 2 года назад +11

    You, dear lady, are wonderful. You bring such light to music that we've loved since the day it was released, and cause us to love it again anew, in a different way. Thank you.

  • @michengleman5696
    @michengleman5696 4 месяца назад

    Brilliant. I've listened to this song hundreds(?) of times and yet I've just listened to it once. Bravo.

  • @rogeremmerson
    @rogeremmerson 2 года назад +37

    Your Ravel 'Bolero' connection is fascinating in that Page recorded a version of it with Jeff Beck entitled 'Beck's Bolero'. Thanks, as always, for your thoughtful and thought-provoking analysis.

    • @KabobHope
      @KabobHope 2 года назад +2

      The "Bolero" connection is interesting. "Kashmir" is even more "Bolero"-inspired with its building toward climax. She really makes me really see the song with fresh ears.

    • @boki1693
      @boki1693 2 года назад +2

      I literally just stumbled upon this as I watched this. I knew about the Beck song but had no idea Page and Jones played on it.

    • @Hartlor_Tayley
      @Hartlor_Tayley 2 года назад

      @@boki1693 I think Moon is on drums too.

    • @vangrod8510
      @vangrod8510 2 года назад +1

      "Beck's Bolero" is based on Ravel's rhythm but is otherwise original, and the landmark recording session that produced the track was the first step towards formation of Led Zeppelin, famously named in sarcasm concerning the group's future by Keith Moon, who did the drumming.

    • @Hartlor_Tayley
      @Hartlor_Tayley 2 года назад +1

      @@vangrod8510 you’re right, it is Becks Bolero not Ravels Bolero. What a fantastic riff

  • @TheMrPastry
    @TheMrPastry 7 месяцев назад

    I have just stumbled upon your video these last two days. I have to say that first I appreciate your describing the nuances many of us have listened to and enjoyed for years, and not realizing the little details and connections. Myself I thank you for giving me a whole new appreciation of these sorts of pieces. I have played this for years (at home- not in a guitar store) on acoustic guitar. I particularly enjoyed your describing and demonstrating the Scottish Snap. I live on Cape Breton Island and Celtic music is a part of the way of life here, and now I hear these melodies and lilts in other things too. Thank you Amy.

  • @davidsthubbins176
    @davidsthubbins176 2 года назад +8

    "Stairway" sounds BEAUTIFUL on your harp. I'm sure we'd all love to hear you play it in its entirety.

  • @BestPriceSunCoastTransmissions
    @BestPriceSunCoastTransmissions 2 года назад +8

    This is amazing run video. So many of these the people nod along with the video and in the end say”that was great.”
    She really knows what she’s talking about and isn’t afraid to leave the audience behind . This forces someone like me to back up or start over.
    This is a superb analysis of an incredible song.

  • @richardventus1875
    @richardventus1875 Год назад +3

    It's so wonderful to see someone really 'in tune' with the beauty and virtuosity of Led Zep's music. I don't believe it has been surpassed ever since it was released.

  • @Davey-Boyd
    @Davey-Boyd 2 года назад +47

    Amy, that was incredible. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on these masterpieces, while also teaching us some musical wisdom along the way. I really can't wait to see where you go next with this! And you are right, 'Stairway' fits the harp perfectly!

    • @Hartlor_Tayley
      @Hartlor_Tayley 2 года назад +1

      If Amy was around when Zeppelin made this album they would have her playing on this song.

  • @coot1925
    @coot1925 2 года назад +24

    Thank you Amy. The British voice of Robert Plant is probably responsible for that Celtic feel. The recorders (not flutes) also add to the feel. In the 50 years of being a rock musician I've met a lot of classical musicians and unfortunately most of them are unable to appreciate rock, but you really get it. Music is an art form which is based on feelings and emotions and not necessarily about precision or skill. Whenever I write an instrumental it's always influenced by my surroundings and how I feel at the time. Your rendition on the harp almost made me cry, what a beautiful instrument.

    • @redpine8665
      @redpine8665 4 месяца назад

      Well, the raw track was composed in the Welsh countryside. That's pretty damn Celtic.

    • @coot1925
      @coot1925 4 месяца назад

      @@redpine8665 Oh definitely.
      When you listen to someone like Bjork or Aurora you can almost taste the air of their atmosphere.
      Most of my compositions have a coastal feel....Cornwall and south coast of Britain.

  • @bobmcculley4785
    @bobmcculley4785 2 года назад +3

    Thank you for your wonderful exploration of one of my most favorite songs. I found your first listen bringing a tear.

  • @davidcurtiswatts2378
    @davidcurtiswatts2378 2 года назад +6

    What a beautiful and refreshing change to the kind of material I usually watch on RUclips. You made a subscriber out of me.

  • @mirkotc67
    @mirkotc67 2 года назад +8

    Dear Amy, I am a music lover. The first musical experience that I remember clearly, is listening to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with my grandfather, when I was 7/8 years old. Over the years I got more into rock music, specially from the late 60s and 70s, and I always felt a little bit ashamed of liking this music. Due to the admiration to classical music that my grandfather had taught to me, perhaps. But at the same time, I felt that some rock songs that I liked went well beyond the genre limits and could be considered a sort of contemporary classical music. I tried to learn to play the guitar for a couple of years but, after being diagnosed with a degenerative neurological disease, I was no longer able to achieve the required coordination and flexibility on my hands and fingers.
    After watching your videos (small musical masterclasses in my opinion), first experiencing and later analysing a couple of my most beloved songs (Love of my Life and Stairway to Heaven), I finally understood why I like them and the pleasure I feel after listening to them again, even after all these years. These are delicately crafted masterpieces that are essentially as timeless as Beethoven's compositions.
    Finally, I loved your comparison between Ravel's Bolero and Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven. Ravel's Bolero was another of my grandfather's favourite pieces, and after your clever idea of relating it to Led Zeppelin work, I now understand why I enjoy both.
    Keep on with this work, it's a pleasure watching you going through music, exposing those minute details and nuances that we non classical trained music lovers enjoy but cannot fully explain or realize.
    Cheers!!!

  • @HollowGolem
    @HollowGolem Год назад +7

    I love that "Stairway" is basically "what happens if you sustain a crescendo throughout an entire song." It just keeps building. Sometimes by adding volume (the switch from acoustic to electric, for instance), sometimes by adding parts (vocals and drums have staggered entries throughout the first half of the song) and then once the volume is maxed, we increase tempo, especially in the solo, and then almost crash back down to the recapitulation at the end. "And she's buyin' the stairway..."

  • @fredkemper5957
    @fredkemper5957 2 года назад +5

    Thank you! I totally enjoyed your reaction and analysis. I’ll be watching more for sure!

  • @rickpalacio7
    @rickpalacio7 2 года назад +41

    This was delightful. I especially loved the part where you compared the song to Ravel's "Bolero" from the perspective of both pieces using some of the same techniques to achieve goals that are actually opposite from each other and both pieces succeeding brilliantly with the same tool box. What I appreciate more and more from your channel is the way that the analysis of the techniques, construction, and, shall I say, "strategies" that musical artists employ can so intimately reflect the content and emotional message they're communicating. It's quite a beautiful illustration of the concepts of "form and content" that are part of all of the arts. Very enjoyable. Thank you!

    • @pauldouglas9999
      @pauldouglas9999 2 года назад +13

      Wait until she listens to “Kashmir”

    • @ruraljuror1734
      @ruraljuror1734 2 года назад +2

      So gorgeously stated!

    • @rickpalacio7
      @rickpalacio7 2 года назад +2

      @@pauldouglas9999 Yes! That's definitely a glorious showcase for repetition in music.

  • @danielmarone5757
    @danielmarone5757 2 месяца назад

    Thank you for reacting to my music I really appreciate that Robert Nigel back many years

  • @Scoobydcs
    @Scoobydcs 2 года назад +24

    The thing with zeppelin is that all 4 members are equally amazing musicians, there is no stand out member!!

  • @r1p2m32
    @r1p2m32 2 года назад +6

    Good heavens, thank you! Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin... Is there a limit to your bravery? Please continue!

  • @lennypersonalized
    @lennypersonalized 4 месяца назад

    I always think of an enchanted forest listening to the first half of this song. Especially when he sings the forest will echo with laughter. Very celtic indeed.

  • @41Forethought
    @41Forethought 2 года назад +35

    A quite insightful analysis of a rock classic - very well done, Amy!! I'd love to watch and listen to you and Rick Beato, a music professor, producer, musician and fellow RUclipsr, analyze a rock classic together! 💕

    • @phuzeewuzee654
      @phuzeewuzee654 Месяц назад +1

      I couldn't agree more
      ... would love to see her and Rick riffing on classics. That sounds like it would be absolutely decadent.

  • @standandeliver8376
    @standandeliver8376 2 года назад +4

    "I'm beginning to notice that a lot of rock songs have this sort of guitar solo moment". Yep, we live and die for the guitar solo moments! 😁

  • @stevedahlberg8680
    @stevedahlberg8680 2 года назад +15

    I'm so blown away by playing those two different lines together and demonstrating how they are related. I'm a composer myself and I love that kind of stuff but for whatever reasons, I never made that connection before in this song. Partly because I encountered it when I was very young and would just crank it and go nuts, laugh. Anyway, that is fantastic.

  • @TheGabrielAmerican
    @TheGabrielAmerican 2 года назад +5

    I’m so grateful to have stumbled upon this reaction video.
    Perhaps, the best breakdown of this iconic tune that I have ever seen.
    Wonderfully done.

  • @toniyoung5131
    @toniyoung5131 2 года назад +8

    I clicked on this so quickly I stubbed my finger ;). I'd be fascinated to hear what you think of Kashmir, or The Rain Song.

  • @john8787
    @john8787 2 года назад +3

    I could listen all day to her expertise and her breakdowns and new perspectives of the music I've grown up with, thanks Amy ,

  • @PartTimeJedi
    @PartTimeJedi 2 года назад +6

    I first heard this at my cousins house when I was 12-13 back in the early 1980s... He put it on the record player and put the big headphones on me.. I swear it was like going on a magical journey.. One of those moments that stick with you for the rest of your life...

  • @Sanctified57
    @Sanctified57 2 года назад +4

    What a beautiful analysis of an all time rock classic. Thank you very much. This was a masterful review of a masterpiece.

  • @jamespurcer3730
    @jamespurcer3730 Год назад +1

    The line, "...to be a rock, and not to roll." is a reference to the trope "A rolling stone gathers no moss." This is a metaphor for "if you don't produce, you are finished."

  • @gsparkman
    @gsparkman 2 года назад +43

    In music reactions, the left arrow button is the reactor's best friend. Each tap of the key will "rewind" the music back exactly 10 seconds. Using it creates an overlap of the original stopping point, providing a continuity of the song's progression. Comes in especially helpful when the song is abruptly stopped in the middle a word the singer happens to be singing at the time.

    • @Greg-om2hb
      @Greg-om2hb 2 года назад +2

      Yes, indeed

    • @BenC460
      @BenC460 2 года назад +4

      It's actually 5 seconds but yes it does help the music to flow better when pausing.

    • @hadz8671
      @hadz8671 2 года назад +4

      @@BenC460 - Interesting. Only now do I notice that left-arrow goes back 5s whereas J goes back 10s.

    • @muratomar6502
      @muratomar6502 2 года назад +2

      Wow, useful information!

    • @anthonyv6962
      @anthonyv6962 2 года назад +2

      I would have to agree.

  • @neccron9956
    @neccron9956 2 года назад +9

    At the time of this song, Plant was into Celtic Mysticism, so that is why this song has a strong Celtic tone to it.

  • @67Zink
    @67Zink Год назад +2

    Fantastic review The song that you can listen to 100,000Xs and still listen one more time.

  • @danmcconnell5941
    @danmcconnell5941 2 года назад +4

    I've never heard of the scottish/celtic snap but I recognized that musical device the instant you played it, and now of course I can hear it in Zeppelin. I'm thoroughly amazed and grateful for your analysis!

  • @dmitrivassiliev15
    @dmitrivassiliev15 2 года назад +7

    I just love your analysis. You give fresh perspective to the song. What a cool connection. I wish Plant and Page would watch your clip. Great job! Thank you

    • @grandtheftmanualv945
      @grandtheftmanualv945 2 года назад +1

      Maybe you can send a link to an official Zep channel or Twitter feed or something!
      As soon as I watched Amy's first video on Love Of My Life by Queen, I sent the link to Brian May's official RUclips channel (he is very active).
      I don't know if he will see it, but I'm hopeful!

  • @hrdhry3034
    @hrdhry3034 17 дней назад

    Love this analysis and yes this is the most impactful song in the rock genre. The fact that this song is about you can’t buy your way into heaven and how relevant it is today ❤

  • @simonsaunders8147
    @simonsaunders8147 2 года назад +8

    'Stairway To Heaven' is one of the top two "rock" songs ever written. It shares the top two spot with Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. That has to be a must do for you as it is a mix of rock and classical music both of which Freddie Mercury absolutely loved. Top work, m'dear!

  • @rodneyhearne3405
    @rodneyhearne3405 2 года назад +10

    Loving what you are adding to the appreciation of rock music. We are all watching reaction channels to enjoy what the reactor is experiencing and to see how they are impacted by the music that we know so well. It is at once a vicarious journey to see this music through your eye's but also to possibly catch some of those feelings we experienced when we were first time listeners. Of course, you are offering so much more and that. Your expertise as a classically trained musician and accomplished harpist is both a treat and educational insight to the music we love. New subscriber here, thank you!

  • @idhrenoh2023
    @idhrenoh2023 Год назад +1

    Wow. After watching this video this creator is criminally underrepresented. Beyond just the clear knowledge and experience with music the amount of research done for this video is just amazing. I've watched a few other video's of yours now and you are absolutely amazing. I love you.

  • @Gary_M
    @Gary_M 2 года назад +26

    If you want to hear the "build" of this song intensified in an amazing way, you must check out the cover by the band Heart when they honored LZ at the Kennedy Center. Choirs, orchestra, it's awesome.