Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven

Riddle101

What's your opinon of this song? Stairway has always been hailed as an all time classic, and to some proberly among the best songs in the world. But what are your thoughts of it?

Me, I think it's a good song. A very good song, but not as great as people make it out to be. Maybe it's because i'm from a different generation to those who might hold that regard for the song. I even prefer The Immigrant Song to this song, but that's my opionion. What's yours?

Edit- Might as well post the song anyway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcL---4xQYA

Snickers Man

It's great the first million times you hear it. Then it starts to grate a bit.

Whaddya mean "I even prefer Immigrant Song"?

That's WAY better.

i'm all in favour of "No Stairway" signs in music shops.

Riddle101

Snickers Man wrote: »

It's great the first million times you hear it. Then it starts to grate a bit.

Whaddya mean "I even prefer Immigrant Song"?

That's WAY better.

i'm all in favour of "No Stairway" signs in music shops.

Yeah that's what I mean. Immigrant song is my favourite Led Zep song. To me it's the best. But people make Stairway out to be their best song. Hense why people praise it so highly

Twilightning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO2qO9FaIWU

This'll always be my favourite Led Zep song. The first song on their first album. A debut doesn't get any better than this.

GLaDOS

Chlichéd to the max, but still a great song, love the solo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrVDViSlsSM

That'd be my favourite personally

TechnoPool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3HemKGDavw

for mise

dasdog

In reference to the famous "No Stairway" opening riff that everyone used to want to learn when they first picked up a guitar...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5uMQDlKn8g

Actually the whole song was first played live to an audience in Belfast and Dublin the next night (I've got the bootlegs). If you really want to get your tin foil hat on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyvLsutfI5M

But my favourite song of theirs is probably "No Quarter" from Houses of the Holy.

Nephilim Wolf

I never get tired of it. Definitely a class song.

Wolfe Tone

Overplayed. Not overrated as some would say.

Roanmore

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

Overplayed. Not overrated as some would say.

+1

Cheap Thrills!

Beautiful but yes overplayed.

For me it's Kashmir, although its hard to pick just one favourite!

tailgunner

Stairway is probably more iconic than truly great. But you could say that about a lot of songs I suppose.

This is my favourite:

epgc3fyqirnbsx

Yeah definitely more iconic, I have often read how they came off stage after their first playing saying 'We've created a monster' bu I can't imagine I'd have been that moved with it in comparison to the rest of their catalogue. But people were doing a lot of acid back then...

This is definitely mine, it's flawless

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkjv9SscotY

galwayrush

I definitely overplayed the song in my youth, loved it but overplayed it.
Then started skipping it when playing the album but when i saw them play it live..WOW, totally blew me away, actually had me in tears. Incredible experience, made me realise again just how powerful the song is. :cool:

bad2dabone

it's a fantastic song, a true classic.
Yep it's overplayed though, a victim of its own genius I think.

However it's not their best imo, as previously stated
Kashmir & Immigrant Song are better, and I love Achilles last stand probably most of all.

Zeppelin rules man!

damonjewel

Its a song I have loved, overplayed, and now generally skip, or sigh when i hear it mentioned. However if it comes on the radio I am secretly thrilled to hear it and lets face it folks, it has one stonking good solo in it!

Sugarlumps

First got into Zeppelin at the age of 14 -15, Stairway never did it for me back then. I’m 35 now so I’ve seen the light. Every time I hear No Quarter I wanna do mushrooms. Stairway is a great song, but not their best. Achilles Last Stand is the ultimate Zep tune.

Zulu

While it's not my personal favourite Zeppelin song (I find this title shifts... The Battle of Evermore; The Rain Song; No Quarter; Ramble On; Immigrant Song; ...I can't do this!) it does deserve it's recognition. It is an all-time classic. It covers most of their sounds. It's like a perfect summary.

And while I skip it most times, it was the song that made me aware of my favourite band, ever. It opened up pure acoustical ecstasy.

Thank you Led Zeppelin for these gifts you've given unto me.

Fergus

I think Stairway would be pretty bland if it wasn't for the guitar solo section. I think Plant said he ade up the lyrics during the original seven takes or something? They sound like it.

Over the Hills and Far Away or Nobody's Fault But Mine FTW

Bill2673

I listened to them a lot when I was a teenager in the late '80s and haven;t listened to a Led Zeppelin album in its entirety for I'd say at least 15 years.

I remember one year in school, the religion teacher (a christian brother) teached asked us all to bring a recording of a song that had meaning in our lives. A load of us brought in tapes of Stairway to Heaven.

I remember the teacher being exasperated, saying something like "what is the obsession that teenagers have with Stairway to Heaven". That burst my bubble a bit, since I thought I was cool listening to Zeppelin.

I'd guess the teenager of today would not be listening to Stairway to Heaven that often: don't know what they would be listening to but I don't think it would be that. In that sense, I don't think its aged all that well.

Iti s an iconic song however in much the same way that Hey Jude is an iconic song for the Beatles. Maybe not their best song, but definitely has an epic quality.

Personally I preferred Led Zeppelin I and III to IV. Babe I'm gonna leave you and Thats the way were my favourite tracks. Wouldn't mind giving them a listen again.

Lemmy Scott

Cant stand that song :eek:

old gregg

after hearing the original millions of times I'd much prefer this version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPOIy4Kb9M4

dasdog

Sugarlumps wrote: »

First got into Zeppelin at the age of 14 -15, Stairway never did it for me back then. I’m 35 now so I’ve seen the light. Every time I hear No Quarter I wanna do mushrooms

April 1993, still in my first year in college and peaking on two double dip strawberries. That song/moment will stay with me. Oddly enough as someone else was saying, it was probably the last time I sat down and listened to a full Zep album.

checkyabadself

Since I've been loving you.

PeterIanStaker

I dont know if Stairway is overrated but maybe its become a bit too familiar and you might want to not listen to it for a while, and yes Zep have other brilliant songs: Just off the top of my head, I mean have you ever noticed how f&cking intricate Black Dog is? Those time signatures!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYpydtdlWxA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrSHrAy5GR8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKyzyjfyuPU

MagicMarker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1PoxTp7jIM

120_Minutes

It's played on the radio somewhere in the world every three minutes, or three seconds I can't remember.

Ka-Ching!

bazmaiden

Bros it's a masterpiece, simple as that

imagine hearing it again for the first time, i remember when I heard it first and was blown away by it

Sure we all have our favourite Zep songs, mine being "TSRTS, achillies last stand, you shook me and Achillies last stand"

but this is a complete piece of aural beauty from start to finish

bnt

I haven't heard it that many times, so I'm not sick of it. I suppose it also depends on how you feel about Progressive Rock, since it does have a bit of that: mulit-part, key changes, etc. My favourite fun fact: that guitar solo was recorded on an ordinary Telecaster through a tiny Fender amp - bedroom-level gear. No Marshall Stack required.

LadyXXX

Trampled Underfoot is my favourite by far

jack presley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjq6KOL6_4Y

Taurus' song called 'Spirit'. Zeppelin opened for them in '68.

(When the levee breaks is the greatest Zep track imo.)

BopNiblets

Stairway is a great song.
Know it's not an original but Dazed and Confused is great too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaPEOdefOq0

Also really like Walters Walk, maybe underheard from Coda...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRzB_aXFaUc

Dublin Spur

custard Pie, AND in my time of dying are thier 2 bwst songs IMO

Bearhunter

It's probably not my favourite and IV wouldn't be my favourite album either, but the solo is the most inch-perfect one JP ever played. Not a false note in it, swoops and soars and is the perfect length. I don't think he ever came up with a better solo.

Oasis_Dublin

It's a great tune, even if its far cooler to say that its overrated nowadays... and as such, I say it's overplayed. :cool:

Heaven Nutritious Poster

Heaven Nutritious Poster wrote: »

Yeah definitely more iconic, I have often read how they came off stage after their first playing saying 'We've created a monster' bu I can't imagine I'd have been that moved with it in comparison to the rest of their catalogue. But people were doing a lot of acid back then...

This is definitely mine, it's flawless

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkjv9SscotY

Another fine Zeppelin knock-off made up of parts from other songs

Lyrics nicked directly from Moby Grape,who were one of Plant's favourite bands at the time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB9ed7mVdHE

As for the beat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS5EKEo6PRQ

fcleere

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm3zUQjG5no

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf2e4QPPxJY

epic.

Nailz

fcleere wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm3zUQjG5no

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf2e4QPPxJY

epic.

FYP.

Massive fan of Achille's Last Stand, but my favourite is probably No Quarter, which is very under listened, could've been a radio hit no problem.

nyarlothothep

I never heard it played on the radio at all, except maybe phantom way back in 2000. Its sometimes played on one of the music channels and the abridged version at that. I don't listen to it that often but I always enjoy it when I put it on. Imo very few new songs are comparable to it in terms of being a masterpiece, its like a leonardo da vinci of rock in a contemporary world where the artistry of music has taken a sharp decline. When I listen to it images of Satan writing the song and handing it to them and mythical images from Tolkien and Greek mythology come to mind, the song has that kind of epic lost in time atmosphere.

MickClince12118

In terms of Zeppelin songs, I think Kashmir is up there with it. My favourite masterpiece kind of song by any band though is definitely Blackbird by Alter Bridge which really should be the definition of Masterpiece

Riddle101

MickClince12118 wrote: »

In terms of Zeppelin songs, I think Kashmir is up there with it. My favourite masterpiece kind of song by any band though is definitely Blackbird by Alter Bridge which really should be the definition of Masterpiece

Wow, never thought i'd hear Alter Bridge and Led Zeppelin spoken in the same breath. I like Blackbird, don't know if i'd call it a masterpiece though.

RC88

I love stairway(face it, who doses'nt), first time i listened to it i knew this was the king of songs(and guitar solos)

i still remember watching wayne's world(schwing) for the first time and watching the music store guy stopping him from playing it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?hl=en&v=RD1KqbDdmuE&gl=US)


i also can't stand the fact when its played on the radio it is always cut short, which happens nearly every time its played,

Star Bingo

didn't you see the sign?

Nailz

Stairway; DENIED!

Max Power1

Kashmir, Babe im gonna leave you, and Stairway to heaven would be my fave Led Zeppelin songs.

In that order.

And i'm not particularly a zeppelin fan.

MickClince12118

Riddle101 wrote: »

Wow, never thought i'd hear Alter Bridge and Led Zeppelin spoken in the same breath. I like Blackbird, don't know if i'd call it a masterpiece though.

Not a masterpiece, surely you haven't properly listened to it lately then?(Especially live, where its at its greatest) If it's not, then I really don't know what is. It's and absolute epic monster. The tone of the song all the way through screams "This is our Stairway" and myles kennedys solo so full of feeling is something that no other modern day bands will ever come close to conquering, before Tremonti crashes in on it, smashing it to pieces(In a good way). And Kennedys voice is basically the definition of epic in it's style.

PeterIanStaker

RC88 wrote: »

I love stairway(face it, who doses'nt), first time i listened to it i knew this was the king of songs(and guitar solos)

i still remember watching wayne's world(schwing) for the first time and watching the music store guy stopping him from playing it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?hl=en&v=RD1KqbDdmuE&gl=US)


i also can't stand the fact when its played on the radio it is always cut short, which happens nearly every time its played,

Cinema version of Wayne's World actually used Stairway, but this was changed for home video releases for legal reasons, and as a result the joke no longer makes sense.:mad:

komodosp

I don't think it's over-rated... Don't confuse almost everyone liking it with people thinking it's the greatest song ever...

In other words, sometimes when people say something is over-rated they're saying without realising it, "I like it but I think too many people like it"

Amerika

A Spirit fan here. As was noted before, parts of Stairway were obviously taking from the 1968 Spirit song Taurus. Led Zeppelin (on their first American tour) was the opening act for Spirit, so there is no way they didn’t, couldn’t even, know about it. Randy California had always been a class act when asked about the situation.

http://new.music.yahoo.com/spirit/tracks/taurus--45347631

Nailz

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

Cinema version of Wayne's World actually used Stairway, but this was changed for home video releases for legal reasons, and as a result the joke no longer makes sense.:mad:

Ah in fairness it does make sense, a lot of music stores are littered with 'No Stairway To Heaven' signs because people always bloody play it. That fact you can identify with that makes the joke, I personally laughed my ass off at it.

flyingbassman1

Gotta love Stairway man. I must have listened a thousand times :P