The Song Remains the Same (song)
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| “The Song Remains the Same” | |||||
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| Song by Led Zeppelin | |||||
| Album | Houses of the Holy | ||||
| Released | 28 March 1973 | ||||
| Recorded | 1972 | ||||
| Genre | Hard Rock | ||||
| Length | 5:30 | ||||
| Label | Atlantic Records | ||||
| Writer | Page/Plant | ||||
| Producer | Jimmy Page | ||||
| Houses of the Holy track listing | |||||
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"The Song Remains the Same" is a song by the English rock group Led Zeppelin. It is the opening track from their 1973 album, Houses of the Holy.
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[edit] Overview
The song features a furious multi-tracked guitar from Jimmy Page, played on a Fender 12-string,[1] and vocals from lead singer Robert Plant. This was Plant's tribute to world music, reflecting his belief that music is universal.
The song was originally an instrumental which was given the working title "The Overture", before Plant added lyrics to it, after which it temporarily came to be known as "The Campaign" before the band settled on the title "The Song Remains the Same".[2] In an interview he gave to Guitar World magazine in 1993, Page discussed the song's construction:
| “ | It was originally going to be an instrumental -- an overture that led into "The Rain Song". But I guess Robert had different ideas. You know, "This is pretty good, Better get some lyrics--quick!" [laughs]... I had all the beginning material together, and Robert suggested that we break down into half-time in the middle. After we figured out that we were going to break it down, the song came together in a day... I always had a cassette recorder around. That's how both "The Song Remains The Same" and "Stairway" came together -- from bits of taped ideas.[1] | ” |
The song bears some similarity to "Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor," an instrumental Page recorded with the Yardbirds. Plant's vocal track was slightly speeded up the album release.[2] Page played overdubs with a Telecaster on this recording, and also a Rickenbacker 12-string guitar.[2]
The band first performed this song live on their 1972 Japanese Tour.[2] At Led Zeppelin concerts from late 1972 through 1975, this song was followed (just as on the original album) by direct segue into "The Rain Song". For this live arrangement, Page employed his trademark Gibson EDS-1275 double-necked guitar. "The Song Remains the Same" would be the opening song for the 1977 US tour and 1979 concerts, before being dropped from the set list for the 1980 European tour.[2] The song was also performed at Led Zeppelin's reunion show at the O2 Arena, London on December 10, 2007.
"The Song Remains the Same" was featured on Led Zeppelin's 1976 concert film (and accompanying soundtrack), as part of lead singer Robert Plant's fantasy sequence. The title of the song was used as the title of both the film and the album.
[edit] Other versions
Jason Bonham, son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, recorded a cover version of the song, which was released on his 1997 album In the Name of My Father - The Zepset
Progressive metal group Dream Theater published a medley of Led Zeppelin songs in their 1995 EP A Change of Seasons, which featured parts of "The Song Remains the Same".
Led Zeppelin parody cover band Dread Zeppelin recorded a version of this song on their album 5,000,000. They also released an album entitled The Song Remains Insane as a play on words of this song.
The Flaming Lips began to play the song live during their shows at the end of May, 2008. Lead singer Wayne Coyne recalled how when he first heard the song as a child that he always imagined the audience to run around naked while it was being played.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Interview with Jimmy Page, Guitar World magazine, 1993
- ^ a b c d e Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
[edit] Sources
- Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song, by Chris Welch, ISBN 1-56025-818-7
- The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, by Dave Lewis, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9
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