According to music historian Harvey Kubernik, in the context of the Summer of Love, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" was the "one song [that] stood above all others, its Everest-like status conferred by no less than John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who were enthralled by the Chaucerian wordplay and heavenly Baroque accompaniment". In celebration of the 50 th anniversary of “A Whiter Shade Of Pale,” I’ve decided to share three videos (below). Turned a whiter shade of pale. Then I spent about an hour sifting through random yahoo! For instance, the last two verses of the song are completely omitted from standard versions of “A Whiter Shade of Pale”. Posted by Bruce Kahl on April 19, 2005. But as far as the 20th century is concerned, the most-successful cover was that of Annie Lennox in 1995, which charted in nearly 15 countries and reached number 1 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 list. "A Whiter Shade of Pale" is the debut song by the British band Procol Harum, released 12 May 1967. Originally the writing of this song was credited exclusively to Procol Harum’s Keith Reid and Gary Brooker. Air On A G String was the starting point but the rest was invention, with constant reference to Bach-like breaks and atmosphere.”. This classic also proved popular enough to have its own promotional films back in the days when music videos were only afforded to the most-successful of acts, like the Beatles. and although my eyes were open “Keith Reid [Procol Harum lyricist] had written the lyrics and posted them to me,” recalls pianist/singer Gary Brooker. drunk – and on the verge of partaking of even more alcohol. In recent times, the song has been the subject of a protracted court case, with organist Matthew Fisher claiming he co-wrote the music with Brooker. There was a problem. That phrase stuck in my mind." “Now, younger people hear it and it still sounds full of atmosphere. Procol Harum are by and large a one-hit wonder, with this song being their one hit. The first verse of the song obviously describes the trip the author is on. The tune has held a particularly strong standing in Procol Harum’s homeland of the United Kingdom. Procol Harum recorded this song, over a two-week period, in Olympic Sound Studios, which is located in London. And eventually, in 2009, English law did ruled in Fisher’s favor, thus officially making him a co-writer of this hit also. Not only is the instrumental partially based on a song dating all the way back to the 17th century, but there are also references to the likes of “the miller”, “16 vestal virgins” and “Neptune” which truly gives the lyrics a mythological, esoteric feel. The drug referred to in the song is coke, but it could be any drug overdose. All rights reserved. In 1967, British group Procol Harum released one of the few singles to sell 10 million copies worldwide: “A Whiter Shade of Pale.” The members that recorded the song were Gary Brooker (vocals and piano), Matthew Fisher (Hammond M-102 organ), bassist David Knights, Ray Royer on guitar and session drummer Bill Eyden (later replaced by Bobby Harrison). In fact the Beatles’ main songwriters, Paul McCartney and John Lennon, were themselves said to have been heavily impressed by “A Whiter Shade of Pale”, with Lennon in particular taking a special liking to the tune. And “A Whiter Shade of Pale” was amongst the first songs to be enshrined therein. However in his opinion, “A Whiter Shade of Pale” “was the one that recorded the best”. I was immediately taken with the immense length of the original four verses with a chorus on each, and the narrative form it took, with its mysterious characters and goings-on.”, Brooker had been working on melody inspired by classical composer Johann Sebastian Bach, saying: “Throughout 1966 I had followed with interest the work of the Jacques Loussier Trio and the Swingle Singers, who had made an art of adapting Bach pieces. Do you know the song "A Whiter Shade of Pale" What does it mean? I've been wanting to know what the song A Whiter Shade of Pale by the band Procol Harum is about since 1967, when I first heard it. According to Keith, this hit song came about during the band’s first recording session. Stay Another Day (Less Sad Mix) #10. And in 1977 the Brit Awards gave it the distinction of being The Best British Pop Single 1952-1977, an accolade it shared with “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975) by Queen. Indeed we see at the beginning of the second verse that she has no discernible – or at least admitted – reason for leaving him. It's about a relationship. As far as one-hit wonders go, no act could have asked for a bigger success than “A Whiter Shade of Pale”. A WHITER SHADE OF PALE In a slow 4 Words and Music by KEITH REID and GARY BROOKER We skipped the light- fan - dan - go, turned cart - wheels 'cross the She said, The Summer of Love is another name given to the summer season of 1967, which was one of the highlights of the hippie-inspired 1960s in the Anglo-American world. Procol Harum's lyricist Keith Reid wrote the words to this song. The instrumental to this track, according to Gary Brooker, was partially inspired by “Air on the G String”, a tune originated by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) circa 1730. He was inspired By musicians they all like to say that to Pat each other in the back. I'm going to find out. and would not let her be. There's characters and there's a location, and there's a journey. Louder is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. John Lennon was said to be a great fan of the song and was known to have played it repeatedly on the record player fitted in his psychedelic Rolls Royce. Whiter shade of pale. Du Trägst Keine Liebe In Dir #5. Sign up below to get the latest from Prog, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, In other words, it’s as if they and the others in the venue are having a real-good, carefree time. But despite the instant success, Brooker wasn’t about to get carried away by pop stardom. Some of the notable names to have done so include the following: Some lesser known acts such as The Hesitations (1968) and R. B. Greaves (1970) even managed to chart with their renditions. Because LSD melts In your mind not in your mouth. The single is A Whiter Shade Of Pale, the debut release from Procol Harum that not only topped the UK charts for six weeks, but also made it to Number Five in America. Also the implication is that they are quite smashed – i.e. They actually formed way back in 1967 and, outside of taking the entire 1990s off, have for the most part been active throughout the decades. The original lyrics had four verses, of which only two are heard on the original recording. The first one, with Peter Clifton as its director, was shot in Witley Court, the ruins of a large 17th century mansion in England. (If you think that's procrastination, let me tell you about my fiction writing.) But what is it about A Whiter Shade Of Pale that has made it so enduring and iconic? Updated February 8, 2021. A whiter shade of pale . Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, Daniel Biro announces online concert for May, Karnivool reschedule The Regeneration Tour to April/May 2022, Acolyte release powerful video for new single Resentment, Listen to Texan ‘choral rockers’ The Polyphonic Spree’s take on a Rush classic. And he further stated that “A Whiter Shade of Pale” wasn’t meant to “combine” rock with classical”. From the onset it is obvious that the singer and the other subject of the song, his romantic interest, are together in some sort of party setting. But in all, it reads like one of those types of scenarios where homegirl has basically come to the realization that the time has come for her to move on with her life. And there were other tracks from the early days of Procol Harum which they were equally fond of. Bath And concerning the unconventional, Latin-sounding name of the group, it actually doesn’t have any true interpretation. In fact this track holds the distinction of being one of the highest-selling singles of all time. A friend of Matthew Fisher’s went on to explain that the musician did not wait some 40 years, from when the song first came out, to file the aforementioned lawsuit per se. “When it was at Number One, a Rolls Royce appeared at my flat to pick me up for Top Of The Pops. However, it wasn’t until 2005 that the lawyer he consulted that time around, Jens Hill, agreed that Fisher actually had a case. This song is obviously about death from an overdose of drugs. In Reply to: Whiter shade of pale posted by Snoopy on April 19, 2005: What is the meaning of "a whiter shade of pale"? Please refresh the page and try again. And he went on to elaborate that “in those days it wasn’t just a question of how good is your song” but also “how good of a recording can you make”. A Whiter Shade of Pale (by Procol Harum, 1967) I don’t know the writer’s intent or inspiration. Also in 2018 the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame changed its criteria, allowing singles to be inducted into the institution as opposed to only musicians themselves. The general consensus is that “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” is a snapshot of a drunken sexual escapade gone awry. answers to find a reputable source for the meaning of the song. My wife has taken a… Ever been on one? It also parallels with the Titanic tragedy. The song was written by band members Keith Reid and Gray Brooker, whose haunting melancholy vocals went a long way to making the song a number one hit in the UK as well as all over Europe. Most Brits and I have enjoyed it for years. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Or stated otherwise, it has sold in excess of 10,000,000 copies which is a remarkable feat. He took a time travel back to ancient times and he saw the procession of the 16 Vestal versions that guard of the tumor Vesta. Your email address will not be published. He wasn’t drunk he was high most likely on LSD. I've had it. And for the record, as of 2021, only about 40 songs in history have ever achieved this great feat. Keith Reid got the title and starting point for the song at a party. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” is a very special track for Procol Harum. It’s a single with almost incomprehensible lyrics, has been the subject of drawn-out legal proceedings, and is the most played record by British broadcasting over the past 70 years or so. And this of course leaves the singer himself wondering why exactly such is transpiring. 'A WHITER Shade Of Pale' is lyrically a pile of pretentious rubbish which makes the mistake of assuming the mantle of literature. The song, “A Whiter Shade Of Pale”. But within the context of the song, the reason “that her face… turned a whiter shade of pale” is because, obviously, she came to experience a high level of emotional discomfort. The song is a sexual odyssey where the girl is breaking up with boy but they have one last "fandango" (in this case a sexual dance) where he, for lack of a better team goes hard at it giving her extreme pleasure with multiple orgasms, turning her, a whiter shade of pale. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), which was hippyish in and of itself. And once again in terms of the UK especially, it should also be noted that “A Whiter Shade of Pale” came out just two weeks the Beatles’ most-celebrated album, Sgt. Without much promotion, it reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. Relevance. 77,312 2,899. more tracks from the album Starke Gefuhle, Vol. I found this: “The song explores what it means to be wrecked, in more than one sense of the word. In 1998, it was inducted into the highly-distinguished Grammy Hall of Fame. Procol Harum is a rock band from the UK. After topping the Dutch Top 40 in 1967, it went on to also do the same on the Netherlands’ Single Top 100 in 1972, having also recharted on the UK Singles Chart that year. The single is A Whiter Shade Of Pale, the debut release from Procol Harum that not only topped the UK charts for six weeks, but also made it to Number Five in America. That is what really happened it was a time traveling quantum leap backward where he hoped to stay up because he filed a beautiful goddess he was banned forever from that time time. This is exactly it. Song Meanings and Facts © 2021. Look it up. Or stated differently, Brooker was able to compose the instrumental based on “a bar or two” of the aforementioned classic as a starting point. BA1 1UA. Released in May 1967, it debuted at Number 11 in the UK, reaching the top a week later. And why? In 2005, Matthew Fisher, another old school member of the crew who left in 2004, sued Brooker, who remained leader of the band, under the claim that he (Fisher) also co-wrote “A Whiter Shade of Pale” (Keith Reid left Procol Harum when they first disbanded in 1977 and never returned to the fold.). I mean people now use it all the time. But within the context of the song, the reason “that her face… turned a whiter shade of pale” is because, obviously, she came to experience a high level of emotional discomfort. Though at times they’ll only sing the third and not the fourth. That may explain why he also began the narrative in a party-like setting. Additionally it reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, despite receiving limited promotion in the United States. Answer Save. But at the end of the day the conclusive sentiment of the singer seems to be akin to happily accepting that his lady friend has indeed decided to part ways. All Rights Reserved. Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely #3. One of 16 vestal virgins who were leaving for the coast. This was the most-played song in … The organ strains of Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" sounded through Court 56 of Britain's High Court as the band's former organ player, Matthew Fisher, … I hope it helps you understand the song. Gary Brooker, the vocalist, composer, and pianist, has a soulful singing voice. It’s not exactly clear why this happened. It reflects an era that, perhaps, they wish they could have experienced.”. He overheard someone at the party saying to a woman, "You've turned a whiter shade of pale," and the phrase stuck in his mind. Historically this track is part and parcel of a period of time known as the Summer of Love, specifically as far as the UK is concerned. “Keith Reid [Procol Harum lyricist] had written the lyrics and posted them to me,” recalls pianist/singer Gary Brooker. 4 Answers. Join Me in Death #6. The original lyrics had four verses, of which only two are heard on the original recording. It struck me as a very useful phrase, a whiter shade of pale. You will receive a verification email shortly. An early explanation from Reid was that he was at a "gathering" where "some guy looked at a chick and said to her, 'you've gone a whiter shade of pale'. Watch the song video Whiter Shade of Pale. This is "Procol Harum-A Whiter Shade Of Pale" by musicki24 on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Between then and actually filing, he sought consul on the matter four times. I think it make sense, really ! And when he originally conceived the song it consisted of four verses. The song describes a drunken seduction attempted by the song's narrator on an unnamed woman. Regardless of genre or meaning behind the song, one thing is undebatable…“A Whiter Shade Of Pale” is one of the greatest songs in the history of rock and roll. The single reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart on 8 June 1967 and stayed there for six weeks. I was just reading an article in the New York Times and they were talking about a drink called absinthe and they called the absinthe a lighter shade of green. Procol Harem was not a “one hit wonder.” Have you listened to “Conquistador?” It is a lyrical masterpiece. The producer of this track was the late Denny Cordell (1943-1995), an English musician who was actually born in Argentina. Jul 16th 2019 report. It is then in the chorus that we are introduced to the titular phrase, itself being a challenging, or let’s say open-ended allegory in and of itself. 5 #1. The song came out as part of Procol Harum’s debut album, which itself is entitled Procol Harum. 'A whiter shade of pale' refers to being under the influence of coke, and taking another rail to go "a whiter shade of pale". The success of this song has led to “a whiter shade of pale” being adopted as a common phrase in the English lexicon. The first verse is pretty clear to me: they are a band, they are very coked up while doing a show, skipped a light show and did everything they could to impress instead. I asked who had booked it, the driver said, ‘Your manager.’ We sacked him and I took the bus!”. He defiled one of the versions and was forever banned from that time and push forward to 1967. “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” became a huge hit around the world, reached number 5 on the US charts, and is now one of fewer than 30 singles to have sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Song Meaning Reid got the title and starting point for the song at a party. But rather at the time, “it’s just that Bach’s music was in (him)”. He overheard someone at the party saying to a woman, "You've turned a whiter shade of pale", and the phrase stuck in his mind. 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