There has been 43 single records to physically sale 10,000,000 copies. This is one of them and they are in the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME. Remember this song was released in 1967. 54 years ago. Still powerful.
Well one of my favourite bands are Queen - because they are brilliant musicians, composers, songwriters - and Freddie Mercury - but the musicians were forgotten. They still live on - thanks to their good music .- they can do everything - but of cause some don't like it - - really - - in secret??
These guys recorded this song like 50 years ago without the orchestra. It's still worth hearing. Never have I heard any song this produced this much. It was nothing short of magnificent.
What I noticed more than anything was, the wonderful audience ,no shouting and screaming just total silence, and respect. I must stop listening to it as I cry everytime.
Don't worry about not understanding the lyrics. No one understands them. The main thing is how the music flows and how it feels. By the way, I believe that Gary Brooker was 61 years old when this performance took place. He was little more than a kid when this song was originally recorded. I think he sang it better at age 61 than at age 21.
Took me many years to understand the story. I am a musician not lyricist. But finally listened very carefully ,+ got it. But with all due Respect people can take whatever it means to them ; home ! Hint : its a story about the story about what happened.
Keith Reid, who wrote the lyrics has stated “I’d like the song to feel like a Dali painting looks. You know, clocks dissolving. You know fantastical things. You know the colors that somebody would use in a picture. You try to come up with that in words.”
This is one of those songs where you just don't need to understand what the lyrics are about. You just get to enjoy them. Yes, rock is both the "doo duh do" you air drummed, and it is soft ballads like this with many types in between. There are songs and artists that just do not fit into a specific category.
I think it actually gets worse if you realize what the lyrics are about. It's just about being drunk at a party with your rowdy mates and trying to get with some girl before she leaves with her friends. But there's a bit of Bach and a Chaucer reference in it so that makes it sophisticated.
Right you are .Sometimes i prefer lyrics that i don't fully understand as it allows me to fill in the gaps with what i want it to be .Bob dylan was like this on many of his songs . He admitted in an interview that on some of his songs like desolation , row he didn't know where that song came from . i think a lot of the best music is like this . an artist seems to tap into a song that is waiting to be discovered in an un manifest state . all that is necessary is to tune into the right frequency and it begins to flow outward .
This is a timeless and very popular song, even today. The lyrics were a mystery in 1966 and still are today to my knowledge. Gary Brooker never explained them. The instrument you are so taken with is a Hammond B-3 two manual electric organ. Arguably the finest ever produced. I've owned and played one for nearly forty years, this is one of favorite pieces to play.
Gary Brooker, the leader and singer songwriter for Harum is one of the best talents from the 60's with his thought provoking lyrics and music. I bought every one of his albums. My fav Album was "Shine On Brightly". And even today his voice still remains unchanged. Nice pick.. He recorded the song "Conquistador" in my home with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in Canada.
Always loved this song but was never really sure what it was about until I got much older! "Conquistador" is another great song they did in 1971 or 72. Thanks Marie! Love your channel!
Thank you Marie for listening to this song. It brought back so many good memories I had tears streaming down my face. Pretty strange for a 70 year old biker. Had this song on 8-track and listened to it all the time. Thanks again.
Great choice Marie. It's a beautiful song no matter which arrangement is used to perform it. So happy you are discovering so many different musical genres.
Listen to the original from '67 and you'll find that Gary Brooker's voice hasn't changed in 50 years. Another great song from this concert is Conquistador. Think you'll be amazed by it too.
Was in HS 1967 when this was first released .. timeless classic You might want to listen to a clip back in the day .. that was done 40 years ago from this presentation
Bon Jour Marie ! The Intro ( Strings ) was played by a Baroque sounding Organ , Someone mentioned Bach Already and at your first go the Lyrics are kinda of difficult to understand , Music in the 60’s was unbelievably diverse that included flirting with Classical Music , to get some context on this performance I suggest to listen to the original along with Whaling Stories both original and from this Concert , By the Way regarding Classical Music and Rock you might want to listen to Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues
When this song was first heard on the "radio" everyone called everyone else to listen. This was a game changer in our day. Go back and find the full length version and absolutely immerse yourself. Talk to your grandparents about their experience the first time👍
"I really don't get the lyrics." Hey, you're not alone. Thousands of people have gone mad trying to figure them out. Just enjoy the music, and thank you for the beautiful reaction.
@@mickgrace2558 Yes; it's betrayal, love gone wrong. This can be an epic-level, soul-stirring experience to anyone and he indulges it fully. Wonderful, deep, obscure and classical references throughout.
Lead singer Gary Booker passed away in February 2022. There are old videos of Procol Harum on UA-cam c.1967. He was 21 or 22. Amazing voice even then. And he was a handsome kid. He was happily married for about 54 years. The songwriter with the band was a fan of Salvador Dali. He liked the idea of composing lyrics in the same way. He heard someone at a party comment that a guest was turning a whiter shade of pale. There are more lyrics to this song. I found one rare clip of it on UA-cam with him singing it. If they’re performed in order, the story makes more sense. I was about 9 when the song came out. Still makes me cry.
Quite often a rock band brings out a ballad and it becomes a million seller, this is my favourite track and this is my most favourite performance, incredible ❤
Love your channel! Thank you for playing this song. I’m from Nova Scotia Canada and I grew up listening to this song in the 70s. It still gives me chills to this day at the age of 63. RIP Artist Gary Brooker Feb 2022.
The melody is derived from a classic composition from Bach, so it is perfect for an orchestral accompanied performance. Have always loved this song, stay safe, Marie 🌹.
This is a perfect song. The weirdest thing about this performance is that Gary Brooker's voice is still really good. One of the best songs of all time.
Thank you for reacting to this masterpiece. If you like Procol Harum, other songs of theirs you might like are Homburg, A Salty Dog, and Conquistador. Thank you reaction.
The Danish Symphony Orchestra introduces one of the most iconic songs of 1967. Musically, the arranger has made the brilliant choice of placing the melody in the minor key. This instantly conveys a wistful and nostalgic emotion to the listener. Then, just before Brooker's vocal entry, a lovely Tierce de Picardie signals a change in mood. Also, the live mix by the audio engineers of a full orchestra, choir, piano, B3 organ, guitars, bass, drums and vocal is absolutely stunning!
It's often called one of the best songs of all time. There have been over 1,000 cover versions! Your dad will know it very well, I'm sure. The lyrics are not easy to explain, even for a native English speaker, but basically it's about an encounter between a man and woman.
Gary Brooker the Piano Player and Vocalist is the only Original member of the Group! "Procol Harum" is Latin for "Beyond These Things"! Gary's cat a Siamese was the Group's name inspiration! Their name was "The Paramounts" until 1967.
Ja, Denmark has become their own having such awesome outdoor concerts und symphony that ist quite equal to das others of Europe. :-) Like your reaction much...warm hugs. Auf Wiedersehen aus Wiesbaden :-)
Beautiful to see you react to this gem, Marie. Do not worry about the lyrics, no-one knows what they are about, not even the band members. When it was written, the writer was... you know... not with his feet on the ground. The writer is no longer with us, and a few years ago, Gary passed away. But this will live on as one of the greatest songs of the 60s. I loved it then, love it even more now. All the best to you. Regards Paul(NL)
Nice! Procol Harum was popular at the end of the 60’s and beginning of the 70’s. The most famous person to come out of this band was Robin Trower who went on to have a very successful solo career as a hard rocker. He is still around and in his 70’s. You should react to Bridge of Sighs or Too Rolling Stoned by Robin Trower.
Early Procol Harum ( 'beyond these things' in Latin - miss-spelled actually) - was a unique mixture of Bach / rock / surrealism / and blues - especially Robin Trower's contribution . He was not on the original recording of 'Whiter Shade of Pale ' -- but was on their first album .
Hi again Marie! To answer your questions : always were 5 members in band : Singer/pianist , organist, drummer, lead guitar and bass guitar. Only Gary Brooker - the singer/pianist is left from the original group. He also wrote the music for this song and is the guy on the far right in the photo you showed from 1967. As someone commented, the lead guitarist in 1967 was Robin Trower - who left soon after, but was the most “well known” person from the band. As several people said, the song uses imagery from Chaucer’s “The Miller’s Tale” to describe his feeling about a love affair that he just realized is over while sitting with a group of friends, including his girlfriend.. As I said in my other comment, it’s the “slow dance” nature of this song that is important- because it was one of the first songs of “our generation” that you could dance to like this - and therefore brings back a lot of memories for those of us from, say 55-75!
Their music is mainly based on both classical music and blues. They also have good rock songs. Great band, great singer, great text writer. Thanks Marie and warm regards from the Netherlands!
I loved those first moments while you were trying to figure out how this related to "Rock and Roll". The expressions on your face were amazing! Great reaction!
This is a beautiful song. It came out in the later sixties when I was in the 8 th grade. It immediately takes me back to that time and a middle school crush that I had on a cute blonde. It is timeless and will always take me back to that era.
I'm native English speaker. I could not understand many of the words he was singing. One of my favorite all time songs. Even tho it always induces a since of melancholia. I'm too old to be hitting on you, so I will say you have the prettiest eyes. If your Dad hasn't said it, I bet he's thought it.
I can't understand you not understanding the words, not understanding the lyrics is another thing. The lyrics are allusive and somewhat metaphorical in the style of Jonathan Swift and Lewis Carroll - see also Jefferson Airplane's White Rabbit.
@@vtbn53 You misunderstood. I have heard that song many times before where the individual words were distinct. The singer this time, or the sound engineer this time, or both, did a poor job. This is one of my all time fave songs.
Nice of you to react to this 1967 song. I was in college at the time and never knew much about the singers although it was one my favorites. I was very busy. This was dance music. Slow dance music. All of those old couple sitting there once danced to this music and probably still do. It may very well have been this song that first brought them together - love at first sight (or touch) you know. Thanks.
I have loved this song since the 60’s, the orchestra and choir joining Procol Harum just makes the song mor beautiful. Gary Brooker was ahead of his time in rock.
Yes Marie, you want to start to understand the 60s? The turmoil, the counter-culture, the vibe? This song embodies the aura of that incredible era. Iconic. Legendary. Beautiful.
Loved your reaction to this classic rock anthem! I never tire of this great 1967 hit! You are probably a great person to have a drink with and chat about memorable rock music!
It's great seeing young people reacting to music that i heard in my youth. Music is like a river it's constantly moving on like the river of life, but occasionally you get a song that resists the flow of the time and picks up new fans along the way. The music is based on Barch's air on a g string and the lerics is based on the miller's tale taken from the Canterbury Tales by Jeffrey Chaulser
...in my opinion there are ONLY a few songs of this genre from that time - but they are classics. For one "A Whiter Shade of Pale", "Nights in White Satin", "Stairway To Heaven", Child in Time". Well, and Gary Brooker is one of the best from that time. AND don't say anything against this song - I fell in love with this song when I was 17/18 years old, but she didn't want to know anything about me. This song accompanied my heartbreak... Today I am 70 years old, over the heartbreak away (LoL) and love this music!
HELLO0O0O0 miss Marie! 👍another awesome video!! I was born in 1966 growing up through the 70's and 80's I also listened to music of the 60's....🤗🤗 Keep smiling and be safe angel eyes!!
"A Whiter Shade of Pale" was composed by Gary Brooker and Matthew Fisher, while the lyrics were written by Keith Reid.....................Sad news Gary Brooker (singer) and Keith Reed they are no Longest with Us..but the song stay Forever.
This performance in '06 is 40 yrs from it's release, he's about 65 here I believe...and still kills it today. I believe the intro is Moonlight Sonata, not part of original. I assure you, most people don't get the lyrics either, matters not...he's selling intensity and it's what you want it to be. Nice job!
Usually, a piece of music in its original version is the best thing you can hear. I have known this piece since it was released in 1967, it has accompanied me all my life. Here Gary Brooker has managed to interpret A Whiter Shade Of Pale even better than he did in 1967. Unfortunately, he has already passed away. R.I.P. Gary The original version in 1967 had 4 verses. Because the song was much longer than usual at over 4 minutes, two verses were left out. Keith Reid said: "No problem, it works just like that." But with verses 3 and 4, things become clearer. Here are all four verses: We skipped the light fandango turned cartwheels 'cross the floor I was feeling kinda seasick but the crowd called out for more The room was humming harder as the ceiling flew away When we called out for another drink the waiter brought a tray And so it was that later as the miller told his tale that her face, at first just ghostly, turned a whiter shade of pale. She said: "There is no reason and the truth is plain to see." But I wandered trough my playing cards and would not let her be one of sixteen virgins who were leaving for the coast and although my eyes were open they might have have just as well been closed And so it was that later as the miller told his tale that her face, at first just ghostly, turned a whiter shade of pale. She said: "I'm home on shore leave" Though in truth we were at sea So I took her by the looking glass and forced her to agree saying: "You must be the mermaid Who took Neptune for a ride." But she smiled at me so sadly that my anger straightway died And so it was that later as the miller told his tale that her face, at first just ghostly, turned a whiter shade of pale. If music be the feed of love the laughter is its queen and likewise is behind is in front then dirt in truth is clean My mouth by then like cardboard seemed to slip straight through my head So we crash-dived straightway quickly and attacked the ocean bed. And so it was that later as the miller told his tale that her face, at first just ghostly, turned a whiter shade of pale.
Gary Brooker was the singer in the band Procol Harum back in the 60s I saw him in concert at the outdoor Amphitheater at the Minnesota Zoo with Bill Wyman from the Rolling Stones
When it was released as a debut single in 1967 (obviously without the orchestra, but 'driven' by the sublime Hammond organ). It shot to no.1 in the record sales charts in at least 14 countries including the UK, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain and, of course, France! It is known to have been covered by more a thousand other artists and is officially the most broadcast record in the UK of the past 70 years!
Great song! Great reaction! I like most music, except for rap but I love classical music and my favorite instrument is the cello. I could listen to it all day long. Hugs from Idaho!
Piano, organ, drums, bass, lead guitar. The band has always been five members. This song was their first hit and is a classic. The organ theme is a melody from Bach and the song has a structure similar to some Baroque music. I saw them live twice in the late 60's & early 70's & they are a real rock & roll band but they have facets that are unusual for rock music. They use melodic structures that are based in classical music and lyrics that were influenced by people like Bob Dylan. They recorded a live album with the Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Symphony in 1971. The band has done concerts like this several times. Their music lends itself to orchestral arrangements. Whiter Shade is slow, melancholy, and seems to be a poorly remembered story of a drunken evening in the singer's past when his girl suddenly left him. There are references to history: Vestal Virgins and the Miller's Tale, ; it tells of a relationship - something makes her face turn pale; something makes her leave the relationship; too much to drink; elements of surrealism from French films like Last Year in Marienbad. It is a great example of how music, poetry, literature and film all influenced rock music in the 60's. I was in college in the 60's and I remember racing to a record store for a new album from a favorite band on the release date. Anything from Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Doors, and a few other bands were worthy of this kind of attention. Get the album and start listening to it over and over. The fact that we are still listening to this music tells us how timeless much of it is. I am fascinated by the reaction videos on UA-cam of young people hearing The Righteous Brothers or David Bowie or Luciano Pavarotti for the first time. There were no music videos before about 1980; there were no computers to modulate voices and correct vocal mistakes in real time; music was done live on TV; concerts were unaided by electronic doctoring. Much modern music is crafted by video and aural editing and even live performances are not so live as we like to think. Famous singers have been caught lip-synching their own songs. You picked a great arrangement of a great song. I loved hearing your comments. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of songs to listen to from the day the Beatles emerged to the anger of punk rock. Keep it up.
The orchestra and choir is The Danish National Orchestra (part of the Danish national television called DR), they do this every year with original gueststars
Procol Harum is a 5 member Rock/Pop Band of the 1960 with Gary Brooker - lead singer / pianist. Other band members as in 2018 were Matthew Fisher - keyboard, Marc Brzezicki - Drummer, Matthew Pegg - Bass guitar and Geoff Whitehorn - Guitarist. A few band members have changed over the years. A whiter shade of pale was their debut single released in 1967 and went straight to number 1 in the UK charts at the time. The song is believed to be about a drunken one night stand that went horribly wrong. Reference to the 'Miller' telling his tale is taken from Geoffry Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and gives us a subtle hint of what the song is all about. There is also a "missing" original section in the lyrics with speaks of a "mermaid" that took King Neptune for a ride. This can be heard in the other versions of the song. Yes there a quite a few. Fourteen years after Procol Harum had disbanded in 1977, the Band got back together again in 1991 because Gary Brooker had realised that there were many people out there who were still big fans of the group, and in particular the song A whiter shade of pale. The song celebrated it 50th Anniversary in 2017 with the release of a Studio remix. The decision to include an orchestra with the band was taken by Gary Brooker in 2006. It was intended to add to the rather "sombre" but beautiful musical arrangement that gave the song a sense of foreboding, but it is the strained vocals of Gary Brooker and the way that he delivers the story and the song to his audience that is powerful and emotional. Gary sings from his very soul as he tells us this story. There are many cover versions of the song and a few variations coming from the band itself. The song itself is Iconic. Sadly Gary Brooker lost his fight against Cancer and he died on 19th February 2022 aged 75.
What many do not know; When the organ plays the famous theme (cantus firmus), a 300 year old piece sounds! The Air from the orchestral suite No. 3 by J.S.Bach BWV 1068. (Air on G-String).
I was 12 in 1967 and the lead singer was an adult, that is over twenty so I calculate that he must be at least in his early to mid 60s here. Still in good voice. Everyone loved this song and I can still remember all the words.
This brings me back to the sixties, Went to church because my parents wanted me to, I didn't want it because there was nothing for youngsters to find. Suddenly the Organ player (also conductor of the Churchchoir) started to play this on churchorgan with all pipes open pumped up volume . I really cried because it was the first time I felt be recognized as a youngster in Church.
Back in the rock and roll days, the bands didn't have orchestras backing them up. That was one of the times that it worked out nicely . A little trivia. After that song became a huge hit, the organ he was playing , a Hammond ( I can't remember the model# ) with the leslie speaker system, became very popular and worth a good bit more money.
My brother and I loved this song all of our lives, but it was one of his Top 3. When he died at the very young age of 42 (7 years ago) when we played this at his wake it struck me that this song can bring a tear of sadness to your eye as you smile so happily. It haunts you to your bones as it lifts you on angels wings... The lyrics are not meant to tell any one story, it is meant to encompass the entirety of the "human experience"...
Gary Booker, the singer here co wrote this song back in 1967, but the music borrows from Bach. The band is playing with an orchestra here but the original hit was just the band.
That's what I refer to as the "Beautiful torcher of translation". I mostly use [ Southern most USA] English and practically my native language now. But there is a lot of poetic nuances lost while learning a different language. But also something more often more appreciated than native speakers. It's so natural they (and myself as well at times) miss it entirely. Life is a giant learning curve. 😁
I miss some more volume.This is not from England - but from Europe - Denmark. - This is from the park af Ledreborg Castle - and it is common to meet and bring garden chairs - food and wine to these concerts and have an nice afternoon/evening. We do that on several occasions as well these days as well. This is the danish national orchestra - ? I know the name in danish - - and they have made several renditions of filmmusic - look it up - "The good, the bad and the very ugly" - and several others.This is the song that Paul McCartney wish he had written!. We are educated so differently - - what is a band - and what is an orchestra - a symphony orchestra - a military orchestra - a brass band - ond so on . - oh I forgot a big band - and then all the different groups/bands from now - - building on the past - - but quietly forgotten all about it. Blues, rock, jazz, classical music - many genres - hip hop - musical- . some know about the past - and some about the present. I wouldn't know the first thing about the present - and probably not appreciate it - so you are doing a good job - and you have a new subscriber.
Whenever I hear _“as the miller told his tale”,_ I think (of course) of the Miller in *The Canterbury Tales,* and it makes the song even more classic for me.
I saw them live right after that song was released in 67. Gary's voice stayed the same all thru his career. Thats a very small crowd at that venue. The time I saw them there were 40k in attendance at least. Bands back then real raw talent and their musicianship was top notch. Bands these days can't hold a candle of This band and most any band form the 60s and 70s..
J'ai vu Procol Harum en concert à l'été 1971 à Central Park à New York quand j'avais 18 ans. C'était un concert super et ils ont magnifiquement chanté cette chanson, mais Gary Brooker avait 61 ans à ce concert en 2006- 40 ans après la sortie de la chanson! Dans cette performance, sa voix porte le poids émotionnel d'avoir vécu 40 ans de plus depuis qu'elle a été écrite et interprétée pour la première fois. Ce mec a tout mis le paquet! (??🤔🙄 voici je fais une supposition au hasard, alors corrigez-moi s'il y a une meilleure façon de dire ceci! 😀👍). Sa voix + l'orchestre + le choeur incroyable ont élevé cette chanson de géniale à époustouflante! Bien sûr, les lignes d'orgue signature du Hammond restent aussi fraîches que jamais. Toujours la dernière chanson jouée, quand tu as réellement la chance de tenir la fille à laquelle tu as pensé toute la nuit. La dernière danse menant souvent au premier baiser! Pour moi, cette chanson a ouvert les vannes et 50 ans de merveilleux souvenirs se sont déversés! J'avais 14 ans lorsque cette chanson est sortie. Si j’avais encore 14 ans, je dirais: «je surkiffe cette chanson!», mais comme je suis maintenant un vieux, «ç’est vachement formidable!» devra suffire! 🤣 😍 Merci beaucoup Marie d'avoir accepté de réagir à cette chanson. Tu m’en vois ravi!😁 I saw Procol Harum in concert in the summer of 1971 in Central Park in New York City when I was 18 years old. It was a great show and they sang this song beautifully, but Gary Brooker is 61 at this concert in Denmark in 2006 - 40 years after the song was released! In this performance, his voice carries the emotional weight of having lived 40 more years since it was first written and performed. This guy simply pulled out all the stops! His amazing voice + orchestra + incredible choir took this song from awesome to mind blowing! Of course, the Hammond's signature organ lines remain as fresh as ever. Always the last song played, when you're really lucky enough to hold the girl you've been thinking about all night. The last dance often leading to the first kiss! For me, this song opened the floodgates and 50 years of wonderful memories have poured out! I was 14 when this song came out. If I was still 14, I would say, "I’m crazy about this song using teen slang that I can’t think of in English!!” But being an old man now, "this is really great!" will have to suffice! 🤣 😍 Thank you very much Marie for agreeing to react to this song. I’m truly delighted! 😀 For anyone interested, this is a totally different interpretation of this song by King Curtis from 1970: ua-cam.com/video/FI8d36w_ijw/v-deo.html Many think this is one of the best instrumental songs every performed. I’m on-board with that, but will leave it to you to decide for yourselves.
That moment when you realize your grandparents were way cooler than you will ever be.
Exactly right!
Yep, we were!
I too remember this in the charts and the impact it made. Must be getting old.
You hit the nail on the head there, Barry! We were.
Yeah... you got it, my friend!!!
There has been 43 single records to physically sale 10,000,000 copies. This is one of them and they are in the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME. Remember this song was released in 1967. 54 years ago. Still powerful.
Well one of my favourite bands are Queen - because they are brilliant musicians, composers, songwriters - and Freddie Mercury - but the musicians were forgotten. They still live on - thanks to their good music .- they can do everything - but of cause some don't like it - - really - - in secret??
What a timeless and beautiful song. I'm sure that people will still love this song in 100 years.💜🤍💜🤍 Thank you for the memory.
These guys recorded this song like 50 years ago without the orchestra. It's still worth hearing. Never have I heard any song this produced this much. It was nothing short of magnificent.
What I noticed more than anything was, the wonderful audience ,no shouting and screaming just total silence, and respect.
I must stop listening to it as I cry everytime.
Well it is music - not just rhythm -
Don't worry about not understanding the lyrics. No one understands them. The main thing is how the music flows and how it feels. By the way, I believe that Gary Brooker was 61 years old when this performance took place. He was little more than a kid when this song was originally recorded. I think he sang it better at age 61 than at age 21.
Took me many years to understand the story. I am a musician not lyricist. But finally listened very carefully ,+ got it. But with all due Respect people can take whatever it means to them ; home !
Hint : its a story about the story about what happened.
You are so correct and how did he do it better at 61? But he did.....amazing---Ahhhh- the 60's - what a decade for music-
gary was 71 when he did this, he died in February 2022.
Their is a story behind the lyrics.
@@uliwehner 61or 62 he was. In 2006. He was 76 when he passed away
Hands down one of my most favorite songs of all time and of the many versions they've done this one is at the top
This is the music of my youth, I loved it.
Keith Reid, who wrote the lyrics has stated “I’d like the song to feel like a Dali painting looks. You know, clocks dissolving. You know fantastical things. You know the colors that somebody would use in a picture. You try to come up with that in words.”
This is one of those songs where you just don't need to understand what the lyrics are about. You just get to enjoy them. Yes, rock is both the "doo duh do" you air drummed, and it is soft ballads like this with many types in between. There are songs and artists that just do not fit into a specific category.
I think it actually gets worse if you realize what the lyrics are about. It's just about being drunk at a party with your rowdy mates and trying to get with some girl before she leaves with her friends.
But there's a bit of Bach and a Chaucer reference in it so that makes it sophisticated.
Right you are .Sometimes i prefer lyrics that i don't fully understand as it allows me to fill in the gaps with what i want it to be .Bob dylan was like this on many of his songs . He admitted in an interview that on some of his songs like desolation , row he didn't know where that song came from . i think a lot of the best music is like this . an artist seems to tap into a song that is waiting to be discovered in an un manifest state . all that is necessary is to tune into the right frequency and it begins to flow outward .
One of THE quintessential rock songs on the '60s.
It reminds me of my youth!
Of all time!
This is a timeless and very popular song, even today. The lyrics were a mystery in 1966 and still are today to my knowledge. Gary Brooker never explained them. The instrument you are so taken with is a Hammond B-3 two manual electric organ. Arguably the finest ever produced. I've owned and played one for nearly forty years, this is one of favorite pieces to play.
Gary Brooker, the leader and singer songwriter for Harum is one of the best talents from the 60's with his thought provoking lyrics and music. I bought every one of his albums. My fav Album was "Shine On Brightly". And even today his voice still remains unchanged. Nice pick.. He recorded the song "Conquistador" in my home with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in Canada.
❤️
Keith Reid wrote the lyrics, Gary created the music to go with them. Amazing team and entire band = astoundingly tight and good!
I lived in Edmonton: 10602 81st Ave. I had no idea of the connection to Conquistador! Thanks! They demolished that beautiful house 🥲
Always loved this song but was never really sure what it was about until I got much older! "Conquistador" is another great song they did in 1971 or 72. Thanks Marie! Love your channel!
So now you know what it is about? Please tell me!
Thank you Marie for listening to this song. It brought back so many good memories I had tears streaming down my face. Pretty strange for a 70 year old biker. Had this song on 8-track and listened to it all the time. Thanks again.
Great choice Marie. It's a beautiful song no matter which arrangement is used to perform it. So happy you are discovering so many different musical genres.
Listen to the original from '67 and you'll find that Gary Brooker's voice hasn't changed in 50 years. Another great song from this concert is Conquistador. Think you'll be amazed by it too.
❤️
And Salty Dog
Was in HS 1967 when this was first released .. timeless classic
You might want to listen to a clip back in the day .. that was done 40 years ago from this presentation
this song is from my era..... so iconic....you can look back at this like i looked at George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
Bon Jour Marie ! The Intro ( Strings ) was played by a Baroque sounding Organ , Someone mentioned Bach Already and at your first go the Lyrics are kinda of difficult to understand , Music in the 60’s was unbelievably diverse that included flirting with Classical Music , to get some context on this performance I suggest to listen to the original along with Whaling Stories both original and from this Concert , By the Way regarding Classical Music and Rock you might want to listen to Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues
When this song was first heard on the "radio" everyone called everyone else to listen.
This was a game changer in our day.
Go back and find the full length version and absolutely immerse yourself.
Talk to your grandparents about their experience the first time👍
"I really don't get the lyrics." Hey, you're not alone. Thousands of people have gone mad trying to figure them out. Just enjoy the music, and thank you for the beautiful reaction.
The lyrics relate to writings of a "Canterbury Tales". Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400.
@@mickgrace2558 Yes; it's betrayal, love gone wrong. This can be an epic-level, soul-stirring experience to anyone and he indulges it fully. Wonderful, deep, obscure and classical references throughout.
Lead singer Gary Booker passed away in February 2022. There are old videos of Procol Harum on UA-cam c.1967. He was 21 or 22. Amazing voice even then. And he was a handsome kid. He was happily married for about 54 years. The songwriter with the band was a fan of Salvador Dali. He liked the idea of composing lyrics in the same way. He heard someone at a party comment that a guest was turning a whiter shade of pale.
There are more lyrics to this song. I found one rare clip of it on UA-cam with him singing it. If they’re performed in order, the story makes more sense.
I was about 9 when the song came out. Still makes me cry.
Quite often a rock band brings out a ballad and it becomes a million seller, this is my favourite track and this is my most favourite performance, incredible ❤
Love your channel!
Thank you for playing this song. I’m from Nova Scotia Canada and I grew up listening to this song in the 70s.
It still gives me chills to this day at the age of 63.
RIP Artist Gary Brooker Feb 2022.
The melody is derived from a classic composition from Bach, so it is perfect for an orchestral accompanied performance.
Have always loved this song, stay safe, Marie 🌹.
I am sure a few of the orchestra members enjoyed this song in their younger days while enjoying things that were not 100% legal.
Air on a g string
The meaning of the song is a love encounter gone wrong. The meaning is secondary to the performance of the song. Just listen and enjoy.
That's news to me .
This is a perfect song. The weirdest thing about this performance is that Gary Brooker's voice is still really good. One of the best songs of all time.
a very beautiful song which marked all its génération of hippies, you should listen to the version of the 60s.
Thank you for reacting to this masterpiece. If you like Procol Harum, other songs of theirs you might like are Homburg, A Salty Dog, and Conquistador. Thank you reaction.
❤️
Thanks for this one. Brings back high school memories.
Can't ask for much more than that. A Beautiful Lady, Reacting to a Beautiful Song. 👍
Very good choice to react to, this has been one of my favorites since it came out in '67.
He was 61 when he gave this performance. Still knocked it out of the park.
The Danish Symphony Orchestra introduces one of the most iconic songs of 1967. Musically, the arranger has made the brilliant choice of placing the melody in the minor key. This instantly conveys a wistful and nostalgic emotion to the listener. Then, just before Brooker's vocal entry, a lovely Tierce de Picardie signals a change in mood. Also, the live mix by the audio engineers of a full orchestra, choir, piano, B3 organ, guitars, bass, drums and vocal is absolutely stunning!
It's often called one of the best songs of all time. There have been over 1,000 cover versions! Your dad will know it very well, I'm sure.
The lyrics are not easy to explain, even for a native English speaker, but basically it's about an encounter between a man and woman.
Gary Brooker M.B.E - R.I.P. This is an absolutely perfect performance in every way possible. it cannot be topped.
Gary Brooker the Piano Player and Vocalist is the only Original member of the Group! "Procol Harum" is Latin for "Beyond These Things"! Gary's cat a Siamese was the Group's name inspiration! Their name was "The Paramounts" until 1967.
Ja, Denmark has become their own having such awesome outdoor concerts
und symphony that ist quite equal to das others of Europe. :-)
Like your reaction much...warm hugs. Auf Wiedersehen aus Wiesbaden :-)
Thank you for sharing another great reaction, it was beautiful.
Beautiful to see you react to this gem, Marie. Do not worry about the lyrics, no-one knows what they are about, not even the band members. When it was written, the writer was... you know... not with his feet on the ground. The writer is no longer with us, and a few years ago, Gary passed away. But this will live on as one of the greatest songs of the 60s. I loved it then, love it even more now. All the best to you.
Regards
Paul(NL)
Nice! Procol Harum was popular at the end of the 60’s and beginning of the 70’s. The most famous person to come out of this band was Robin Trower who went on to have a very successful solo career as a hard rocker. He is still around and in his 70’s. You should react to Bridge of Sighs or Too Rolling Stoned by Robin Trower.
❤️
Early Procol Harum ( 'beyond these things' in Latin - miss-spelled actually) - was a unique mixture of Bach / rock / surrealism / and blues - especially Robin Trower's contribution . He was not on the original recording of 'Whiter Shade of Pale ' -- but was on their first album .
One of my favorite classic songs from the 60's.
Gary Brooker...one of the greatest voices ...ever
He was 23 years old 1967. Listen to the record too.❤️
Hi again Marie!
To answer your questions : always were 5 members in band : Singer/pianist , organist, drummer, lead guitar and bass guitar. Only Gary Brooker - the singer/pianist is left from the original group. He also wrote the music for this song and is the guy on the far right in the photo you showed from 1967. As someone commented, the lead guitarist in 1967 was Robin Trower - who left soon after, but was the most “well known” person from the band. As several people said, the song uses imagery from Chaucer’s “The Miller’s Tale” to describe his feeling about a love affair that he just realized is over while sitting with a group of friends, including his girlfriend.. As I said in my other comment, it’s the “slow dance” nature of this song that is important- because it was one of the first songs of “our generation” that you could dance to like this - and therefore brings back a lot of memories for those of us from, say 55-75!
Their music is mainly based on both classical music and blues. They also have good rock songs. Great band, great singer, great text writer. Thanks Marie and warm regards from the Netherlands!
This is an all time classic, no matter how old you are, it's musical culture, it's that simple.
This is a beautiful timeless song!
Sweet reaction, Marie!
I loved those first moments while you were trying to figure out how this related to "Rock and Roll". The expressions on your face were amazing! Great reaction!
This is a beautiful song. It came out in the later sixties when I was in the 8 th grade. It immediately takes me back to that time and a middle school crush that I had on a cute blonde. It is timeless and will always take me back to that era.
I'm native English speaker. I could not understand many of the words he was singing. One of my favorite all time songs. Even tho it always induces a since of melancholia. I'm too old to be hitting on you, so I will say you have the prettiest eyes. If your Dad hasn't said it, I bet he's thought it.
I can't understand you not understanding the words, not understanding the lyrics is another thing. The lyrics are allusive and somewhat metaphorical in the style of Jonathan Swift and Lewis Carroll - see also Jefferson Airplane's White Rabbit.
@@vtbn53 You misunderstood. I have heard that song many times before where the individual words were distinct. The singer this time, or the sound engineer this time, or both, did a poor job. This is one of my all time fave songs.
@@carlopton In that case I would go and get your hearing checking, as I am 67 and heard him perfectly.
@@vtbn53 Nice. Thank you.
@@carlopton Bollocks.
I've been listening to this song for many years and I still don't know what it means, but it's so beautiful I don't even care! lol
the band didn't know what it means :)
@@cthomish The words are 'surreal' -- they are not meant to give you a direct story . They are usually from the subconscious mind .
That's a Hammond B3 organ with Leslie speakers that had spinning horns. Totally unique sound.
Nice of you to react to this 1967 song. I was in college at the time and never knew much about the singers although it was one my favorites. I was very busy. This was dance music. Slow dance music. All of those old couple sitting there once danced to this music and probably still do. It may very well have been this song that first brought them together - love at first sight (or touch) you know. Thanks.
Went to one of their concerts in 1968, and Whiter Shade of Pale is still very striking.
Just love when youngins finally hear our music 🎶 😮
I have loved this song since the 60’s, the orchestra and choir joining Procol Harum just makes the song mor beautiful. Gary Brooker was ahead of his time in rock.
Yes Marie, you want to start to understand the 60s? The turmoil, the counter-culture, the vibe? This song embodies the aura of that incredible era. Iconic. Legendary. Beautiful.
Loved your reaction to this classic rock anthem! I never tire of this great 1967 hit! You are probably a great person to have a drink with and chat about memorable rock music!
We had to figure out the words from the radio!
Til we got the album! Love you and your reactions! Big fan! Look back! Go deep!
There were 5 members: piano, organ, drums, and 2 guitar players.
Btw the message of the song is 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️😁❤️
I grew up hearing this band. 1st time i heard this song it left me with tears in my eyes❤
It's great seeing young people reacting to music that i heard in my youth. Music is like a river it's constantly moving on like the river of life, but occasionally you get a song that resists the flow of the time and picks up new fans along the way. The music is based on Barch's air on a g string and the lerics is based on the miller's tale taken from the Canterbury Tales by Jeffrey Chaulser
There's something undeniably and irresistably cool about that old feller. I could watch him sing for hours.
...in my opinion there are ONLY a few songs of this genre from that time - but they are classics. For one "A Whiter Shade of Pale", "Nights in White Satin", "Stairway To Heaven", Child in Time".
Well, and Gary Brooker is one of the best from that time.
AND don't say anything against this song - I fell in love with this song when I was 17/18 years old, but she didn't want to know anything about me. This song accompanied my heartbreak...
Today I am 70 years old, over the heartbreak away (LoL) and love this music!
HELLO0O0O0 miss Marie!
👍another awesome video!! I was born in 1966 growing up through the 70's and 80's I also listened to music of the 60's....🤗🤗
Keep smiling and be safe angel eyes!!
"A Whiter Shade of Pale" was composed by Gary Brooker and Matthew Fisher, while the lyrics were written by Keith Reid.....................Sad news Gary Brooker (singer) and Keith Reed they are no Longest with Us..but the song stay Forever.
This performance in '06 is 40 yrs from it's release, he's about 65 here I believe...and still kills it today. I believe the intro is Moonlight Sonata, not part of original. I assure you, most people don't get the lyrics either, matters not...he's selling intensity and it's what you want it to be. Nice job!
Usually, a piece of music in its original version is the best thing you can hear. I have known this piece since it was released in 1967, it has accompanied me all my life. Here Gary Brooker has managed to interpret A Whiter Shade Of Pale even better than he did in 1967. Unfortunately, he has already passed away. R.I.P. Gary
The original version in 1967 had 4 verses. Because the song was much longer than usual at over 4 minutes, two verses were left out. Keith Reid said: "No problem, it works just like that." But with verses 3 and 4, things become clearer.
Here are all four verses:
We skipped the light fandango
turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kinda seasick
but the crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
as the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
the waiter brought a tray
And so it was that later
as the miller told his tale
that her face, at first just ghostly,
turned a whiter shade of pale.
She said: "There is no reason
and the truth is plain to see."
But I wandered trough my playing cards
and would not let her be
one of sixteen virgins
who were leaving for the coast
and although my eyes were open
they might have have just as well been closed
And so it was that later
as the miller told his tale
that her face, at first just ghostly,
turned a whiter shade of pale.
She said: "I'm home on shore leave"
Though in truth we were at sea
So I took her by the looking glass
and forced her to agree
saying: "You must be the mermaid
Who took Neptune for a ride."
But she smiled at me so sadly
that my anger straightway died
And so it was that later
as the miller told his tale
that her face, at first just ghostly,
turned a whiter shade of pale.
If music be the feed of love
the laughter is its queen
and likewise is behind is in front
then dirt in truth is clean
My mouth by then like cardboard
seemed to slip straight through my head
So we crash-dived straightway quickly
and attacked the ocean bed.
And so it was that later
as the miller told his tale
that her face, at first just ghostly,
turned a whiter shade of pale.
Gary Brooker was the singer in the band Procol Harum back in the 60s I saw him in concert at the outdoor Amphitheater at the Minnesota Zoo with Bill Wyman from the Rolling Stones
This song came out in ‘67 and caught my attention when it did.
I saw Gary Brooker at outdoor Amphitheater with Bill Wyman from the Rolling Stones and other musicians beautiful concert
When it was released as a debut single in 1967 (obviously without the orchestra, but 'driven' by the sublime Hammond organ). It shot to no.1 in the record sales charts in at least 14 countries including the UK, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain and, of course, France! It is known to have been covered by more a thousand other artists and is officially the most broadcast record in the UK of the past 70 years!
Whiter Shade of Pale that's Gary Brooker on the piano from Procol Harum back in 1967
What an incredible performance - Gary Brooker still doing it.
Great song! Great reaction! I like most music, except for rap but I love classical music and my favorite instrument is the cello. I could listen to it all day long. Hugs from Idaho!
Yes this is procol harum. Awesome Marie love your reaction to this band
I googled the song with the lyrics showing. The melody is hauntingly beautiful and beautifully sung.
Piano, organ, drums, bass, lead guitar. The band has always been five members. This song was their first hit and is a classic. The organ theme is a melody from Bach and the song has a structure similar to some Baroque music. I saw them live twice in the late 60's & early 70's & they are a real rock & roll band but they have facets that are unusual for rock music. They use melodic structures that are based in classical music and lyrics that were influenced by people like Bob Dylan. They recorded a live album with the Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Symphony in 1971. The band has done concerts like this several times. Their music lends itself to orchestral arrangements.
Whiter Shade is slow, melancholy, and seems to be a poorly remembered story of a drunken evening in the singer's past when his girl suddenly left him. There are references to history: Vestal Virgins and the Miller's Tale, ; it tells of a relationship - something makes her face turn pale; something makes her leave the relationship; too much to drink; elements of surrealism from French films like Last Year in Marienbad. It is a great example of how music, poetry, literature and film all influenced rock music in the 60's.
I was in college in the 60's and I remember racing to a record store for a new album from a favorite band on the release date. Anything from Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Doors, and a few other bands were worthy of this kind of attention. Get the album and start listening to it over and over.
The fact that we are still listening to this music tells us how timeless much of it is. I am fascinated by the reaction videos on UA-cam of young people hearing The Righteous Brothers or David Bowie or Luciano Pavarotti for the first time. There were no music videos before about 1980; there were no computers to modulate voices and correct vocal mistakes in real time; music was done live on TV; concerts were unaided by electronic doctoring. Much modern music is crafted by video and aural editing and even live performances are not so live as we like to think. Famous singers have been caught lip-synching their own songs.
You picked a great arrangement of a great song. I loved hearing your comments. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of songs to listen to from the day the Beatles emerged to the anger of punk rock. Keep it up.
The orchestra and choir is The Danish National Orchestra (part of the Danish national television called DR), they do this every year with original gueststars
Procol Harum is a 5 member Rock/Pop Band of the 1960 with Gary Brooker - lead singer / pianist. Other band members as in 2018 were Matthew Fisher - keyboard, Marc Brzezicki - Drummer, Matthew Pegg - Bass guitar and Geoff Whitehorn - Guitarist. A few band members have changed over the years. A whiter shade of pale was their debut single released in 1967 and went straight to number 1 in the UK charts at the time. The song is believed to be about a drunken one night stand that went horribly wrong. Reference to the 'Miller' telling his tale is taken from Geoffry Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and gives us a subtle hint of what the song is all about. There is also a "missing" original section in the lyrics with speaks of a "mermaid" that took King Neptune for a ride. This can be heard in the other versions of the song. Yes there a quite a few. Fourteen years after Procol Harum had disbanded in 1977, the Band got back together again in 1991 because Gary Brooker had realised that there were many people out there who were still big fans of the group, and in particular the song A whiter shade of pale. The song celebrated it 50th Anniversary in 2017 with the release of a Studio remix. The decision to include an orchestra with the band was taken by Gary Brooker in 2006. It was intended to add to the rather "sombre" but beautiful musical arrangement that gave the song a sense of foreboding, but it is the strained vocals of Gary Brooker and the way that he delivers the story and the song to his audience that is powerful and emotional. Gary sings from his very soul as he tells us this story. There are many cover versions of the song and a few variations coming from the band itself. The song itself is Iconic. Sadly Gary Brooker lost his fight against Cancer and he died on 19th February 2022 aged 75.
What many do not know; When the organ plays the famous theme (cantus firmus), a 300 year old piece sounds! The Air from the orchestral suite No. 3 by J.S.Bach BWV 1068. (Air on G-String).
❤ He's been practicing that song for over 50 years singing that song.
R.I.P.
I was 12 in 1967 and the lead singer was an adult, that is over twenty so I calculate that he must be at least in his early to mid 60s here. Still in good voice. Everyone loved this song and I can still remember all the words.
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, "The Miller's Tale" seems to be the image behind the song. I have always loved it.
This brings me back to the sixties, Went to church because my parents wanted me to, I didn't want it because there was nothing for youngsters to find.
Suddenly the Organ player (also conductor of the Churchchoir) started to play this on churchorgan with all pipes open pumped up volume . I really cried because it was the first time I felt be recognized as a youngster in Church.
Love you Marie! Blessings!
He was about 60 in this performance... Blessed with such pipes
Back in the rock and roll days, the bands didn't have orchestras backing them up. That was one of the times that it worked out nicely . A little trivia. After that song became a huge hit, the organ he was playing , a Hammond ( I can't remember the model# ) with the leslie speaker system, became very popular and worth a good bit more money.
My brother and I loved this song all of our lives, but it was one of his Top 3. When he died at the very young age of 42 (7 years ago) when we played this at his wake it struck me that this song can bring a tear of sadness to your eye as you smile so happily. It haunts you to your bones as it lifts you on angels wings... The lyrics are not meant to tell any one story, it is meant to encompass the entirety of the "human experience"...
Gary Booker, the singer here co wrote this song back in 1967, but the music borrows from Bach. The band is playing with an orchestra here but the original hit was just the band.
Back in the sixties they were Procol Harum one of my favorite groups Gary Brooker was part of the group
That's what I refer to as the "Beautiful torcher of translation".
I mostly use [ Southern most USA] English and practically my native language now.
But there is a lot of poetic nuances lost while learning a different language.
But also something more often more appreciated than native speakers.
It's so natural they (and myself as well at times) miss it entirely.
Life is a giant learning curve. 😁
I miss some more volume.This is not from England - but from Europe - Denmark. - This is from the park af Ledreborg Castle - and it is common to meet and bring garden chairs - food and wine to these concerts and have an nice afternoon/evening. We do that on several occasions as well these days as well. This is the danish national orchestra - ? I know the name in danish - - and they have made several renditions of filmmusic - look it up - "The good, the bad and the very ugly" - and several others.This is the song that Paul McCartney wish he had written!. We are educated so differently - - what is a band - and what is an orchestra - a symphony orchestra - a military orchestra - a brass band - ond so on . - oh I forgot a big band - and then all the different groups/bands from now - - building on the past - - but quietly forgotten all about it. Blues, rock, jazz, classical music - many genres - hip hop - musical- . some know about the past - and some about the present. I wouldn't know the first thing about the present - and probably not appreciate it - so you are doing a good job - and you have a new subscriber.
Whenever I hear _“as the miller told his tale”,_ I think (of course) of the Miller in *The Canterbury Tales,* and it makes the song even more classic for me.
A good, heart-felt reaction video. Your passion is "wow."
You have to really listen to the words, back in my day it was one of the most beautiful songs ever written.
I saw them live right after that song was released in 67. Gary's voice stayed the same all thru his career.
Thats a very small crowd at that venue. The time I saw them there were 40k in attendance at least.
Bands back then real raw talent and their musicianship was top notch.
Bands these days can't hold a candle of This band and most any band form the 60s and 70s..
J'ai vu Procol Harum en concert à l'été 1971 à Central Park à New York quand j'avais 18 ans. C'était un concert super et ils ont magnifiquement chanté cette chanson, mais Gary Brooker avait 61 ans à ce concert en 2006- 40 ans après la sortie de la chanson! Dans cette performance, sa voix porte le poids émotionnel d'avoir vécu 40 ans de plus depuis qu'elle a été écrite et interprétée pour la première fois. Ce mec a tout mis le paquet! (??🤔🙄 voici je fais une supposition au hasard, alors corrigez-moi s'il y a une meilleure façon de dire ceci! 😀👍). Sa voix + l'orchestre + le choeur incroyable ont élevé cette chanson de géniale à époustouflante! Bien sûr, les lignes d'orgue signature du Hammond restent aussi fraîches que jamais. Toujours la dernière chanson jouée, quand tu as réellement la chance de tenir la fille à laquelle tu as pensé toute la nuit. La dernière danse menant souvent au premier baiser! Pour moi, cette chanson a ouvert les vannes et 50 ans de merveilleux souvenirs se sont déversés! J'avais 14 ans lorsque cette chanson est sortie. Si j’avais encore 14 ans, je dirais: «je surkiffe cette chanson!», mais comme je suis maintenant un vieux, «ç’est vachement formidable!» devra suffire! 🤣
😍 Merci beaucoup Marie d'avoir accepté de réagir à cette chanson. Tu m’en vois ravi!😁
I saw Procol Harum in concert in the summer of 1971 in Central Park in New York City when I was 18 years old. It was a great show and they sang this song beautifully, but Gary Brooker is 61 at this concert in Denmark in 2006 - 40 years after the song was released! In this performance, his voice carries the emotional weight of having lived 40 more years since it was first written and performed. This guy simply pulled out all the stops! His amazing voice + orchestra + incredible choir took this song from awesome to mind blowing! Of course, the Hammond's signature organ lines remain as fresh as ever. Always the last song played, when you're really lucky enough to hold the girl you've been thinking about all night. The last dance often leading to the first kiss! For me, this song opened the floodgates and 50 years of wonderful memories have poured out! I was 14 when this song came out. If I was still 14, I would say, "I’m crazy about this song using teen slang that I can’t think of in English!!” But being an old man now, "this is really great!" will have to suffice! 🤣
😍 Thank you very much Marie for agreeing to react to this song. I’m truly delighted! 😀
For anyone interested, this is a totally different interpretation of this song by King Curtis from 1970:
ua-cam.com/video/FI8d36w_ijw/v-deo.html
Many think this is one of the best instrumental songs every performed. I’m on-board with that, but will leave it to you to decide for yourselves.