Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin – The Best Song Ever?
This is the second post in “The Best Song Ever?” series. A series in which I discuss the most extraordinary songs ever composed, written and performed. If you are interested in the first post, it was about an iconic hit “The End” by The Doors. But today I’m talking about another legendary song: “Stairway To Heaven” by Led Zeppelin.
“Stairway To Heaven” is not just one of the most famous and popular songs by great Led Zeppelin. This is a universally beloved rock hit that reached an anthem like status. It is considered by millions of music fans as one of the greatest songs ever created.
Why is this particular composition so highly revered? And why does it have such a deep effect on listeners? I mean LZ has other hugely popular hits. For example their “Whole Lotta Love” has more views on YouTube. Yet something about Stairway To Heaven makes is stand out among other remarkable songs.
History of the Song
“Stairway to Heaven” was written by guitarist Jimmy Page and singer Robert Plant. They came up with it while staying at a remote cottage in Wales. Page took his time and worked on a track putting the music together slowly. He used the drafts and ideas he had previously recorded on tape. Plant on the other hand wrote most of the lyrics almost in one sitting, just one night by a fireplace.
They started recording the song in 1970, and finished it by early 1971. When the song came out on their fourth album in November 1971 – it became a huge hit. Many people bought the album just for that song. Stairway to Heaven got a lot of radio time. As time went on, the track got even bigger.
How To Listen to the Song Properly
Something tells me you’ve heard Stairway to Heaven. If you love music, it’s kinda hard to miss one of its biggest hits. However I’m not sure you listened to it properly. And I am not trying to sound pretentious or anything, there’s no right and wrong way to listen to music. What I really mean is that I am not sure you let yourself “hear” the song and enjoy it to the maximum of its potential.
Trust me, Stairway to Heaven is one of the rare songs you should listen properly so to speak. You should give this track 8 minutes of you full attention. It’s really simple to do. Pause what you’re doing, sit back, clear your mind. When you feel you’re ready – play the song from start to finish on the best audio system you have. Grab your premium headphones or using a proper sound setup instead of your phone. It will pay off.
Why This Might Be The Best Song Ever
So many people think “Stairway to Heaven” might be the best song ever. And I can definitely understand the argument. Like other exceptional music pieces it takes listeners on a unique journey. It doesn’t matter what genres you prefer, or what styles you usually listen to. When given the opportunity to really hear this extraordinary song, people can’t help but to fall in love with it.
If you are a religious person, you might explain it by divine inspiration that touched the musicians. If you don’t believe in higher powers, you may think of it as a prime example of human creative genius. Whatever it is, but the fact remains – all the notes, all the soundscapes, all the highs and lows, twists and turns seem to be perfect in Stairway to Heaven.
To me, the key to it’s greatness lies in the song’s structure. It has both calm and soothing parts, but it also has a high-energy, stormy section. The song starts with a calm acoustic intro and then gradually builds up. It is not in a hurry, it takes the time it needs. But in the end it rewards us with a mind-blowing powerful rock solo. We reach it like climbers as they get to the top of the mountain. It is a beautiful moment up there, but so was the whole journey towards it.
The song changes throughout its run and keeps it interesting. Jimmy Page’s guitar solo is out of this world. And of course Robert Plant’s vocals perfectly compliment it.
The Big Controversy
Like many other super-hits “Stairway to Heaven”, has its own share of drama. A big controversy took place because of claims that Led Zeppelin copied part of the song from another band. In 2014 the band Spirit accused Led Zeppelin of stealing the opening guitar riff from their 1968 song “Taurus.” A bold accusation if I say so myself. Spirit stated that Led Zeppelin heard “Taurus” when the two bands performed at the same venues in the late 1960s. A lawsuit was filed and the case went to court.
In 2016 a jury ruled in favor of Led Zeppelin. They explained the decision by the fact that the similarities were not enough to prove that Led Zeppelin copied “Taurus.” The controversy however didn’t end there, as the case was appealed. Finally in 2020 the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case. Which effectively put the dispute to an end. This time for good. Now its only the fans who continue the heated discussions and share their arguments online.
Conclusion
I hope this post reminded you of “Stairway to Heaven” in case you haven’t listened to it in a long time. Or maybe you’ve never heard it before, and now you do know about it.
Songs like this are super rare. But they never get old. They stay amazing through years and decades. And they remain great beacons, showing what humanity is capable of when it’s not busy destroying itself.
