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Quinten Pagan
Music 262-02
Video Research Paper
Professor Bradley Ard
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Rock Music has such a vast and rich history, it serves as a basis for modern
day music. Music heard and played in this this day and age is only but a derivative
of the music that once was played all around the world and was so popular. I chose
to do this paper on the band Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin is an English rock band
formed in 1968, that consists of guitarist Jimmy Page, drummer john Bonham,
bassist john Paul jones, and vocalist Robert plant.1 They are considered one of the
most influential and successful heavy metal pioneers.2 From the mid to late
seventies, a series of tragedies, ending with the death of drummer John Bonham
resulted in the disbandment of Led Zeppelin.3 Being that this was one of the first
types of rock music I was exposed to as a kid, being drawn and fascinated with it’s
blues inspired guitar style, there was no other band to pick. There music redefined
rock in the seventies and for all time.
First Song that I chose is named all of my love form their album entitled In
Through the Out Door. This album was the last album released before there 1980’s
disbanding. All of My Love was in my opinion One of the better Led Zeppelin songs.
This song utilizes a synthesizer which John Paul jones has a solo for. The solo from
jones in this song, plus the slow-tempo, is one of the reasons why it so greatly
appealed to me. The chorus from this song is somewhat different that other
zeppelin songs. It is more of a wave your hands type chorus, which is what I found
1 "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum." Led Zeppelin Biography.
http://rockhall.com/inductees/led-zeppelin/bio/ (accessed April 25, 2014).
2
"Led Zeppelin Biography | Rolling Stone." Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/ledzeppelin/biography (accessed April 25, 2014).
3
"The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum." Led Zeppelin Biography.
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to be enjoyable but didn’t appeal to guitarist Page. Page who wasn’t too fond of All
of my Love, chose not to criticize this song as this song was apparently written by
Robert Plant in tribute to his son Karac who died at the age of five during 1977.4
Being that Jimmy Page had no part in writing this song whatsoever, can be heard
with its somewhat different sound than the other songs that Page was involved in on
the album. During the performance, I feel as if this song really meant a lot to Plant
and could feel the emotion in his performance.
The Next Performance I chose is Led Zeppelins Kashmir. Kashmir is from
their Sixth album Physical Graffiti that was released in 1975. The guitar rift in this
song is so powerful, and is a really easy tune to get stuck in your head. Page himself
has cited Kashmir as having greatest led Zeppelin riff of all time, and that he is most
proud of it, this can be both seen and heard during his performance.5 The intensity
of this song, and the performance is breathtaking. You can really here and see the
physicality of this song. Being so intense but not being considered heavy metal is
another reason why one can appreciate the song. The stellar showmanship by both
Bonham and Page in this performance can be heard throughout. Page himself in my
opinion really makes this song. Though it is hard to understand what he is singing
to one who does not know the lyrics, his performance seems like he puts both his
4
"The 40 Greatest Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time: 'All My Love' 1979 | Rolling Stone." Rolling Stone.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-40-greatest-led-zeppelin-songs-of-all-time-20121107/all-mylove-1979-19691231 (accessed April 25, 2014).
5
"Kashmir by Led Zeppelin." Song Facts. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=356 (accessed
April 25, 2014).
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heart and soul throughout this song. The almost nine minute performance of this
song is always enjoyable.
The last song and Performance that I have chosen is that of Led Zeppelins
performance of Stairway to Heaven. Stairway to Heaven was released in 1971 with
the bands fourth studio album. One can argue that it is probably one of the greatest
rock songs ever to be made. Rolling Stones has listed it as #31 on their greatest
songs of all time lists.6 Despite being one of the best songs ever, it is most notably
referred to as overplayed to an extant that even Page himself has stated that he
himself grew tired of the song.7 This performance of the song was the best guitar
solo from page I have seen heard and seen. The guitar solo is really one of a kind
you can see the emotion and in page’s face while performing the solo. The slow
tempo build in the beginning of the song leading up to the guitar solo is also very
likable. Both Page and Plant can be seen being active and moving around the stage
seeing their enjoyment and how they feel of this song.
Led zeppelin really was influential in their decade just as the Beatles were in
the prior one. Their songs are still enjoyed today in millions, and their sounds
influenced a lot and can still be heard on the many different genres of rock. They are
in my opinion the game changers, and almost everyone has at heard of them. Then
6
Deezen, Eddie. "Greatest Rock song- the Stairway to Heaven Story." Today i found out.
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/12/greatest-rock-song-ever/ (accessed April 25,
2014).
7
Deezen, Eddie. "Greatest Rock song- the Stairway to Heaven Story." Today i found out.
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/12/greatest-rock-song-ever/ (accessed April 25,
2014).
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and now, led Zeppelin looms larger than life on the rock landscape as a band for the
ages with and almost mystical power to evoke primal passions.8
8
"The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum." Led Zeppelin Biography.
http://rockhall.com/inductees/led-zeppelin/bio/ (accessed April 25, 2014).
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Work Cited
"Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven Live (HD)." YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q7Vr3yQYWQ (accessed April 25,
2014).
"Led Zeppelin - Kashmir (Live Video)." YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW_WLxseq0o (accessed April 25,
2014).
"Led Zeppelin - All Of My Love." YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdERUjC0rYw (accessed April 25,
2014).
"Led Zeppelin: Achilles Last Stand - Led Zeppelin." Led Zeppelin: Achilles Last Stand
- Led Zeppelin. http://www.led-zeppelin.org/biographies/1329 (accessed
April 25, 2014).
"The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum." Led Zeppelin Biography.
http://rockhall.com/inductees/led-zeppelin/bio/ (accessed April 25, 2014).
"The 40 Greatest Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time: 'All My Love' 1979 | Rolling Stone."
Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-40-greatestled-zeppelin-songs-of-all-time-20121107/all-my-love-1979-19691231
(accessed April 25, 2014).
"Led Zeppelin Biography | Rolling Stone." Rolling Stone.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/led-zeppelin/biography
(accessed April 25, 2014).
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"Led Zeppelin Kashmir." Last.fm.
http://www.last.fm/music/Led+Zeppelin/_/Kashmir (accessed April 25,
2014).
"Kashmir by Led Zeppelin." Song Facts.
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=356 (accessed April 25, 2014).
Deezen, Eddie. "Greatest Rock song- the Stairway to Heaven Story." Today i found
out. http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/12/greatest-rocksong-ever/ (accessed April 25, 2014).