Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven

"Stairway to Heaven" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released in late 1971. It was composed by the band's guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant for their untitled fourth studio album (usually called Led Zeppelin IV). The song is often regarded as the most popular rock song of all time.
The song has three sections, each one progressively increasing in tempo and volume. The song begins in a slow tempo with acoustic instruments (guitar and recorders) before introducing electric instruments. The final section is an uptempo hard rock arrangement highlighted by Page's guitar solo (considered by many to be one of the greatest ever) accompanying Plant's vocals that end with the plaintive a cappella line: "And she's buying a stairway to heaven."
"Stairway to Heaven" was voted number three in 2000 by VH1 on its list of the 100 Greatest Rock Songs, and was placed at number 31 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It was the most requested song on FM radio stations in the United States in the 1970s, despite never having been commercially released as a single there. In November 2007, through download sales promoting Led Zeppelin's “Mothership” release, "Stairway to Heaven" reached number 37 on the UK Singles Chart.

 

“Stairway to Heaven” este un cantec al trupei engleze de rock Led Zeppelin, lansat spre sfarsitul anului 1971. A fost compus de chitaristul trupei Jimmy Page si vocalistul Robert Plant pentru al patrulea album de studio fara titlu (uzual numit “Led Zeppelin IV”). Cantecul este privit deseori ca cel mai popular cantec rock din toate timpurile.
Cantecul are trei sectiuni, fiecare crescand progresiv  in tempo si volum. Cantecul incepe intr-un tempo lent cu instrumente acustice (chitara si inregistrari) inaintea introducerii instrumentelor electrice. Sectiunea finala este un aranjament inalt de hard rock evidentiat de solo-ul de chitara al lui Page (considerat de multi a fi cel mai mare chitarist), acompaniat de vocea tanguitoare a lui Plant pe versul a cappella:”Si ea cumpara o scara la cer”.
“Stairway to Heaven” a fost votat numarul 3 in 2000 de catre VH1 pe listele sale  la Cele mai mari 100 de cantece rock din toate timpurile. A fost cantecul cel mai cerut la posturile radio FM din Statele Unite in anii ’70, in ciuda faptului ca nu a fost lansat commercial ca single acolo. In noiembrie 2007 printre descarcarile ce promovau albumul “Mothership” al lui Led Zeppelin, “Stairway to Heaven” a atins locul 37 in clasamentul britanic de single-uri.

Personnel

Robert Plant – vocals

Jimmy Page – electric and acoustic guitars, production, mastering, digital remastering

John Paul Jones – bass, electric piano, recorders, synthesizer

John Bonham – drums