The Song Remains the Same (song)
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"The Song Remains the Same" is a song by the English rock group Led Zeppelin. It is the opening track from their 1973 album, Houses of the Holy. The song features a furious multi-tracked guitar from Jimmy Page and vocals from lead singer Robert Plant. This was Plant's tribute to world music, reflecting his belief that music is universal. The studio version of the track has slightly sped-up vocals, making his voice attain an even higher pitch than usual.
The song was originally an instrumental which was given the working title "The Overture", before Plant added lyrics to it, after which it temporarily came to be known as "The Campaign" before the band settled on the title "The Song Remains the Same". The song bears some similarity to "Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor," an instrumental Page recorded with the Yardbirds.
At Led Zeppelin concerts from late 1972 through 1975, this song was followed (just as on the original album) by direct segue into "The Rain Song". For this arrangement, Page employed his trademark Gibson EDS-1275 double-necked guitar. "The Song Remains the Same" would be the opening song for the 1977 US tour and 1979 concerts, before being dropped from the setlist for the 1980 European tour. The song was also performed at Led Zeppelin's reunion show at the O2 Arena, London on December 10, 2007.
"The Song Remains the Same" was featured on Led Zeppelin's 1976 concert film (and accompanying soundtrack), as part of lead singer Robert Plant's fantasy sequence. The title of the song was used as the title of both the film and the album.
Jason Bonham, son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, recorded a cover version of the song, which was released on his 1997 album In the Name of My Father - The Zepset
Progressive metal group Dream Theater published a medley of Led Zeppelin songs in their 1995 EP A Change of Seasons, which featured parts of "The Song Remains the Same".
Led Zeppelin parody cover band Dread Zeppelin recorded a version of this song on their album 5,000,000. The also released an album entitled The Song Remains Insane as a play on words of this song.
Sources
- Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song, by Chris Welch, ISBN 1-56025-818-7
- The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, by Dave Lewis, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9
