I've just discovered the track on an old classics album and can't stop listening to it1
2007-01-19 02:33:37 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
It's a wonderful song.
Procul Harem based it on 'Air on a G-string', by JS Bach.
(otherwise known as the music from the Hamlet cigar adverts)
By the way, it's Whiter, not Lighter.
2007-01-19 02:37:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Classic 10/10
2007-01-19 02:42:39 · answer #2 · answered by Bill UK 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's superb.
Just for info: no-one's got it right yet about the Bach.
The opening few bars sound very like the Air from the [Orchestral, not keyboard] Suite in D, often called Air on the G string.
Matthew Fischer played the organ in AWSOP and has now been acknowledged as composer.
His old website:
http://web.archive.org/web/20010516014003/easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~maf/
recommends this one for more about the Bach influence & stuff
http://web.archive.org/web/20010616151342/www.bachfaq.org/whiter.html
Anyway, in the end, who gives a sharpened submediant?
Bach was always nicking other people's music and having a blast with it.
This song is definitely One Of The Best Ever.
2007-01-19 04:11:08 · answer #3 · answered by quicker 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"A Whiter Shade Of Pale" was recently the subject of a legal dispute over exactly which member of Procul Harem wrote the melody. Both claimed that it was based on different and obscure organ pieces by JS Bach (not "Air on a G String", which was written for the clavichord). I never did get to see what the outcome of that dispute was. It was also the first "pop" record that my father, a die hard classical music enthusiast, went out and bought. Still a great favourite of mine.
2007-01-19 02:49:29 · answer #4 · answered by Peter M 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Whiter shade of pale is a classic it's a shame that it came down to money and a court case for the magnificent keyboard to be recognised as part of it's success, which it richly deserves from day one.
2007-01-19 02:47:58 · answer #5 · answered by ?Master 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On a scale of 1 - 10 I would rate it a 10.
2007-01-19 02:41:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a great song! 9 out of 10 stars.
2007-01-19 02:40:56 · answer #7 · answered by two_kids_mommy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An answer above is incorrect: the Bach piece that is directly akin to "A Whiter Shade of Pale" is "Sleepers Awake."
Brilliant song. 10/10.
This song was just in the news a few weeks ago as Matthew Fisher, the organist on the song, was awarded compensation in court as the formerly uncredited co-writer.
2007-01-19 02:43:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Its called "Whiter Shade Of Pale". Classic 60's song, one of my favorites!
2007-01-19 07:44:04 · answer #9 · answered by BoosGrammy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
on a 1 - 10 i give it a 10
2007-01-19 02:37:29 · answer #10 · answered by barb 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋