A Whiter Shade of Pale

[Chromatic]

Gary Brooker has died.

https://procolharum.com/gary-brooker-obituary.htm

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3iPP-tHdA

 

[Tenkaykev]

Gary Brooker as died.

https://procolharum.com/gary-brooker-obituary.htm

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3iPP-tHdA

The music of my youth. R.I.P.

 

[Cycleops]

Wonderfully evocative song. So sad he's now gone.

 

[Time Waster]

That is my secret or guilty pleasure that song. Before my time but when I heard it first time it kind of got into me. I don't know why because slow tempo songs are not my thing. I prefer high energy and higher tempo tunes.

Weren't they a mix of musicians trained in various styles? Jazz musicians teaming up with classically trained musicians hence the style of music and this classically inspired song. Beautiful song indeed and talented people even if that had been their one and only song which it wasn't.

 

[Dirk]

The song is based on Bach's 'Air on a G string'.

 

[slowmotion]

The story is that Gary was asked by an earnest journalist what the song was actually about. His reply.......

"Search me"

 

[lazybloke]

Gary Brooker has died.

https://procolharum.com/gary-brooker-obituary.htm

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3iPP-tHdA

RIP

Back in the 80s, Radio Mercury would compile an annual "top 300 of all time" and play it over two bank holidays.
As I recall, the top 3 was always a toss-up between Bo Rhap, Stairway or WSOP.
It was fabulous chart - would love to find a listing.

Just had a listen to that youtube clip. Google autocaption isn't very good with song lyrics:

As the military chair​

Let out fishes first just posting​

Turn the water shut up pale ​

​

Makes as much sense as the actual lyrics.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I first heard A Whiter Shade Of Pale on a single given to me with other singles on one of those mono record players also given to me by my uncle in 1970. I also remember the b-side, Lime Street Blues. 52 years later I never grow tired of hearing 'whiter shade of pale'!

 

[Mo1959]

I got a Dansette record player and LP for my Christmas when I was around seven or eight and I remember that being on it. I still like it.

 

[biggs682]

Whiter shade of pale was always one of my mother's favourites so for that Rip

 

[Time Waster]

Tbh I don't think I notice the lyrics. I don't get past the music. Totally immersive for me!

As I said, talent!

 

[Deleted User]

He is now!

 

[steveindenmark]

Some great songs with weird lyrics. RIP

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Some great songs with weird lyrics. RIP

Homberg was always a favourite of mine

 

[captain nemo1701]

Sad news.

My favourite version: