Robert Plant, the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, wrote “Stairway to Heaven” in the early 1970s, but but when he heard Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson (of Heart) perform it, he broke down in tears:
The concert was in 2012 for Kennedy Center Honors.
“Stairway to Heaven,” written in 1971, is considered one of the greatest rock songs of all time.
According to Esquire in 1991:
It’s doubtful that anyone knew it would become the most popular rock song of all time. After all, it’s eight minutes long and was never released as a single. Even “Hey Jude” was shorter, was a 45, and enjoyed the benefits of comprehensible words and a sing-along chorus. But “Hey Jude” isn’t the most requested song of all time on FM rock stations. Nobody ever had a “Hey Jude” theme prom or played the song at weddings and funerals like “Stairway.”
“Stairway” couldn’t succeed today. Back in 1971, FM deejays prided themselves on digging deep into albums to come up with oddball, cultish favorites. With its near-oppressive length, erratic changes, and woo-woo lyrics, the quasi-medieval anthem was a perfect choice. It continues to be a favorite among music listeners who are younger than the song itself, listeners who, in some cases, were no doubt conceived while the tune blasted from car speakers.
