Immigrant Song: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Single | {{Infobox Single | ||
|name = Immigrant Song | |name = Immigrant Song | ||
|image = Image:Issingle1970.jpg | |image = Image:Issingle1970.jpg | ||
|caption = 1970 Dutch single | |caption = 1970 Dutch single | ||
|album = ''Led Zeppelin III | |album = ''Led Zeppelin III'' | ||
|published = Superhype Music | |published = Superhype Music | ||
|registration = ASCAP 390244458 | |registration = ASCAP 390244458 | ||
Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
|language = English | |language = English | ||
|length = 2 minutes 21 seconds | |length = 2 minutes 21 seconds | ||
|composer = Jimmy Page | |composer = Jimmy Page and Robert Plant | ||
|label = Atlantic Records | |label = Atlantic Records | ||
|producer = Jimmy Page | |producer = Jimmy Page | ||
|engineer = Andy Johns | |engineer = Andy Johns | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TOC|right}} | {{TOC|right}} | ||
''''Immigrant Song'''' is the opening track on England|English | ''''Immigrant Song'''' is the opening track on England|English rock music|rock band Led Zeppelin's third album, ''Led Zeppelin III'', written and recorded in 1970 and released as a single. | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
The song is memorable for its distinguishing, plaintive cry from singer Robert Plant | The song is memorable for its distinguishing, plaintive cry from singer Robert Plant at the commencement of the song, and is built around a recurring, staccato Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones, and John Bonham riff. The hiss at the beginning of the track is feedback building up from a recording tape echo unit.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2012|title=Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=41|isbn=978-1-78038-547-1}}</ref> | ||
The 'Immigrant Song' was composed during Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin Tour of Iceland, Bath and Germany, Summer 1970|tour of Iceland, Bath and Germany | The 'Immigrant Song' was composed during Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin Tour of Iceland, Bath and Germany, Summer 1970|tour of Iceland, Bath and Germany June-July 1970. The opening date of this tour took place in Reykjavik, Iceland on 22 June, which inspired Plant to write the song. As he elucidated: | ||
{{cquote|We weren't being pompous ... We did come from the land of the ice and snow. We were guests of the Icelandic Government on a cultural mission. We were invited to play a concert in Reykjavik and the day before we arrived all the civil servants went on strike and the gig was going to be cancelled. The university prepared a concert hall for us and it was phenomenal. The response from the kids was remarkable and we had a great time. 'Immigrant Song' was about that trip and it was the opening track on the album that was intended to be incredibly different.<ref>{{cite book|last=Welch|first=Chris|year=1996|chapter=Stairway to Heaven|title=Led Zeppelin|location=London|publisher=Carlton Books|pages=55|isbn=978-1-85868-271-6}}</ref>}} | {{cquote|We weren't being pompous ... We did come from the land of the ice and snow. We were guests of the Icelandic Government on a cultural mission. We were invited to play a concert in Reykjavik and the day before we arrived all the civil servants went on strike and the gig was going to be cancelled. The university prepared a concert hall for us and it was phenomenal. The response from the kids was remarkable and we had a great time. 'Immigrant Song' was about that trip and it was the opening track on the album that was intended to be incredibly different.<ref>{{cite book|last=Welch|first=Chris|year=1996|chapter=Stairway to Heaven|title=Led Zeppelin|location=London|publisher=Carlton Books|pages=55|isbn=978-1-85868-271-6}}</ref>}} | ||
Just six days after Led Zeppelin's appearance in Reykjavik, the band publicly debuted the song for the first time during sunset at the Bath Festival | Just six days after Led Zeppelin's appearance in Reykjavik, the band publicly debuted the song for the first time during sunset at the Bath Festival, as the set opener.<ref>{{cite book|author=Lewis, Dave and Pallett, Simon|title=Led Zeppelin: The Concert File|edition=Revised|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|year=2005|pages=111|isbn=978-1-84449-659-4}}</ref> | ||
The lyrics envision the Sagas of Icelanders | The lyrics envision the Sagas of Icelanders, and is sung from the perspective of Vikings sailing west from Scandinavia in search of new lands and opportunities. The lyrics make reference to battles and the Old Norse religion (''Fight the horde, sing and cry, Valhalla, I am coming!''), but return to the ideal of peace ultimately winning in the end (''For peace and trust can win the day''). In a 1970 radio interview, Plant jokingly quipped: | ||
{{cquote|We went to Iceland, and it made you think of Vikings and big ships... and John Bonham's stomach... and bang, there it was - Immigrant Song!<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2012|title=Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=41|isbn=978-1-78038-547-1}}</ref>}} | {{cquote|We went to Iceland, and it made you think of Vikings and big ships... and John Bonham's stomach... and bang, there it was - Immigrant Song!<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2012|title=Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=41|isbn=978-1-78038-547-1}}</ref>}} | ||
The 'Immigrant Song' is one of Led Zeppelin's few Single (music)|single | The 'Immigrant Song' is one of Led Zeppelin's few Single (music)|single releases, having been issued in November of 1970 by their record label, Atlantic Records, against the band's wishes. It reached Number 16 on the Billboard charts.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Billboard|title=Billboard Hot 100 Singles|year=1971|month=January|journal=Billboard|volume=83|issue=5|pages=64|issn=0006-2510|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref> Its B-side, 'Hey Hey What Can I Do', was unavailable on any album before the release of the band's ''Led Zeppelin (box set)|Led Zeppelin'' compilation box set in 1990. The 'Immigrant Song' single was also released in Japan with 'Out on the Tiles' mistakenly as the B-side rather than 'Hey Hey What Can I Do'. This single is now a rare collectible item. | ||
One of the verses from the song became part of Led Zeppelin lore. The line, 'The hammer of the gods/will drive our ships to new lands' prompted some fans to start referring to Led Zeppelin's oeuvre as the 'Hammer of the Gods'.<ref>{{cite book|last=Williamson|first=Nigel|year=2014|chapter=The Music: 50 Great Led Zeppelin Tracks|title=The Dead Straight Guide to Led Zeppelin|location=London|publisher=Red Planet Publishing|pages=218|isbn=978-1-9059-5952-5}}</ref> | One of the verses from the song became part of Led Zeppelin lore. The line, 'The hammer of the gods/will drive our ships to new lands' prompted some fans to start referring to Led Zeppelin's oeuvre as the 'Hammer of the Gods'.<ref>{{cite book|last=Williamson|first=Nigel|year=2014|chapter=The Music: 50 Great Led Zeppelin Tracks|title=The Dead Straight Guide to Led Zeppelin|location=London|publisher=Red Planet Publishing|pages=218|isbn=978-1-9059-5952-5}}</ref> | ||
==Live performances== | ==Live performances== | ||
The 'Immigrant Song' was used as the set opener Led Zeppelin concerts | The 'Immigrant Song' was used as the set opener Led Zeppelin concerts from 1970 to 1972. On the second half of their Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1972|1972 concert tour of the United States, it was introduced by a prelude known as 'LA Drone', designed to heighten the sense of anticipation and expectation amongst the concert audience. By 1973, 'Immigrant Song' was occasionally being used as an Encore (concert)|encore, but was then dropped from their live set.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2012|title=Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=41|isbn=978-1-78038-547-1}}</ref> Live performances of the song can be heard on the Led Zeppelin albums ''How the West Was Won (album)|How the West Was Won'' (featuring a performance at Long Beach Arena in 1972) and the ''BBC Sessions (Led Zeppelin album)|BBC Sessions'' (a version from the Paris Theatre in London in 1971). When played live, Page played an extended guitar solo, which was absent on the recorded ''Led Zeppelin III'' original.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2012|title=Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=41|isbn=978-1-78038-547-1}}</ref> The 'Immigrant Song' was performed as part of the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Jeff Beck, by both Page (on electric 12 string guitar) and Beck (on lead guitar imitating Plants vocals).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/jimmy-page-honors-jeff-beck-at-rock-hall-1003959007.story|title=Jimmy Page Honors Jeff Beck at Rock Hall of Fame|publisher=Billboard|accessdate=2009-04-20}}</ref> | ||
==In popular culture== | ==In popular culture== | ||
The song is also one of the few Led Zeppelin songs to have been licensed for cinematic release. For the 2003 film ''School of Rock | The song is also one of the few Led Zeppelin songs to have been licensed for cinematic release. For the 2003 film ''School of Rock'', during the roadie van scene.<ref>{{cite web|title=''School of Rock'' (2003)|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/450121/School-Of-Rock/music.html|work=Turner Classic Movies|publisher=Turner Entertainment|accessdate=18 October 2013}}</ref> To get permission to use this song in the motion picture, the star of the film, Jack Black, videotaped himself singing in front of 1000 extras, begging for Led Zeppelin to let them use the song in the motion picture.<ref>{{cite news|last=Snider|first=Mike|title='Rock': Paint it Black|date=2004-03-02|publisher=USA Today|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-03-02-jack-black-music_x.htm|work=Movies|accessdate=2009-04-20|language=English}}</ref> The song also appears, in a slightly changed version due to licensing reasons, in ''Shrek the Third'', when Snow White attacks the city gates, guarded by Huorns. She wails the characteristic cry of Robert Plant, backed by the riff, as in the beginning of the original song..<ref>{{cite web|title=''Shrek the Third'' (2007)|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/636606/Shrek-the-Third/music.html|work=Turner Classic Movies|publisher=Turner Entertainment|accessdate=18 October 2013}}</ref> | ||
It has also appeared on the 1999 documentary about the Munich massacre|1972 Munich Olympic Games massacre | It has also appeared on the 1999 documentary about the Munich massacre|1972 Munich Olympic Games massacre, ''One Day in September'',<ref>{{cite web|title=''One Day in September'' (2000)|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/443690/One-Day-in-September/music.html|work=Turner Classic Movies|publisher=Turner Entertainment|accessdate=18 October 2013}}</ref> and the trailers for the BBC1 drama series ''Life on Mars (TV series)|Life on Mars''. 'Immigrant Song' also plays over the credits of the French TV show ''50 Minutes Ins'', and the Max Weinberg 7 performs this song regularly during ''Late Night With Conan O'Brien'' television show. The song is performed by marching bands at high school and college football games. Starting from the 2007 NFL Season|2007 season, the Minnesota Vikings play this song during their team introductions and before kickoffs. During the 2007-2008 Association Football|football season, Brentford FC played this song immediately preceding kick-off. Bruiser Brody aka Frank Goodish-professional wrestling used this song as part of his entrance music, without lyrics. | ||
== Chart positions == | == Chart positions == | ||
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|} | |} | ||
<small>Note: The official UK Singles Chart | <small>Note: The official UK Singles Chart incorporated legal downloads as of 17 April 2005.</small><br> | ||
==Credits== | ==Credits== | ||
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**John Bonham - drums, percussion | **John Bonham - drums, percussion | ||
*Production: | *Production: | ||
**Peter Grant | **Peter Grant – executive producer | ||
**Andy Johns - engineer, mixing | **Andy Johns - engineer, mixing | ||
**Joe Sidore - original CD mastering engineer (mid-1980s) | **Joe Sidore - original CD mastering engineer (mid-1980s) |
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'Immigrant Song' is the opening track on England|English rock music|rock band Led Zeppelin's third album, Led Zeppelin III, written and recorded in 1970 and released as a single. OverviewThe song is memorable for its distinguishing, plaintive cry from singer Robert Plant at the commencement of the song, and is built around a recurring, staccato Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones, and John Bonham riff. The hiss at the beginning of the track is feedback building up from a recording tape echo unit.[1] The 'Immigrant Song' was composed during Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin Tour of Iceland, Bath and Germany, Summer 1970|tour of Iceland, Bath and Germany June-July 1970. The opening date of this tour took place in Reykjavik, Iceland on 22 June, which inspired Plant to write the song. As he elucidated:
Just six days after Led Zeppelin's appearance in Reykjavik, the band publicly debuted the song for the first time during sunset at the Bath Festival, as the set opener.[3] The lyrics envision the Sagas of Icelanders, and is sung from the perspective of Vikings sailing west from Scandinavia in search of new lands and opportunities. The lyrics make reference to battles and the Old Norse religion (Fight the horde, sing and cry, Valhalla, I am coming!), but return to the ideal of peace ultimately winning in the end (For peace and trust can win the day). In a 1970 radio interview, Plant jokingly quipped:
The 'Immigrant Song' is one of Led Zeppelin's few Single (music)|single releases, having been issued in November of 1970 by their record label, Atlantic Records, against the band's wishes. It reached Number 16 on the Billboard charts.[5] Its B-side, 'Hey Hey What Can I Do', was unavailable on any album before the release of the band's Led Zeppelin (box set)|Led Zeppelin compilation box set in 1990. The 'Immigrant Song' single was also released in Japan with 'Out on the Tiles' mistakenly as the B-side rather than 'Hey Hey What Can I Do'. This single is now a rare collectible item. One of the verses from the song became part of Led Zeppelin lore. The line, 'The hammer of the gods/will drive our ships to new lands' prompted some fans to start referring to Led Zeppelin's oeuvre as the 'Hammer of the Gods'.[6] Live performancesThe 'Immigrant Song' was used as the set opener Led Zeppelin concerts from 1970 to 1972. On the second half of their Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1972|1972 concert tour of the United States, it was introduced by a prelude known as 'LA Drone', designed to heighten the sense of anticipation and expectation amongst the concert audience. By 1973, 'Immigrant Song' was occasionally being used as an Encore (concert)|encore, but was then dropped from their live set.[7] Live performances of the song can be heard on the Led Zeppelin albums How the West Was Won (album)|How the West Was Won (featuring a performance at Long Beach Arena in 1972) and the BBC Sessions (Led Zeppelin album)|BBC Sessions (a version from the Paris Theatre in London in 1971). When played live, Page played an extended guitar solo, which was absent on the recorded Led Zeppelin III original.[8] The 'Immigrant Song' was performed as part of the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Jeff Beck, by both Page (on electric 12 string guitar) and Beck (on lead guitar imitating Plants vocals).[9] In popular cultureThe song is also one of the few Led Zeppelin songs to have been licensed for cinematic release. For the 2003 film School of Rock, during the roadie van scene.[10] To get permission to use this song in the motion picture, the star of the film, Jack Black, videotaped himself singing in front of 1000 extras, begging for Led Zeppelin to let them use the song in the motion picture.[11] The song also appears, in a slightly changed version due to licensing reasons, in Shrek the Third, when Snow White attacks the city gates, guarded by Huorns. She wails the characteristic cry of Robert Plant, backed by the riff, as in the beginning of the original song..[12] It has also appeared on the 1999 documentary about the Munich massacre|1972 Munich Olympic Games massacre, One Day in September,[13] and the trailers for the BBC1 drama series Life on Mars (TV series)|Life on Mars. 'Immigrant Song' also plays over the credits of the French TV show 50 Minutes Ins, and the Max Weinberg 7 performs this song regularly during Late Night With Conan O'Brien television show. The song is performed by marching bands at high school and college football games. Starting from the 2007 NFL Season|2007 season, the Minnesota Vikings play this song during their team introductions and before kickoffs. During the 2007-2008 Association Football|football season, Brentford FC played this song immediately preceding kick-off. Bruiser Brody aka Frank Goodish-professional wrestling used this song as part of his entrance music, without lyrics. Chart positionsSingle
Single (Digital download)
Note: The official UK Singles Chart incorporated legal downloads as of 17 April 2005. Credits
References
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