Talk:A Whiter Shade of Pale

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Annie Lennox version[edit]

from Archives: "This article completely ignores the single release that Annie Lennox had with the song... I understand not wanting vaguely notable covers in a long, long list but this was actually a widespread physical release. 12.162.122.6 (talk) 20:50, 1 May 2009 (UTC)" There was a partial list of cover versions which was deleted as arbitrary and lacking notability. But this little Annie Lennox entry is a lonely orphan and doesn't set out why this version is notable - can someone add that? Are there not other covers that are noteworthy also? (Sorry, not my field!) Davidships (talk) 19:33, 16 June 2011 (UTC)[reply]

There are over 1000 covers, why is this one singled out for a section of its own? Let's delete it. Richard75 (talk) 20:54, 17 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]

ICI Duluxe paint TV commercial in the UK in 1980s[edit]

LOL, the compilers totally failed to mentioned a version of 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' was used in the ICI Dulux paint TV commercial in the UK in around the late 1970s and early 1980s. This was the best remembered use of the song/music and anyone over 45 years old will immediately recall the Dulux paint spot on hearing the song. Compilers, please include something about this in the main article. Thanks. 1.36.62.17 (talk) 16:59, 18 June 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Lyrics[edit]

The repeated lyric, "As the miller told his tale" is quite important to the lyric content. The "tale" referred to is titled "The Miller's Tale" and appears in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. It adds to the idea that the woman's face becomes more pale, as the subject of the miller's tale, in Chaucer, has often been considered quite bawdy. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ericursus (talk • contribs) 23:05, 24 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Not everybody realised this?— Preceding unsigned comment added by Brett Alexander Hunter (talk • contribs) 00:11, September 14, 2019 (UTC)
Having grown up in the suburban U.S., hearing this song on the radio a few times a year and reading Chaucer in high school, I might have caught this. Or not. I probably didn't care.
A 6th grader in Tokyo reading Wikipedia to brush up on her English and learn about "English" culture probably never heard the song, much less read Chaucer.
Wikipedia is for a general audience, anywhere in the world. - SummerPhDv2.0 05:15, 14 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I think this is definitely relevant information. Added to the Lyrics section, regarding the 'literary references'. It matters because one of the points of the article is that it was unusual to have a song like this in 1967... SuperWiki (talk) 10:31, 25 February 2012 (UTC)[reply]
I've removed the statement that "the chorus focuses on Chaucer's "The Miller's Tale")" for the following reasons:
  • There is only a single line reference to The Miller's Tale in the Chorus. In the full set of lyrics there are quite a number of references to classic literature.
  • procolharum.com has some interesting articles about the lyrics. One important thing to note is that Keith Reid hadn't even read Chaucer before writing AWSOP.
There needs be only one reference. Honestly, one must take KR with a grain.— Preceding unsigned comment added by Brett Alexander Hunter (talk • contribs) 00:11, September 14, 2019 (UTC)

Should there not be a section dealing with the widespread interpretation of the lyrics as referring to a death by drug overdose? ♆ CUSH ♆ 11:27, 18 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Widespread? Pathetic.
Sure, if you can cite a WP:RS. Reify-tech (talk) 12:02, 18 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Trip the light fantastic has some info about the quite enigmatic beginning of those lyrics. I think there should be some here, too, or at least a wiki link. --84.114.185.2 (talk) 23:20, 27 June 2019 (UTC)[reply]

The "shade of pale" is also a description given of the Miller getting progressively drunk:

The Millere, that for dronken was al pale, The Miller, who for drunkenness was all pale

The Miller's Tale itself is about a disastrous attempt of a young student to have a night of passion with the young wife of an old carpenter. (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 188.146.229.53 (talk)

Question of dates[edit]

It states that "a whiter shade of pale" was No1 one from 8th June 1967- 19th July 1967. I however contradicts a wikipedia page stating that "all you need is love" by the Beatles was No1 from July 7th 1967 for 3 weeks!!

Can you please tell me what song was No1 on the 15th July 1967.

Kind regards,

Scot — Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.128.163.90 (talk) 16:28, 9 January 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Missing version[edit]

Johnny Rivers version of A Whiter Shade of Pale should have been cited in the article. It is absurd to the fact that an article about this song have omitted the version whose success almost exceeded the original one. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 189.102.149.108 (talk) 19:04, 22 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Willie Nelson version of A Whiter Shade of Pale should've been cited in article to keep the music track record exist Beezanteeum (talk) 01:33, 17 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Recording and Personnel[edit]

Hello. The last sentence of the section Recording and Personnel seems incomplete. Did Procol Harum ever include this song on an album in the UK? Com Incense (talk) 06:29, 18 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]

It's on an album called - Live at Union Chapel which, as the name suggests, is a live version of the song rather than the more famous original recording. This version is also a verse longer.

Oblivion[edit]

The song was featured in this recently released movie starring Tom Cruise. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.70.193.16 (talk) 17:14, 8 May 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Crescendo[edit]

Something cannot 'reach a crescendo'.

Haha. Good one. Who writes this drivel?
Dunno. But something can reach a point at which a crescendo commences..... I've rewritten that sentence. Twistlethrop (talk) 08:54, 23 April 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Procul Harum[edit]

i always was lead to believe that PH were a Dutch band not English. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 220.253.47.92 (talk) 12:03, 14 August 2013 (UTC)[reply]

They are from Southend-on-Sea

Bach[edit]

How can a song be an adaptation of a cantata, a complex work in several movements? Possibly only one of the movements, the last? Please clarify.

Comments on lyrics and music[edit]

There is no drunken seduction. There is an attempt. Read the lyrics again. They're actually rather straightforward. Sex is not a form of travel. It's a busload of girls on a school trip - that's right in the lyrics. None of you ever been to a British ballroom?

There's nothing unusual about the song, either structurally or thematically, aside from Reed's inventive approach. What is truly unusual is how pundits, especially from the other side of the pond, try to make a myth out of this, exactly as they did with the Lennon (Glass Onion) and 'Paul is dead' hysterias. Not to forget that this was the age of burning Beatles albums. Not to forget!

If it's progressive, it must be (in the minds of our dear critics) because it had a Hammond organ. Seriously.

Yes, the C major composition has what's known as a 'bass pedal'. That's both easy to understand and illustrate. Effectively the chords are tonic, subdominant, dominant, and back again, with the bass going C-B-A-G (tonic to dominant) and then F-E-D-C followed by G-F-E-D, which means you can derive additional harmonies with the chords C Em Am C, F Am Dm F, G G7, Em G, and so forth. And of course you interrupt this pattern for the resolution to the 'chorus'.

The music does NOT repeat NOT 'borrow' from Percy Sledge. That's just ridiculous. As if no one in music had ever before used that progression. There are but certain similarities.

One would silently (and respectfully) wish that know-it-alls refrained from commenting on things of which they know nothing - such as music theory.

Have a great day.

PS. Congrats to Fisher. But it is important to note that the Law Lords focused on a 'signature' part (or 'hook') of an otherwise complete work.

Track listings??[edit]

Track listings of What? Can someone explain what that is, i guess some annie lennox release, but its not a listing of the referenced medusa album. And was it really a double cd with only 4 tracks on each disk?

Whatever it is i'm inclined to think it belongs on the annie lennox page and not here. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.103.146.141 (talk) 11:27, 19 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]


on investigation it is also not the track listing for her ep Gjxj (talk) 18:08, 19 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

External links modified[edit]

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Willie Nelson Version[edit]

Willie Nelson version of A Whiter Shade of Pale should've been cited in article to keep the music track record exist Beezanteeum (talk) 01:45, 17 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Skepticism and Doro version[edit]

The introduction says that more than 1000 versions of the songs have been recorded and provides 3 sources.

I am skeptical about it. I don't know what's so phenomenal about Annie Lennox's version. What I know is that Doro's version is pretty legendary and it should be added to this article.

ICE77 (talk) 00:25, 19 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Lennox's version charted. As a result, it passes WP:COVERSONG. - SummerPhDv2.0 19:11, 3 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]

The Lost Verses : The Full Four Verse Song[edit]

User:Saltwithlove From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigationJump to search A Whiter Shade Of Pale : The Full Version The full four verse song has only ever been released ,commercially , under licence from Bucks Music Group , by The Noteworthys . The Noteworthys , a four piece band + vocals , were formed from a community of musicians , all regulars at Noteworthy Open Mic , a now monthly night at Paper Dress Vintage , London E8 . They are , in this iteration : 


                           . Charlotte Algar (Vocals + Arrangements) 
                             Julien Baraness  (Guitar + Mixing)
                             Matteo Loderick  (Keyboards)
                             Tim Miller       (Drums)
                             Phil Rashleigh   (Bass)

Recording Sound Engineer Jim Dore ;

.Producer Grant Maclean of Saltwithlove Ltd 

Here are the Official Lyrics :

Verse One We skipped the light fandango Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor I was feeling kinda seasick But the crowd called out for more The room was humming harder As the ceiling flew away When we called out for another drink And the waiter brought a tray

Chorus And so it was that later As the miller told his tale That her face, at first just ghostly, Turned a whiter shade of pale

Verse Two She said, "There is no reason And the truth is plain to see. " But I wandered through my playing cards And they would not let her be One of sixteen vestal virgins Who were leaving for the coast And although my eyes were open wide They might have just as well been closed Chorus And so it was that later As the miller told his tale That her face, at first just ghostly, Turned a whiter shade of pale

Verse Three : 

            .She said, "I'm here on a shore leave," Though we were miles at sea. 
             I pointed out this detail And forced her to agree,
             Saying, "You must be the mermaid Who took King Neptune for a ride. " 
             And she smiled at me so sweetly That my anger straightway died.

Chorus : And so it was that later As the miller told his tale That her face, at first just ghostly, Turned a whiter shade of pale

Verse Four : 

           . If music be the food of love Then laughter is it's queen
             And likewise if behind is in front Then dirt in truth is clean 
             My mouth by then like cardboard Seemed to slip straight through my head
             So we crash-dived straightway quickly
             And attacked the ocean bed

Chorus : And so it was that later As the miller told his tale That her face, at first just ghostly, Turned a whiter shade of pale

The Noteworthys are deeply honoured , and grateful , to have been granted Permission on the 8th November 2018 for full commercial release of the four verse song . Of the hundreds of cover versions , both licensed and unlicensed , we believe this to be the first ever studio version by anyone , save Procol Harum themselves . To have been granted this Permission , with the very Crown jewels of psychedelic rock , is a once in a lifetime honour , and everyone involved is both humbled , and very proud . .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGJbN7nBb3o 

                                                     .https://www.facebook.com/The-Noteworthys-1898592116910759/  — Preceding unsigned comment added by Saltwithlove (talk • contribs) 22:20, 11 July 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Orphaned references in A Whiter Shade of Pale[edit]

I check pages listed in Category:Pages with incorrect ref formatting to try to fix reference errors. One of the things I do is look for content for orphaned references in wikilinked articles. I have found content for some of A Whiter Shade of Pale's orphans, the problem is that I found more than one version. I can't determine which (if any) is correct for this article, so I am asking for a sentient editor to look it over and copy the correct ref content into this article.

Reference named "billboard":

  • From The Tourists: "Billboard > Artists / The Tourists > Chart History > The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  • From Ric Ocasek: "Ric Ocasek Chart History > Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  • From Have You Ever Seen the Rain?: "Hits of the World". Billboard. April 17, 1971. p. 53. Retrieved July 16, 2021 – via Google Books.
  • From Con te partirò: Spahr, Wolfgang (21 December 1996). "Boxer's song proves a knockout for EastWest in Germany". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 51. pp. 38–39. ISSN 0006-2510.
  • From Bon Jovi: "1987". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  • From Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band: "Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on 15 November 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
  • From Watermelon Sugar: Trust, Gary (10 August 2020). "Harry Styles' 'Watermelon Sugar' Surges to Top of Billboard Hot 100, Becoming His First No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  • From Elliott Yamin: "Fight For Love". Billboard.

I apologize if any of the above are effectively identical; I am just a simple computer program, so I can't determine whether minor differences are significant or not. AnomieBOT⚡ 16:25, 24 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]

promo videos[edit]

I've seen the second video but there are no citations in its section here. 84.67.8.95 (talk) 18:53, 17 July 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Why was my revision to the artists who have done the song removed?[edit]

Doro Pesch covered "Whiter Shade of Pale" 1989 on the "Force Majure" Album as you can see on Wiki's page for Doro

Force Majeure (Doro album) Are the editors only allowing certain genre's to be allowed on the page as I see other artists who did the same song removed as well?

VrăjitoareDes (talk) 21:03, 11 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]

See WP:SONGCOVER. --jpgordon𝄢𝄆𝄐𝄇 01:38, 12 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]
So in other words it was done by a metal act and wiki dont care about that. Gotcha...thanks have a nice day. VrăjitoareDes (talk) 02:24, 13 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Story behind the song whiter shade of pale[edit]

So far in my research of a beautiful rendition of this song I have not found where the basis of the lyrics came from. I would like to as this song captures many of the emotions of the body and heart and soul. Thank you all Steve , Indiana USA 2600:1000:B16D:B058:9DE1:3B79:C7B4:7FF2 (talk) 15:06, 3 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Authorship lawsuit[edit]

Just to be clear, when it states that Fisher won "40% of the composers' share of the music copyright", does that mean 40% of the 50% for a total of 20% of the full royalties? With the split 50% for Reid, 30% for Brooker, and 20% for Fisher. --User:Khajidha (talk) (contributions) 12:06, 24 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Yes. --Pfold (talk) 16:50, 24 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
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