Talk:A Whiter Shade of Pale

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[edit] List of cover versions

It seems a bit pointless to include a list of +25 seemingly randomly chosen cover versions of the "more that hundred" that is said to exist. What merits just these to be mentioned in an encyclopedic article? My view is that a limited number of cover versions might be appropriate, and that there should be a motive for each such inclusion: an interestingly different version, a very successful recording, etc. A list of occurences of the song in a number of films, commercials or tv shows also seem trivial. If there is no objection here on the talk page, I'll clean up these sections by mid-August. (Blind Hen 00:16, 7 August 2007 (UTC))

I agree StormCloud 16:52, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Favorite of Douglas Adams

Would anybody object to removing the comment "This song was also a favorite of Douglas Adams, author of the wildly popular "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series."?

  • Is it relevant? (A great many people consider it a favorite)
  • Is it accurate? (there is no external reference).
  • Is it important? (The Procol Harum Song "Grand Hotel", is at it inspired one of his books, but this one?)StormCloud 13:35, 11 October 2006 (UTC)
Given that nobody has commented on this in a week, I'm going to remove these lines StormCloud 12:34, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Possible meaning?

The second paragraph of lyrics is a theory I have been working on. A fuller version is at [1].

Perhaps this discussion area is a good spot for a debate about the appropriateness of mentioning a specific theory of the meaning of the lyrics.

As a start, I acknowledge that a lot of Procol Harum lyrics seem to be abstract ie without specific reference. Salty Dog particularly seems to have emotional flow, but its evocation of a sea-journey may be felt as like many of our life-journeys, not specific to one. However Pilgrim's Progress is fairly specific about a particular spiritual journey: not its content, but its consequences. He hurt those dearest to him, and found himself simply a long way from home.

Those great works of art which effect most of us must be non-specific enough that we can feel the emotional events there as very like our own. But the power of art is often how accurately the work depicts a specific emotional event which happens to us all.

I strongly feel that we should not include a section of possible meanings of the lyrics. This is fine for the Fan web sites such as procolharum.com, but Wikipedia is suppose to be a accurate. Speculating isn't appropriate here.--StormCloud 15:05, 1 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] YouTube links

This article is one of thousands on Wikipedia that have a link to YouTube in it. Based on the External links policy, most of these should probably be removed. I'm putting this message here, on this talk page, to request the regular editors take a look at the link and make sure it doesn't violate policy. In short: 1. 99% of the time YouTube should not be used as a source. 2. We must not link to material that violates someones copyright. If you are not sure if the link on this article should be removed, feel free to ask me on my talk page and I'll review it personally. Thanks. ---J.S (t|c) 07:16, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Influincing Rocky Horror Picture Show

I heard a sample of this song on Itunes, you can really hear how similar it sounds, to some of the slower songs from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Violet yoshi 00:43, 16 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Miller's Tale

"Brooker and Reid have disclaimed any intention of ever explaining or assigning additional meaning to the lyrics, although the song's lyrics appear to be influenced by Geoffrey Chaucer's The Miller's Tale".

The lyrics were not influenced by Chaucer. Get real. There is a reference to the Canterbury Tales but that's it. It's a reference.

Just because there is a possible reference to Chaucer's work does not mean the whole song was inspired by The Miller's Tale. Surely the article should just state the work is mentioned? This line should be removed as the authors have never revealed its true meaning anyway. Francium12 talk/contribs 23:37, 18 February 2007 (UTC)

I agree. Unless somebody can come up with a reason to keep it in the next few days, I'll rephrase it. StormCloud 13:49, 19 February 2007 (UTC)
I've just removed the reference - there are other odd references in the Lyrics that are not commented on StormCloud

[edit] Lyrics

The lyrics to AWSOP have been added in the last few days. Does anybody know how we stand in terms of copyright? StormCloud 13:22, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Maybe they were just high

Many artist(s) refuse to give the meaning behind their songs BECAUSE THERE WAS NONE. I'm a songwriter myself and sometimes inspiration just comes to you. Seeing as it was the 60s when this classic was made, I wouldn't be suprised if the authors were just high as hell, lol. A lot Neil Young classics were born that way. Phil Collins' "In the Air of the Night" has no meaning and is really about the mood and apprehension of something happening. Listening to this song, despite any allegory to the contrary, it appears the lyrics are just meant to embody the emotion (whatever the hell it was) of the author. You aren't going to get a plot or a detailed synopsis. They just wrote what sounded good at the time and don't wanna admit there was no meaning.Scott Free 18:19, 13 August 2007 (UTC)

This is nonsense and tantamount to libel and slurring the character of KR. It also makes you look the fool. Good lyricists - I am a lyricist - would never contemplate what you are doing. If you should be feeble of mind and incapable of handling KR then that's fine - you have our collective sympathy. But don't expect the world to bend to your unsophisticated level because it won't.

[edit] Sarah Brightman

Is there any particular reason why we've got a Sarah Brightman info box at the bottom of the page? I know she did a cover version of the song but as there have been over a thousand cover versions, what makes her version particularly noteworthy? It's not as if her info box mentions AWSOP! StormCloud (talk) 07:37, 27 May 2008 (UTC)