“Stairway to Heaven” is synonymous with rock and roll, but the song’s creators have always seemed oblivious to the track’s historical importance. After 44 years, Robert Plant rarely addresses the tune, and it is hardly ever played live. Part of the reluctance to touch this single comes from the sheer difficulty involved with nailing every note. When most people cover Led Zeppelin, they shy away from this one.
Well, the song finally got its due! In unearthed footage from 2012’s Kennedy Center Honors, the 1971 classic was played in full force by Ann and Nancy Wilson. That’s right; the band known as Heart showed up to honor a legend. They were even joined by the son of Led Zeppelin’s late drummer, Jason Bonham.
The performance was an insanely spot-on masterpiece. With spiraling crescendos, this hard rock anthem features an explosive nuanced climax with complex vocal arrangements and sick syncopated rhythms. Most bands don’t dare to touch this tune, especially if the original artist is right in front of them. Well, Heart was hot, confident and undeterred. The end result was blistering and spectacular.
If you are a music aficionado, then get ready to swoon over a wildly dramatic vocal rendition that literally brought Robert Plant to tears. After the 4:00 mark, her singing reaches a magnificent peak of beauty.
You definitely do not want to miss this recording! It may very well be the best “Stairway to Heaven” cover ever captured on film. By the end, you will be giving the screen a standing ovation!