Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale **FIRST LISTEN** 

This performance illustrates. how 60's and 70's pop and rock songs many times had more depth than perceived at the time they were recorded and released. Procol Harum was basically a 4-piece rock band that got a big hit with "Whiter Shade Of Pale" in the 60's. Now, sixty years later, there is enough in the song to re-score it for a full orchestra and choir. I consider myself very fortunate to have been a teenager during the time great songs like this were released.

I didn't think it was possible to make that song any better than it already was--but they managed to do just that.

He has sadly passed, this was a world wide smash hit in 67 and the melody is based on Air On A G String.

How beautiful was that? Not often you find a 50+ year old rock song that can take on a full orchestral/choral arrangement and improve on the original. Not to mention a vocalist who can recreate his masterpiece after so many years and still knock it out of the park. Seriously. Well done, Maddy! Great reaction. 💕

This was one of my favorite songs back in the early 70s. When I was introduced to this new version, I actually cried. It was a beautiful song back in the day. THIS is exquisite!

Thanks Maddy. Perhaps one of the best ever live renditions of a song and done so many years later. Rest in Peace Mr. Brooker. You were one of a kind.

John Lennon said that "A Whiter Shade of Pale" was the best rock and roll song ever written.

Procol Harum - Latin meaning “far beyond these things”

One of the best live performances ever

LOL that was an oboe and the singer is Gary Brooker who passed away 19 Feb 22. This single was released in 1967 and sold over 10 million copies.

I agree that this is better than the origiinal studio version!❤

How quickly time moves. Just yesterday I was listening to this song on my little transistor radio with a mono ear piece, pardon me while I wipe the tears

Oh no! (Oboe?) That was no clarinet 🤣 Great reaction to a brilliant performance - your face when the choir came in was priceless!

Love this one!! Sadly, Gary passed away in '22. It was brought to my attention how this song was "layered". It starts out with strings, then vocals, then organ, then drum (which gives it a heart beat), then choir & finishes with brass. By far one of my favorite songs to watch

In my mind, this is unquestionably one of the greatest songs ever written and this performance is fantastic!👍

Got this from a professor who explained this song very well. Procol Harum is the band, it means "Beyond These Things" in Latin. Gary Brooker is the lead singer, Keith Reid the lyricist. The Miller's Tale is a story out of The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer in England from 1387-1400. At its most basic, it's the bawdy tale of an old and dull-witted carpenter who is betrayed by his much younger wife. This is the key to the song. The girl is about to leave the older man ("her face at first just ghostly"). She hears The Miller's Tale and blanches at her own sexual indiscretion ("turned a whiter shade of pale"). She avoids telling him why she's leaving ("there is no reason"), and he's blind to the indiscretion ("although my eyes were open, they may just as well have been closed"). He attempts to reason with her (“I wandered through my playing cards”), and so prevent this young, supposedly faithful lover (“Vestal Virgin”) from leaving him for good ("for the coast").

The classical piece played by the Orchestra in the beginning is Bach‘s „Air on a G string“ (from his Orchestral Suite No. 3 BWV 1068) which shares parts of the chord progression of „a whiter shade of pale“ and was the inspiration to the song. The singer Gary Brooker died in February 2022. RIP!

The one and only Gary Brooker. Spectacular voice. RIP. BTW, not a clarinet, an oboe. The lore of this song is that GB went to a party and the references in the lyrics are about that night.

Great reaction,to a fantastic performance RIP Gary Brooker.

This is epic how they took a rock song that was released in 1967 and added a orchestra and choir and his vocals are spot on

This absolutely great gorgeous song was released in 67. This phenomenal performance was in I believe 2006. Gary Brooker was a fantastic singer. So glad I grew up in the 60s, so many great singers and sooooo many great songs.

Mike from the UK here. This was a huge hit back in the day. Released in 1967 and followed up with the single “Conquistador”. Fantastic how it has held up as a gorgeous piece of music.

I first heard this back in the late sixties/early seventies and was amazed at how good it was. The original starts out when the organ kicks in on this one. Rest in peace Gary, a voice for the ages.

This is indeed an extraordinary performance, and perhaps the best version of the song. Let us not forget however that Procol Harum has many other gems in their catalogue. After all those years, it is about time that people move 'beyond the pale' and discover albums like Shine on brightly (especially 'In Held twas in I'), A Salty dog (with the title song also interpreted during the Danish concert), Grand Hotel (containing an absolutely extraordinary piece entitled 'Fires which burnt brightly'), Exotic Birds and Fruit ('Nothing but the truth', 'As strong as Samson', 'The Idol') and The Prodigal Stranger ('Holding on'). There are many other precious pieces in most of their records. Now that Gary Brooker and the lyricist Keith Reid have both passed away, we should honor their memory by listening to their songs and reading attentively their lyrics. Brooker and Reid are personal heroes and one of the best pair of songwriters of the 20th century in the Anglosphere, together with Burt Bacharach and Hal David or John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

Love this song reminds me of when I used to wake up on a weekend when my Mom was doing the ironing and playing the old vinyls and this is one of my Dad’s favourites. Thank you for reacting to this takes me back to a time where I was a carefree kid just getting a musical education with so many great songs❤.

I prefer this to the original even though I grew up with the 60's version. Gary's voice is grittier and of course the arrangement and orchestra really bring out such emotion. Wonderful song, incredible performance. RIP

This song was "born" in 1967, when I was 15. So grateful that it's been around most of my life!!! This spectacular song will outlive us all!! SHEER PERFECTION!!!🎵🎼🎶🎤🎹🥁🎸🔥🔥🔥💕💕💕

If you can still sing a song like this so perfectly 50 years after you released it, you are a special person and this was a special concert. Also, I am not ashamed to admit that this version caused me to shed a few tears. Absoulutely magnificent.

I am 68, and as rudymorgan stated, keep this music alive forever. This and other full orchestra backed rock bands of the 70's are so special. Thank you

it is about love lost. His girl friend is leaving for the coast going away . A beautiful song that held the test of time. The song by Mr. Brooker of Procol Harum came out in the late 60s. Sad that we lost him in the last couple years RIP. Thank you Maddy

I heard this in 1967 when I was 8 years old. My brother is 10 years older than me and I listened to everything he listened to. The album version is good, but with the orchestra and Gary Brooker's older voice, it is outstanding. I loved the astonished look on your face when you heard the choir. I felt the same way the first time I heard this version.

They were my favorite band back in the 60s and 70s. Gary's voice and their magical music were so powerful. Definitely listen to more of their music. A couple songs I would recommend are A Salty Dog and Homburg.

'A Whiter Shade of Pale' was the wedding march for my wife and me in 1971. We are still together all these years later and I am still amazed that my beautiful lady still reciprocates my love !!!

The entire production is a pure piece of musical art. If you could hang this song on a wall or in a museum, you surely would! Remarkable x

Thank you "MaddyReactions" for the wonderful song: A whiter shade of pale from Procol Harum! The original is from 1967 in the Beat-Ära with hippies, flowers and long hair. And thank you Gary Brooker for the good music all time and RIP Gary (he died February 19. 2022. 😮‍💨

I remember hearing this song my junior year of high school (1969) and fell in love with it. I still love the original, but this version is amazing. Thank you and hopefully you'll reach a generation of music lovers who will appreciate the music of my generation. We had some pretty great music! RIP Gary Booker

Epic performance by all concerned. Procol Harum are my favourite band of all time and I have seen them live 8 times (not enough).Always enjoy seeing someone react to this as it reminds me of the first time I heard this as a school boy in 1967 and was taken to some beautiful mystical place.There are many great songs by Procol Harum to enjoy maybe A Salty Dog or Grand Hotel for starters.

1967 Just love when youngins finally hear our music 🎶 😅

Great reaction Maddy! I love it when a beautiful, classic rock song from my youth is given an orchestral/symphonic treatment. It adds a whole new dimension and sound.

Suggest that you listen to a rare version of this song - with all 4 verses - it is incredible. The band sang this song regularly for over 50 years! And Gary Brooker RIP 🙏sounded almost the same every year. One of the finest rock ballads ever.

Absolutely jaw dropping performance

I saw Procol Harum 3 times. The first time back in 1972 (The Eagles opened for them). They were one of Rock's greatest bands and Gary Brooker was one of the greatest voices ever. His loss in 2022 was huge. I was fortunate to meet him a couple of times. I highly recommend their final album "Novum." It's sad to think that there won't be any new music from them. We cherish what they did leave us.

Incredible live performance. To see all that musical talent joining for the purpose of this one song is amazing. So much talent. THey just kep.t adding layer on top of layer

This has to be the best performance of the best song ever written, love it, I am 68 and this song never gets tired, R.I.P Gary ❤

This was one of the first songs I learned on the organ when I was 6 years old. It's really simple to play but is so perfect in every way. Again, better than the original. It made a 61 year old fart shed a tear. Ps, you have the most beautiful skin I've ever seen maddy. Great music played by great musicians is the best tonic on the planet. Keep it up young lady. ✌️♥️🇬🇧

Love this song. I actually prefer the studio version from the 60's as it is the one I grew up on. This live version is very good though as it shows how powerful Gary Brooker's voice was even as he got older. "Conquistador" is another great song by Procol Harum. Sad to hear of his passing recently.

Just saw an interview with him where he discussed how in 1968 they opened for the Bee Gees in Germany and he watched their show every night amazed by the orchestra's backing of the Gibbs' vocals. Said it inspired him to do the same

forget all the past moments and/or memories (although I've no doubt those are ALL precious and special) I'm just saying this is simply an amazing performance from all. beautiful. thank you for sharing the song and your reactions, Maddy.

It's so refreshing to see an attractive, well spoken young woman with such grace and elegance exuding intelligence and self confidence. I couldn't keep myself from subscribing. You give me hope for the future, Maddy. Your parents must be so very proud!

I often wonder if the 60', 70's and 80's were the golden period for civilization. Some of the most wonderful, artistic music was created then. And this is a prime example.

I read somewhere that this song is loosely based on the Canterbury Tales, you can hear it in the lyrics if you listen. ( pronounced Pro-cull hair-em)

Gary Brookers vocal never changed, still sounds the same as the 60's. The Danish National Symphony Orchestra did an awesome job. My fav Procol Album is still "Shine On Brightly". Rip Gary, love your music. I'm 72 yrs old btw.

In the "Summer of Love", 1967, John Lennon of The Beatles had a paisley Rolls Royce that he would drive around London blasting "Whiter Shade of Pale" from exterior speakers. That was the original studio version without the orchestra. A classic that has aged very well!

Love hearing and seeing reactions to the music I was fortunate to grow up with. I know each generation feels like their music was the best, but they don't make music like this anymore!! Thank you!

I’ve always pronounced it ‘PRO-cull HAIR-em’. And I’ve never heard this recording of it. It’s gorgeous! And very nice reaction. 🇺🇸

Am a 65 year old man. A teenager in the 70s. The greatest rock music ever in the 60s and 70s. This song is one of the greatest

Not clarinet, it's an obo. Clarinet has one reed and a mouthpiece similar to a saxophone whereas the obo has two tiny reeds slapped together. LOL And she played it soooo well with that beautiful tremolo. This is my all time favorite collaboration. I always love your reaction / review. As we say in Texas; y'all be safe.

So lovely to see you enjoying this epic tune, given the orchestral backing it so deserves. I would love you to hear the original vinyl version (with video) to understand how it first hit us. As a 72 year old hippy, I must agree that what you do is so important, keeping the music of our generation alive. Thank you.

Good thing I didn't attend this outdoor concert. I would have been so mesmerized by this spectacular rendition, I would have fallen into that lake.

Usually, a piece of music in its original version is the best thing you can hear. I have known this piece since it was released in 1967, it has accompanied me all my life. Here Gary Brooker has managed to interpret A Whiter Shade Of Pale even better than he did in 1967. Unfortunately, he has already passed away. R.I.P. Gary The original version in 1967 had 4 verses. Because the song was much longer than usual at over 4 minutes, two verses were left out. Keith Reid said: "No problem, it works just like that." But with verses 3 and 4, things become clearer. Here are all four verses: 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 the waiter brought a tray 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. She said: "There is no reason and the truth is plain to see." But I wandered trough my playing cards and would not let her be one of sixteen virgins who were leaving for the coast and although my eyes were open they might have have just as well been closed 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. She said: "I'm home on shore leave" Though in truth we were at sea So I took her by the looking glass and forced her to agree saying: "You must be the mermaid Who took Neptune for a ride." But she smiled at me so sadly that my anger straightway died 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. If music be the feed of love the laughter is its queen and likewise is 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.

I listened to this song as a teenager is Australia and there was so much variety and depth of music in the 60’s and 70’s that is wonderful to discover.

There is also a video on youtube of him singing this song when he was about 18 years old.......he only got better with age.....and I thought Procol Harum was great in 1969......Thanks Maddy.

🎼🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🗯🗯🗯🗯🗯🗯🗯🗯🗯🗯🗯🗯🔶️ .. I am very glad that you reacted to this beautiful song. It doesn't really fit a genre , but many, many people have loved it for years. Thank you... great start to my day. 🎼🎼🎼🎼🔶️🎼🎼🎼🎼

Very beautiful and one of my favorite songs and concerts of all time. What's special too Maddy, is that from time to time, Gary Brooker would insert other additional verses, which to me, makes him and the song itself very unique. I believe it to be a song of love and betrayal. She turns a "Whiter Shade of Pale" when he realizes that she's lying to him and confronts her, seemingly calmly, as he "Wandered through" his "Playing cards". In another version, he says that he "Took her by the looking glass"or mirror and says that it (The Mirror), "Would not let her be one of sixteen Vestal Virgins" who were leaving for the coast. Of course, these are my thoughts about this beautiful song. I was privileged to perform this song with my brother between sets and during the break when I used to play publicly. Our bass player, Tony Ivey, told me not to do it and that the song needed a keyboard. I said, "Tony, my brother and I are going to do the song, with a guitar and a mandolin. We did it and received a standing ovation, which made us feel great. Anyway, this song has been imprinted on me and I've enjoyed it ever since I first heard it growing up in the 70's. Thank you for sharing it Maddy.

I've posted this before about this song and I've had many people agree with me and also many people disagree with me. But here's my thoughts on the lyrics and any possible meaning to them. In my opinion, the key words in the entire song are "as The Miller told his tale". The Miller's Tale in "The Canterbury Tales" is a tale of infidelity, specifically of a wife cuckolding her husband. Thus, to me, this song is a song about infidelity. "Her face at first just ghostly turned a whiter shade of pale", i.e. the color left her face after she was confronted by her partner with her infidelity. "She said there is no reason and the truth is plain to see", i.e. there really is no reason I've been sleeping around but it's plain to see our relationship is over. "But I wandered through my playing cards and would not let her be", i.e. what card can I play so she won't leave me? "One of sixteen vestal virgins who were leaving for the coast", i.e. the girls are taking a girl's trip to the beach and we all know what often happens on "girls trips" to the beach, don't we? "And although my eyes were open they might just as well have been closed", i.e. he thought he was aware of things but everything took him totally by surprise. IMO this is the most rational "reading" of these lyrics since the tone of this song is very sad. (And it's absolutely OK to disagree with me interpretation.) P.S. The woodwind solo in the orchestral introduction was an oboe. :)

One of my favorite songs in the Summer of 1967.

this song is from 1967 and is still as powerful as it was then. The woman playing the oboe solo is also incredible.

what a great voice 👍and the orchestra is beautiful. what a great timeless song ❤

Perhaps one of the most beautiful songs ever! Loved growing up with these songs, watch them go up the charts, the DJs, and a transistor radio. Life was good!

I'm so glad you got to experience this, Maddy. I loved seeing how swept away you were. ❤

You truly are on the other side with this classic Darlin! 1 of my all time favourites, I've always loved this song!

What was on the radio when this first came out starts at 4:50 in this video. Thanks for this, it's both memorable and emotional. ✌

First listen to the original from decades ago (1967). It was hauntingly beautiful and tear producing back then (well at least for me), but this orchestration takes this masterpiece to a whole new level. I agree with you Maddy, the layers that keep being added on (the strings, then the English horn, then the band - drums, organ, bass etc... then the choir, and finally the brass at the end -) add to the beauty but never take away from the vocals. I will NEVER tire of listening to this.

I can tell you have a beautiful soul... so glad you liked the performance... the original one came out my first summer in NYC...i could feel the nostalgia...of days gone by...a longing for a by-gone era... when life was a little kinder and sweeter...

People have cracked their heads with meanings for this song , but it is a flow of images to create an atmosphere to my mind,,

He captivates with his voice! 😊

This song was first released in 1967, the same year that I turned 10 yo. I loved it from the first time I heard it. Which makes me think I must have had quite ab advanced taste in music for a ten-year-old. And now, almost 60 years later I still love it. And this version is absolutely breathtaking. Don´t know how many times I´ve seen and listened to it but I just can´t get enough. Sadly the fantastic vocalist, Gary Brooker, passed away a couple of years ago but his music will live forever.

Gary Brooker and procol harem pure class I'm 74 years young and have listened to this beautiful creation hundreds of times over the years and it sounds as good today as it did all them years ago when I first heard it in my teens love it I call this an evergreen for obvious reasons loved your wonderful reaction god bless Gary Brooker sorely missed

What a voice! This was a gift for all time.

Brilliant analysis❤ loved your reaction and emotional interaction. Such respect❤I first heard this song back in the day maybe 70’ ish time. Great songs from late 60’s thru 75’.

Thanks for reacting to one of my fondest memories.. Harum, pronounced harem like a sultan's female contingent. I attended Procol Harum's 1967 performance at Fillmore West, San Francisco on the album release tour. The evening was a life experience colored by Bill Graham's light show, chemically induced visuals and a sense of social belonging. The music was like the released recording without piano and Gary on the electric organ. Truly a night to remember. (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CJxpKlTID2Q.htmlsi=P7EaJcYOfHy8CErn)

Nobody know about those lyrics... Been playing that song for 30 years, I still don't get it, but, details... Great reaction! Greetings from Gothenburg Sweden.

That was the Danish Natl Orchestra and the Danish Natl Choir. The soloist was playing a piccolo not a clarinet. There is a vid of the entire 90 min+ concert. They come back an encore with helluva hit Conquistador! Find that vid. My favorite ht of theirs. Other music just as good but its terrific. Full 2 hr concert with Canada's Edmunton Orchestra as a 23yr reunion of the original 1971 concert. Stunningly good.

This song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. You should really listen to the original recording studio version to understand what it was like hearing this on the radio in1967. A Whiter Shade of Pale' was recorded in April 1967 and released just a month later, on May 12, 1967. It even had a music video - a relative rarity at the time. It was all over the radio during "The Summer of Love" in 1967.

Brilliant song brings back memories, and to sing it with the orchestra made it that bit more special.

Very iconic performance of one of the classics!!

When this gets played I see my self as a little kid agin with all my family still here even for this short time it wraps me in memories and warmth ♥️

Procal Harum was the first band I saw in concert as a teenager around 1971 at Birmingham Town Uk. I suppose you always remember you first gig.

If you have time, you might enjoy checking out the original song. You will see (hear) that the violins and cellos are actually playing parts which were originally played on the Hammond B-3 organ through a Leslie speaker cabinet, a big part the sound of 60's rock and pop songs.

This song always takes me back to slow dancing at the high school dances. Any local band that didn't have an organ had to go get one because of this song.

One of hundreds of bands I and many others grew up with. And this is a great song and a great arrangement and an amazing performance. RIP Gary Brooker.

Saw them in 1977 on the Something Magic Tour at Hatfield Polytechnic (England) - fantastic gig!

Every man wants to take his defining work as close to perfection as possible. He is aging here but his voice is not only seasoned but still excellent. This was his life's work of entertaining brought to wonderful peak. Stellar describes this performance, the seamless blending of the Orchestra and background singers was once in a lifetime...

Absolutely love this song and performance. Thank you so much for watching and reacting to it.

thankyou Maddy this was my Mum,s favourite song and yesterday was the 16th anniversary of her passing from liver cancer so it,s a wonderful tribute to her so thankyou again and enjoy your weekend or your day

That orchestra isn't just a bunch of musicians who got together for this concert. They are the Danish National Symphony Orchestra along with their choir. This was a once in a lifetime performance. And Maddy, that was an oboe the woman was playing, not a clarinet.

Great reaction video! First time viewer here (🤔 just might have to subscribe if you do more of this quality) 👍 I have some comments, interpreting the lyrics of this song which gives it even a deeper dimension - I will share that at the end of this - (and sorry for this detailed commentary, but I think you will find it helpful if you listen to the song again and/or share it with others). Gary Brooker’s incredible singing in this live performance matched - or perhaps even exceeded - the quality of the original 1967 recording that took place 40 years earlier. The band’s name comes from a couple of possible sources. One of the band members in ‘67 had a cat named Procol Harum. This is Latin for “Far beyond these things”…. Personally, I think they named the band after the cat. 😁 This song and about 3 or 4 others defined the sound and the scene that was the “Summer of Love”. Unfortunately, that beautiful era only lasted about three years…. Innocence lost - marked by another outdoor concert in December ‘69 at Altamont - The Rolling Stones - they hired the Hells Angels motorcycle gang to be their “security” force - 4 people died that night. However, great music continued to come out from the late 60s all through to the mid 90s. But 1967 through Woodstock 1969 was magic. There has been much debate/misunderstanding regarding the lyrics. I believe I can unlock the mystery for you. The lyrics are mostly metaphorical. The song is about a young couple who are attending a party perhaps at a ballroom - maybe even on a ship. They were either entertainers for the crowd, or they were just part of the crowd dancing….”We skipped the Light Fandango” but instead did cartwheels across the floor, implying that they were having a great time, perhaps even on their way to getting drunk. The room seem to be shaking apart as they “ordered another drink”, but the waiter brought a tray of many drinks. As the night wore on, the young man was fast becoming interested in having a more private intimate time with this young girl…. But yet even through her near drunkenness, she sensed it, and became frightened. As the young man shuffled through his “playing cards” - a metaphor for looking for that winning hand to convince her to go with him - she again was unable or unwilling to give into him. Even as he told her stories, and lies about himself to impress and take advantage of her she knew she was potentially headed for trouble as “The truth was plain to see”. The vestal virgin metaphor clearly implied that she was young, inexperienced, and not ready for what she feared was his ultimate intent. But he kept on with his tales and lies, and he “would not let her be”…..ramping up the pressure on her to give in. This frightened her tremendously. I have heard, but I cannot confirm, that Gary Brooker and his cowriter actually wrote two more verses, that were never recorded. We will probably never hear the end of that story. Again, I want to say your reaction video was wonderful and genuine. Well done.

This live performance is just absolutely outstanding. Gary Brooker is absolutely on point with the vocals and piano, and the musicians along with the choir are incredible. This song is simply an evergreen classic, that has stood the test of time. I salute you. RIP G Brooker

Love it! Every time I hear this I shed tears! Loved the band since the 70's

This song was written by this vocalist & original member of Procol Harum (pronounced: PRO-cuhl HAIR-um), Gary Brooker, & released in 1967. He absolutely KILLS it here in 2006, with the Danish National Concert Orchestra & Choir. He wrote the song at 19 yrs. old, & maintained he was inspired by being at college. However, a lyric says, "...as the miller told his tale", which refers to "The Miller's Tale" in Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales". It's a story of a wife cheating on her husband. That would indicate why the woman Gary wrote about "turned a whiter shade of pale". Thanks for your reaction.