Reaction to Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale, live in Denmark 2006 

I'm old, saw them live in the late 60's at the Filmore East in NYC. I've been a bass player for more than 55 years, and the bass line in this song is simple perfection. Combined with the iconic Hammond B3 organ and Gary Brookers fantastic voice, many consider this to be one of the greatest rock songs ever written. I wouldn't argue.

it it just me, or does Gary sing it better in this performance than when he was younger?

My opinion... its music perfection!

So glad new, young people are discovering this masterpiece.

"Thank you so much, Thank you for having us." Truly heartfelt and humble, especially for a performance just blessed by God.

50 yr old song that still gives chills. His voice is even better now. You just let a performance like this wash over you.

This whole version is epic! Who needs Beat detective, Autotune, and quantization! This is the way music is supposed to sound . Not like pre-recorded dreck! Kudos to the Denmark Symphonic Orchestra who had to be way out of their comfort zone. Just EPIC!

Whiter Shade of Pale is a true classic - one of the greatest pieces ever written - but this the greatest live performance of any song I've ever heard. Period.

OMG his voice has barely changed. If anything, it's deeper and gives the song now a more profound meaning to many boomers.

This is Procol Harum’s greatest hit. This legendary band is British and was formed in the golden sixties (1967). Here the founder and the leader of the band, Gary Brooker, shows that age has not affected his voice! Thanks for reacting to this one!

John Lennon and Bruce Springstein considered this to be one of the best songs ever recorded. The chorus gives the performance a fuller sound. A rock classice

The guy's name is Gary Brooker, and his band is Procol Harum (Procall Hair-um,) and that is an oboe at the beginning. 👍

I purchased this record way back in the 60s but be assured this version is without doubt the best.

Growing up in the 60's and 70's we exposed to such raw talent. We didnt appreciate the vass volume of greatness that was available to us. Now we can see what we experienced in your ears, eyes and soul. Thank you for going down our rabbit hole and recapturing all these treasures. ❤

You know you're good when you start singing and 3000 people stop cheering under 2seconds to hear you.... That's when you've made it....

I was 6 when this song was released here in the UK it was one of my late mother who passed away in 2018 and i's all time favourite songs. If you want some goosebumps, have a look at one of the top ten guitarists of all time, king of the smooth cool instrumental, STEVE VAI, have a look at TENDER SURRENDER (SteveVaiHimself). Steve also plays with violinists, have a look at NOW WE RUN (SteveVaiHimself) with a great performance by drummer Jeremy Colson in now we run, not that long ago Steve vai had to have shoulder surgery and also had problems with the fingers on his other hand, but that didn't stop him recording KNAPPSACK (SteveVaiHimself) playing with ONE HAND !. Steve was also in a movie from 1986 CROSSROADS, in the EPIC GUITAR BATTLE SCENE between Steve vai AND RALPH MACCHIO (remember the KARATE KID!). Good verses evil. Best wishes from north east England.

I first heard this in 1967 and I still love it to this day I'm 60 now and this is all we had to listen to back then (thank god) God bless Gary Broker he is 75 years old now

Most of the band members of the orchestra are likely brought up hearing that song because it was a huge hit in Denmark so they know it by heart and it's probably dear to their hearts. 😘😘😘

God bless him for doing this concert for all posterity. This was the Beatles' favorite song in 1967 according to interviews I've seen and read.

Listening to Procol Harum. Gives me the same chills that been dormant for years

Conquistador is another beautiful song by this great band The version they perform here live in Denmark...same concert is just masterful!

Gary Brookers voice had not changed in 40 years. Saw these guys live in London in 67.

Classic performance by in my opinion the greatest band of all time backed by a wonderful orchestra and choir

Believe it or not, his voice is very close to what it was as a young man. Check out the original version of this song. Also, try Conquistador from this same live concert in Denmark 2006.

Procul Harum was formed in1967, broke up in 1977 and then reformed in 1991. This concert was part of a tour. Following from WIKI. The band resumed a limited touring schedule in 2005, with Josh Phillips replacing Fisher on Hammond, leaving Brooker as the only original performing member. In June 2006 they played at the Isle of Wight Festival. In August they played two outdoor concerts with the Danish Radio Orchestra at Ledreborg Castle in Denmark, which were tele-recorded. An hour-long edit of the show was broadcast on Christmas morning 2008 on Danish Channel DR2 and the full concert was issued on DVD on 11 May 2009 (with six extra tracks from a Danish television recording of the band from 1974). Later in 2006 they played in Switzerland, Norway and Denmark, but with Geoff Dunn replacing Brzezicki on drums, because the latter's other band Casbah Club was touring with The Who.[18] However, Dunn ended up replacing Brzezicki for the band's European tour in 2007. Recordings from the Italian concerts were later released as One Eye to the Future - Live in Italy 2007. Procol Harum also played an orchestral concert in Sweden on 30 June. They performed with the Gävle Symphony Orchestra at the outdoor opera venue Dalhalla, near Rättvik.

Oboe solo.. heart tugging. Sublime. Orchestra, choir, Hammond organ, Gary Brooker vocal & piano.

Great reaction, so pure and true. Sadly, Gary Brooker passed away in February 2022. RIP Gary. Thank you for your music since the 1960's. This classic will never be forgotten Sir, nor will you and your amazing talent.

This melody always stirs my feelings but multiplied with the added orchestration

This is my favorite performance of this classic! The full orchestra really gives it the weight it needs. And Gary's voice sounds better here than the original, recorded decades earlier. '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'. Stone Cold Classic!!

One of the songs that defined the 60s, but like all good music, it is also timeless.

His voice is perfect!! amazing song

one of rocks most famous songs - this is a mind blowing performance

Most beautiful tune ever!.

Procul Harun is the name of the band. That’s Gerry Booker singing. If I’m not mistaken

One of THE best songs ever!!! I was 15 when it was "born" in 1967 and I'll never get tired of it!!!🎵🎼🎶💜🎧🎤🎸🤘

His voice hasn't changed much from his 60's voice. Always powerful and yet soothing.

Great job of understanding the entire song.

Gary Brooker's voice is like Fine Wine 1967 Classic if this doesn't pull at your Heart strings you have no Soul

This song was usually the last song on the dancefloor when I was a teenager MANY years ago in Norway. MEMORIES! ;)

The group is call Procol Harum, and fun fact. They got the name from a friend of the band who had a cat name Procol Harum. He later tried to sue the group for using the name. I don't think he won.

Doesn't get any better than this....Hammond organ - what a distinctive sound.

The instrument the woman was playing was an Oboe, which is actually a woodwind instrument. Many people mistake its sound to be a flute, which is a common mistake. This orchestra is phenomenal, and Procol Harum is so awesome in this live performance. RIP Gary. ❤😢

Thank you Dave for this reaction, I've seen the band live, but he with a big orchestra like that, it was beautiful thank you. 👍 Be safe, be strong and keep smiling. 👍💞👍

I don't think people realize including myself how much work can really go into pulling something like this off

The GROUP'S name is Procol Harum, the singer's name is GARY BROOKER, he is the original lead singer since 1967 for the GROUP Procol Harum, His voice sounds just as good now as it did in 1967. I was 20 years old in 1967 and have loved "A Whiter Shade of Pale" since then,

An excellent reaction recognizing all the facets of the performance.

Respect, your one of first to react to this song,your analysis so perfect, little wonder so many on u tube are now reacting to this, but most impressed with you,feel you understood everything so well✊♥️ R.I.P. Gary🌹♥️🌹

Gary Brooker is 61 here. Fingers crossed, I hoped he'd nail those high notes at 9:45 & he most certainly does, resoundingly, as he did almost 40 years before. I was 12 when the song came out in 1967. It made an instant & lasting impression then. It's a timeless, perfect song because all the elements come together perfectly. As the miller told his tale . . .

Yes. Oboe. And a Hammond B3 organ with a Leslie cabinet.

You can tell that song means something deep with him, the emotions he puts into it is amazing. Thanks for doing the live review, brings so much more to the song.

Love your breakdown about the orchestra. Thank you!

Bit of trivia that a lot of younger reactors don't get - the lyric "...as the Miller told his tale" is a reference to the Miller's Tale from the Canterbury Tales by Geoffery Chaucer.

I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. What a great song...sung by Gary brooker.

Such a beautiful song. One of my favorites. Great reaction, you are very insightful. Very much enjoyed.

Gary was definitely one of the iconic British voices of the sixties - he sounds as good as ever there. Allan Clarke was another of those iconic British voices of that period.

Gary Brooker is the singer - still got it after all these years - nice reaction.

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 And so it was that later As the miller told his taleThat 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 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 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 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. 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 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 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

Just thought I'd add: Procul Harum was the name of his cat. This whole feline thing is much older than the internet!

The whole concert is great!

Great reaction! Insightful and real. The song was absolutely beautifully performed as well.

I've watched a ton of these breakdowns/reactions of this song - this one is by far the best.

In April 1967, Brooker began working as a singer-songwriter and formed Procol Harum with non-Paramounts Keith Reid (poet), Hammond organist Matthew Fisher, guitarist Ray Royer and bassist David Knights. Guy Stevens, their original manager, named the band after a Burmese cat, which had been bred by Eleonore Vogt-Chapman and belonged to Liz Coombes. The cat's "cat fancy" name was Procul Harun, Procul being the breeder's prefix.

Think you’ll find that instrument is a cor anglais- LMAO at “oh there’s singing” 😂😂😂

So glad to see you picking up on this one. It's another masterpiece that spans decades. Poetry set to music. Check out A Salty Dog for another masterpiece.

Two friends of mine got married to this back In the sixties they are still together

It's a Hammond B-3 organ. It has a very distinctive sound. The organ itself doesn't have any speakers. It's connected to separate Leslie speakers (a brand of speaker) that provides the audible sound. The vibrato is created with a spinning speaker inside of a cabinet. The faster the spinning, the faster the vibrato. There's a switch on the organ that controls the vibrato. This player does a good job playing with vibrato versus no vibrato.

Amazing song by Procol Harum lead singer Gary Brooker. Song came out in 1967 , this is a Gem of a song. Gary Brooker sadly died not to long ago.

Procol harem is the name of the group. Gary Brooker is the name of the singer. This song was released in 1967 and it said to be John Lennon's favorite song. Protocol harem when translated means" beyond these things."

You do a great job at this. Liked your reaction

you have good awareness of the music and the singer.

I’m sure someone already commented, but I believe it’s an Obo. And your reaction to this is a magical as this song! Yeah, that may be a bit much, but that’s my mood for the moment. 🤣

Procol Harum was the name of the band, which was named after a cat, which loosely translated from Arabic meant "beyond that which is".

Gary Brooker not only derived the melody from J S Bach, but also sounded about the same back in 1967 when the song came out. I am glad you appreciate this composition and this particular performance. Check out the Procol Harum music video promo of this song.

Love your insights

This song came out in 67 by Procol Harum. This singer is Garry Brooker.

If this one got to you, from the same concert, please listen to “A Salty Dog”, a sea chanty of earlier years past. Oh, it was written by Gary Brooker and the band Procul Harum (pronounced PRO-cull HAIR-em) but it evokes sailors and ships of ye olden times. Enjoy!

Rest in peace Mr. Gary Brooker. 2/19/22 the most beautiful song ever written and sung. You will be missed so very much thank you for whiter shade of pale 50 yrs running,

I was 18 when this came out in 1967.. Gary Brooker is actually singing it better in this live video than the original....

It is not a band it is Denmark Orchestra very well known. The singer is Gary Brooker this group played this for the first time in 1967and now has 62, 000, 000 likes. He passed away a while ago. Brilliant. Love this since it came out I was just married in 1966 and was 21 when it came out. Blessings from South Africa.

Simply amazing song. A true masterpiece

Noel Harrison covered this song in the late 60s. I had the album, don't know how. So, I never knew for years anyone else sang this. I think I got the album in the 70s, maybe from a yard sale. Kids couldn't afford much else. At least this one couldn't.

RIP Gary Brooker what a true artist.

Great reaction! It was fun waiting and watching your expressions knowing what was coming up. When you got to the part when Gary started to sing you did not disappoint your face was awesome hearing him. Thanks that was fun. It almost like hearing again for the first time.

Imagine being at that concert wow

Obo? You asked the instrument. I played a french horn as a child and it was good. I appreciate this kind of music.

I remember this song from when I was a little kid, just started school little. I've loved this song over 50 years. This version is just incredible. Gerry Brooker still sounds like he did in the 60s. I think the orchestra is playing Bach, I think lol. Thanks so much for playing this and rattling my brain fog away. Check out the album version and also another one called Conquistador. Total banger ✌🏻&💓

Procol Harum was on my go-to list since 67

Your voice would suit doing voiceover adverts etc. Not sure why I think that.

I didn't see anyone answer your question about that instrument the woman was playing towards the beginning- it WAS an oboe. You were right. (An oboe isn't larger). You might have been thinking of a bassoon.

Have you heard the original track...massive.

Pure talent…..! Oboe…..!!!!

54 years since this song was released. Think about that people. Amazing that Gary Brooker's voice has only got better thru the years. So much quality music is out there for anyone that is willing to look for it. "Nights in White Satin" is another that's making the rounds. Amazing and wonderful music made without the benefit of computers.

I’ve been listening to this since 1967, I was 14. I also owned Johnny Rivers 1967 album Realization, and he covers it beautifully. Great album by the way❤️

He sounds the same now as back in the 60's

It is a Oboe and the electric piano is a Hammond-Organ.

The lyrics seem abstract & odd but really are poetic & nuanced. Vocalist Gary Brooker & organist Matthew Fisher composed the Bach-inspired music while lyricist Keith Reid penned the awesomely rich & memorable words. The themes aren't heavy or philosophical, actually. It's just a straightforward narrative about a guy losing his girl. Reid explains that "[w]ith the ceiling flying away and room humming harder, I wanted to paint an image of a scene. I wasn’t trying to be mysterious with those images, I was trying to be evocative." Reid wrote two extra verses (only two are sung here, as in the original recording) & they are equally wonderful & lyrical. Here they are: 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 / If music be the food of love / then laughter is its 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.

I love that you appreciate every note.

Oboe is the instrument you are referring to.. This song is one of ONLY 42 singles that sold over 10 Million copies. Also, there are over 1,000 KNOW covers of this song by other artist. This song reached number 1 in 19 countries in 1967 but only reached #5 on Billboard top 100. A TRUE Classic for sure. I grew in Oklahoma and out Radio Station back then was KOMA, an AM station out of Oklahoma City, and for about 5 or 6 weeks they played this song at least 6 times an hour!!

I was in the same airport bar as him in London, 5ft away, and wanted to tell him how much I loved this song but I didn't want to disturb him as he was eating. Still the right decision, but sorrowful also.

The Procol Harum is latin for "Beyond These Things."