The Daily Doug breaks down Stairway to Heaven (Heart Cover at the Kennedy Center) | (Episode 244) 

That's an amazing critique, Doug. There are some thoughts there that I hadn't previously considered. Thanks for your devotion and empathy. Love from the U.K.

I was in the choir for this performance. One of the best moments of my life. Some fun facts: * Jason Bonham being on drums was a surprise to EVERYONE. He had told Led Zeppelin that he had a prior commitment and couldn't make it to the ceremony, and Dave Grohl had been on drums for all the rehearsals, including the live dress rehearsal. * This broadcast version has footage from both the dress rehearsal and the final performance * Nancy Wilson is super nice in person * Stephen Colbert came up to me and some other choir members after the show to tell us we did a great job * We rehearsed every day for 2 or 3 weeks for this performance. * When only the small choir is shown, the full choir is still singing, just behind the curtains

I am not always one for covers, but Heart knocked this one out of the park. Thanks for sharing.

This is NOT a cover it is a TRIBUTE

Ann Wilson holding out that line "to be a rock and not to roll" gives me goosebumbs no matter how many times I watch this. Just spectacular

The best female singer in Rock n Roll ever!

can't help but tear up... every damn time.

Ann Wilson is the greatest female vocalist in rock period. Gorgeous voice.

50 years later, Ann can still belt it as good as rockers a third her age, and Nancy is just as smooth on the guitar.

Shortly before Jason Bonham came onto the stage, Robert Plant turned to Jimmy Page and said ''We should have brought Jason with us'' then he came on hence the surprise. Jason's hat was his dad's hat. John Bonham often wore a Bowler hat off and on stage. This is one of the best renditions of the song IMO and one of the best reactions, Thanks Doug.

Watching Jason Bonham look up to the sky when Ann sung that last word "Heaven"at 13:30 .....wow, thats heavy.

When I hear “I look west” I’m reminded of how much Robert Plant loved J.R.R. Tolkien’s work. The elves leave and go west to exist forever. Bilbo, Frodo and then Sam are allowed to take a ship and … head west. “Men of the West” was said by Aragorn prior to battle. For these, and more reasons, is why I’ve always felt that Robert Plant derived those specific words from his love of Tolkien’s works.

Greatest song ever written.

So great to see Jimmy, John-Paul and Robert enjoying their own music. So special to have Jason on drums as well.

A BETTER Led Zepp cover does not exist, IMO... They definitely pulled out ALL the stops here, with the orchestral/choral support, but it worked for me. Thanx for reacting to this classic cover tune!

Killed it ! Robert Plant’s face speaks volumes . What a treat !

The drummer in this performance, is Jason Bonham. Son of John Bonham. The guys in Zeppelin were not told he was going to be there. Another emotional element to this performance. Great version. The heart sisters used to cover Zeppelin tunes back in their early days.

I can't watch this without getting tears in my eyes, The way it builds and builds to the point when the choir comes in, Jason Bonham paying tribute to his Dad, the beautiful acoustic guitar start by Nancy and ,of course, the powerhouse voice of Ann, It all combines to make this my favourite cover version ever.

The greatest song written by the only band that could have composed it. Ann absolutely killed it because of the immense adoration she has for the music.

Absolutely Amazing !

the Wilson sisters are AMAZING

I can’t watch this enough. 🕺🕺❤️❤️✌️✌️

Jason crying at the end always gets to me.

They did it so perfectly. It's amazing. No words can put into words how great it is! Thanks Ann and Nancy......❤❤

Controversial; I think this is the greatest LIVE version of this song EVER. When Zep played it live, they only had 3 musicians (other than vocals) to try and render a song that is positively orchestral in harmony and instrumentation. The reason this version really works is because they actually have enough musicians/instruments on the stage to properly, fully portray the absolute majesty of this song.

Ain't real music wonderful ........and people will still be sitting open mouthed in another 50 years after watching and listening to this. The song and the the band(s) are timeless!

As a fan of Pink Floyd, Nightwish, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin and the like, I've always loved Heart. They're right up there with the very best. And this rendition was masterful. Well done Ann, Nancy and co

Robert Plant is crying. Great emotions!

woww that was Awesome !! Stairway to heaven by Heart, I love Heart it brought tears to my eyes

It's even hard to call this version "a cover", this is masterpiece itself.

One of the best cover versions of any song by any band, ever. Heart deserves their spot in Rock Hall of Fame. It would have been so easy to fuck this up, but they hit it out of the park. Moving, and brilliant.

Probably the best cover I have ever heard of Stairway To Heaven. Ann knocks the vocals out of the park. I still get chills hearing this version of Stairway. Jimmy Page was definitely loving it.

love the shots of YoYo Ma enjoying it!

10:55 always make me happy. They look so happy together, what a moment- pure magic!

Absolutely LOVE the drumming in this version. Go Bonham!

The emotion / elation in Robert Plant’s face tells us how good the performance is without a doubt. Love your interpretation of the lyrics - I think you nailed it.

First time I saw this I cried. Tears of joy at the magnificence of Ann's voice singing this anthem from my youth that has become an iconic piece of music history. I was 13 years old when this came out and now I'm, well, 50 years older and this monster still kicks arse!

This tribute gives me chills. John Bonham's son on the drums with his dad's hat on, Ann's voice, the bands awesome rendition - Nancy's playing - the choir really gives me chills. Led Zeppelin watching with tears and approval (Jimmy approves of guitarist :) Love Robert Plant's intense listening to Ann;s voice on this. Lovely. It makes me cry with tears of joy and longing. Love the look to the west line - reminds me of Bilbo Baggins longing for return to his journey blowing smoke rings from his house in the shire. edit: listened to your reaction about the lady - I think about greed in the US and then the band being from the UK and the royalty with their ability to do anything they want with their money and power - even though the Queen is a figurehead they still have lots of power.

Their eyes were glistening from the balcony. And *that* Made me cry that night for sure. Another magical night ✨. Thank you Doug

I'm just glad to be alive to hear this song. It's a masterpiece.

I absolutely adore the job they did covering this. They went all out just as the song deserved. Never gets old.

The great thing about this tribute is it feels like they are saying that no one can do it better than you but we will make it special and give you one heck of a show.

I had the experience of seeing Led zeppelin play at Kezar Stadium, and vividly remember how you could have literally heard a pin drop when the last note of Stairway faded out. Spectacular, and this performance by Heart et al does it supreme justice!

I've seen reactors do this Many Times, Yours is the best! One of the Funniest Comments I saw said, "When did Sheldon (Big Bang Theory) Learn to Play Electric Guitar?" hyuk-hyuk!

Thanks Doug, great analysis. Interesting that Anne was sick with a cold/flu when she performed this so it is even more amazing.

Until that performance, I'd been a firm believer that only one person, and one band, should ever be allowed to perform that song. I'd never considered Ann and Nancy as an option - just hadn't crossed my mind. I'll live the rest of my life with the firm belief that only *two* people, and two bands, should ever be allowed to perform that song. Thank you as always, Ann and Nancy, for changing my whole outlook on life. Again.

This performance brings me to tears every time

When that curtain raises at the back, wow.... this performance gets me every time... so powerful. Everything I love about music is there and they couldn't have picked better musicians for such a faithful tribute to such an excellent song from an excellent band! Simply timeless.

"The West".. where the sun sets.. I agree that part is about the end of the day/life/etc. and that Choir.. yeah baby

I was on boat on the Ganges river at Varanasi in India, and another boat floated by containing a old hippie with a guitar, playing Stairway to Heaven, lol. I guess my rock wasn't big enough to hide from this song, either.

The greatest cover of all time

"No one is beyond redemption." Bullseye. Robert sometimes introduced this song in live shows as: "....a song of hope."

Love your critiques Doug...I learn from you and it's really cool to get some insight into some of the songs that we've loved for decades.

A beautiful cover for a Beautuful epic song

Loved your reaction to "who She is!" And, I totally agree, and this still gives me chills when I hear it. Thanks Doug ✌🙏✌

Saw LZ perform this live at Knebworth in 1979 so I have a high bar for cover versions which Ms Wilson easily clears. Fabulous (good to see Messrs Plant and Page agree :D)! Thank you Doug

"And as we wind on down the road, Our shadows taller than our soul"..

I've seen this performance many times. One of the absolute best live ever.

Heart grave out hats like the one Jason was wearing on their 2013 tour with Jason's band opening. They were part of the meet and greet package. I got one when I saw them in SF California,along with a seat front row center.

Such an amazing version of this iconic song !!! Even for the Led Zeppelin members...

Heart built their skills playing Led Zeppelin cover songs in Seattle Clubs in the early 1970s, so they were a perfect choice for this tribute.

Doug, this leads us to orchestral prog rock: the three great Rick Wakeman albums of the 1970s: The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, and Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. These were the glory days of concept albums and rock operas. Tommy. The Wall. Jesus Christ Superstar. Wakeman, the virtuosic keyboard player from Yes's best albums, was inspired. You can listen to individual Renaissance tracks, even from Scheherazade, but these Wakeman works must be taken in whole.

She absolutely nails this

imo, the best live cover of a classic track

when the big choir kicks in at the end it brings tears to my eyes. And theirs as well. Sensational

Thanks for making me feel SO old! This song can not be 50 years old, please don't say it's so! Damn, I'm not this old.., I'm only 19 years old, right?? Where have all those years gone? I can still see all of the times that I was blessed to be at a LED Zeppelin concert..., at least I can remember most of them... I'll see you later on...!

Rock legends covering rock legends most legendary song in front of other rock legends at event that honors rock legends and absolutely crushing it has got to be one of the best performances ever.

I adore that Version!

Been listening to music like this for over 50 years. I have a greater appreciation for the music, thanks to your knowledge and analysis. I am amazed and appreciative of your knowledge. Music is more complex than I first thought. Love your frequent use of the word “y’all. Good ole southern word. Thanks for your videos. Peace! ✌️

We may know the repertoire, Doug, but you have the "ear," the chops and the knowledge of music theory. You have taught me a great deal and I thank you. 👍 for this video. Chuck

Heart started as a Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd cover band so I feel there could never have been a better band to cover this song. They were true fans of it

I'll tell you how good this song is: My MOM liked it, and it wasn't easy for her to like any R&R. She was a choral music teacher in public school, and it was the choirs in this presentation that really brought it home for her.

The best part for me, is Robert, Jimmy, and Paul all seem to enjoy and agree with the performance.

Yeah, this is one of the best (live) covers ever. Even the original Led Zeppelin bandmembers like it a lot.

Watched this cover so many times, perfection from start to end. Ann really nails it, amazing voice.

I love watching Plant's reaction during this performance.. I would love to know what was going through his mind while he was watching. Excellent review...

My favourite Jimmy Page moments include the BBC TV archive they trot out every now and then where Huw Wheldon (famous Welsh TV executive with a great sense of humour) chats with a shy young version of Jimmy about his future ambitions, on some schoolboy game show; Jimmy's solo on a novelty science fiction record (Doctor Who!) where he seems to be playing a different and far more Hendrix-style tune than anyone else on the track, and some later clips where he's playing his favourite old 45rpm Rock'n'Roll/skiffle singles and chatting about London coffee bars and live bands of the early 60s. All around on the 'net if you search hard enough. What a lovely man.

Arguably the greatest cover of all time!!!

I like the way you consider the lyrics as well as the musical structure. Great channel. Keep up the fantastic work.

to be a rock and not to roll...hallelujah

Doug, first of all I have to say I am an ENORMOUS fan. I have turned on my Toolhead son to you and this channel. He is also a big fan! So, this Daily Doug I found very insightful. I liked your opening allegory idea a lot! I grew up with this song (I was 15 when it was released) and I never thought of it that way! I also love your metaphorical interpretation about looking to the west. Very cool! I totally agree with your assessment that the lyrics are VERY profound. Of course, I say this now at age 65. Obviously all this went right over my head when I was 15. THANKS Doug for this Daily Doug. Looking forward to future posts!

Zappa’s version is a stunner. He scored the guitar solo for brass.

Going to share this with Ann and Nancy. 👍🎶

Pure magic, every time! Speaks to the midst of me, the heart. Amazing! Nice reaction, thanks!

Looking forward for this one 😃

It´s a real joy watching the original members appreciating this performance! Maybe they where thinking: "Boy, why didnt we ever come up with such an arrangement!"

A few things I’d like to point out, as a guitar player and a massive Zeppelin fan. They didn’t know Jason was there till they announced his name that’s why Plant was so happy at the start, John Bonham was his best friend they grew up together. Plant was the one who came to the house and sat down a young Jason to tell him John had passed. Jason’s hat (and the whole choir) was paying homage to John famously wearing that style of hat. And as a guitar player myself (not even saying I’m very talented or anything) I can’t imagine the pressure to try and play that solo in front of Jimmy Page, but after having watched this dozens of times every time I’m a bit bummed out I think it’s the only flaw in this performance, he just doesn’t absolutely kill it like everyone else on the stage.

Thank you so much for doing this.

I think you hit the meaning of the song right on the money!! Gold and wealth in and of itself will not buy you happiness and joy. Personal enlightenment ..good relationships...empathy ....you are absolutely right about all those. I think in an interview Robert Plant eluded to the Jungian aspect of this song and the shadow although he never expounded upon it.. (Our shadows taller than our soul?). I think it is allegory and not literal as you have most intelligently pointed out. And as he said in the movie the Song Remains the Same. It is a song of hope. We can all change the path we are going down if it is not a healthy one. Great point about the piper and reason. That is a new meaning for me so thank you for pointing it out. Sad that some people never had that or were so preoccupied with fame and ego and other pitfalls of life not to listen to those voices of reason and basically become a good person. I guess we all make our own choices and as you so eloquently pointed it out ....the right path is harder but ultimately much more internally rewarding. A good message from the song.

Probably the best hard-rock song of all time. An Anthem. Epic

Thanks for this reaction Doug. This was such a moving rendition of the song and a wonderful tribute.

In an obscure interview with Robert Plant (who wrote many of the Zeppelin lyrics) said, when asked about the meaning of the words to one song or another, that it was all 'the deep meaningless', as he put it... He said it was like when someone does a drawing of a dragon, with a falcon diving on it, and a damsel on her knees next to a giant bonfire, etc... The lyrics are meant to be evocative and cryptic, to evince a certain emotional reaction, but that they don't really 'mean' that much in specific, that there often wasn't some really great deep intent to the lyrics of any given song. Not all of them, some are more succinctly meaningful, but he laughed about how much people sat around digesting the lyrics and searching for hidden meanings, when in reality he was just singing lines he thought sounded cool, and fit the mood of the song..! Another perfect example, Beck; listen to his lyrics all you want, he's painting a picture with little bits, but they're mostly collages, not necessarily portraits or landscapes, y'know what I mean..? Still, as far as I'm concerned, Led Zeppelin is the greatest rock band there ever was, and ever will be... Some have come close, some have had moments of equal brilliance, but NONE can match the mighty Zep for sheer rock embodiment; the guitar riffs, the bass lines, the beats, and Plant's utterly godly voice soaring over it all, with album after album of fantastic, amazing, head-bangin' foot-stompin' rock-'n-roll... Sorry to go on, I'm just obviously a big fan!

this is just one of the best musical moments...for me...I love heart, and the zep, of course...I have to go back and watch this periodically ...it brings tears usually...

Thanks for your great review and insightful commentary. You are a welcome learned ear and have, more than once helped me to see the key ideas that shaped the tunes I grew up with.

Ann and Nancy Rock and they are still beautiful ladies. Ann is 71 now and Nancy is 66. Ann may have lost some range but still sounds great.Yiu should check out some of Ann's singles and her current tour. Nancy released her first solo album this year.

If you like music, Then it's pretty impossible to not only like this version but also be moved by it! A few things, Ann was in her early 60's when performing this. What a voice, She truly is a Goddess.. Nancy was also amazing, She's the Rock of Heart. And so underrated... When Heart first started out they were a Zep cover band. Heard this story from a few different people, The version I heard was Zep was playing a concert & when it was finished Jimmy & Robert & The Boy's wanted to go for a beer, One of the arena staff suggested for them to go to a certain bar, In which they did. Well Heart was playing at that bar doing their amazing Zep cover's.. I guess after Heart's last set, Jimmy & Robert went to talk to them, Giving them amazing praise along with their approval To Heart, Saying they could cover anyone of their (Zep) song's anytime anywhere. No questions asked. Pretty Special! Thanks Doug Super Happy That You Did This Kevin

Just wow Doug, wow. I’ve felt like I understood the message. I was close but you really brought the juxtaposition of the “two paths” to light! Thank you!

That whole section of the choir had Derbys on.

Just about perfect 👌🏼 Seeing the three remaining guys made me cry.

doug - great song selection - love the music analysis as well as the message on how to live - definitely as true today as when this song was released