Zeptember 1, 2015: Immigrant Song

Hello, friend.

It's a few years down the road since I last did this.  Regardless, the month of Zeptember starts today.

Kicking off Zeptember 2015 is Immigrant Song.  Three years ago when I started the Zeptember project, Immigrant Song had a place in it.

Today, Immigrant Song comes to mind because of my son. Z is celebrating his 10th birthday today. The kids all know of my love of Led Zeppelin. I play it a lot, and when a song pops on the radio, I'll call it out.  One evening a few months ago as Zach got into the shower, I heard a sound from him, and as it repeated, I recognized it  - even through the wall and with the sound of the running water - as the opening wails of Immigrant Song.  I couldn't make out the rest of the words, but it was clear he was continuing on with the song.

The music the kids listen to is representative of what they hear from their parents and peers. His older sister is a big country music fan.  As a parent and fan of Led Zeppelin, it was so cool to hear him singing it.   Being a careful parent, I want my kids to like things because they like them, not because I do.  This is a message I've tried to convey to them, whether it is about books, movies, music, or the sports teams I cheer for.

Immigrant Song is so cool because it's all there right away. No slow intro, just 113 BPM. Form start to finish it is heavy bass, solid drums, guitar and Robert Plant's signature vocals.

So let's kick off another Zeptember. Immigrant Song.

Immigrant Song

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and in music, covering a song is the way it is done.   There are bands playing right now in a club or bar anywhere around the world playing Led Zeppelin songs.  Several Led Zeppelin tribute bands make a living traveling around and not only playing the music of Led Zeppelin, but dressing up and playing the part as well.   I've seen a couple bands in my time, and it has been a pretty good night out.  I have had to stop myself initially at these shows when I have started feeling a little disappointed to say: "This isn't Led Zeppelin, Shawn.  They love the band as much as you do; maybe more. Give them some credit.  They're on stage making the effort."   I also know from being in a band on the other side that we didn't fully reproduce the artists we were covering; but we did represent them, and the crowd had a good time.

I recently completed reading  Stieg Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and decided to watch the movie.   As the opening credits rolled, "Immigrant Song" began playing.  This wasn't Led Zeppelin's version, but an industrial/tech version performed by Trent Reznor, and vocals by Karen O.   They did a great job covering the song, and there were cool visuals with it. I think it was an appropriate way to represent the song, considering the theme of book.

Many other top bands have covered or used Led Zeppelin's music.    I was out with a couple friends one night and when we got back into my friend Jeff's truck to head home "When the Levee Breaks" started playing on the radio.   Jeff said "Oh, sweet! The Beastie Boys!" thinking that "Rhymin' and Stealin'" was coming on the air.   Almost in synch, my friend Pat and I started laughing and we corrected Jeff. 

The power of Zeppelin in that moment was we were two beats into the song, and we knew who it was.  We knew that it was the Zeppelin version and not a sample. 

The other thing with Zeppelin is that they themselves were masters at borrowing.  Before the Beastie Boys sampled "When the Levee Breaks,"  Led Zeppelin took it from someone else.  Zeppelin also took "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You," and "Bring It On Home," and "Traveling Riverside Blues," among many others.

If we love Zeppelin, we have to love that they borrowed, and in my opinion, improved upon the original.  I've also come to appreciate other artists doing Zeppelin's work.  Tori Amos does a great cover of "Thank You," as does Chris Cornell.   Blind Melon did "Out on The Tiles."   The Black Crowes (okay, with Jimmy Page on guitar) did a bunch of Zeppelin tunes, and Chris Robinson has a great voice.  A nice list of covers is here, and I know a lot of these can be found on YouTube.

Do you have a favorite Zeppelin cover?