Led Zeppelin’s 1971 seven minute piece titled “When the Levee Breaks,” is one of the most beautiful works of art that my senses have ever encountered. Not many people are aware of the fact that this song is actually a cover of a previous blues song performed by Kansas Joe and Memphis Minnie. One of the members of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant, heard the song and decided to revise it with a more upbeat tempo, but still keeping the original southern blues sound throughout the entire song. The reason this song is so powerful is because there has never been anything like it and there probably never will be; allowing this song to ‘stand the test of time‘ and remain respected for the last 37 years. “When the Levee Breaks” opens with a hard rock drum beat and leads into a roaring harmonica and guitar ensemble. There is a continuous guitar riff throughout the song that allows everything to flow smoothly. This always creates a thought in my head as if something was in constant motion; the lyrics coincide with this thought….“When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move.” A timeless song from a classic band that will never age.
Led Zeppelin Version-
Kansas J0e/Memphis Minnie-
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2 comments:
I've never heard this song, but maybe I will have to listen to it now.
This song is pretty bad ass. Loooong rock songs like this are a favorite thing of mine.
Jade
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