Exquisite Performance With Full Orchestra – Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale” Live in Denmark

Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale” stands as one of the most exquisite songs ever composed, and the band elevated it further by performing alongside the Danish National Concert Orchestra and Choir at Ledreborg Castle in Denmark. Frontman Gary Brooker has acknowledged that the song drew inspiration from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Suite No. 3 in D Major, making the full orchestral arrangement at their August 2006 performance particularly appropriate.

The band showcased 15 tracks with the orchestra during the concert, which were subsequently released as a live album. The orchestra truly shines on “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” featuring a stunning orchestral introduction that highlights the song’s beautiful melody. Brooker leads the band after 90 seconds, and even at 61, his voice matches the original 1967 recording impeccably. This breathtaking live collaboration became a viral sensation online, amassing 99 million views on YouTube.

Procol Harum’s choice to collaborate with the Danish National Concert Orchestra was highly inspired, as the classical elements in the band’s music create a perfect harmony. The orchestra adds significant depth to the performance, and the rich harmonies of the choir are truly delightful.

The performance was warmly received online, with fans leaving heartfelt comments like “Without a doubt the best and most emotionally felt version of this masterpiece” and “One of the greatest songs ever written. No other singer captures the song like he does.” Another standout moment from the concert was “A Salty Dog,” featuring a moving choir performance over the iconic piano introduction.

“A Whiter Shade of Pale” is Procol Harum’s most significant hit, reaching number one in numerous countries, including the UK, Canada, France, and Germany. Released as a non-album single on May 12, 1967, it became one of the highest-selling singles in history, with sales exceeding 10 million copies worldwide.

The song and its enigmatic lyrics are closely associated with the 1967 Summer of Love. It is frequently ranked among the greatest songs of all time by critics, including Rolling Stone, which placed it at number 57 on their “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list. Additionally, it is a favorite among musicians, with over 1,000 cover versions performed by various artists.

Initially, the writing credits for “A Whiter Shade of Pale” only included Procol Harum members Gary Brooker and Keith Reid, who contributed the music and lyrics, respectively. However, in 2009, their bandmate Matthew Fisher successfully secured a co-writing credit for the music through a court decision.

Reid explained the origin of the lyrics in an interview with Uncut Magazine, stating, “I was trying to conjure a mood as much as tell a straightforward girl-leaves-boy story. With 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.”

Regarding the inspiration for the song, he added, “I suppose it seems like a decadent scene I’m describing. But I was too young to have experienced any decadence then. I might have been smoking when I conceived it, but not when I wrote. It was influenced by books, not drugs.”