Absolutely Stunning With the Full Orchestra – Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale” Live in Denmark

Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale” is among the most stunningly written songs ever, but the band elevated it further by performing it alongside the Danish National Concert Orchestra and Choir at Ledreborg Castle, Denmark. Frontman Gary Brooker has acknowledged that Johann Sebastian Bach’s Suite No. 3 in D Major influenced the song, making the full orchestral arrangement during the August 2006 performance particularly appropriate.

The band showcased 15 tracks with the orchestra at the concert, which were subsequently released as a live album. The orchestra truly enhances “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” featuring a beautiful orchestral introduction that highlights the song’s melody. Brooker takes the lead after 90 seconds, and despite being 61, his voice remains just as strong as it was in the original 1967 recording. The impressive live collaboration was a success 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 synergy. The orchestra adds significant depth to the performance, and the choir’s smooth voices are a delightful addition.

The performance was warmly received online, with fans leaving positive remarks such as “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 is “A Salty Dog,” featuring an emotional choir performance over the iconic piano intro.

“A Whiter Shade of Pale” is Procol Harum’s most successful 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 ever, with 10 million copies sold 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.

The songwriting credits for “A Whiter Shade of Pale” initially only included Procol Harum members Gary Brooker and Keith Reid, who wrote 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 discussed 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.”