The Song that Shall Not be Played

An unwritten and viciously enforced rule that thou shalt not play Stairway to Heaven at a music store or on the floor at NAMM

Way back in 1983 when I began learning to play guitar, I had some songs I felt were milestones that I needed to learn. Numero uno on my list was Stairway to Heaven.

To 18 year old me, that was the pinnacle of cool. When I finally learned it, it turned out that it wasn’t as difficult as I anticipated.

Of course, for about 9 months, every time I picked up a guitar, that was the song that began playing.

Then I ran into the unwritten rule. Turns out that there are some songs that will get you a tap on the shoulder and if you don’t desist, they will ask you out loud to stop.

For the record, others are Crazy Train, Eruption, and Master of Puppets.

Anyhow, here is Gabriella Quevedo, taking this timeless masterpiece and applying her unique take. I particularly like her arrangement of when Monsieur Page switches to electric, and she interprets this superbly adding flair and embellishments that are just part of her essence.

Click below and be prepared to tap your toes, and be transported to when you first heard Stairway to Heaven, and tell me if it sends chills down your spine. It did for me!

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