Author Topic: I don't get a thing about Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" (Read 2909 times)

WildRanger · « **on:** May 10, 2019, 04:13:37 PM »

As a Zeppelin fan I could never understand why is "Immigrant Song" one of the most popular, revered and iconic Zep tunes.

1) Its length is only 2:26.
2) It has no guitar solo.
3) It's basically one, same guitar riff/melody throughout the whole song, it lacks any musical changes and diverse elements.

From a musical perspective what makes that song so special or great?
Your subjective views and arguments?

The Walrus · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2019, 04:14:52 PM »

It's just a kickass song. Nuff said. Sometimes less is more.

Lowdz · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2019, 04:17:09 PM »

I think the reasons you listed are probably why. The riff has a hypnotic vibe they were obviously going for. But even I know they have better songs. It was probably very cool and original at the time.

TAC · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2019, 04:19:06 PM »

The sing has great imagery. It's as close to heavy metal as Zeppelin got, especially in their early days. Plus it stands out as the true rocker on the album that it's on.

wolfking · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2019, 04:21:05 PM »

I don't get a thing about Led Zeppelin.

MirrorMask · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2019, 04:21:18 PM »

Quote from: WildRanger on May 10, 2019, 04:13:37 PM

1) Its length is only 2:26.
3) It's basically one, same guitar riff/melody throughout the whole song, it lacks any musical changes and diverse elements.

Give or take the exact lenght, this basically describes Paranoid as well

The Walrus · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2019, 04:59:15 PM »

Question, why does a song have to have "diverse elements" and "changes" to be considered great? Sabbath wrote Paranoid in minutes and it's one of their most fun songs. Paul McCartney wrote Yesterday pretty quickly, it's barebones and yet it's arguably one of the greatest songs ever written.

Less is almost always more.

Crow · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2019, 05:12:07 PM »

the only good songs are 20+ minute prog epics with at least a dozen different instruments playing at all times

King Puppies and the Acid Guppies · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2019, 05:23:13 PM »

Quote from: Parama on May 10, 2019, 05:12:07 PM

the only good songs are 20+ minute prog epics with at least a dozen different instruments playing at all times

You mean like all Free Improv Jazz?

Crow · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2019, 05:23:34 PM »

exactly

Adami · « **Reply #10 on:** May 10, 2019, 05:25:25 PM »

Wilderanger is right.

Song doesn't even have double bass!

And would it have killed John Paul Jones to thrown in some tapping or natural harmonics? UGH!

I wouldn't even consider it a real song.

Crow · « **Reply #11 on:** May 10, 2019, 05:29:20 PM »

there aren't even any trap hihats or glossy synths. not real music

TAC · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2019, 05:30:11 PM »

For the record, I hear it's Donald Trump's least favorite Zeppelin song too.

King Postwhore · « **Reply #13 on:** May 10, 2019, 06:15:43 PM »

Thor loves it too for the love of thunder God.

Fritzinger · « **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2019, 11:44:51 PM »

Quote from: WildRanger on May 10, 2019, 04:13:37 PM

1) Its length is only 2:26.

Try playing that bass drum figure for longer than 2:26 minutes

wolfking · « **Reply #15 on:** May 11, 2019, 04:27:47 AM »

Quote from: TAC on May 10, 2019, 05:30:11 PM

For the record, I hear it's Donald Trump's least favorite Zeppelin song too.

This needs some appreciation.

Kwyjibo · « **Reply #16 on:** May 11, 2019, 05:07:55 AM »

Quote from: TAC on May 10, 2019, 05:30:11 PM

For the record, I hear it's Donald Trump's least favorite Zeppelin song too.

His favorite is probably Trumpled Underfoot.

KevShmev · « **Reply #17 on:** May 11, 2019, 08:52:38 AM »

I used to work with a guy who played bass guitar, and he said the bass line is this song was extremely difficult to wrap his head around and get right. LZ was his favorite band and he could play most of their songs, but this one always stumped him. Amazing tune.

Quote from: TAC on May 10, 2019, 05:30:11 PM

For the record, I hear it's Donald Trump's least favorite Zeppelin song too.

The Walrus · « **Reply #18 on:** May 11, 2019, 09:17:04 AM »

Quote from: KevShmev on May 11, 2019, 08:52:38 AM

I used to work with a guy who played bass guitar, and he said the bass line is this song was extremely difficult to wrap his head around and get right. LZ was his favorite band and he could play most of their songs, but this one always stumped him. Amazing tune.

Just looked it up. I don't think I've ever paid attention to that fast part. Wow!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2mu25tEqb4

TAC · « **Reply #19 on:** May 11, 2019, 09:23:44 AM »

The part that starts at 44 secs is ridiculous.

King Postwhore · « **Reply #20 on:** May 11, 2019, 10:01:22 AM »

Btw, length doesn't matter. Girth does.

TAC · « **Reply #21 on:** May 11, 2019, 10:03:33 AM »

Says the bumper sticker on the Bondo Buggy.

King Postwhore · « **Reply #22 on:** May 11, 2019, 10:09:04 AM »

No that was "Bigger Than John Holmes" I kid you not.

jammindude · « **Reply #23 on:** May 11, 2019, 11:08:08 AM »

Sorry WildRanger.....but you just lost your only supporter on this forum.

Max Kuehnau · « **Reply #24 on:** May 11, 2019, 11:27:35 AM »

Quote from: wolfking on May 10, 2019, 04:21:05 PM

I don't get a thing about Led Zeppelin.

this

King Puppies and the Acid Guppies · « **Reply #25 on:** May 11, 2019, 11:59:08 AM »

Quote from: Kwyjibo on May 11, 2019, 05:07:55 AM

Quote from: TAC on May 10, 2019, 05:30:11 PM
For the record, I hear it's Donald Trump's least favorite Zeppelin song too.

His favorite is probably Trumpled Underfoot.

Nah, it's Over the Wall and Far Away

El Barto · « **Reply #26 on:** May 11, 2019, 12:39:42 PM »

I already thought it was a kickass song, and reading this thread makes me think even more highly of it. Because of its straight ahead nature I never really paid much attention to the individual components.

Zantera · « **Reply #27 on:** May 11, 2019, 01:53:28 PM »

I don't consider myself a Led Zeppelin fan (I don't dislike them either) so my post is more from a casual point of view but I think what makes Immigrant Song great is what makes a lot of hit songs memorable and that's the ability to write a short song that just gets stuck in your head right away. I believe someone else mentioned Paranoid in the thread, Smoke on the Water or Run to the Hills would be other similar songs for me. Not necessarily the best songs by any of those bands but they stick with you in a great way. There's an art to writing a great 2 ½ - 3 minute song that becomes a classic.

Rattlehead · « **Reply #28 on:** May 11, 2019, 01:54:44 PM »

It's just a really catchy and fun song to listen to. Sure they have better songs in my opinion, but I completely understand why it's so popular.

TAC · « **Reply #29 on:** May 11, 2019, 02:01:04 PM »

Quote from: Puppies_On_Acid on May 11, 2019, 11:59:08 AM

Quote from: Kwyjibo on May 11, 2019, 05:07:55 AM
Quote from: TAC on May 10, 2019, 05:30:11 PM
For the record, I hear it's Donald Trump's least favorite Zeppelin song too.

His favorite is probably Trumpled Underfoot.
Nah, it's Over the Wall and Far Away

Dave_Manchester · « **Reply #30 on:** May 11, 2019, 04:01:50 PM »

Some songs are great because of their melodies, some are great because of their musicianship, some for their lyrics, some for their place in rock history. There are many reasons a song can be considered great. For me, Immigrant Song is all about that propulsive beat. There's a 'primitive' quality to it, from the driving riff to Plant's opening primal scream. On the one hand it coudn't be a simpler song, but on the other, it gets right down to the basics of rock music: rhythm. In this way it reminds me of Tool's 'Triad', another song that sounds 'simple' on the surface (almost literally just a one-note riff), or Pete Townshend's brilliant 1-note guitar solo in I Can See For Miles. Sometimes it's good to be reminded of the power of just one or 2 notes, and Immigrant Song does that for me. It's not their best song, but it is one of the best of its kind.

ytserush · « **Reply #31 on:** May 11, 2019, 06:31:50 PM »

It's no Marillion song, I'll give you that.

YtseJam · « **Reply #32 on:** May 11, 2019, 06:40:48 PM »

bl5150 · « **Reply #33 on:** May 11, 2019, 08:37:09 PM »

Quote from: wolfking on May 11, 2019, 04:27:47 AM

Quote from: TAC on May 10, 2019, 05:30:11 PM
For the record, I hear it's Donald Trump's least favorite Zeppelin song too.

This needs some appreciation.

Trump is a bit more of a Floyd fan

jingle.boy · « **Reply #34 on:** May 12, 2019, 05:52:55 AM »

What I don't get is why people feed in to this troll. I rarely go into his click-bait threads, and the odd time I do, he's rarely even participating in the discussion he created. To me, that's the definition of a troll.

News: Dreamtheaterforums.org is a place of peace. ...except when it is a place of BEING ON FIRE!!!

Author Topic: I don't get a thing about Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" (Read 2909 times)