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"And let me be clear. Freebird is a superior song to Stairway. It’s classic, epic, etc. And I will listen to bits of it. But Stairway is not superior…"

Where did that come from?

There was so much music between the 1890s and 1980s that was original, whether by string, brass, or woodwind (of course not counting classical from the 1400s and beyond)..

Stoner music (60s) had to start from somewhere, right? (I am not, and have never been a stoner, but I respect music.. and can play many instruments)..

Freebird is emotional, especially at the time..
Stairway is (almost) spiritual, especially at the time...

For instruments, they are not masterpieces, but are done well.
The composers did a very good job of being original, and keeping the interest of listeners. (I could have never done even close to their creations, unless you include trance, 40 years later in Japan...).

Actually.. (minus the drugs), TRANCE is the replacement to 60s music at Woodstock (drugs galore, but I don't do that crap)... but I made plenty of the music.

Thanks for the comments.

And yes, I know….more people love these sings than me. Regardless…

The first half of Freebird…well..it’s ok. But it’s kinda sappy. The chorus is better than the verses. Yeah, Ronnie…I get it. I’d rather hear him sing T for Texas.

But…. Freebird’s outtro. A three-guitar attack, single-stroke roll on the snare TWICE…it’s kinda metal in a rock way And it’s part of America conquering the Brits AGAIN: https://americansongwriter.com/lynyrd-skynyrd-once-rebelled-against-the-rolling-stones-while-opening-for-them-in-1976/. Nonetheless, if I hear the first half, I change the channel. If I jump in at the outtro, I may hang around.

Now…Stairway. I know Zeppelin won the court case, but the opening was truly plagiarized from Randy California and Spirit. https://youtu.be/ye7hCIWwhGE. The first half of the song, like Freebird, zzzzzzzzzzz. The song really starts when Bonzo kicks in. The guitar solo? Well…it ain’t Freebird. Finally,the whole song is effectively banned at every music instrument store. Parenthetically, the best version is the Zappa cover, where the horn section plays the guitar solo.

And, of course….its been overplayed to death. It’s an immediate change the channel situation.

Gimme Achilles Last Stand every day of the week instead. Page called it his favourite Led Zeppelin song in several interviews, and considers its guitar solo on a par with his “Stairway to Heaven” solo (I think it’s way better).