Not the Song I Mean Top Ten: Stairway to Heaven (#10)

Tweet

Obviously I didn't explain things well enough yesterday when I introduced this topic. That's to be expected after all the hard work I've been doing at the office. (That's not sarcasm, either, I've been inventorying over 1,000 books!) This should make things clear as mud, given that this is the most obvious example of different songs with the same title. #10: Stairway to Heaven YOU'RE THINKING: Led Zeppelin I MEAN: Neil Sedaka When you hear those three words, "Stairway to Heaven," you either cringe or you're delighted. The 1971 Led Zeppelin song is the most overplayed FM "classic rock" song in history, going from long "bathroom break" cut to revered song. Fear not, that's not the one I mean. I don't care for that song at all. (And that makes you wonder, probably. ) Back in the year I was born, Neil Sedaka -- one of the greatest pop singer/songwriters America has produced -- had a top ten hit called "Stairway to Heaven." Unlike the one you probably think about the instant you hear the title, Sedaka's "Stairway to Heaven" is a bouncy pop tune that gets everything done in two and a half minutes. In other words, you can hear Sedaka's song three times before the Zep song plays once. I don't care for Zep, although I acknowledge their success and massive influence on music over the past 50 years (wow, have they been around that long??). They just aren't my cup of tea (which is probably why JJ doesn't like tea!). Sedaka, on the other hand? I've seen him in concert twice, 38 years apart, and he's amazing live. He turns 80 in March, so he's been around "that long," too. And he's my preference when you say "Stairway to Heaven." Stairway to Heaven THE ONE YOU'RE THINKING: Written by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page Recorded by Led Zeppelin From Led Zeppelin IV, 1971 THE ONE I MEAN: Written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield Recorded by Neil Sedaka From Neil Sedaka Sings Little Devil and Other Hits, 1960 'Cause heaven is where you are!