MORE Stairway to Heaven! Reaction and Vocal Review feat. Heart LIVE at the Kennedy Center Honors

We started the week watching Led Zeppelin perform "Stairway to Heaven" so it seemed appropriate to follow up with Heart's tribute performance at the Kennedy Center Honors.

#ledzeppelin #reaction #heart

[Cadinho]

The tears in Robert Plant's eyes followed by the smile on his face speaks volumes. There are definitely songs that are on the do not touch list, this is one of them, but this performance is one of the greatest tributes I have ever seen.

Also, this song is an absolute masterpiece. Ann Wilson was 62 when she performed this and singers half her age couldn't kill this like she did.

[loucastillo]

This performance with Heart gets me everytime I see this video. I don't think any other band could make a cover better than Heart. Ann knocks this out of the park. And to see Robert Plant tear up and Jimmy Paige rockin out in his own way. And to see JPJ smile is proof that they approved of this performance

[lizardkingof]

Jason Bonham playing drums was a surprise. Robert Plant (Jason's godfather) asked Jason to be his guest, but Jason said he had a prior commitment. Jason is playing his father's drums and wearing his John's bowler hat.

[lizardkingof]

Personally, I think this is the best cover ever...the arrangement is phenomenal...the horns, the violins, the choir... C'est magnifique 🔥

[michaeljohns]

The Choir in the background gets me every time. You can see it in their faces, the joy and pride and knowing how big a moment this was

[randyjohnson]

This is a epic performance...this will be watchable for 100s of years

[PeterTea]

Legends honoring legends in a room full of legends… with a legendary performance.

[ziovit]

The original is a Masterpiece. This cover is a Masterpiece. Is not necessary to compare. Music is a language, is not a race. Every variation is another language, another way, another treasure; as you said. I'm a musician. Every *true* musician know this.
Greetings from Italy.
Thanks for your reaction.
Andy

This is actually the correct tempo as the studio original. What You experienced with the original live performance, was Zeppelin as they always did live - no song was exactly as the studio version. Lots of bands from the 60's and 70's always jammed live and made their songs longer, slower or faster.
This is, despite me being a HUGE and OLD Zepp-fan, the best ever tribute/cover rendition of the song.

[jamesbatcho]

Not only a great song and performance, but one of the most emotional videos in the YouTube catalog.

[winstonllamas]

When you see Yo Yo Ma enjoying a performance like this, you know it's great. One of the best music performances in Kennedy Honors history. Robert Plant is so stoic looking.

[sherryramirez]

for her voice to cut thru ALL of that going on around her is absolutely spellbinding

[malcshone]

Heart have covered Led Zeppelin songs for many years. Their versions have always been really good but this is just amazing. Who wouldn’t shed a tear when the choir joins in. 😢

[angusrocks]

Jason was invited by Robert and Jimmy to attend this tribute/award as their guest of honor in the place of his dad. he told them he had prior engagements and could not attend. imagine their feeling and surprise when they realized his prior engagement was being the drummer for said

[thegorn]

The remaining members of Led Zeppelin are responding at 10:07 to not only the revelation of a bigger choir singing but that they are all wearing the customary bowler hat that deceased drummer John Bonham used to wear. Same one Jason, his son, is wearing while he plays in his father's place. Very emotional moment

[michaelsmith]

This is one of the few performances I have to watch every time it pops back up in my feed. I just can't skip it. You know a band or a song has had an impact when you see everyone from Yo Yo Ma, to the Obama's appreciating it. Not sure if it's just folklore at this point but I did hear once that Robert Plant said Heart is the only band that has full license to cover any Zeppelin song any time they want.

[cathyhudnall]

The longer version of this performance where the outside of the Kennedy Center is seen at the beginning is the full version of this performance. You hear Ann loud and clear throughout. What you watched is a cut version. Of course, the longer version has a slower progression of the song but it really is my personal preference. I hope all that made sense. Thanks for your reactions.

[markmyers]

There are few folks who can pull off playing Stairway IN FRONT of Led Zeppelin and wind up getting a standing ovation from them... Ann Wilson felt like she did it without breaking a sweat... and it is fun to watch Jimmy Page mentally playing the guitar solo during the guitar solo.... they were as enthralled with the performance as us mere mortals.

[johns]

yes Bethany this is an edited for TV version. The longer version is available, and I see that other commenter(s) have sent the link...I'm a huge Heart fan, have seen them in concert several times over the years. Ann and Nancy are big Zep fans and often do Zep songs in their encores. I'm a senior citizen, a musician, and have been fortunate to see many great performances; this is among the best live performances of anything, anywhere. Brilliant beyond words.

[bigtbone]

I absolutely love how as the song builds, more and more layers, the choirs etc, make it more and more emotive.
Brilliant, just brilliant. 🙌