Hip Hop Fan Reacts to the Lemon Song by Led Zeppelin

[@blitzkrieg6872]

"They have made heart break sound fun". You are absolutely right! Nobody else can make heart break sound fun except Led Zeppelin.

[@ThePittsburghToddy]

Zeppelin still sounds fresh for being recorded so long ago. That’s the hallmark of great music.

[@chrisatkins6635]

Best ever, nothing comes close after 50 years.

[@anthonyattard6726]

This one song is a good example of a song that you can listen to each instrument individually and be entertained, Bass, guitar and drums.

[@cazgerald9471]

and voice

[@PeterTea]

And the way Plant sings is like another instrument too.

[@fuzzylogicent]

Zep's pyschedelic American electric blues, English folk, prog, funk, and metal all rolled into one legendary band. Craaaazy.

[@Bluewizard7131]

This album was recorded in various studios during off days as they were touring, so they had still had that live energy as they went into the studio. It's amazing how many of these songs were recorded in only one or two takes. They just went in and did it!

[@keithschofield1158]

That’s incredible some of the best albums were recorded overnight some of the worst took like 4 years

[@elisaabolafia9542]

Thanks for those facts Bluewizard about when & how they recorded. Such brilliant talent...nothing compares to LZ. 🎵❗

[@michaelryan2433]

Killing floor is a Howling Wolf song from 1956. Wolf wrote the song about one of the seven women he married who once blew him out of a second story window with a load of buckshot from a shotgun

[@perjespersen3806]

These guys are the best. The live footage of them playing is even more impressive..

[@antarcticorb9197]

Lot of folks criticize Page for mistakes in his playing, but the genius of Page is that he deliberately left them in. Sure, he could have made everything technically perfect, but the emotion was more important, and Jimmy knew it.

[@rondarnell949]

That was Jimmy. Some called him sloppy. But I disagree. It was all intentional to give his playing a more bluesy sound. I believe sometimes he tried somethings that were very difficult to play and ended up not hitting it right on. But if anyone can watch TSRTS and say that Jimmy is sloppy is too high for crutches.

[@donaldschneider5441]

My favorits JPJ Bass line. Carries this track through of so nicely!! Love your reactions!!!

[@alpetrocelli4465]

This is one of the greatest Rock albums ever released. With this one, Led Zeppelin established themselves as the best rock band out there. They took off from where Cream stopped. ✌️❤️🎶

[@tektoniks_architects]

LZII also displaced Abbey Road at the top of the album charts. Lots of baton-passing going on with this album.

[@honoraryamerica5943]

What is amazing about the fact that this album caused their career to explode and became an instant classic album, an album that might be others bands best. IMO it isn't even one of their top three albums, might not even be top five depending on my mood.

[@zonacrs]

@@honoraryamerica5943 Yep, I change my mind all the time. In the end I think they all led to Physical Graffiti, their best IMHO. But I love everything that preceded it.

[@stratfanstl]

You are ABSOLUTELY correct in saying these "covers" are not covers in the traditional sense, they TRANSFORM the original song into something the original writer / performer never imagined. It bugs me that they didn't credit all of the original writes accurately at first release but it also bugs me to hear people downplay what the band did with this material. Also, that purple cover was a result of the remastering of all of their albums by Page around 2012 and they put all of the cover art through a color inverter. I personally despise those new covers. When it came out, LZII was affectionately called the Brown Bomber cuz the album came in a predominately brown sleeve with a double-gate that was sealed / taped clean on the front gate. Very cool packaging for such an influential release. Google the album name to see what the real cover looked like.

[@zonacrs]

Musicians have been copying/repacking/'stealing' forever. I hate it when people say Zeppelin stole stuff when they just made it their own. Absolutely valid to say they did not credit the original artists, but hip hop is not called out for blatant sampling. It's all just bullshit.

[@BBaldwin]

Correct. These arrangements are light years from the “originals”. Additionally, many of these blues progressions have unknown origins-its always been part of the blues tradition to borrow. All the blues masters did it. Besides, progressions cannot be copyrighted, ONLY lyrics and melodies can. Robert didn’t always change the lyrics and that’s where the trouble came in, particularly with the Willie Dixon stuff. But most bands have done this-the Stones, Hendrix, Cream, etc. it’s rock n roll, not Beethoven! People who haphazardly and irresponsibly accuse Zeppelin of ‘“stealing” really don’t see the big picture and don’t know what they are talking about. If it wasn’t for bands like Zeppelin, many of these blues men would be lost to history. Everything goes in cycles.

[@Rassskle]

@@BBaldwin REALLY. ??? So when they asked solo artist and songwriter Jake Holmes to open for them they did him a favour by stealing his Dazed and Confused note for note. Oh yeah..... there are differences . Jake performed solo with only his acoustic guitar and voice. Page added electricity and electronics. But the Page and Plant cover was still listed as written by Jimmy Page. Have a listen to the original......it’s in utube. The Amazing Sounds of Jake Holmes.

[@henriettaskolnick4445]

Often times, bands of this time period would shift into double time into what used to be called a "rave up" and was used to get the audience up and dancing. John Paul Jones took great pride in that their music got people to groove and dance. This song is high octane and the bass kills throughout. A few years after the band broke up, Jimmy was touring in support of his Outrider album, and he was upset that an interviewer called him a "blues guitarist" because he insisted he was not a blues guitarist but a guitarist and therein lies the distinction. Technically, their music is considered "hard rock/heavy blues", but I'd only use that as a base line because labels are limiting and truly, they went wherever they wanted.

[@helenespaulding7562]

👋

[@davidcampbell4174]

Bass is great in this song, but the musicianship is always top notch with this band. Love this song, thanks for the reactions.

[@vlj1133]

You keep mentioning that they "perform" on their tracks, like it sounds live. That's because they generally were recorded live. Zep II was recorded during a never-ending tour, popping into studios whenever and wherever they could find the time. Most of these cuts were recorded as working versions of songs they were playing during their live sets of that period. What you're hearing here was usually just the four guys in a room, getting after it. Page added a bit of studio polish afterward, but the bones of the songs were not pieced together across a billion tracks and a billion orchestrated parts and takes. This was Led Zeppelin, live, circa 1969.

[@Scoobydcs]

AWESOME bassline from jonesy on this!

[@ronjm945]

The measure of a great band is would continue to listen to them for over fifty years and still get excited about it. That’s the feeling I get when I listen to Zeppelin….

[@jmar7631]

Who makes music like this? Only Zeppelin. They're in a class all their own. Great reaction, thanks!

[@susanpalmer8931]

Fabulous reaction. That bass is everything. So glad you single out JPJ in your reactions. Yes LZI cranked up!! Ramble On - Side 2 - fabulous bass line too. Thanks. ☮

[@juliemanarin4127]

Awesome! Zeppelin makes music like this! Yes they perform on their studio tracks!

[@BBaldwin]

They were, are and WILL ALWAYS BE the ultimate rock band..

[@chizorama]

My favorite Zeppelin tune of all time from my favorite album by them. This has been my favorite bass line(s) since I've heard it, & it's crazy with how busy it is but tight to the drums. People usually focus on Plant & Page, but it was the foundation laid by JPJ & Bonzo that really give them their depth, leaving Plant & Page to paint. Great reaction, you go further into the music than other reactors with articulate analysis, good shtuff.

[@marklerner8963]

There's never been a band that was so loose and improvisational, and tight and professional at the same time. Brilliant combo. Their so good as musicians, and so creative, that they can really just play around as an ensemble, as a unit. Amazing. They're like the best jazz bands. But throw in avant-garde, incredible vocals, blues, techno and electronic music. Page uses the the recording equipment in the studio like another instrument.

[@ROArecords2]

The “killing floor” line was from the original and is what they called the part of the meat plant where they kill the animals where the song’s character worked hard all day.

[@ericschneider118]

I always felt Jimmy Page's production of these earlier albums was years ahead of it's time in sound quality and production value.

[@michaelbrown3128]

It's my favorite song on the album. I'm a drummer, and has the best funky beat ever. Plus, They are the only band that not one album sounds like the other, and they all have major hits off of them! Complete genius!

[@robertasirgutz8800]

So tight. Any other band would devolve into chaos, with all the tempo changes and complexity of the songs. JPJ holds it down beautifully with his killer bass line. We'll be listening to LZ for generations to come. It doesn't get any better and never will.

[@DavidRosenbloom-vv8tl]

I really like your commentary. I think you nailed it with Led Zeppelin when you said 'Who makes music like this?' and 'They are their own genre' because if you try to classify them you realize they invented those styles.

[@keithschofield1158]

My daughter and I were listening to this when it was over she said wow that guitar was amazing I said yes that’s Jimmy page the greatest rock guitarist ever

[@marcoaguilar2394]

This is a straight on blues jam but that bass & drum section is pure FUNK!!!

[@fidenciohernandez5739]

Some of the tracks were cover songs ...but the way Zeppelin would spin their cocoon on these tracks and this beautiful song would emerge out the cocoon....just brilliant musicians

[@marymargaretmoore9034]

I was 15 when this album came out; good thing my parents couldn't understand the lyrics, lol! So glad I was able to see them live back then.

[@himlekmcnutt2764]

I think this song features all 4 band members genius! It’s my favorite.

[@billtaylor3382]

I'm 64 and man I fell in love with this band from their 1st album they play so many great songs, My favorite band ever!

[@triscat]

Absolutely filthy guitar tone and groove.

[@joshb23]

Four of the very, very best doing it better than anyone else. The groove that Bonham and Jones lay down is utterly insane, simply the best rhythm section in rock and roll. GREAT reaction as always!

[@woverby1963]

Im a Beatles man all the way, hands down favorite band. Led Zeppelin is a very close second and yes Bonham and Jones in my opinion just cant be touched at laying down the groove. So so much talent and chemistry in this band, dont know if anything like this will ever happen again.

[@Alfaqwad]

The bass is god level in this. Jpj killed it

[@Scoobydcs]

robert has incredible soul in his voice! always has

[@ziggymarlowe5654]

This song certainly could put a person in a certain mood. Cold drinks, and a hot man to jive with made for a very good time.

[@jazzyboy7784]

Damn...Damn that was a good song.

[@Mikeluvdrums]

JP.Jones has to take this one home, very expressive with amazing bass technique . of course the rest of the band is smoking on this one too .

[@stevedahlberg8680]

That's actually not a walking bass although you can hear some fantastic walking bases here and there in LED zeppelin. This is just extremely funky is what it is but it's got that hard driving edge of rock as well. It's just a great groovy combination that can get really on top of it like an engine running it really high speed or it can get all relaxed with a pocket and just be so hip and chill and funky. So cool that you are discovering this stuff.

[@randycomerford2038]

I really enjoy not only your reactions, but your descriptions of the songs, and how you break down the songs lyrics and music.

[@kengunter6903]

They were a Ground breaking band. Nobody sounded or transformed music like they did. Only PF were on there level. Still the top level of musical genius of ALL time.

[@deborahhammond100]

This was the first album I bought. I still have it. This is my favourite track. John Paul Jones never gets enough credit for his bass playing. One of the best.

[@morrison62]

I think John Paul Jo nes was very underappreciated. Bonham, Plant, and Page get their just due, but Jones's bass lines set the tone for so many of their songs, just amazing.

[@kobrien2424]

I couldn't agree more!!! Love JPJ!!

[@mathguy6412]

Yeah, Jones really gets a chance to shine in this one!

[@scotttrainer9704]

Now I need to dig out my Howlin' Wolf CD.

[@Jeffrey-w2b8x]

The lyric killing floor was a reference to a song written by Howlin Wolf. He tried comparing his relationship with his girl to a killing floor. The killing floor was an area where the cattle were killed, in a meat packing plant

[@jonwaldo-vc5bf]

A killing floor is where they slaughter animals. (The blood and smaller offal bits sluice through the grates. Of course… my man was speaking FIGURATIVELY

[@alana8863]

Great analysis. Thank you!

[@dexterjankaren]

John Paul Jones really shines here. Page too. You are right, this is when Plants voice is at its peak and he doesn't keep it as time goes on, which makes that he's still working and being relevant that much more impressive.

[@pete3883]

TURN IT Up.

[@michaelbrown3128]

I'm so happy you show such respect, and impressed by Zeppelin as a hip hop fan! I totally respect your open mind. Let's face it, you like good music!

[@sabralocke4904]

Never gets old

[@rondarnell949]

Syed you brought it up. I've been a Zeppelin fan for 50 years and say if you have never dabbled in Psychedelics I recommend it. Bit probably would stay away from the so-called LSD of today. Try a few mushroom caps and this music you have been reacting to will bring a whole different meaning and a whole different outlook to you

[@soo_zee_q]

THIS album is one of THE seminal albums of my youth. 16th birthday, partying in the basement with a Webcor stereo. 😎🎵🎶 Quite the flashback! See, NO auto-tune.

[@joescott8877]

Props to you for giving props to bassist JPJ. I mean, duh, right? LOL, but I dug your smart appreciation--making heartbreak sound like fun, lol! I've seen a few of your vids tonight, and just subscribed--good stuff!

[@mattharvey968]

And to think this was still 1969🤯

[@jp0blues04]

FINALLY.....A YOUNG GUY WHO IS SAYING FEELING AND ON THE MONEY ON EVERY IMPORTANT PART ABOUT THIS STUFF. JOHN PAUL JONES....THE WALKING BASSLINE. As a 30 year touring blues player I can say that this reviewer is the smartest and intuitive one doing reviews today. Kudos. Jp

[@micahjared8082]

Total GOATS. Cheers from deeep in the Mtns of NY. Grew up in the 70s 80s 90s > and you bring some good discussion and thought to the table. Subscribed.

[@BensSoZen]

If you (or any reader) wants to hear arguably the first metal song, listen to Howlin' Wolf "Spoonful". He blatantly riffs on that steel guitar.

[@TheDoctorFlay]

Nice to see someone describing the music in terms of synaesthesia. To appreciate where Led Zeppelin came from and progressed musically, it may be worth listening to the band as it was before, in the form of "The Yard Birds". They started as a fairly standard 60s pop band with songs that made them famous such as "Ha Ha Said The Clown", but by a year later they were more focused on the blues and becoming more experimental. "Dazed And Confused" is the track that most acts as a bridge between Yard Birds and Zeppelin, and is one they carried with them on that journey. You can hear the band they want to become when you listen to the "Live Yardbirds" album.

[@michaelbrown3128]

The most underappreciated album is Presence. When you get to it take your time with the brilliance of the album. Physical Graffiti and Houses of the Holy will speak for themselves! Completely awesome. But I think Presence sold the least, but is unbelievable

[@benmaxwell4422]

I love these blues/rock songs of theirs! Try a song called Traveling Riverside Blues!

[@ndb1971]

According to an "urban legend", John Paul Jones recorded that line in one take.

[@DC-ih8bv]

If you listen closely you can see how Pagey slowly brought Bonzos drums higher in the mix while Plant was blues scatting lyrics. Before you know it it’s a freaking groove like know other.

[@Happyheretic2308]

JPJ

[@Roberta-my7qr]

Interesting, how you mentioned the album cover. For context, I watched a video on Prime, about the art of the album jacket called "Hipgnosis". A company formed by two Brits in the 60's, that were responsible for the most iconic cover art for the most iconic bands of the 60-70's. Fascinating. Combined the words "hip"and "Gnosis" (a discipline of philosophy, referring to knowing"). At their peak, working with Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, McCartney and others. Piece of history. "

[@kobrien2424]

Definitely one of my Top 3 Zeppelin songs!!! "How Many More Times" and "Bring It On Home" are the other two... check them out if you haven't already!!! Please react to more... my favorite band!!

[@johns7097]

This was the first Zeppelin song I ever heard. 1969, I was 10. My buddy's older brother had the album, I was too young to appreciate it.

[@bosshogg8273]

The bass on this is phat as phuck. Robert Plant's vocals are just awesome too.. they are all transcendent tbh.

[@robertlear2735]

Led Zeppelin is The Blues in steriods.

[@27thCrown]

Wonderful analysis, Syed.

[@douglaspensack3499]

Back in the day, I referred to this album as "bass plays the lead".…😄

[@glennford3480]

Nice to hear an intelligent view of every track! Keep it up man , cool perspectives bro...

[@yozaseig3870]

Love your analysis. Great track . That infamous lemon boy 🤣

[@Dan-zq5wt]

Note to Syed: the original cover was mostly brown, such that the album was nicknamed by some as “The Brown Bomber”. But cool observation and no doubt Zep recorded, produced and played all their songs in technicolor!

[@stephenroby8498]

You need to listen to their track "Ten Years Gone." It's everything Zeppelin was meant to be and more.

[@johng.8517]

Led Zeppelin is the #1 hard rock band ever. But check out the #1 progressive rock band - YES. "Roundabout", "Close to the Edge", "The Gates of Delirium". "Awaken", "Turn of the Century"... Loads of good ones.

[@kima.4268]

So..."juice runs down my leg" "leave my children down on the killing floor" Get it?

[@tektoniks_architects]

Let's see him analyze "I saw a lion and he was standing alone with a tadpole in a jar"

[@MrRexdale71]

This song was recorded live in the studio. Only the guitar sound was overdubbed.

[@simply_psi]

Great reaction to a reworked blues classic, JPJ on bass is sensational, him and Jimmy are almost battling back and forth in this song for supremacy and it is so good. Great homage to the legendary Howlin Wolf. Love your analysis but I'm not sure you're right about Robert's voice take a listen to Kashmir from Celebration Day in 2007 when he was 59 years old you will realise his voice is holding up pretty well indeed.

[@Eric-ff4bf]

"making heartbreak sound fun"...kind of describes the Blues in general. I think people like Clapton and Plant and Jimmy Page and Ginger Baker would have no problem proclaiming that so much of the music they made stands on the shoulders of singers like Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie McTell and other blues artists before them.

[@gregrambo606]

This was really the album where Bonham and Page (as producer) got Bonham's drum sound just right, making him the most unique sounding drummer in pop music. The last track on their first album, Your Time Is Gonna Come gave the preview of Page's approach to recording drums as producer of all their studio albums. Page always said the no. 1 thing he was going to do if he ever produced his own albums would be to make the drums were recorded properly. He and Bonham did just that on this album, LZ 2. Awesome sound.

[@BridewellSeniorTube]

It's funny you say electric blue, because I was watching another KZbin channel, and this lady member said that this song reminded her that it felt zesty, like a citris fruit haha 🍋 Hense the name of this songs. Colour vs perception can be very subjective 😉

[@DC-ih8bv]

You’re Zep reactions are great.

[@LtFrankDrebin100]

Give 4 world class musicians, an all time great singer who also happens to be one of the best living harmonica players, a complete and total love of the American blues catalog, give them literally Timothy Leary’s government grade LSD, and this is what happens.

[@heyskipj]

Led Zep is def my fave Rock blues band. They take classic Amer. blues and can make it mega heavy. And re: the "jam" session, love it. This was in the "arena" or album-oriented rock days. Before radio and labels heavvily pressured bands to think in the 3 and 1/2 minute singles format. Good for music lovers, unless they had an 8-track cassette deck! 😆

[@ThomasTreder]

Best album of 1969

[@rolle6298]

good reaction and critic, good channel and good job. greetings from spain

[@vangannaway1015]

The middle late 60s alot of experimentation was goin on. Believe it or not the first iteration Steve Miller Band w Boz Scags was a smoking psychedelic blues band (as was Fleetwood Mac). Millers Steppin Stone is reworking of Killing Floor. Saw em live doin it at Vulcan Gas Company, Austin circa 1967.

[@Dan-zq5wt]

I think where Zep departed from Cream and The Who, and where they are more similar to Hendrix, is that they were always able to find a deep funky groove in the blues.

[@dalmac5978]

A couple comments. First, at least for their first few albums, Zeppelin songs were recorded live in the studio. Of course they (especially Jimmy) did overdubs and such, but they were recorded live, many in one or two takes (The Lemon Song in one take, I believe). Second, they shaped and molded these songs on the road in their live performances. These, I believe, are why The Lemon Song maintains the feel and chemistry of a live performance. :)

[@1perfectpitch]

It's the cadence of love making. Slow and sensual to frantic and passionate. Repeat until you fall out of bed and spill your children on the killing floor. A lot of metaphor but pretty straight forward. No heartbreak involved.

[@elisaabolafia9542]

Outstanding song 🔥🔥🔥....All 4 shine, but Robert Plants vocals on this track are magic. His phrasing & control of each lyric is why LZ were... and are , the Best Rock Band from that ERA ...and perhaps ever. You literally ran to the nearest record store every time a new album dropped. Then played it over and over. I still think LP's sound better than CD's of today.

[@narlycat]

I researched Howling Wolf and his song Killing Floor which inspired the fast guitar "chorus" if you will of this Lemon Song and the Killing Floor referred to the ground floor of a slaughter house where animals were butchered for meat. Most workers felt that working on the Killing Floor was most undesirable and some considered it punishment. I suppose the upper floors were more clean and desirable to work on.

[@michaelyork4554]

Ann Wilson from Heart said "Led Zeppelin's lyrics were challenging for Her, and Nancy, and young women", when they saw them live in the late 60's. Not many women singing along to Dazed And Confused with you back then. Zeppelin was a Guys Band back then, but the female audience constantly grew, if for nothing else than girls pretending to like Zeppelin, to please the Guys. Now that everyone has gotten over themselves, we can all appreciate The Grooves, and just realize that these lyrics represent what Robert felt like at the time.

[@helenespaulding7562]

Actually, these particular lyrics are from old blues….in this case Howlin’ Wolf……and Robert adds all his spice. 😁

[@isabelledrevet5913]

John Paul Jones, my hero ❤️ Never can't get enough listen to this song...

[@camcardow1566]

Apparently, another JPJ improvisation in the studio. Amazing really.

[@jabreck1934]

“ everybody else’s speakers goes to 10 but we can turn hours up to 12“ is from the movie spinal tap. (Rock ‘n’ roll parody) You would get a lot of views. There is a huge cult following, it’s a classic

[@deannharris2424]

Jimmy Page was a genius. Who recorded or is recording music like Led Zeppelin? John Paul Jones was masterful. What was truly on that killing floor?

[@cjcookj85]

Ah! Someone else who has synesthesia as well! When I was younger, I thought it was normal and when I mentioned the colors I "heard" in songs to a friend of mine, they looked at me like I was crazy. That's when I learned it wasn't what normal people experience.