1967: Chaucer and Bach combine in a classic pop hit

[duche55]

This song topped the UK charts in June 1967 and stayed there for six weeks. It also reached No 5 in the US. It is one of the best-selling singles in history, but what was it about? Lyricist Keith Reid said in 2008

Comments

[spikesgirl58]

This title always annoyed me. As a kid, I thought a Paler Shade of White was more correct.

[duche55]

But then nothing in these lyrics really makes sense.

This is from Wikipedia: Keith Reid got the title and starting point for the song at a party. He overheard someone at the party saying to a woman, "You've turned a whiter shade of pale", and the phrase stuck in his mind.

[halfmoon_mollie]

I never hear this song that I don't think of the scene in The Commitments where the potential keyboard man is practicing at the church organ, and plays this. Not very well, either.

[duche55]

Ouch! Not a good memory!

[halfmoon_mollie]

Oh, I loved that movie.

[duche55]

Oh sorry! Good memory, bad organ playing!