Peter Frampton, when asked recently in an interview what he considers the most perfect song, he immediately said "Whiter Shade of Pale"

R.I.P. Gary Brooker. You made the World a more goose-bumpy place with this one. Rest easy.

God bless this man's beautiful soul and may he rest in eternal peace 💔

Blown away. I did NOT expect Gary Brooker’s voice to sound like that nearly 50 years after the original recording.

John Lennon once said that this was one of the most beautiful songs he'd ever heard 😊

One of the best songs ever written.

Gary Brooker had a great presence, and a voice 👏 that gived off such a beautiful sound and unique style 👌!! He was truly one of a kind!! R.I.P. Gary.

One of the greatest songs ever written. One of the greatest vocalists of all time. And add that orchestra and that venue. You wind up with sheer magic. Wow.

Goodbye Gary. It's a privilege listening to you way back when and now. Through good and bad. You defined our generation. RIP and be well, wherever you are.

Not all songs deserve an orchestral arrangement. This is one that does.

Gary Brooker's voice aged like fine cognac, this is an amazing rendition with orchestra! It helps when you are inspired by Bach and write a Rock song around it.

Some performances give you the chills. Some make your hair stand up. Some bring you to tears. I'm crying.

This is one of those songs that gets better with age . No one can perform this like Gary , no one else can bring the passion he has. This is one song that just can't be covered , it wouldn't sound right with anyone else's voice but Gary Brooker's .

That wasn't just any orchestra...it was the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. They sometimes accompany an artist or group. What a thrill for all involved.

I just watched this yesterday. Totally amazed at Gary Brookers performance. And now today I find out he passed away. Today. God bless your soul. Thank you

Maybe i'm just tired on a shitty rainy Friday afternoon at work but listening to his voice just now literally made me weep! Jesus.Just incredible

So sad that we'll never experience his incredible voice live again . RIP Gary 🙏

R.I.P. Gary Brooker. Throughout his career, Gary Brooker always sounded exactly like Gary Brooker. His voice is unique and wonderful. So many great songs from this group. A timeless collection of songs.

This song, this timeless Masterpiece IS the complete story, range and depth of the "human experience"...

Gary Brooker was a musical genius, Whiter Shade of Pale will go down as 100 greatest songs of the rock era. RIP Gary Brooker.

This is my favourite version of this song. So epic with the full orchestra and that beautiful Hammond organ.

Orchestra at the begining, emotional voice of Gary Brooker - it is the most beautiful version of this song song what I've ever listened 🥺 (during listening and watching my male eyes get wet). RIP for Gary Brooker 😔. Thank you for this film!

Gary Brooker one of the best of all time.. Such a soulful voice! Bravo!!

One of the finest musical performances of all times.

Procol Harum... they're a legend for a reason.

This was played at my Grandad's funeral, sounds beautiful. Makes me tear up. Great selection Beth

This production is stunning in every way.

I am so glad you liked this version. I almost tear up every time . Thank you for saying the words to describe what I was thinking but couldn't talk it out. This is a genius song with a deep meaning. You are the BEST!!!!

One the most beautiful melodies ever written.

This song is such a masterpiece... and how old is Gary Brooker? it's crazy how good he sounds at his age

My favorite Procol Harum song is Conquistador. The rendition in that very concert is awesome!

Restrained passion is a mark of wisdom. He picks his moments, fully engaged but comfortable within his zone. It's emotional but not out of control.

You almost teared up a couple of times. Don't worry though, I always choke up to this song. 😪

This is such a fantastic version of this classic song, his voice and singing just is amazing, gave me serious goosebumps.

The performance bowled me over too. What a great naturally relaxed vocal! The orchestra and chorus was pitch-perfect magnificent. The Hammond organ crescendo with it's Leslie spinning-speaker was perfect! Bravo!

"I don't know if I should stop it" how wise of you not to stop it, thank you for that

His voice has aged so well, goosebumps. I have that DVD and I enjoyed seeing you adore it. Well what else could one do? :) "A Salty Dog" from the same concert is even more epic.

Yeah, Gary Brooker had the looks and the voice that made all chicks melt 🙂

The melody of this song has become a classic piece in movies when they reflect to the sixties. I enjoy the original recording, but when I heard this version from 2006. I was so impressed by how much his voice suited the song now from a much older man sharing his story. This song and Salty Dog from the same concert have such wonderful climactic endings. So beautifully presented with the orchestra and choir. Cheers

Wow, there is no one on this planet who doesn't love this song. What a performance from Gary Brooker and thank you to lyricist Keith Reid for the lyrics. Timeless and Magical

Such a great song and a great version of this song. Is that a tear drop in my eye? Yes it is.

Girl, he always sounded like that. No auto tune need, just pure talent!

this has to be one of the greatest songs ever written! Thanks!

One of my absolute favourite songs ever and this version is just wonderful

Beth, I realize this video is a couple years old, as of your posting it. I wanted to share because I saw it come across my feed. As somebody who is in a wheelchair and was a musician for close to 15 years vocally, mostly with groups and or quartets with instrumentation both backing us when we would perform. Gary Booker was a treasure for any aspiring or seasoned vocalist. There was no imitating him as there is no imitating anyone, but you hear the Majesty in his voice, especially in his later years. I love your comment about voices getting better as they get older. I have not performed in a great number of years my speaking voice is still pretty strong and when I sing songs that I enjoy they may not be perfect but the heart is there. The loss of Gary Booker is a blow to music as a whole. Whiter Shade of Pale is a pillar for anybody that wants to understand the power of vocal performance. When news broke of Gary's passing I literally sat and cried. 1967 was a different time, my parents were young and I wasn't even born yet but you can feel the power of those years come to us through this all. Thank you for your video I don't know if you'll see this but if you do please know that I am thankful for not only your thoughts but knowing somebody else understands the power of music in and of itself but also the wonderful voice of the legendary Gary Booker.

I was a kid when this came out in '67, but I remember it well. Transported us to a difference place. A good place. Nice comments, Beth (by the way, beautiful red hair--along with the rest). And thanks, Gary, for the wonderful music. We'll miss you. The world's better for you having been with us. And, at the end of the day, isn't that the best anyone can do?

Thank you for reviewing this with us ! The original LP was amazing back in the 70's !!! These guys still have it !!! This orchestra arrangement - wow ! Love it !!

Sounds just as great today as it did 54 years ago at the age of 10,It's funny how the truly great songs never age but we do' I thank God for growing up in such an amazing era of music and what a gift to be able to listen to this song

This is what happens when you witness one of the greatest songs ever made. I still remember my first time hearing this and yeah stopping it is hard. Procol Harum did some good stuff. Grand Hotel is another nice one. Thank you for the reaction!

I have loved this song since the 60's! Even better with the orchestra and choir! Gary's voice sounds a lot like Ray Charles these days. So much soul! Glad you enjoyed it!

The greatest rendition ever of one of the greatest songs ever written. Thank you for reviewing it.

So happy you are doing this one. In my opinion, one of the greatest songs ever written. And many professional artists agree with that statement.

I love this song so, so much. My dad always played it on vinyl when my brother and I were growing up. So many great memories attached with this song

If anyone wants to hear vintage Procol Harum with an orchestra, their Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is amazing.

even after all the years still one of the best storytelling voices ever.

Blown away every time I hear this! Love the voice, the orchestra and the lyrics 💙🎶✊

He is one of the greats song writer and singer thank you Beth it almost had me in tears

One of my favorite rock arrangements to watch with an orchestra. Thank you Beth for guidance and reaction.

I don’t think he sounds very different from when he originally recorded it. I like how you appreciated the simplistic beauty of his performance.

Beth - - I really enjoy seeing your reaction to a song (and performance) that I have absolutely loved ever since I saw it on KZfaq - - maybe 5 years ago? I am 73 and I also loved this song when it first came out. Sometimes I wonder if young people who didn't grow up with this kind of music will appreciate something like this the way many of us did (and still do). Seeing your reaction (and emotion) was wonderful for me to see. Thank you. P.S. Gary Brooker (the singer) died this week at age 76. He wrote the music (not the lyrics) for this song.

I saw the original around 1970 . I recently saw them on Long Island . Gary still has it ! To the next 100 years !

Beth, you certainly have, to my ear, at least, an Irish accent. I have to admit, that this Performance of A Whiter Shade of Pale brings me to tears, and I am an old macho man. You take a classic song, combined with a great singer and orchestra with choir-- YOU CAN’T GET ANY BETTER!

I’ve absolutely loved this song since it was first released. Still gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.♥️♥️♥️♥️

The voice, the band, the orchestra- just beautiful. A favorite song my entire life

Gary sounds the same through all these years. Classic.

This may be one of the best videos you have reacted to on your channel. Love this version!

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" has sold in excess of 10,000,000 copies which is a remarkable feat, especially for a song released as a single. Only about 40 songs in history have ever achieved this great feat. In 2004 the song also made it onto the top 60 of Rolling Stone’s notable ranking of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 1998, it was inducted into the highly-distinguished Grammy Hall of Fame. And in 1977 the Brit Awards gave it the distinction of being The Best British Pop Single 1952-1977, an accolade it shared with “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975) by Queen. Also in 2018 the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame changed its criteria, allowing singles to be inducted into the institution as opposed to only musicians themselves. And “A Whiter Shade of Pale” was amongst the first songs to be enshrined therein. The success of this song has led to “a whiter shade of pale” being adopted as a common phrase in the English lexicon.

Gary Brooker, my favorite British singer... Been a Procol Harum fan since 1967... Have all their albums... Gary always had a mature voice even when he was young... He always had a powerful black soulful voice and he's still got it... Thanks for posting Beth...

Always loved this song. It's somehow stately and down-to-earth at the same time.

I love how you really feel the emotions of the music instead of just analysing it.

This song has always given me a major case of the feels, but this version with the orchestra and chorus brings it HARD. I posted this on my Facebook feed when I heard of his passing. I've loved this song ever since I was a kid when it came out. Absolutely mesmerizing. One of four songs I want played at my funeral

Hey Beth, lots of reactors have reacted to this particular video...and we love that they have. But we also chose to watch it on your channel because we appreciate you. So don't ever feel bad about stopping the performance. We don't mind, because you do so with such grace and professionalism.

Wow! He still sounds amazing. What a true talent.

I've seen this a million times over the years, and danced with my love to it a millions plus... and I still get teared up most all the times as his feelings in this piece are off the charts

RIP Gary ,i loved this as a teenager and having read the Canterbury tales in grammar school i understood the lyrics. Saw them live at the Edinburgh festival in the seventies ,cant remember what year,after all it was the seventies.

Oh man, i'm so glad you're reacting to this. I really love Procol Harum!

The Hammond sounds so hauntingly beautiful.

One of the best songs ever!❤️

I see myself now in 1967 slow dancing with my girlfriend at a school party … and they played the song loudly twice. Amazing, legendary song. This is a great rendition.

It was filmed in Denmark - I lived there for 15 years and I know how appreciative Danes are of legends like Gary Brooker. The original video for the song was done back in 1967 and shot at Great Witley Court which is just a few miles away from where I now live. What I find interesting about this song is how the vocal is embedded in the orchestral and the acoustic memory of the one continues as a kind of counterpoint when listening to the vocal. Yes I can well imagine how everyone enjoyed the concert above!

Gary Brooker's voice is pure quality. Like honey dripping into your ears. I think Beth's got a crush - on his voice at least! 😋

OMGOODNESS, this version is AMAZING!! Thank you so much for sharing this. 💙💙💙

The late Gary Brooker, Paul Rodgers and Natalie Merchant are three of the finest, most soulful voices in popular music that all appeared to improve with age.

One of the most literate songs ever within rock history. Saw them half a century ago, when this was a new song.

React to Moody Blues: nights in White satin it’s amazing

Always one of my favorite songs from when I was in elementary school in the 80s listening to the local oldies stations. This version nearly brought tears to my eyes. Awesome

I cannot get over just how well-preserved Brooker's voice is. It's nearly identical to himself as a young man - a bit less upper range, but more control and emotionality. Love this version!

Excellent excellent excellent, incredible rendering of his astonishing song, wonderful arrangement and beautifully sung. I will never tire of listening to this song.

Great choice! Love Procol Harum to death. React to A Salty Dog - another great showcase of Gary Brooker's vocal prowess.

I always get choked up by this song. I do prefer the versions with the organ intro. It makes is so much more melancholic.

A Whiter Shade of Pale is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard

The audience is taking all this in and probably mesmerized and it's an awesome orchestra . Thanks for the video and comments.

Excellent post!!! I listen to this particular KZfaq version quite a lot. Great appraisal.

Got to say Beth, I really enjoyed that one. thank you very much, big hugs..

Gary Brooker's voice is incredible!!

Such a beautiful song, vintage classic beauty. And the voice of Mr. Brooker, excellent. It's been on rotation on my music player. Song takes me back decades in time. Remembering where and when I first heard this rocking out. I'm older now but still follow the music. It has not let me down, it's always there to keep me grounded. Words cannot express the joy I feel with this video.

Didn't know this Version but damn that gave me chills. And your hair is gorgeous

I had to take a moment and check but, yes, that was the first time I'd ever heard the sentence, "I'm not normally a fan of the oboe." Good job, Beth.

I saw Queen 3 times, twice with Freddy Mercury. Took my daughter to see Queen with Adam Lambert. These bands live on without having to be played on the radio. There's the following that isn't needed on replay. Proco Harem, Queen and other bands live on without the need for radio. They have followers that will keep these bands/groups alive for years. Thank you for playing this. Brings back so many memories... I'm almost 70, so have these memories.

THIS is why I watch your reaction videos! Not only do you share your love for, and insight into singing, but sometimes I find a gem like this, that I may have never found without your help. Thank you!