By Devon Ivie@theboldcorsicanflame
AS HAS BEEN THE INEVITABLE TREND FOR EVERY NICE CELEBRATION IN 2020, THIS DECEMBER’S ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS WAS CANCELED DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, DEPRIVING VIEWERS OF MORE WONDROUS SIGHTS SUCH AS THAT TIME ARETHA FRANKLIN DROPPED HER FUR COAT TO THE GROUND OR WHEN BIG BIRD REDEFINED WHAT IT MEANS TO WEAR A SASH. THE CENTER’S 2020 RECIPIENTS HAD YET TO BE NAMED PRIOR TO THE POSTPONEMENT (THE PLAN IS TO DO A “REIMAGINED” VERSION OF THE SHOW IN THE SPRING), WHICH, BY OUR LOGIC, MEANS ONE THING: WE WILL INSTEAD BE HONORING ANN WILSON’S VIRTUOSIC COVER OF LED ZEPPELIN’S “STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN” FROM THE 2012 CEREMONY, WHICH IN ITSELF DESERVES TO BE INDUCTED INTO SOME SORT OF CULTURAL CANON, POSSIBLY EVEN AWARDED THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM.
AS THE LORE FAMOUSLY GOES — AND TO BE CONCISE, FOR FEAR OF SPOILING THE MAGNIFICENT MOMENT FOR NEW VIEWERS — WILSON AND HER FELLOW HEART SISTER, NANCY WILSON, WERE RECRUITED TO PERFORM THIS “STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN” COVER ALONGSIDE A STUNNINGLY LARGE ORCHESTRA AND CHOIR SECTION, WHICH CRESCENDOS TO THE POINT OF ROBERT PLANT, JIMMY PAGE, AND JOHN PAUL JONES BEING MOVED TO VARIOUS POINTS OF WEEPINESS AND PRIDE. (WE’RE PARTICULARLY FOND OF PAGE MOUTHING FUCK! WHEN THE SECOND CHOIR REVEALS ITSELF.) COMPLETING THE LINEUP WAS GUITARIST SHANE FONTAYNE AND DRUMMER JASON BONHAM, WHO, AS YOU CAN PROBABLY SURMISE, IS THE SON OF LED ZEPPELIN’S DEPARTED JOHN BONHAM
https://www.vulture.com/amp/2020/12/ann-wilson-led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven-cover-interview.html
