“Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin has been notoriously difficult to license for film use, with the band being very selective about where their music is featured. This has been a running joke in popular culture, with a famous scene from the Wayne’s World movie poking fun at the band’s strict control over their music. However, it appears that Led Zeppelin has finally loosened their grip, as their iconic song is featured prominently in the new trailer for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew.
Licensing Issues and Previous Attempts
The nearly three-minute trailer for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew features segments of “Stairway to Heaven”, including the famous guitar intro, the culminating bridge, and Robert Plant‘s well-known outro line, ending with Jimmy Page‘s magnum opus guitar solo. This marks a significant change in Led Zeppelin‘s approach to licensing their music for film use. In the past, the band has been very protective of their music, with Wayne’s World being a notable example. The film’s 1992 theatrical run included a scene where the character Wayne plays the first couple notes of “Stairway to Heaven” before being stopped by an employee, prompting the often-recited “No ‘Stairway.’ Denied” line. However, home releases of the film cut the snippet of music due to licensing disagreements with the band.
Previous Attempts to Use “Stairway to Heaven” in Film
Cameron Crowe also had to cut a scene from his 2000 film Almost Famous in which characters try to convince the mother of young music journalist William to let him go on the road with the band Stillwater by listening to “Stairway to Heaven”. The band refused to license the track, and the scene was edited out. In a later DVD release, the scene was put back in without the music, with instructions for viewers to play “Stairway to Heaven” to have the experience the filmmaker desired. While Led Zeppelin has been selective about where their music is featured, they have allowed some of their other songs to be used in films, such as “Immigrant Song”, “Kashmir”, “When the Levee Breaks”, and “Tangerine” appearing in Thor: Ragnarok, Argo, and Almost Famous.
The Significance of “Stairway to Heaven” in Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew
The fact that “Stairway to Heaven” is featured in the trailer for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is no coincidence. Robert Plant is a well-known fan of C.S. Lewis and his contemporary J.R.R. Tolkien, whose characters and places were lyrical influences for the singer. Director Greta Gerwig confirmed that Plant and Jimmy Page “saw the heart and the story and the drama” in the film, and that “Stairway to Heaven” is an epic song that makes sense to introduce the film to the world. According to Gerwig, “Stairway to Heaven” is “about the two paths of good and evil … It is a spiritual quest and a spiritual journey.” The use of “Stairway to Heaven” in the trailer for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew marks a significant shift in Led Zeppelin‘s approach to licensing their music for film use, and it will be interesting to see if this opens up new opportunities for their music to be featured in other films.
In conclusion, the use of “Stairway to Heaven” in the trailer for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is a significant development in the world of film music. It marks a change in Led Zeppelin‘s approach to licensing their music, and it highlights the enduring power and relevance of their iconic song. As the film industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see if Led Zeppelin will continue to make their music available for use in films, and what other opportunities this may create for their music to be featured in new and exciting ways.
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