Synchronization: Joan the Maid Buys Her Stairway to Heaven Via the Stake -- The Synchronicity Arkive

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Date Posted: 20:26:27 07/26/02 Fri
Author: Rick S.
Subject: Synchronization: Joan the Maid Buys Her Stairway to Heaven Via the Stake

Synchronization Title: Joan the Maid Buys Her Stairway to Heaven Via the Stake

Description: This is a synchronization of video from "Joan of Arc" to a different musical setting, "Stairway to Heaven."

Video Description: Over the years, a number of different versions of "Joan the Arc" have been produced for both movie theatres and television. This synchronization uses the DVD from the made-for-TV movie of "Joan the Arc" (1999, Artisan Home Entertainment, starring Leelee Sobieski). The video synchronization portion is of the climax scene, entitled "Burned at the Stake" (chapter 35).

Music Description: I tested several different versions of "Stairway to Heaven" for this synchronization. While the live versions from "The Soundtrack From the Film The Song Remains the Same" and "BBC Sessions" have some merit to them, I found the best synchronization to be with the studio version. Therefore, this synchronization uses music from track 4 of Led Zeppelin's 1971 untitled fourth album. As most of you will recall, this album can be identified by its album artwork that features an old man with a cane hunched over while carrying a large bundle of sticks on his back. For simplicity's sake, I'll refer to the song as "Stairway" throughout the rest of this description.

Joan of Arc's History: Those of you who are unfamiliar with Joan's story may wish to search for a good bio of Joan on the internet, which can be found with minimal difficulty, as this will help you understand her character better. I also believe that you'll become more involved with her character if you decide to watch the entire movie, and not just the eight minute portion at the end that's being synchronized.

Reason for the Synchronization: Having enjoyed viewing one of the movies about Joan on television, I decided to check out a few of the other productions, as well. One of the common themes in these movies about Joan is that she gave hope to the people for a united France during the Hundred Years War with England. Remembering that Robert Plant had introduced "Stairway" on the movie soundtrack by stating that "this is a song of hope"--it made me wonder.

Analysis of Compatibility: After some thought, I arrived at the conclusion that the lyrics of "Stairway" are generally--if not more often specifically--compatible with the story of Joan. They talk of a lady, heaven, whispering wind, two paths, soul, spirit, white light and gold. I did some research about the commonly-accepted meaning of the lyrics, and I found that some of the official published statements by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page about them are not all that helpful. Many of Zeppelin's fans today still wonder about the lyrics, and I don't believe that Zeppelin wants to explain them in any great detail. On related notes, I also considered that in the movie "The Song Remains the Same," Robert Plant's fantasy is of saving a maiden in distress who's imprisoned in a castle, while another Zeppelin song is about the "Gallows Pole." Therefore, I don't think that it's all that much of a leap to use "Stairway" for this purpose.

Experience Level: I had never attempted a synchronization before, but I had enjoyed watching the synchronization of "The Wizard of Oz" with Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." I thought it would be fun to experiment with the possibilities for a new synchronization.

Commentary: In this portion, I'll describe some of the things to look for in this synchronization. I have described many of the specific items by first providing the elapsed time within chapter 35 of the DVD. Oftentimes, I provide the lyrics in quotes that correspond with the video. Entries also include my personal commentary about why I feel that the lyrics / music synchronizes well with what's going on in the video. In other cases, I've included some more generalized comments in brackets.

0.00: Two Church officials arrive at Joan's cell. Joan is trembling to the tremolo (flutter) of the music as she recants her earlier confession that was made out of fear. The pastorale feel of the music is appropriate for this young maid in distress who was born in the French countryside.

0.52: "There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold." There's a video close up of Joan's face, while the gold lamp burns in the background. In Joan's case, the gold isn't of precious jewelry or coins, but it's prophetic of the torturous flame that she's about to meet up with at the stake.

0.59: "And she's buying a stairway to heaven." One of the Church officials has responded to Joan's recantation by stating that she is now considered to be a relapsed heretic--and therefore she shall be executed immediately. He now makes the sign of the cross. In Joan's case, she's buying her stairway to heaven with her human life.

["And when she gets there she knows if the stores are closed." What Joan is buying isn't bought in stores.]

1.15: "With a word she can get what she came for." Joan is explaining to one of the Church officials that her actions have saved them both. The word that Joan has come for is: salvation.

1.53. "All of our thoughts are misgiven." Two of Joan's senior officers learn of Joan's recantation and are very concerned for her life. Misgiven means apprehension, premonition of evil, fearful. They come up with a plan to try and save her.

2.14: "Ooh, it makes me wonder." One of the special features of this synchronization is that many of the increases of intensity in the music correspond so well with what's happening visually. In this case, the first increase of musical intensity synchronizes with a camera shot that moves upward along some stairs where Church officials are standing stoically and wondering over Joan's fate. Immediately afterwards, the increased intensity goes well with the chaos surrounding Joan as she's being escorted through the town square.

2.42: "And my spirit is crying for leaving." Joan knows that her fate is imminent as she's led up the steps, barefoot and in shackles, to the stake and then pinned against it. Very soon now, her spirit will be leaving her body.

["In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees." Perhaps Joan can picture in her mind what her public spectacle will look like from a distance: the sight of thick black smoke billowing up from the stake, over the tree line and castle. This is the view that her French soldiers will see from a distance in a very short time.]

3.02: "And the voices of those who stand looking." Just after the lyrics finish, there's a video close-up of two people in the crowd looking on at Joan; the man yells something.

3.08: "Ooh, it makes me wonder." Joan is contemplating her imminent fate at the stake.

3.38: "And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune, then the piper will lead us to reason." Video close up of the executioner's face exactly matching the word "reason." To the Church, he represents reason, while Joan represents a religious heresy.

3.40: "And a new day will dawn for those who stand long." At this point, Joan has made her courageous decision to stand long and become a martyr for her religious convictions; in the dialogue, she's asking that a cross be held at her eye level.

3.50: "And the forests will echo with laughter." Shortly after the lyrics are sung, many in the crowd are jeering at Joan and shaking their fists at her.

4.17: There's another increase in intensity of the music. The drums had been tacit throughout the beginning of the song, but now John Bonham begins playing exactly as the torch is put to the wood--an amazing coincidence for this synchronization!

4.19: "If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now." A bustle is a noise or fuss, while a hedgerow is a row of shrubs. In Joan's case, there's quite a fuss because all the bundles of sticks immediately around her have just been lit on fire! Undoubtedly ,she's trying to quiet her own fears of death with thoughts of salvation.

["It's just a spring clean for the May-Queen." The Church expunged Joan's heresy by burning her at the stake on May 31, 1431.]

["Yes, there are two paths you can go by." Joan's decision was between (1.) saving her human life by confessing to crimes she did not commit or (2.) standing long for what she believed was true and being burned at the stake for it.]

4.38: "There's still time to change the road your on." The flames haven't reached her yet. Perhaps she could try and save herself by confessing again, but she's resolved to take the road of the cross.

4.47: "And it makes me wonder." Fantastic synchronization timing of the Charles thinking pensively in his castle of all that Joan had done for him to become crowned the King--while she burns at the stake! He did nothing to try and save her.

5.06: "Your head is humming and it won't go in case you don't know. The piper's calling you to join him." Joan is screaming in agony at the stake.

["Dear lady can you hear the wind blow, and did you know, your stairway lies on the whispering wind." In the end, Joan remained true to her voices, which were depicted as whispers in this movie.]

5.33: French cavalry trying to save Joan come to a halt as they ride over a hill and see the plumes of smoke over the tree line and castle. This corresponds well with a change in the music, the section after the sixth verse leading to the guitar solo.

5.53: Jimmy Page's big guitar solo begins just as the soldiers realize they can't make it in time, so they tip their swords in honor of their commander's memory. A very cool synchronization.

6.23: Joan sees white light from heaven as the gold flames engulf her. In the last verse to come shortly, the vocals state that "there walks a lady we all know who shines white light and wants to show how everything turns to gold."

6.45: Music raises in intensity to fury level. The knights are outraged at Joan's execution and begin to charge. The synchronization isn't perfect, as the video lapses the change in music by about two seconds. It's close though.

7.11: And if you listen very hard": Joan's mother hears a horse in the distance and looks. She thinks that Joan is returning because the rider is carrying her banner.

7.14: "The tune will come to you at last." The messenger is arriving to inform Joan's parents that their daughter has been burned as a heretic.

["When all are one and one is all." Joan has united France under one king, and now her soul is united with God.]

["To be a rock and not to roll." Joan was a rock because she stood for her convictions and didn't let the church roll her over.]

[Haunting scream by Robert Plant as he holds the word "roll," synchronizing well with the inner anguish of Joan's mother as she realizes that it's not her daughter riding the horse and that her daughter is now dead.]

7.51: "And she's buying a stairway to heaven" Loyal Jean de Metz plants Joan's staff in the ground in front of her shocked mother. He has a tear in his eye.

When the song ends, there's about 40 seconds left before the credits. If you turn your CD player off before "Misty Mountain Hop" begins, then you can watch the rest in silence. On the actual movie soundtrack, Charlotte Church does a fine job of singing, but I think that watching the video portion accompanied by Zeppelin rocking out is a great musical alternative for the passion scene at the very climax of this movie.

I hope that you have enjoyed this synchronization.

Submitted by RS of Detroit, MI, on 7/26/02 and dedicated to Joan the Maid.

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