Lana Lane grew up in a very music-oriented family, with the sounds of her mother's voice and the radio constantly filling the air. Naturally, Lana picked this up and started becoming seriously interested in singing in high school. She moved to Los Angeles to further her career where she met future husband, music producer, and synth/keyboardist Erik Norlander. The two eventually founded their own production company/record label Think Tank Media to release their work. She has produced many recordings using a many guest musicians such as Pain of Salvation's Kristoffer Gildenlow.
Arjen Anthony Lucassen, mastermind of Ayreon, Ambeon, Stream of Passion, and Star One, took note of Lana's voice, and the two have collaborated on a few projects together. Arjen took a part in the writing of Tarot, and Lana did guest vocals on Ayreon's Universal Migrator albums, for example.
Lana has produced many albums over the years, though Secrets of Astrology and Queen of the Ocean are the most widely known.
A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Lana Lane Lyrics
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Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kind of seasick
The crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
As the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
The waiter brought a tray
And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale
She said there is no reason
And the truth is plain to see
But I wandered through my playing cards
Would not let her be
One of sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast
And although my eyes were open
They might just as well've been closed
And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale
And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
Lana Lane's "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" speaks of a euphoric and dreamlike experience in which the singer and someone else engages in a wild dance, seeming to be flying freely. The lyrics use metaphorical and surreal imagery, describing the experience as if the pair were in a different dimension. The first stanza refers to the singer and their partner dancing and twirling together, feeling the effects of the liquor they consumed. The crowd around them demands more and the waiter obliges, adding to their hazy state. In the second stanza, the focus shifts to the female character, who turns "a whiter shade of pale." The singer then describes a feeling of confusion, as he is unable to break through to her.
The third stanza then takes on an even stranger turn, as the singer claims that the girl he danced with is a "vestal virgin" and was leaving with sixteen others. He can see what is happening, but he also feels blind to it. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the narrative is steeped in mystical, almost mystical language. Though it is difficult to grasp the meaning of the story that is being told, this song creates an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue that leaves the listener feeling hypnotized.
Line by Line Meaning
We skipped the light fandango
We were dancing in a lively, carefree manner
Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
We were spinning and flipping on the dance floor
I was feeling kind of seasick
I was feeling dizzy and disoriented from all the dancing
The crowd called out for more
The audience wanted us to keep dancing and entertaining them
The room was humming harder
The atmosphere in the room was becoming more intense and energetic
As the ceiling flew away
We were so caught up in the moment that it felt like the ceiling was disappearing
When we called out for another drink
We asked the waiter for another round of drinks
And so it was that later
Later in the night
As the miller told his tale
As the storyteller began to speak
That her face, at first just ghostly
Her face, which initially looked pale and lifeless
Turned a whiter shade of pale
Turned even paler and more lifeless
She said there is no reason
She claimed there was no explanation
And the truth is plain to see
The truth was obvious
But I wandered through my playing cards
But I was lost in my own thoughts and distractions
Would not let her be
I couldn't stop thinking about her
One of sixteen vestal virgins
One of a group of pure, virgin women
Who were leaving for the coast
Who were starting a new journey or adventure
And although my eyes were open
Even though I was aware and looking around
They might just as well've been closed
I wasn't really seeing or observing anything
And so it was that later
Later in the night
As the miller told his tale
As the storyteller continued to speak
That her face, at first just ghostly
Her face, which initially looked pale and lifeless
Turned a whiter shade of pale
Turned even paler and more lifeless
Contributed by Aaron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.