Ozzy Osbourne revealed his favourite ever song and it's not Black Sabbath hit
Ozzy Osbourne and his pioneering metal band Black Sabbath inspired hundreds of big-name musicians over decades of rock excellence.
Fans might expect a man with such talents and reputation to have impeccable music taste, but the one song Ozzy labelled his favourite song of all time might surprise you. Long before his death on Tuesday (July 22), Ozzy revealed the one song he favours above all others - and it's not a Black Sabbath tune.
Nor, indeed, is it one of his many excellent solo tracks. Perhaps even surprisingly still, despite being a self-professed Beatles lover, it's not even a song by the Fab Four.
Instead, Ozzy disclosed that his top choice is the spine-chilling 1967 masterpiece A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum. In a 2009 piece for NME's publication Inspired By Music - celebrities pick their favourite songs, Osbourne detailed why this track strikes such a profound chord with him.
"When I hear that haunting melody on the Hammond organ, I immediately become transfixed," he stated. Launched in 1967, A Whiter Shade of Pale became an immediate sensation, dominating the UK charts for six weeks.
It remains amongst the rare recordings to shift over 10 million copies and earned induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. For Ozzy, the track's eerie ambience distinguishes it - a characteristic that arguably echoes the shadowy elements within his own compositions.
Whilst Procol Harum claims the premier position, Ozzy's remaining beloved tracks demonstrate the breadth of his musical inspirations. During a 2004 chat with Rolling Stone, he unveiled his favourite songs from that period, providing insight into the tracks that influenced his existence and profession.
Leading the selection is A Day in the Life by The Beatles. "It takes me back to a magical time in my life," Ozzy remarked.
His admiration for The Beatles extends beyond this single track. He also selected Hey Jude ("Hands down, one of the greatest songs ever written") and Yesterday as two of his top picks.
He expressed awe at the simplicity of the latter's original title, remarking: "I would have loved to have heard the working-title version, Scrambled Eggs". John Lennon's 'Imagine' takes second place on Ozzy's list, with his admiration for the track being deep and constant. "This song will never get old for me," he declared.
Another McCartney hit, Live and Let Die, earns third place: "A f***ing great song. I love it!". The Pink Floyd classic Money stirs up vivid recollections from Ozzy's wilder years. "Reminds me of my LSD days. I'm glad I survived," he reminisced.
Mountain's Mississippi Queen also resonates deeply with Ozzy, bringing back memories of Black Sabbath's first US tour. "This one brings back memories of my very first U.S. tour with Black Sabbath," he shared.
Unsurprisingly, Led Zeppelin's Dazed and Confused made it onto his list, with Ozzy recalling the profound impact it had on him.
He said: "My world stood still the first time I heard this." The Animals' hit Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood has long been a favourite for Ozzy, who considers it to have "always [been] a favourite".
To complete his selection, the rock legend included Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, praising it heavily.
Ozzy said: "Great melody. Great lyrics. Great song. I love Elton John!".
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