The Lengthiest Tune Ever Recorded Almost Reached a Duration of Nearly Six Days
In the realm of music, some songs stand out not just for their melody or lyrics, but for their extraordinary length. Here's a look at some of the longest songs ever recorded by legendary artists, as well as a few unusual contenders that have made their mark in the world of music.
Starting off, we have four iconic tracks from the annals of rock music. "Hey Jude" by The Beatles clocks in at 7 minutes and 11 seconds, while Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" lasts 5 minutes and 55 seconds. Don McLean's "American Pie" stretches to 8 minutes and 42 seconds, and Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" is a 26-minute-long epic, one of the longest songs ever recorded by a legendary artist.
However, these durations pale in comparison to the longest officially released single song ever, according to the Guinness World Records. "Power in the Name of the Lord" by Nigerian gospel singer St. Chika, with a duration of 4 hours, 2 minutes, and 4 seconds, has broken the previous record held by Dominican Republic rapper Henry G, whose song was 3 hours, 26 minutes, and 22 seconds long.
St. Chika's record-breaking gospel single was released on major digital platforms such as iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube, and was recorded over several days in May 2018 in Lagos. This song surpassed earlier records including one by the PC III Label Pipe Choir from the USA.
Other long songs include Iron Maiden's "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" at 13 minutes and 39 seconds, and Guns N' Roses' "Coma" at 10 minutes and 16 seconds.
The longest officially recognized instrumental song, according to Guinness World Records, is Liu Ji's 18-hour-long performance on the concert piano.
Experimentation in music has led to some extraordinary creations. The Flaming Lips released a 24-hour single, "7 Skies H3," in 2011, with the most bizarre aspect being the method of sale: five packages containing the song were embedded in real human skulls and sold for $5,000 each.
Jem Finer's "Long Player" is designed to play continuously for 1,000 years without repeating itself, offering a unique, continuously evolving auditory experience. The performance took place in Qin Huang Dao, Hebei, China, between 7 am on December 31, 2020, and 1 am on January 1, 2021.
Magnetic tape, developed in Germany in 1928, revolutionized sound recording and playback capabilities, but remained a German secret until the end of World War II. After the war, allied nations gained access to this technology, leading to a dramatic leap forward in the development of the sound recording process and recording studios.
These long songs, each a testament to the creativity and innovation in music, continue to captivate listeners and push the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of music.
The gospel single by Nigerian artist St. Chika, titled "Power in the Name of the Lord," holds the Guinness World Record for the longest officially released single song, with a duration of 4 hours, 2 minutes, and 4 seconds. The Flaming Lips released a unique 24-hour single, "7 Skies H3," in 2011, offering an experiment in music that captivates listeners and pushes the boundaries of the music genre.
