The Kinks - 'Lola' Reaction! The Club Scene Can Turn into a Memorable Encounter!
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
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"Lola" is a song by the British rock band The Kinks, released in 1970. It was written by the band's lead singer and songwriter, Ray Davies. Ray Davies wrote "Lola" after an encounter experienced by the band's manager, Robert Wace, at a club. Wace danced with a woman who turned out to be a man.
The song narrates the story of a young man who meets a person named Lola in a club. The protagonist initially assumes Lola is a woman, only to discover that Lola is biologically male. The song explores themes of gender identity and sexual ambiguity, which were quite bold and controversial at the time of its release.
"Lola" combines rock with a catchy, memorable riff and a sing-along chorus. It features a distinctive opening guitar riff played by Dave Davies, Ray's brother and the band's lead guitarist.
The lyrics are narrative and witty, with lines like "Well I'm not the world's most masculine man / But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man / And so is Lola."
The BBC initially banned "Lola" because of a brand name reference in the lyrics (Coca-Cola). Ray Davies had to fly back to the UK to re-record the line as "cherry cola" to get the song airplay.
Overall, "Lola" is a significant song in the history of rock music, not just for its catchy melody but also for its bold lyrical content and the conversations it sparked about gender and identity.
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The Kinks is a rabbit hole worth crawling into. They've had hits from the 60s to the 80s. They are one of the most influential bands in Rock & Roll.
I’m going to say before I watch, that this is going to be fun.
Update after watching, I wish Corey hadn’t given away the premise of the song before listening. It was almost a rite of passage for kids in the 70’s to get sucked in by the catchiness of the tune only to realize later what it was about.
The Kinks always had a raw, grungy sound. Love it.
Great band, had a ton of hits. Ray Davies, lead singer, main song writer and rhythm guitarist, was considered one of the major rock talents in the late 60’s and 70’s. Their inclusion in the Rock HOF was well earned. Check out You Really Got Me, Celluloid Heroes, Come Dancing, All Day and All of the Night, Waterloo Sunset, Well Respected Man and Sunny Afternoon, all hits.
Fathers of grunge, maybe?
The Kinks had their first hit song in 1964 titled "You Really Got Me", and they came on the music scene before The Beatles. "Lola" was released in 1970. It was groundbreaking and controversial for its lyrics, and its reference to a soft drink. It was banned by the BBC, but NOT because of its risque lyrics or gender confusion, but for including the words “Coca-Cola” which was against their policy on product placement. This song was widly popular when it was released. Thanks for another great reaction, guys! ✌💙✌
Well, as The Beatles first release in the UK was in 1962 I would say they came first
@@CharlesKent-v8s- Google told me that the Kinks came first, and that The Beatles first hit was released in 1963. However, after looking it up again, I did find they had released the single "Love Me Do" in 1962. Sorry.
The funny thing is that it was only this year that I learned the meaning of the lyrics of this song. I live in a country where English is not spoken. This song used to be very popular in our country and you could hear it on the radio every day, but no one understood the lyrics. This year I returned to the music from my youth and discovered things I had no idea about.
lol!
The song was banned in the UK because they mentioned Coca-Cola. The UK had a law that didn't allow trademark/brand names. The Kinks recorded another version where they replaced Coca-Cola with cherry cola. Try "You Really Got Me", "All Day and All of the Night", "Sunny Afternoon", "Come Dancing", "Victoria", "Waterloo Sunset", "Apeman", "A Well Respected Man", "Tired Of Waiting". They put out some great music, including some early 60s bangers!
Funny, I just realized I only know the "Cherry Cola" version. 😮
That's one of the best Greatest Hits compilation albums I have read in a long time. Thanks, that will keep them busy for a while. Also, I hate when they play the ""cherry cola" version on the radio.
As a kid in the pre Internet days, it took me a while to find out why the Kinks tape I owned he sang Coca-Cola and the radio version used Cherry Cola. They were on tour when he had to fly to England to change one word for airplay. Crazy. You take care 🙂
It wasn't a law as such. The BBC were not allowed to carry advertising, so couldn't play the song on the radio with the original lyrics.
My favourite is come dancing
Lou Reed "Walk on The Wild Side"...
"Holly came from Miami, F.L.A.
Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.
Plucked her eyebrows on the way
Shaved her legs and then he was a she..."
I like Nancy Boy by Placebo 👠💅🤭
I know someone who was friends with Holly. I think everyone mentioned in that song was an actual person.
"Well, I'm not the world's most masculine man
But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man
And so is Lola"
The Kinks are arguably the godfathers of Punk.
Formed in 1963, I'm pretty positive you HAVE heard one or two of their tracks through the years. Their discography is massive.
Something Else. Village Green, Arthur, Lola vs. Powerman. Great classic albums.
The best double entendre in rock
Love the Kinks! They are possibly the most underrated influential band of all time. They should be considered the most important and influential band to emerge in the 2nd half of the 20th century. Many have pointed to them and their 1963 hit track "You Really Got Me" as the origin of Rock Guitar. It was the first commercially popular track to feature a distorted guitar.
It is hard to describe how revolutionary the track Dave Davies and his distorted guitar sound were mindblowing at the time. Just think if he never took that razor blade to that speaker cone and got that dirty sound, how different would the music world would be? It is easy nowadays to dismiss the importance of incorporating a distorted guitar in music, in particular in Rock/Metal and Punk music. Everyone has grown accustomed to hearing distorted guitars in music, one may find it hard to fathom how powerful that sound was to virgin ears.
It becomes virtually impossible not to find The Kinks musical DNA present in nearly every Rock, Metal, and Punk band that followed. Although they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this band still lives in relative obscurity primarily for being banned from the US market at the most critical time of the British Invasion. Many have pointed to the ban as a prime factor in keeping the Kinks from reaching the same prominence and stature as the other British Invasion groups like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and The Who due to exposure to the US market.
One must remember that the band consisted of 17 and 18-year-old working-class youths with a pair of brothers whose personalities were incompatible with each other. This would manifest into violence, and violence would occur on stage with each other. Needless to say, this would become an issue with anyone who was to manage them. I suspect this may have been a major factor in why their road manager dropped them mid-tour during their first US tour. This left the band scrambling to continue virtually unsupervised without knowledge of certain protocols. It was also rumored that Ray Davies may have punched out someone who he shouldn't have contributed to the ban.
Nonetheless, the ban was lifted in the early seventies and they managed to survive and endure to the early nineties. Ray Davies is a lyrical genius who can capture and paint an image of a time and place with a sense of Irony and reflection that stirs an emotional response. He also incorporates sarcastic humor cleverly and originally that is unmatched. The Kinks definitely are a band that needs to be discovered and illuminated for the next generation to experience. I urge a deeper dive into this influential underrated band.
THE KINKS are one of the greatest British bands of the 60s - 80s. You can't pin them down -- their songs are so different from each other. Ray Davies is one of the greatest songwriters of the past 60 years.
It is finally told - "I'm not the world's most masculine man, but I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man, so is Lola"....
Yes but it could also be interpreted as "so is Lola (glad I'm a man)". I think it's deliberately ambiguous, just like the rest of the song. It could certainly get past the radio censors that way. Great writing.
Definitely a man
Agree, the ambiguity was cleared with that line.
Always thought it said "and in bed I'm a man, and so is Lola"
@@Russ_KeithTHANK YOU, too many people don't get that possibility! These guys are 100% correct when they say it's implied. They teased the idea in the song.
For Christmas 1984, I was 14 and received a ticket to see my 1st concert ever, The Kinks. They played at the Philadelphia Spectrum with Tommy Shaw (Styx) as the opener. I went with my friends and their mom. To me, they are one of the greatest and important bands ever to come out of England. They seem not to be mentioned as much as the others (Beatles, Stones, Who, etc). In my opinion, I've always felt maybe people considered them to be 'too British' sounding (I feel the same way about the great 90s band Blur vs Oasis thing). RIP Mom, Michele, Lori, and the Philadelphia Spectrum. Thanks for the great memory and nice review as always guys. Take care 🙂
It was banned by the BBC until Ray Davis flew back from the US and changed "Coca Cola" to "Cherry Cola". It then got air play.
Do MORE KINKS! Apeman, Sunny Afternoon, they've got LOTS to go through
I know what I am and I’m glad I’m a man and so’s Lola…..so what is she? Glad? Or a man? Fantastic word play
Glad he's a man or glad she's a man or both, but the deep voice and physical strength seems to indicate she is a man.
They have a great hard rockin' Christmas song, "Father Christmas". It still gets airplay on the classic rock stations in December.
I normally hate rock songs that incorporate Christmas but Father Christmas is a huge exception
Lou Reed - Walk On The Wild Side🇨🇦🖖🏻
Lola was a bit sensational but they have much better tunes.
Ray Davies the lead singer/writer was featured in the opening ceremonies when Olympics were in London.
They were a big part of the British invasion in 60s.
It's 'dear boy' in the lyrics not 'little boy' in the comic strip. I remember listening to this song in England in 1970 and when we were on a school trip in that year we kids, age 16 were singing this song so I find it hard to believe it was banned in England. I've just looked it up. This is what happened. The BBC found the song’s content objectionable, but not for reasons of gender and sexuality. The BBC objected to the song because the original version of it mentioned Coca-Cola. Since the BBC felt the original lyric could be viewed as advertising, The Kinks had to re-record the song with no mention of the famous soft drink. The re-recorded version of the song mentions generic cherry cola rather than Coca-Cola. The Kinks have loads of wonderful songs but they were banned from America during an attempted tour and so Americans weren't so aware of them. Also the lyrics of their songs often very much reflect life and thoughts about life in England. Maybe not so appealing to Americans. Listen to 'You Really Got Me' by them, a very influential song for its sound. Other great songs include 'Waterloo Sunset', Lazing on a Sunny Afternoon, 'Til the End of the Day', 'I'm Not Like Everybody Else' and 'Days'
When I was in army basic training, we used the Kinks song "All Day and All of the Night" as a marching cadence.
Gotta react to Come Dancing by the Kinks
Come Dancing by The Kinks in 1982
State of Confusion
And remember, he also said he just left home a week before and never, ever kissed a woman before.
A great song! I was 7 yrs old when it came out, and although I didn't understand it I always loved the essence and passion in it. Lol, love it.
The songs are much better without the visuals.
Agreed, especially since Lola is not white "and in a dark-brown voice..." and the woman in the first video is white.
@@Grizazzleyou can be white & have a ‘dark brown voice.’ It’s just describing the sound of the voice, not the color of the speaker..
Hello Corey, Phenom & Ollie, just as others have said this band has several great tunes. I thought I'd suggest another song to give a listen, if interested. "The Kinks - Come Dancing" (by the channel: The Kinks) --This song by the Kinks had an interesting charting history. When it was first released in the U.K. it failed to chart, however, in the U.S. surprisingly, it became a big hit. The track reached number #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 making it the bands highest charting single at the time. And its success was largely due to the promotional video directed by Julien Temple, and it received frequent airplay by MTV. The song is from their album called "State of Confusion" released in 1983. The song's lyrics are based on a real life tragic event. It was written by Ray Davies and was inspired by his memory of his older sister, Rene, who died of a heart attack while dancing at a dance hall. The lyrics tell the story from the perspective of an "East End barrow boy" whose sister went on dates at a local "Palais Dance Hall." peace out~
You got it right. Davis had a great sense of humor, and he enjoyed playing games. I didn't know it was banned, but I knew they had to change the single lyrics to change Coca Cola to Cherry Cola, cause of brand name infringement. Try reading the storyline to the movie Percy. It's hysterical. The Opening track by the Kinks is called God's Children. It goes along with the storyline.
Simultaneously an Influential AND Underrated band. Their catalog is extensive....punk rock before that genre existed.
The Kinks were huge!
I rate these second to The Beatles for bands that started in the 60s. No two songs sound the same, brilliant but massively underrated for some reason.
Listen to more of the Kinks. They were much better than the Beatles in 1964. Songs like, "You really got me" changed rock and roll over night. The Beatles were doing bubble gum music while the Kings were playing real rock and roll.
Waterloo sunset is a must by the kinks
When I was very very young and still more excited about the record player of my older siblings itself than about the music it played, Waterloo Sunset became my first No.1 song and kept being that for a long time. The harmonys so smooth and beautiful - happy and sad at the same time.
The wonderful Kinks are a national treasure here in the UK and especially London where they’re from.
We were fucking blessed back then to be British,trust me I tell you the truth.
NO ONE was having a better time than us.
The Godfathers of Punk! “You Really Got Me” was their smash debut hit.
The Kinks are loved by some in Britan more than The Beatles.
Another great song by The Kinks is Come Dancing.
I'm really enjoying you guys.
You need to react to Lou Reed " Walk on the wild side"
The Kinks are one of those weird musical anomalies where they're making these big influential steps in pop culture but the guy in charge is closing the curtain on them before they get properly recognized. By the way, Lola makes a second appearance in the 1981 single track Destroyer off the album Give the People What They Want, a great song about paranoia and mental health issues. It not only refers to the Lola hit song but borrows the opening of their breakout You Really Got Me to make the whole thing ultra-meta. Too intelligent for their time.
I fell in love with this song as soon as I heard it the first time as a young teen. One of my favorite songs and just a really great underrated band. Smart and talented. With a very diverse catalog. "Come Dancing" is nothing like this but is a great listen nonetheless
If you love storytellers then you need to explore more of the kinks because they were amazing storytellers. Glad to see you exploring a little bit more of the British invasion!
Check out low budget, celluloid heroes, and Superman preferably off of their one for the road live album. Great stories, enjoy!
Fun song!
I love the Kinks. They were awesome live. I can't pick a song. They are so varied and accomplished song writers and storytellers. Check them out. Here is a song later in there career. It's a banger. "Liife on the Road." Off The Sleepwaker " album which has several great songs. 🎉
I am convinced that Kinks guitarist Dave Davies (one of Eddie Van Halen's influences) was one of the first heavy metal guitar players before heavy metal was a thing.
Great video and reaction again guys. I've always liked this band The Kinks. You could check out their original song "You really got me" as it's likely you have already heard the Van Halen cover of it at some stage. They have many other great songs but my favorite would probably be "Waterloo Sunset".
I love you guys! Loved music my whole life, and watching your faces is such a joy!
They made the song called , You Really Got Me . Which Van Halen remade . Both versions are 🔥!
Good song in its own right. They brought some raw rocking stuff in the mid sixties, developed later into more complex stuff with quirky British subjects. Really good band.
that was a funny jab at Corey in the intro, request The Kinks You really got me or Destroyer. Rock on
I guess when Ray Davies manager had to arm wrestle Lola for the last Bic razor In the morning, he knew it was high time to hit the road jack!! And never come back! no more, no more, no more, no more!!!
They were at Lola's apartment when the line, "Lola smiled and took me by the hand and said, 'Dear boy I'm going to make you a man'" comes.
My wife said it was a known fact back when the song came out that they got it on.
I told my wife that the song was banned by the BBC for having Coca Cola in its lyrics. She said that she wouldn't think that Coca Cola at that time would want a song that has lyrics about a man having sex with a transvestite. I asked her some years later if the public knew back in 1970 that they went all the way and she told me they did.
you really got me............... is there biggest hit
(Wish I Could Fly Like)Superman is a good song
Also Come Dancing. That one is their signature song.
The Kinks were up there with The Beatles, Stones and The Who in the Sixties.Check out earlier stuff
This is 50 years ahead of it's time! lol
I was in Junior High when this song came out and it played all over the place on radio. We loved the song, because it's a great song and it tells a good story. Just FYI, I don't think it inspired anyone to become something that were not born to be, lol. These days, I'm sure it would be banned everywhere a young, innocent ear might hear it. 😂
What a great band. Please try Dead End Street, Shangri La, Lazin on a Sunny Afternoon which are fantastic statements on society done by the Kinks. Love your reactions.
My guy who said the song didn’t really say whether Lola was a man or not clearly wasn’t listening to the lyrics 😂
It didn't say. It was left intentionally vague.
The Kinks have a ton of great songs, one of my favorite all- time bands.
The Kinks rabbit hole is a deep one ❤
Great reaction as usual guys. Please do look at more, and keep in mind that they started in 1964. So many great bands to pioneer and expand rock in the 60's. These were definitely one of them.
Kinks songs to check out…
Celluloid Heroes, You Really Got Me, Come Dancing, All Day and All of the Night, Sunny Afternoon.
Great and (almost) always forgotten. Give them the credit they deserve! YEAH!
As others have said, the song was only banned initially by the BBC in the UK because of the Coca Cola reference as the BBC does not allow advertising, so Ray on tour in the US flew back to the UK and rerecorded that line to Chery Cola for the UK market both versions are on UA-cam. Some US and Australian radio stations either would refuse to play it or fade the song out before the last line
Well, I'm not the world's most masculine man
But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man
And so is Lola
"Lola" was released just a year after Stonewall.
Last line is a classic double entendre: "I'm glad I'm a man, and so's Lola."
the kinks have been around a long time,
so many great tracks, including a couple you have likely heard before but some you never seem to hear are tracks like Apeman and All day and all of the night,
one of their tracks is in Marvels End game (although its not played in its entirety). Supersonic Rocket Ship
thanks Gentlemen
check out lou reed " walk on the wild side" lol
you guys might already know "you really got me"
One of their songs from the Preservation - Act 2 lp of 1974 seems terribly relevant again - "Shepherds Of The Nation".
Sunny Afternoon… it’s a must.
Down below Anntel lists a bunch of great Kinks tunes, here are a few more: "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman, "Low Budget", "Sleepwalker", "National Health", "Celluloid Heroes", "Attitude", "Where Have All The Good Times Gone", "Pressure" and "Catch Me Now I'm Falling", a sort of political song. And many more...
Great review
Always loved the Kinks
The last lines of the song he says "I know what I am, I'm a man and so is Lola" 😘
I’m pretty sure one-hit wonders are not admitted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. You have to have a consistently outstanding track record.
And now you can listen to Weird Al’s Yoda.
I know Darth Vader really got you annoyed but remember if you kill him you’ll be unemployed.
Congratulations, you found The Kinks! A few more to try - "Apeman", "Sleepwalker", "Do It Again" and "Victoria". Can't go wrong with anything from them, thanks!
Sheer genius
It actually does matter, it matters a lot.
"Well, I´m not the world´s most masculine man, but I know what I am and I´m glad I`m a man - and so´s Lola".
Lola´s glad that he is - what´s wrong with that?
Tricky lyrics!
Try 'Come Dancing' by The Kinks. Their signature song.
"The more things change, the more they are the same."
~Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr 1849
Dig this song🎵
Good band😁🤟🏼
I'm a man so is Lola, no debate.
Now you guys got to check out Bobby Brown, by Frank Zappa, 1979, that one will have you laughing as hard as you'll be wtfing, lol.
Cool!
"I know what I am, I'm a man I'm a man, so is Lola".
Love this song so fun !
❤❤❤
"I know what I am and what I am is a man - and so is Lola..."
How you not know, tho…..Fo real.
Solved - last words of the song - "I know what I am - I'm glad I'm a man - and so is Lola"
But is Lola glad the singer is a man? or is Lola a man? (or both?)
The visuals take away the building power of the song, listen separately without the visual. The Kinks have so many great hits.
You should take a listen to Waterloo Sunset
It actually is mentioned.I am glad i am a man and so is Lola is a hint.
Way ahead of their time with the subject.
it is
They were lucky that they escaped the clutches of John Wayne Gacy in 1965 😳
This song is very clear. He sings that he is a man and so is Lola. Read the lyrics. It was clear before he sang that last line.
No...again, the line is "But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man
And so is Lola." Granted, it's pretty clear where the song is headed, but that last line is written more ambiguously than you've stated.