The lyrics are not too hard to interpret, the song is a tribute to British way of life and the desire to preserve certain aspects of it, whilst also condemning modernity in its ugliest form, hence the Kinks rail against the office blocks and skyscrapers and champion little shops and Tudor houses.
Ray Davies is one of my favourite songwriters. I have always interpreted the song as an ironic and playful dig at conservative-minded people who wanted to preserve the status-quo and not embrace the many changes that were taking place in the 1960s. There is a good cover of this song by English folk singer, Kate Rusby.
Uncle Bob Marley's quote when asked why he wrote punky reggae party his answer was perfect BECAUSE PUNK ROCK MUSIC AND REGGAE MUSIC IS REBEL MUSIC 👏👏👏. and I reckon when you blend them together MAGIC HAPPENS....... THE CLASH i rest my case you're honour.
The Kinks are Beatles level, ABSOLUTELY... this is the opening song for a conceptual album, it's impossible to be fully understood separatedly from the following songs, that's why it seems silly like Yellow Submarine... but it's not silly like Yellow Submarine
The Kinks in their own way were almost as influential as the Beatles and their 1964 single “You Really Got Me” being later credited with inventing both heavy metal and punk. After that even the Beatles hardened their sound so for example “Ticket to Ride” came nine months later. (So when John Lennon claimed this single was the first heavy metal song he was way out!) So you have to see all these bands influencing each other and while undoubtedly the Beatles were arguably the most influential band of all time this doesn’t mean they weren’t influenced by their contemporaries. And the Kinks influenced bands on both sides of the Atlantic including the Who, the Jam and Van Halen (who covered “You Really Got Me”). And if the Kinks had not been banned from playing in the US by the American Federation of Musicians between 1965 and 1969 they would have probably had a lot more success there. Ironically “The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society” (the album this great song comes from) was a reaction against the slew of psychedelic albums (including “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”) being released at the time with Ray Davies finding solace in the often quirky comforts of English traditionalism - sometime ironically and sometimes not!
@@hanierfamily I am sorry I missed your reply! Have you played their “Waterloo Sunset” yet? It is one of the most beautiful songs ever written and loved by everyone from David Bowie to the Jam’s Paul Weller.
@@hanierfamily Then I recommend You Really Got Me, Lazy Sunny Afternoon and Lola of the well know songs and Mr. Churchill Says and Victoria of those not quite so well known!
As a whole album makes sense when listened as an album not just cherry picked one by one. They should be listened to in that spirit. It's a very English album.The individual songs are all important aspects of British life. Steam Trains and the Village Green Cats and Marmalade made by Village Ladies.
Those computer things I've never owned one i do have this smart phone that's way too smart for me i can't wait till they make a dumb phone that i can work properly 🤪
To be honest you seem really nice people but to compare this to Yellow Submarine, Come on. Listen to the clever lyrics. It's a tribute to the old ways. God Save The Kinks
oh dear i am somewhat disappointed though i suppose its inevitable that people, will say this sounds like something else instead of just enjoying the music.
Classic Kinks, great stuff, and a pair of brothers that taught the Gallaghers everything they know about falling out with each other!
The lyrics are not too hard to interpret, the song is a tribute to British way of life and the desire to preserve certain aspects of it, whilst also condemning modernity in its ugliest form, hence the Kinks rail against the office blocks and skyscrapers and champion little shops and Tudor houses.
Ray Davies is one of my favourite songwriters. I have always interpreted the song as an ironic and playful dig at conservative-minded people who wanted to preserve the status-quo and not embrace the many changes that were taking place in the 1960s.
There is a good cover of this song by English folk singer, Kate Rusby.
The Kinks, have quite a lot of whimsical songs, please react to, 'Dedicated Follower of Fashion', and 'Autumn Almanac', thank you.
What a song: what an album. This should be taught in schools. Better than the Beatles? Glad you mentioned the drums. Mick Avory is my drumming hero.
Uncle Bob Marley's quote when asked why he wrote punky reggae party his answer was perfect BECAUSE PUNK ROCK MUSIC AND REGGAE MUSIC IS REBEL MUSIC 👏👏👏. and I reckon when you blend them together MAGIC HAPPENS....... THE CLASH i rest my case you're honour.
The most English of the great early British rock bands. XTC, of course, was a child, in part, of the very English of the English Kinks.
Ray Davies is the greatest lyricist of all time imho. His story telling is second to nobody.
The Kinks are Beatles level, ABSOLUTELY...
this is the opening song for a conceptual album, it's impossible to be fully understood separatedly from the following songs, that's why it seems silly like Yellow Submarine... but it's not silly like Yellow Submarine
The Kinks in their own way were almost as influential as the Beatles and their 1964 single “You Really Got Me” being later credited with inventing both heavy metal and punk. After that even the Beatles hardened their sound so for example “Ticket to Ride” came nine months later. (So when John Lennon claimed this single was the first heavy metal song he was way out!) So you have to see all these bands influencing each other and while undoubtedly the Beatles were arguably the most influential band of all time this doesn’t mean they weren’t influenced by their contemporaries. And the Kinks influenced bands on both sides of the Atlantic including the Who, the Jam and Van Halen (who covered “You Really Got Me”).
And if the Kinks had not been banned from playing in the US by the American Federation of Musicians between 1965 and 1969 they would have probably had a lot more success there. Ironically “The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society” (the album this great song comes from) was a reaction against the slew of psychedelic albums (including “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”) being released at the time with Ray Davies finding solace in the often quirky comforts of English traditionalism - sometime ironically and sometimes not!
Well, we're happy to learn more about them. Thanks so much. Where should we go next?
@@hanierfamily I am sorry I missed your reply! Have you played their “Waterloo Sunset” yet? It is one of the most beautiful songs ever written and loved by everyone from David Bowie to the Jam’s Paul Weller.
@@jonteunon2977 Actually, we have done that song. Very nice. We do need to check out some more Kinks stuff soon, though.
@@hanierfamily Then I recommend You Really Got Me, Lazy Sunny Afternoon and Lola of the well know songs and Mr. Churchill Says and Victoria of those not quite so well known!
As a whole album makes sense when listened as an album not just cherry picked one by one. They should be listened to in that spirit. It's a very English album.The individual songs are all important aspects of British life. Steam Trains and the Village Green Cats and Marmalade made by Village Ladies.
GOD SAVE THE KING>.......AND GOD THE KINKS !
It is the kinks who influenced the beatles. They were the band that brins new sounds new ways of playing music...
Try "Phenomenal Cat" from the Kinks for the ultimate in English whimsy. .
Ray Davies is a genius, though I actually prefer Kate Rusby's version of this!
Kinks 4ever
Very favorite song.
its basically the kinks singing about english life. protecting the village green and dissing modernity..
Well suggested Ernie Wise. I love this song
Here's a suggestion for you guys Jackie Leven "Snow in Central Park"
Those computer things I've never owned one i do have this smart phone that's way too smart for me i can't wait till they make a dumb phone that i can work properly 🤪
They have a slightly punk attitude to the world around them in the sixties in my opinion
Reminds me of the Donavon Mello yellow
Same era.
To be honest you seem really nice people but to compare this to Yellow Submarine, Come on. Listen to the clever lyrics. It's a tribute to the old ways. God Save The Kinks
oh dear i am somewhat disappointed though i suppose its inevitable that people, will say this sounds like something else instead of just enjoying the music.