I’m not that far behind you in age and I also get a big kick from young people discovering music from our era. However, I’d like to encourage you to give contemporary pop music another chance. The younger generations have lots of great music too.
66 here, Michael, and I share that feeling. These kids are so genuine that it's like hearing these classics again, for the first time, through their ears. What a great feeling.
The story starts in "old Soho" which is the most obviously "gay" area of central London (especially in the 60s) love this song, so much story, heart and great music. Always great to hear others appreciate something so brilliant 🥰
LOL, Amber's face when she figured it out was priceless. I was just like Jordan, lost in the music and it took me a few listens to catch the lyrics. Glad you guys liked it. 👍🏽
Reactions to this song are always delicious! When Amber glanced over and realized Jay had missed the key line, she got the biggest grin. And then when she has to tell him, she starts out real gentle with the "Baby..."
Still one of their best reactions. At a certain point Amber gets it and smiles, then a bit later she looks over at J and realizes he still hasn't gotten it and her smile grows even bigger
Your entire fan base waited with "bated breath" for your reaction when the Kinks reveal that Lola is a man. Amber's reaction and "devilish grin" was worth the wait, and I loved it! Watching J "lost in the sauce" was also worth waiting for. Having said that, this is a great and classic song from the Kinks.
Funny, I saw the Who only once, and that was the best concert I ever saw, but the Kinks ( I saw the Kinks seven times), were may favorite band to see live. My voice teacher once forbade me to see them again after I showed up for a lesson with no voice after their concert! Oh, well, I saw them another three or four times after that!
@markkaplan1104 I went to a legendary concert in 1969 when I was 16 years old at the Nottingham Theatre Royal; The Kinks, Who, Traffic, Herd and Small Faces - amazing! They were all skinny teenagers/ 29 year olds, Frampton, the Davies, Pete Townshend, Stevie Winwood etc.
While strongly suggestive, does the song really proclaim, with certainly, that Lola is a man? At the end of the song, the line “But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man and so is Lola” merely suggests Lola is glad the other is a man. This is the brilliance of the song, it takes you to the brink of discovery several times without crossing the definitive line……leaving the listener to jump to, what seems an obvious, conclusion.
I think they have done Lou Reed. Lola was actually released in 1970, and I couldn't say for certain I did or did not hear it late night FM radio(in Seattle) as early as late summer of '69
This IS a fun song. You can't help but sing along to Lola. And like you said, it gives hints in the lyrics without coming out and saying it....until the end. So cool to see Amber's reaction when it was revealed..."I'm glad that I'm a man and so is Lola!". Priceless!!!💜
Yes, there were hints all through the song..."walks like a woman but talks like a man," she nearly broke his spine when she hugged him tight, and so many more.
I absolutely loved how when Amber heard the line “and so is Lola” you could see the whole meaning of the song come together all at once & you can see it in her face. Meanwhile, Jay is rocking away having no idea what just happened. Lol! It’s all good Jay. The song is rocking at that point and it’s easily missed the first time you listen to it. But I started laughing when Amber looked over at Jay and noticed he missed it and then for the rest of the song you could see she was just waiting for it to end so she could tell him. You guys always put a smile on my face. 😂
It really is a fun moment, and Amber definitely got it right. But I always like to point out that the line is cleverly ambiguous. "I know what I am, and I'm glad I'm a man...and so is Lola." He could just be saying Lola is also glad the singer is a man. Wink.
@@groujo1 there's nothing ambiguous about it if you know the story behind the song. Their manager Robert Wace who got drunk and spent the night dancing with a transvestite, thinking he was a woman. Ray Davies asked Robert if he noticed the razor stubble and he said yes, but he was so drunk he didn't care.
@@willdwyer6782 Yes, but the line is meant to be ambiguous. It has two meanings and the listener can choose which one to believe, which is what makes the song fun.
I love how she looked at him expecting him to catch it and he just vibed along. Meanwhile, she was digging the hell out of her newfound context to the song.
It's so funny how sometimes Amber's vibing out and J's paying attention to the lyrics, and sometimes it's the other way around-- always such a moment when one gets it and is looking to see when or of the other one will! 🤣🤣🤣
I never forget when I was riding in a car with my daughter , who was first learning music and digging on Classic -style Rock. As this song progressed she loved the vibe and style of The Kinks & when it hit "the Line" her eyes widened and she let out a laugh and an "Oh My God". We laughed all the way home. Great memory.
Given this song was recorded in 1970 it was dealing with an intensely controversial subject back then - and they did it *so* well. Great reaction guys.
It was illegal to be gay in UK until 1967, so it was indeed very new to be discussing it openly like this. Ray Davies was clever enough to disguise it in a great song and hope that the censors never listened to the last line...lol
@@bobinscotland It was illegal to be gay in the US until 2003. See Lawrence v. Texas. And at least one current Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas, said in June 2022 he thought that case was wrongly decided and should be reconsidered. IOW, being gay in the US may become illegal again if a case challenging Lawrence v. Texas reaches our current SCOTUS.
@@thatboy3 I'd have said that such a prospect would never happen but given they overturned Roe Vs Wade it's not inconceivable...honestly the U.S is in a fucked up place at the moment
My dad was best mates with the Davies brothers at this time. He was one of the beautiful people of 60's London which, when you knew him as a dad and an old man, is just hilarious ❤️😂 He was an incredible commercial artist who did artwork for, amongst other things, Tony Tiger, the Kellogg's cockerel, the Andrex puppy, the Guinness Toucan and the original After Eights packaging. He was the best in the business for over 3 decades. We lost him a few months ago and my heart will never heal.❤️
so sorry for your loss, your dad sounds amazing. I lost mine 2 years ago to covid, he was a musician in the 60s and his loss has been devastating. I hope you can take comfort from your dad having lived an amazing life ❤
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 One of the best lines in a song ever! And yes, Amber's reaction is totally worth watching over and over. This is my four....seventh? time watching this! 😀
What is so perfect about that line is that it works equally two ways and the rest of the song favours one interpretation but it’s so clever you’re never certain: I’m glad I’m a man and so is Lola - she’s glad I’m a man I’m glad I’m a man and so is Lola - we’re both men
one of the most genius and beautiful things about this song is how the lyrics carefully drop clues all the way through, but the payoff at the end is still a surprise -- and the entire song has zero judgement. the singer of the song even says he fell for Lola. just groundbreaking and brilliant.
They also start "Destroyer" with "met a girl called Lola and I took her back to my place" and reference her throuout the song. I always felt that was a callback to this song.
@@Ds-zv6oo that's literally the last line of the song, so there's that -- but i never said it was subtle -- just that there's a line of careful clues leading up to that finish that still lands.
@@Dr_Bombay mate, it's not clues, it's spelled out. "I'm not dumb but I don't understand, how she walks like a woman but talks like a man"!! It's Beer goggles in a club and not joining the pieces from the story tellers point of view but as for the song it's pretty obvious from early doors.
One of my favorite verses "Girls will be boys, and boys will be girls, it's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world, except for Lola". In other words Lola is not part of the madness in the world, she is secure with whom she is and doesn't waiver. It's everyone else who is shook up does waiver. There's are things in the world that he can't understand, except for Lola,
I love how Amber, just after she picks up the surprise, starts smiling and doubles down on her enjoyment of the song. Her excitement to point this out to Jay and shake him out of his own reverie is just as fun. It's a rock 'n' roll version of "The Crying Game."
Oh my gosh! I cracked up when Amber realized what the song was really about ! Jay is jammin, clueless! Hilarious! I relate to Amber 100% in the way she connects to the songs of the 60's & 70's . I truly enjoy watching their reactions to songs that I grew up listening to. What a beautiful couple. Nice to know that there are people of this generation that appreciate true talent. Thanks guys, God Bless!
I literally started laughing when i saw that the joke went straight over Jay's head, but not Amber, she lit up when that line hit because the coin dropped on the entire song. That is why this is such a fun song to see reactions to, that 1 line, and you'd be surprised how many people miss it at first ;) The Kinks always had a good sense of humor, and Lola is a prime example of that, a funny story supported by one hell of a song... cannot ask for more ;)
It was so fun watching Amber register the last line!! Loved your reaction. Imagine the hubbub this caused when it was released; you just didn't talk about that kind of thing back then. And to sing about it casually, oh my!. Other great Kinks songs: You Really Got Me, and. Sunny Afternoon.
Yes you can see when the lights went on. She is very perceptive. I probably heard this song for about six months after it was released before I figured it out.
Lol! That was epic when the light bulb went on. I couldn't stop laughing. I was screaming.. "she knows! She knows! And Jay still has no clue!" Lol! Man, my side hurts. Lol. You're right. This song was so taboo when it came out. But it was such a vibe and so funny that everyone in school dug it.
I remember being about 8 years old and my older brother who was about 19 playing this song for me and telling me it was his job to educate me on good music. I will never forget my brother introducing me to all the best stuff from the 70s. My parents provided their music from the 50s and 60s of course so I have very eclectic playlists. I was a teen in the 80s and music from those 4 decades are so nostalgic.
As an old geezer (65), it's hard for me to remember that songs that I heard all the time are unknown to most young people now. I loved your reactions and I appreciate your willingness to listen to older classics
I was a Junior in High School when this song came out and it was a bit of a shock to a lot of people. I was lucky enough to go to a school that offered Acting Arts and Technical Theater as two of the English credits (very progressive for the time) and I thought, 'Why Not?' and went which was one of the better choices of my life. I got heavy into theater from that, but most importantly I met my best friend... who happened to be gay (I am not.) As an assignment, we had to pick a song and act it out (I chose 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer') and he chose this one... which was my first hint. The class went crazy over it. He is no longer with us and I miss him.
I’ve always appreciated the fun of this song. A story about a young, naive man who falls in love with a transvestite man, but told with humor and tenderness rather than luridness or worse, outrage. I think it’s why it’s so loved by so many listeners over these decades. Great rock song too! 👍👍❤
This was released in 1970-71, so it's more likely Lola was simply a transvestite, but I don't think it matters in the long run. The narrator in the song accepts the fact Lola still has her male genitalia despite her outward appearance, or he wouldn't have it revealed in the closing line " I know what I am and that is a man, and so is Lola." The concept of transgender as we know it today was still germinating back then, so it is possible Lola wanted to transition, but the actual surgeries and hormone treatments were not as advanced as today. Still super expensive then as now.
I called my Mom after hearing the song on the radio and falling in love with it. About the fourth listen I finally figured it out… we both had a great laugh and every time the song comes on I think of her.
I've always thought the same. For me, when I list my favorite groups of the "British Invasion"... 1) The Who 2) The Rolling Stones 3) The Kinks & 4) The Beatles. But, that's just my opinion.
What utter, utter rubbish! The Kinks are one of the most respected bands of all time! I'm guessing you're another of those idiots who don't understand what the adjective underrated actually means...
At the midway break, Jay predicts "this is a song where you really have to pay attention to the story from the very beginning otherwise I feel you're not going to get the song", and then Amber notices when he stopped paying attention and missed the most important part. THAT was so entertaining!
I am a 23 yr old gay woman and i heard this song a few months ago. It was so far ahead of its time as it was written in 1970. I have listened to more songs by Ray Davis the writer/singer I do not think he has ever written a bad song, and most of them are little stories.
England's finest ever songsmith. Ray has written songs that can compare to anything written by any of the so-called "greats". For me, one of Ray's most stunning is "Two Sisters" - in barely 2 minutes Ray delivers a devastating kitchen-sink drama, with a coda to rip your heart out.
The Kinks were way ahead of time with this one in particular, but others too. I’ve never seen you guys before, but when I saw you were reviewing my most favourite song ever (and I was around when it came out) I just had to see your reaction. Lola was the first track I downloaded on my music app, I love it so much.
You like songs that tell a story? Well, sometimes the greatest stories have an unexpected twist! But just like, say, The Sixth Sense, when you go back over and listen again, all the clues are right there in front of you. Love this song. I love how it doesn't pass judgment...the singer doesn't pass judgment on himself, nor on Lola. So ahead of its time, this song.
Yep. We’re the real boomers. Not the ones the current generation want to victimise. I feel like we’re much more enlightened than today’s youngsters. But tough too.
@@yodaami Yep, was fifteen and partying when I first heard this in 1970. It came on the radio a while later; I don't think the broadcasting authority listened to the lyrics! (here in lil ol NZ) But when John Lennon sang You Know It Ain't Easy, only a short while later, it was banned for the word 'Christ' until some 70s techie substituted the offending word with three drumbeats. Problem solved, and NZ was one of the very few countries back then to even hear the song.
I went to see the Kinks in concert back in the 1980’s (when I was in high school.) The entire concert, the would randomly play the opening chords for Lola and the crowd would go crazy! When they FINALLY played it, the entire venue was practically shouting the words. Great song…they have loads more…some other bands have also covered their songs. They came out with new stuff even in the 1980’s…I. LOVE. THE. KINKS. (My mom told me she really loved that song. I agreed with her, and asked her if she understood the story. She did not. So, I explained it to her. She was surprised that she missed it but it did not bother her.)
The Kinks are incredible. Probably their most known song is either "You Really Got Me" or "All Day, And All of the Night" - both of them powerful, rocking anthems popular in clubs and as music in movies, etc. I'd say that "Lola" is really even more known, but due to the subject matter, well, it gets suppressed. The Kinks were banned in many, many parts of the USA, which of course limited their careers (A record label has to decide where to invest for the best returns as a business after all) because of this song in particular. For me, their story-telling part was always superb, even more than their rocking numbers, so I really love "Waterloo Sunset" (Amber will adore it) but even more so "Come Dancing" which is like a love-letter from the band to the old clubs and music halls that have vanished from today's towns and cities, such that today you might go to one place to hear live bands, but can't dance there, or go to another club to dance, but won't have live music. ua-cam.com/video/xRUE0aAI5o8/v-deo.html
_Come Dancing_ is apparently Ray Davies' tribute to his older sister, who bought him his first guitar and died young of an un-diagnosed heart defect. I'll throw in a vote for _Sunny Afternoon_
This was the best reaction ever. Ambers face when she hears that line and realises what the song is really about is priceless. I'll be rewatching this over and over again. ❤️
Jay "It's one of those songs you've got to pay attention to from the very beginning, or you're not going to get it at all" also Jay, not a clue what's going on - comedy gold. Ambers reaction when she sussed it out was brilliant.
I am 54 & a half yrs old a purerocknroll & heavy metal guy & have been listening to this song for probably 45 yrs (give or take a few yrs) & I honestly do not know or have come across any rock music lovers or just pure rock fans that do not like this song. It has definitely stood the test of time 👍👍 I also gotta say that you 2 are great at what you do, your reactions are real you let your emotions show & I think that you 2 are totally awesome so keep up the stellar work that you do here for us. 👏👍 & BTW I'm a huge huge AC/DC fan going back to the very first time I heard them, I just don't remember the first time I heard them whether it was the end of the 70's or 1980. There's a lot of fuzz upstairs in my noggin, way too many beers & prescription painkillers. That's a public service announcement for all the youngsters out there, don't go balls out every time you have any alcohol around you or indulge in copious amounts of any kinda drugs script drugs or not script. Oh hell who am I fooling I wouldn't even listen to the BS I'm spewing right now if I were 30 yrs younger. Have at it kids just be careful your body & mind will thank you in 20-30 yrs 😊👍
LOL. I kept waiting for the meaning to register on your faces. Amber, you did not disappoint! Yes, a fun song and in those days it was kind of written between the lines...kinda! The original lyrics were "tastes just like Coca-Cola, but the BBC banned that word as they thought it was surreptitious advertising. So they released it using the phrase "tastes just like cherry cola." Imagine banning that one word and ignoring the rest of the lyrics. You cannot make this stuff up! The Kinks are aptly named haha. Love them. Love you two as well. Blessings ♡♡
This was an amazingly progressive song for its time. The narrator meets Lola, falls in love with Lola, finds out Lola’s secret, stays in love with Lola.
the song is loosely based on an incident where the Kink's manager met a "lady" in a bar in London. Ray Davis took that little bit of inspiration, embellished the story, and crafted a classic song that never gets old
@columkenn totally correct and I heard that from Ray Davies myself... there is more to the story that took place in London but it came from Mace dancing with a Trans in a Paris bar and partying all nite...
I am 76 and the Kinks were such a fun group and part of teenage/early twenties memories of the 1960s. Don’t forget “Dedicated Follower of Fashion”, Waterloo Sunset”.
Best line in the song is "Girls will be boys and boys will be girls It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world, except for Lola" Lola is in control. Lola has no doubts. Lola knows who she is.
Excellent reaction, Amber. I was wondering whether either of you would pick up on it. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing you both vibing to The Kinks. For me they were the best band of the 1960s & 70s. I know the Beatles were bigger but I've always loved the Kinks, for their attitude, openness & especially their music.
@@CoffeeConnected - Yes, but so was she. She "nearly broke his spine" and talked like a man. As they say, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's a duck.
I was 19 in 1970 when this song made it to the radio. I heard it a half dozen times before I really listened to the words. I was cruising town with 3 of my buddies and after the song was over, I said, "Lola's a boy." My buddies were all saying, "no way." Sure, as heck when it came on again, we all listened carefully, followed by loud laughter. I thought it was so cool. 🤣
Lol! Yep, I don't think kids these days could possibly understand just how naughty and mindblowing such a concept was in the 1970's. Today Gay and Transgender things are just so normalized nobody even notices.
Same with me, guys cruisin around with the 8 track blasting when one said what the F--k they are singing about a guy. It took us a while as we just grooved on the music usually so loud the words didn't matter
Another funny one by the Kinks is " Dedicated Follower of Fashion", but for a more serious song by them (and which I think is their best ever) there's the most beautiful" Waterloo Sunset". Brilliant playing, brilliant harmonizing, brilliant song-writing,who doesn't love the Kinks???So underrated.🇬🇧♥️♥️♥️🐊🐊🐊
@@theother1281 I almost said that one too!I also like 'Autumn Almanac'! I absolutely love the Links,bostin' band,as they would say in the Black Country!🇬🇧❤️❤️❤️🐊🐊🐊
Now I'm a Baby Boomer and been a Kinks fan since the 70's so I know all about this song. I was waiting to see if one of you two would realize what Lola was and was just waiting to see when that part came when Lola was outed.........so at 4:40 the look on Amber's face was priceless!!!!!!
Always loved this song! "Girls will be boys and boys will be girls ..." That should've been a big clue. LOL "Lola" was released in 1970. They were ahead of their time! Loved this reaction, thanks! ✌💙✌
The 70s and the early 80's were a lot about 'gender bending' - with early Glam and some of the early New Wave that saw a lot of ambiguity going on so hardly a new thing, despite what some may be advocating today
@@faithnyou1732 Absolutely. I was too young in ‘70 to remember but it was still well known a few years later when I hit high school . I was never quite sure if it caused a stir cuz we were just a bunch of HS kids who thought it was funny or those older than us did too!
@@philvallee645 - Yeah, it was actually a pretty big hit, but also caused a bit of a stir. I was actually a little surprised that it didn't cause a bigger stir than it did.
@FaithNYou, I know that it is only a lyric from a song but would Loretta Martin be considered trans/gay like Lola? ("Sweet Loretta Martin thought she was a woman, but she was another man")
The Kinks are truly one of London's greatest bands. If you haven't already listened to it, I suggest you react to 'Waterloo Sunset', which is undoubtedly one of the best songs ever written about my home town. Cheers from the UK!
Mate, for me they are the best band of that era to come out of the UK. In my opinion, they were the blueprint for the 90’s indie scene and every band there after. Legends!!
I was lucky enough to see Kinks live twice in the eighties. They were still sensationally good. Agree with other comments, Ray is one of the finest songwriters England has ever produced. So glad some of the current youngsters are getting to hear an appreciate what I did as a teenager.
Ray Davies is such an amazing lyricist, arguably the best of the rock era. Lola is a great example of his skill. Sort of like The Sixth Sense, it is all there to see from the beginning, but you don't notice it until the very end. If you enjoy a good musical story served up in a rock song, The Kinks definitely deserve your attention. Waterloo Sunset might be their best in that regard, worth a listen!
So many classic stories from the pen of Ray Davies, and all wonderful in their own way. Pete Quaife and the Davies brothers went to school with Rod Stewart, who sang with them in the Spring of 1962 before they came up with the Kinks name. They would play under the name of the person who got the booking, so the Ray Davies Quintet or Pete Quaife Quartet would appear in the area regularly.
I agree Ray Davies is a great song writer. Go online and look, I bet he has published 300 songs. A lot of top notch tunes in that catalog. Dave Davies’ guitar playing and backing vocals are another thing that IMO make the Kinks one of the top 5 rock bands of their era. Like story songs? Go listen to “Hatred”, Ray’s look at (his) sibling rivalry.
I loved it when 1) the light went on in her head and Amber "got it" and 2) when Amber looked over at J with this "I know something you don't know" look on her face, PRICELESS!!
One of my all time favourite bands and one of the best “story “rock songs ever. I saw Ray Davis one man show in Toronto about 20 years ago and he talked about his life and family growing up. Great guy and great songwriter of life’s stories. He signed autographs outside the theatre , thanked everyone for coming and then left in a taxi.
In 64 I was 10 years old- saw them in an airport- they all were friendly to me- gave me autographs- seemed happy to be talking to a kid who recognized them.
I still can't hear this without immediately thinking of Weird Al's parody, "Yoda". lol. I hope the next Kinks song you do is "Come Dancing". It's a lively 80s hit that I think you'll love.
For anyone who thought the line was "cherry cola" you're not wrong. To be played on BBC Radio, The Kinks had to record an alternate version because singing "Coca-Cola" was considered advertising.
I hadn't put this together before. Out of curiosity, I checked when Cherry Coke was actually invented and it wasn't until 1985! The Kinks should have patented the idea... 🍒
Yes... Ray had to fly back to record a second version for release as a single or it wouldn't get airplay on BBC TV or radio, but the album kept the original lyrics.
69 y/o boomer here. Way back in the day, when drug stores had lunch counters and soda fountains, all soft drinks were mixed by hand. The "cherry coke" was well-known even then. The Coke would be made first (in a glass), then a certain amount of cherry syrup would be added to it and stirred in by hand. Damn! it was tasty!
@@ExecutiveChefLance Trans hate is made up drama created by the govt and a group DEMANDING PRIVILEGES , parroted by the media to divide people that normally wouldn't care. I was listening to Lola when I was 12, understood it, and thought it was awesome. Anyone wants to come over and preach how great it is to be a tranny, how everyone needs to transition, how you're a "hater" or "transphobe" ( another made up bit of nonsense ), screech they need privileges, ( not rights, because ALL members of American society have the same rights ), talk about sexuality, or show sexually explicit material, to my 9 year old granddaughter, or 8 year old grandson will get hit with a shovel and planted in the woods. Oh, and if you're blasting Lola going through my town, the over 50s will be thinking "Oh, it's cool that someone young digs this music"... get over yourself you snowflake groomer.
I've seen The Kinks a couple of times and they did a loooooooooooong version of Lola both times. The crowd goes crazy singing along with the refrain at the end.
Both times I saw them, they teased the audience with the intro every couple of songs but it wasn’t played in its entirety until the last song of the set. When they came back on for the encore (first gig), Ray advised that he was dedicating the next song to his brother Dave and went straight into Days. Such an awesome band live or recorded, though both times I saw them (both times were in ‘93) it was in very different environments. First time was in Glasgow Barrowlands and the second was at the Glastonbury Festival.
Amber, you didn't miss many of the hints in the song. One hint was "she sat me on her knee". I love watching people listen to this song & realize what it's saying. Amber, I could see the 💡 go on over your head when you figured it out. That was one awesome smile. This came out when I was super young & I really liked it before I was old enough to grasp what it was about. I loved it even more after I "got it".
LOLOLOLOL 😂 I gotta watch this again!! The point where Amber “gets it” and J is still just be-boppin’ along with his eyes closed is the funniest thing I’ve seen in ages. You both definitely made me smile today!
Always loved the kinks and Lola even tjpugh i never knew when yong what it was about. I'm now 70. Love your posters of the Bee Gees. Saw them when I was 14
You two are priceless! To me the best thing about this story is the gentle way it is told. He's a young man out in the big world for the first time meets a girl (he thinks) and she is going to show him a good time. But when he finds out what is really going on he doesn't get angry and or violent he basically goes home and writes a song about it.
It's actually about their manager who was on a night out and was propositioned by a LOLA, so they wrote a song to playfully remind him of it as often as possible.
To get this song played on Radio 1 here in the UK they couldn't use the Coca Cola lyric because of the advertising (which would have massively affected the sales and chance of a number 1) so Ray Davies had to fly back from the US where they had started a tour and re-record it so it says Cherry Cola and fly back.
The Kinks were sort of blacklisted here for about 4 years because of raucous behavior and union troubles. This band should have been much more popular here in the states. This song was a comeback of sorts. You’ll like Victoria and Come dancing. Come dancing has some horns for Amber. Precious reaction from Amber on her a ha moment!❤ The kinks imo are a top 5 band all time.
@@randallphobia8698 - Not just that but a tribute to his sister who loved to dance. She had an undetected heart ailment from having rheumatic fever and died at 31 while dancing at the Lyceum. She was much older than him and gave him his first guitar for his birthday. The song always reminds me of an amusement park that was over 100 years old in the town where I live. "The big bands used to come and play" just like in the song. It was torn down and is now a gated community. Just like the song says "Part of my childhood died" with that park. 😔😔
I love The Kinks, one of the most underrated rock bands. I love Lola's gender ambiguities, becsuse you can interpret the lyrics different ways. I think it was all deliberate and they really had fun with it.
The Kinks were absolutely ambiguous with the lyrics. It was the early 70's, and being gay was still incredibly taboo, much less being transgender. The song is written such that they had "plausible deniability" - of course Lola was a woman! Or, maybe.....???? I was a teen when this came out, and it remains in my top 3 songs of all time.
The point when Amber realizes what Lola is really about and J's stunned reaction is worth multiple replays. Perfect guys!
I agree...hilarious
Priceless moment 😂😂😂
I was waiting for it and it didn't disappoint
@@darkuncle4642 Agreed! lol
Haven't started the video but I can't wait to see how they react to finding out the song is not really about a physical woman
Loved Amber’s reactions after she “got it”, sitting there looking at Jay and giggling because she knew he missed it!…lol
Maybe the very best facial reaction ever watching it click with her and Jay missing it.
@@sawyer33 Yes!…lol Love these guys….
Ha
Ha, I was about 13 when this came out, loved the tune, sang to it, but had no clue what it was about. I still laugh about it!
I had to show that part to my wife. So perfect.
:) "Walk On The Wild Side" gotta be next.
I'm 71 and you've no idea how much joy it gives me to see youngsters enjoying real music.
I’m not that far behind you in age and I also get a big kick from young people discovering music from our era. However, I’d like to encourage you to give contemporary pop music another chance. The younger generations have lots of great music too.
I'm 71, too, and love watching y'all get into the music I love!! 😄😝💋💖💋💖
66 here, Michael, and I share that feeling. These kids are so genuine that it's like hearing these classics again, for the first time, through their ears. What a great feeling.
Amen. I'm 72 and feel the same. Love and Light, fellow traveler.
Totally. I love knowing what's coming and then...seeing their faces. Ha!
It's like watching toddlers taking their first steps.
The story starts in "old Soho" which is the most obviously "gay" area of central London (especially in the 60s) love this song, so much story, heart and great music. Always great to hear others appreciate something so brilliant 🥰
I love when Amber got the story....she is so cute when she gets the meaning of the song
LOL, Amber's face when she figured it out was priceless. I was just like Jordan, lost in the music and it took me a few listens to catch the lyrics. Glad you guys liked it. 👍🏽
John C . .. Yes! it was glorious. And I love this Music Reaction channel
Rock On, John 🎸
👍
I was waiting... waiting... then the penny dropped.
@@PedroConejo1939 Yeah, my eyes kept darting back and forth to see who got it first
The same thing happened with "Afternoon Delight"
Reactions to this song are always delicious! When Amber glanced over and realized Jay had missed the key line, she got the biggest grin.
And then when she has to tell him, she starts out real gentle with the "Baby..."
Still one of their best reactions. At a certain point Amber gets it and smiles, then a bit later she looks over at J and realizes he still hasn't gotten it and her smile grows even bigger
"Baby" LOL
Your entire fan base waited with "bated breath" for your reaction when the Kinks reveal that Lola is a man. Amber's reaction and "devilish grin" was worth the wait, and I loved it! Watching J "lost in the sauce" was also worth waiting for. Having said that, this is a great and classic song from the Kinks.
Ha Ha, .Jay did have a tiny flicker when they sang Boys will be girls and girls will be boys, too funny.
Funny, I saw the Who only once, and that was the best concert I ever saw, but the Kinks ( I saw the Kinks seven times), were may favorite band to see live. My voice teacher once forbade me to see them again after I showed up for a lesson with no voice after their concert! Oh, well, I saw them another three or four times after that!
@markkaplan1104 I went to a legendary concert in 1969 when I was 16 years old at the Nottingham Theatre Royal; The Kinks, Who, Traffic, Herd and Small Faces - amazing! They were all skinny teenagers/ 29 year olds, Frampton, the Davies, Pete Townshend, Stevie Winwood etc.
I was waiting for that Line 😂😂😂
While strongly suggestive, does the song really proclaim, with certainly, that Lola is a man? At the end of the song, the line “But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man and so is Lola” merely suggests Lola is glad the other is a man. This is the brilliance of the song, it takes you to the brink of discovery several times without crossing the definitive line……leaving the listener to jump to, what seems an obvious, conclusion.
That was the best reaction ever! The moment Amber has the epiphany about Lola is priceless.
Lola came out in 1971. Way ahead of its time. Next is Lou Reed’s “Take a walk on the wild side” from 1973.
Oh, no doubt
Absolutely
and they haven't even done The Troggs yet either!
I think they have done Lou Reed. Lola was actually released in 1970, and I couldn't say for certain I did or did not hear it late night FM radio(in Seattle) as early as late summer of '69
actully 1970
Ray Davies: England's finest ever songsmith. And "Lola" is yet another masterpiece from this genius.
I LOVE Jay saying, "You gotta follow the lyrics & go along with the story" while TOTALLY doing the opposite, LOL!!
Right? I said "they are clearly not following the story" lol
:-D
Well when it is a groovy tune it is hard to listen to the lyrics especially when you first listen to it.
Jay was grooving and not processing the lyrics.
This IS a fun song. You can't help but sing along to Lola. And like you said, it gives hints in the lyrics without coming out and saying it....until the end. So cool to see Amber's reaction when it was revealed..."I'm glad that I'm a man and so is Lola!". Priceless!!!💜
Which is great wordplay!
He made the ending ambiguous as well. Is Lola a man or glad he’s a man?
Near the beginning, he says, " I don't understand why she walks like a woman but talks like a man." Gives it away right then.
Yes, there were hints all through the song..."walks like a woman but talks like a man," she nearly broke his spine when she hugged him tight, and so many more.
Jay & Amber, their "All Day And All Of The Night" and "Destroyer!!!
edit- Amber caught the key line immediately, while Jay was lost in the sauce! LOL
Drfinitely both but especially Destroyer!
🤣
You two are just too cute! Loved this reaction.
Yes Destroyer is fire, and so over looked
Love the looks Amber gave J after she figured it out....
Lol
I was watching Amber's face exactly when she "Got It"... your expression was so great.
I absolutely loved how when Amber heard the line “and so is Lola” you could see the whole meaning of the song come together all at once & you can see it in her face. Meanwhile, Jay is rocking away having no idea what just happened. Lol! It’s all good Jay. The song is rocking at that point and it’s easily missed the first time you listen to it. But I started laughing when Amber looked over at Jay and noticed he missed it and then for the rest of the song you could see she was just waiting for it to end so she could tell him. You guys always put a smile on my face. 😂
It really is a fun moment, and Amber definitely got it right. But I always like to point out that the line is cleverly ambiguous. "I know what I am, and I'm glad I'm a man...and so is Lola." He could just be saying Lola is also glad the singer is a man. Wink.
The most ambiguous line in rock and roll!
@@groujo1 there's nothing ambiguous about it if you know the story behind the song. Their manager Robert Wace who got drunk and spent the night dancing with a transvestite, thinking he was a woman. Ray Davies asked Robert if he noticed the razor stubble and he said yes, but he was so drunk he didn't care.
@@willdwyer6782 Yes, but the line is meant to be ambiguous. It has two meanings and the listener can choose which one to believe, which is what makes the song fun.
Nah, he got it. That's why he's not rocking out like usual
The look on J's face 😲love it !!!! Amber pays attention to the lyrics 😉💜🎵🎶✌
I was a little younger and innocent. So I didn't put 2 and 2 together, back in the day!🤔🤣😂
I love how she looked at him expecting him to catch it and he just vibed along. Meanwhile, she was digging the hell out of her newfound context to the song.
It's so funny how sometimes Amber's vibing out and J's paying attention to the lyrics, and sometimes it's the other way around-- always such a moment when one gets it and is looking to see when or of the other one will! 🤣🤣🤣
I never forget when I was riding in a car with my daughter , who was first learning music and digging on Classic -style Rock. As this song progressed she loved the vibe and style of The Kinks & when it hit "the Line" her eyes widened and she let out a laugh and an "Oh My God". We laughed all the way home. Great memory.
The Kinks have always been underrated, Glad to see someone really appreciating them 😁
And an influence on so many artists. From country stars to scabby kids in punk rock bars, they all agree on The Kinks.
Please try "Wicked Annabella". I swear they invented Glam Rock 4-5 years before Bowie and Bolin exploded.
Given this song was recorded in 1970 it was dealing with an intensely controversial subject back then - and they did it *so* well. Great reaction guys.
It was illegal to be gay in UK until 1967, so it was indeed very new to be discussing it openly like this. Ray Davies was clever enough to disguise it in a great song and hope that the censors never listened to the last line...lol
@@bobinscotland It was illegal to be gay in the US until 2003. See Lawrence v. Texas. And at least one current Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas, said in June 2022 he thought that case was wrongly decided and should be reconsidered. IOW, being gay in the US may become illegal again if a case challenging Lawrence v. Texas reaches our current SCOTUS.
@@thatboy3 I'd have said that such a prospect would never happen but given they overturned Roe Vs Wade it's not inconceivable...honestly the U.S is in a fucked up place at the moment
It was such a catchy tune, most people probably missed what the story was really about. Way, way ahead of its time.
@@atgdcommish608 So was Lou Reed with Walk On the Wild Side and David Bowie first came to the states as Ziggy we loved it all.
My dad was best mates with the Davies brothers at this time. He was one of the beautiful people of 60's London which, when you knew him as a dad and an old man, is just hilarious ❤️😂 He was an incredible commercial artist who did artwork for, amongst other things, Tony Tiger, the Kellogg's cockerel, the Andrex puppy, the Guinness Toucan and the original After Eights packaging. He was the best in the business for over 3 decades.
We lost him a few months ago and my heart will never heal.❤️
Amazing story ! What an interesting dad you had. Sorry to hear he passed away.
so sorry for your loss, your dad sounds amazing. I lost mine 2 years ago to covid, he was a musician in the 60s and his loss has been devastating. I hope you can take comfort from your dad having lived an amazing life ❤
what an amazing guy, the Guiness Toucan adverts were fantastic!
@@jackiecarter5193 thank you. He was amazing. He was a bit of a renaissance man. He could do anything he turned his hand to.
@Christhorpe Junction thank you. I'm so sorry about your loss too. It's bloody horrible isn't it?
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
One of the best lines in a song ever! And yes, Amber's reaction is totally worth watching over and over. This is my four....seventh? time watching this! 😀
What is so perfect about that line is that it works equally two ways and the rest of the song favours one interpretation but it’s so clever you’re never certain:
I’m glad I’m a man and so is Lola - she’s glad I’m a man
I’m glad I’m a man and so is Lola - we’re both men
@@KiltedGreen Yeah, I lot of people seem to miss the alternate meanings in that line...
Three times in a row for me! LMAO!!
@@KiltedGreenthey were both men as their manager found out true story
it is a brilliant entendre
one of the most genius and beautiful things about this song is how the lyrics carefully drop clues all the way through, but the payoff at the end is still a surprise -- and the entire song has zero judgement. the singer of the song even says he fell for Lola. just groundbreaking and brilliant.
They also start "Destroyer" with "met a girl called Lola and I took her back to my place" and reference her throuout the song. I always felt that was a callback to this song.
@@AC-ld4np oh yeah, it definitely is.
It's not subtle mate!!
Now I'm not the world's most passionate man, but I know what i am and I'm glad I'm a man, and so was Lola!! La la la Lola!! 😂😂😂
@@Ds-zv6oo that's literally the last line of the song, so there's that -- but i never said it was subtle -- just that there's a line of careful clues leading up to that finish that still lands.
@@Dr_Bombay mate, it's not clues, it's spelled out. "I'm not dumb but I don't understand, how she walks like a woman but talks like a man"!! It's
Beer goggles in a club and not joining the pieces from the story tellers point of view but as for the song it's pretty obvious from early doors.
One of my favorite verses "Girls will be boys, and boys will be girls, it's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world, except for Lola". In other words Lola is not part of the madness in the world, she is secure with whom she is and doesn't waiver. It's everyone else who is shook up does waiver. There's are things in the world that he can't understand, except for Lola,
Those lyrics are even more true today than they were back then.
Lola knows who Lola is. If the rest of the world is confused, so what. It's decades ahead of its time.
Lola was trans, she was a man
@Puppy-ew4be Your transphobia is showing.
@Puppy-ew4be
People with a middle school level of understanding sure seem to care.
I love how Amber, just after she picks up the surprise, starts smiling and doubles down on her enjoyment of the song. Her excitement to point this out to Jay and shake him out of his own reverie is just as fun. It's a rock 'n' roll version of "The Crying Game."
perfect analogy
Oh my gosh! I cracked up when Amber realized what the song was really about ! Jay is jammin, clueless! Hilarious! I relate to Amber 100% in the way she connects to the songs of the 60's & 70's . I truly enjoy watching their reactions to songs that I grew up listening to. What a beautiful couple. Nice to know that there are people of this generation that appreciate true talent. Thanks guys, God Bless!
I literally started laughing when i saw that the joke went straight over Jay's head, but not Amber, she lit up when that line hit because the coin dropped on the entire song.
That is why this is such a fun song to see reactions to, that 1 line, and you'd be surprised how many people miss it at first ;)
The Kinks always had a good sense of humor, and Lola is a prime example of that, a funny story supported by one hell of a song... cannot ask for more ;)
Especially when J had just said "you have to pay attention or you won't know what's going on"!! 🤣❤️
Exactly! J followed his own advice for everything except the last line! He would have gotten it, though. He was just swept away by the groove.
I've known people who missed it for *_years!_*
@@tombeyerlein3813 yeah i don't blame him one bit :D
@@derekfnord me too ;)
It was so fun watching Amber register the last line!! Loved your reaction. Imagine the hubbub this caused when it was released; you just didn't talk about that kind of thing back then. And to sing about it casually, oh my!. Other great Kinks songs: You Really Got Me, and. Sunny Afternoon.
Fyi, they have reacted to both of those
Yes you can see when the lights went on. She is very perceptive. I probably heard this song for about six months after it was released before I figured it out.
Lol! That was epic when the light bulb went on. I couldn't stop laughing. I was screaming.. "she knows! She knows! And Jay still has no clue!" Lol! Man, my side hurts. Lol. You're right. This song was so taboo when it came out. But it was such a vibe and so funny that everyone in school dug it.
Yes, Sunny Afternoon! Save me from this queeeeeeeen!
Like a Cheshire cat
I remember being about 8 years old and my older brother who was about 19 playing this song for me and telling me it was his job to educate me on good music. I will never forget my brother introducing me to all the best stuff from the 70s. My parents provided their music from the 50s and 60s of course so I have very eclectic playlists. I was a teen in the 80s and music from those 4 decades are so nostalgic.
As an old geezer (65), it's hard for me to remember that songs that I heard all the time are unknown to most young people now. I loved your reactions and I appreciate your willingness to listen to older classics
I was a Junior in High School when this song came out and it was a bit of a shock to a lot of people. I was lucky enough to go to a school that offered Acting Arts and Technical Theater as two of the English credits (very progressive for the time) and I thought, 'Why Not?' and went which was one of the better choices of my life. I got heavy into theater from that, but most importantly I met my best friend... who happened to be gay (I am not.) As an assignment, we had to pick a song and act it out (I chose 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer') and he chose this one... which was my first hint. The class went crazy over it. He is no longer with us and I miss him.
I’ve always appreciated the fun of this song. A story about a young, naive man who falls in love with a transvestite man, but told with humor and tenderness rather than luridness or worse, outrage. I think it’s why it’s so loved by so many listeners over these decades. Great rock song too! 👍👍❤
is it transvestite or transgender? honest question. they didn't explain these things when i was in school
This was released in 1970-71, so it's more likely Lola was simply a transvestite, but I don't think it matters in the long run. The narrator in the song accepts the fact Lola still has her male genitalia despite her outward appearance, or he wouldn't have it revealed in the closing line " I know what I am and that is a man, and so is Lola." The concept of transgender as we know it today was still germinating back then, so it is possible Lola wanted to transition, but the actual surgeries and hormone treatments were not as advanced as today. Still super expensive then as now.
Absolutely my favorite Kinks song! Love a song that also tells a story.
I called my Mom after hearing the song on the radio and falling in love with it. About the fourth listen I finally figured it out… we both had a great laugh and every time the song comes on I think of her.
I felt that The Kinks are one of the most underrated bands in history.
I've always thought the same. For me, when I list my favorite groups of the "British Invasion"... 1) The Who 2) The Rolling Stones 3) The Kinks & 4) The Beatles. But, that's just my opinion.
What utter, utter rubbish! The Kinks are one of the most respected bands of all time! I'm guessing you're another of those idiots who don't understand what the adjective underrated actually means...
I love their best songs, but I’ve found their overall catalogue incredibly uneven.
We are the village green preservation society........ 😍
For British bands of that era they easily make my top 10, ok not easily because Britain was producing so many amazing bands but they are up there.
At the midway break, Jay predicts "this is a song where you really have to pay attention to the story from the very beginning otherwise I feel you're not going to get the song", and then Amber notices when he stopped paying attention and missed the most important part. THAT was so entertaining!
I am a 23 yr old gay woman and i heard this song a few months ago. It was so far ahead of its time as it was written in 1970. I have listened to more songs by Ray Davis the writer/singer I do not think he has ever written a bad song, and most of them are little stories.
You might like Small Faces or The Faces, an English band that changed lead singers. Rod Stewart being the singer of the latter.
Ray Davies
England's finest ever songsmith. Ray has written songs that can compare to anything written by any of the so-called "greats". For me, one of Ray's most stunning is "Two Sisters" - in barely 2 minutes Ray delivers a devastating kitchen-sink drama, with a coda to rip your heart out.
My favorite is “A Well Respected Man”.
@@ed.z. There are so many. Waterloo Sunset, Harry Rag, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, ...
The Kinks were way ahead of time with this one in particular, but others too. I’ve never seen you guys before, but when I saw you were reviewing my most favourite song ever (and I was around when it came out) I just had to see your reaction. Lola was the first track I downloaded on my music app, I love it so much.
Just goes to show that us 60, and 70 year olds had some pretty damn good music.
Loved the light bulb 💡 moment, priceless.
We may be dinosaurs, but we had the best music and muscle cars. These youngsters should realise that we weren't always old.
as a 60s something thank you, we did
You like songs that tell a story? Well, sometimes the greatest stories have an unexpected twist!
But just like, say, The Sixth Sense, when you go back over and listen again, all the clues are right there in front of you.
Love this song. I love how it doesn't pass judgment...the singer doesn't pass judgment on himself, nor on Lola. So ahead of its time, this song.
GREAT analogy!!
Love it...agree, great analogy!
The Kinks were one of my favourite groups when I was young, I’m 70 now & they still are ❤
Yep. We’re the real boomers. Not the ones the current generation want to victimise. I feel like we’re much more enlightened than today’s youngsters. But tough too.
@@yodaami Yep, was fifteen and partying when I first heard this in 1970. It came on the radio a while later; I don't think the broadcasting authority listened to the lyrics! (here in lil ol NZ) But when John Lennon sang You Know It Ain't Easy, only a short while later, it was banned for the word 'Christ' until some 70s techie substituted the offending word with three drumbeats. Problem solved, and NZ was one of the very few countries back then to even hear the song.
I saw the Kinks in Concert, 1986, What a great Group, and they can Rock LIVE
They sound Amazing live, the same as the recording
Brilliant band. So underrated amongst the great British invasion. Great song too!
Most underrated band on the planet.
The look on Ambers face when she caught the meaning of the song, and then she looked at Jay and realized he never heard the line... was priceless.
I went to see the Kinks in concert back in the 1980’s (when I was in high school.) The entire concert, the would randomly play the opening chords for Lola and the crowd would go crazy! When they FINALLY played it, the entire venue was practically shouting the words. Great song…they have loads more…some other bands have also covered their songs. They came out with new stuff even in the 1980’s…I. LOVE. THE. KINKS.
(My mom told me she really loved that song. I agreed with her, and asked her if she understood the story. She did not. So, I explained it to her. She was surprised that she missed it but it did not bother her.)
I saw The Kinks for the Low Budget tour. They are amazing in concert. I am so glad I got to see them.
This was always their MO with it.. with Ray saying we weren’t ready yet, etc.. saw them about 6 or 7 times in the late 80s
Saw them in San Antonio in 85. Such a great band live.
The Kinks are incredible. Probably their most known song is either "You Really Got Me" or "All Day, And All of the Night" - both of them powerful, rocking anthems popular in clubs and as music in movies, etc. I'd say that "Lola" is really even more known, but due to the subject matter, well, it gets suppressed. The Kinks were banned in many, many parts of the USA, which of course limited their careers (A record label has to decide where to invest for the best returns as a business after all) because of this song in particular.
For me, their story-telling part was always superb, even more than their rocking numbers, so I really love "Waterloo Sunset" (Amber will adore it) but even more so "Come Dancing" which is like a love-letter from the band to the old clubs and music halls that have vanished from today's towns and cities, such that today you might go to one place to hear live bands, but can't dance there, or go to another club to dance, but won't have live music. ua-cam.com/video/xRUE0aAI5o8/v-deo.html
_Come Dancing_ is apparently Ray Davies' tribute to his older sister, who bought him his first guitar and died young of an un-diagnosed heart defect. I'll throw in a vote for _Sunny Afternoon_
@@realhorrorshow8547 Was going to mention _Sunny Afternoon_
Ray Davies is a genius, up there with Lennon and McCartney!
This was the best reaction ever. Ambers face when she hears that line and realises what the song is really about is priceless. I'll be rewatching this over and over again. ❤️
You spelled realizes wrong
@@addiflannigun I'm in the UK and realise is the British spelling, the US English version is realize.
@@Retrositcom I'm from the UK and I've always been told the way I spell it is correct.
@addileyflannigun I'm not here to argue or re-educate you, check online and you'll find both spellings are correct based on your location.
i'm glad i'm a man and so is lola
Jay "It's one of those songs you've got to pay attention to from the very beginning, or you're not going to get it at all" also Jay, not a clue what's going on - comedy gold. Ambers reaction when she sussed it out was brilliant.
That look... when Amber got it... CLASSIC!!!
I am 54 & a half yrs old a purerocknroll & heavy metal guy & have been listening to this song for probably 45 yrs (give or take a few yrs) & I honestly do not know or have come across any rock music lovers or just pure rock fans that do not like this song. It has definitely stood the test of time 👍👍 I also gotta say that you 2 are great at what you do, your reactions are real you let your emotions show & I think that you 2 are totally awesome so keep up the stellar work that you do here for us. 👏👍 & BTW I'm a huge huge AC/DC fan going back to the very first time I heard them, I just don't remember the first time I heard them whether it was the end of the 70's or 1980. There's a lot of fuzz upstairs in my noggin, way too many beers & prescription painkillers. That's a public service announcement for all the youngsters out there, don't go balls out every time you have any alcohol around you or indulge in copious amounts of any kinda drugs script drugs or not script. Oh hell who am I fooling I wouldn't even listen to the BS I'm spewing right now if I were 30 yrs younger. Have at it kids just be careful your body & mind will thank you in 20-30 yrs 😊👍
The look on Amber's face, when the penny dropped, priceless
LOL. I kept waiting for the meaning to register on your faces. Amber, you did not disappoint! Yes, a fun song and in those days it was kind of written between the lines...kinda! The original lyrics were "tastes just like Coca-Cola, but the BBC banned that word as they thought it was surreptitious advertising. So they released it using the phrase "tastes just like cherry cola." Imagine banning that one word and ignoring the rest of the lyrics. You cannot make this stuff up!
The Kinks are aptly named haha. Love them.
Love you two as well. Blessings ♡♡
You know, I think the BBC did us an unintentional favour there. Cherry cola just seems more right for the song.
The moment the 'penny dropped' for Amber was priceless😊. That sudden realisation when the clues in the lyrics are finally joined up😊.
This was an amazingly progressive song for its time. The narrator meets Lola, falls in love with Lola, finds out Lola’s secret, stays in love with Lola.
Especially considering it came out in 1970.
the song is loosely based on an incident where the Kink's manager met a "lady" in a bar in London. Ray Davis took that little bit of inspiration, embellished the story, and crafted a classic song that never gets old
Not wanting to contradict but i think it was in Paris
@columkenn totally correct and I heard that from Ray Davies myself... there is more to the story that took place in London but it came from Mace dancing with a Trans in a Paris bar and partying all nite...
I am 76 and the Kinks were such a fun group and part of teenage/early twenties memories of the 1960s. Don’t forget “Dedicated Follower of Fashion”, Waterloo Sunset”.
“Girls will be boys and boys will be girls it’s a mixed up muddled up shook up world EXCEPT FOR LOLA.” You go Lola!
When you look at him and he hasn't realised. Haha Love that. You two are such a great couple!
One of the best reactions I've seen. Amber is so-o sharp, I mean most reactors don't pick up on the whole story. Classic song, classic reaction!
Yes she is !!
She usually nails the songs on the first listen. Jay appreciates the music and she gets the meaning.
Amber's lightbulb moment was priceless
also because so many "reactors" aren't really listening!
That's because so few listen to the lyrics, at least on first listen.
I damn near fell out of my chair when Amber's face lit up! Great reaction as always!
Best line in the song is "Girls will be boys and boys will be girls
It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world, except for Lola"
Lola is in control. Lola has no doubts. Lola knows who she is.
It is all about what you see and what you perceive. Even the "electric candlelight" is a brilliant clue!
And we. Ow live in this crapped-out “woke” world!
Excellent reaction, Amber. I was wondering whether either of you would pick up on it. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing you both vibing to The Kinks. For me they were the best band of the 1960s & 70s. I know the Beatles were bigger but I've always loved the Kinks, for their attitude, openness & especially their music.
Loved the look on Amber's face when she realized what he said. Lol
I love the way that Ray wrote that "and so's Lola" line , which could be heard as two meanings.
That line had only one unmistakable meaning.
When it came out I was 11, and I thought it meant that Lola was also glad he was a man. Live and learn.😂
@@susieq9801 Two. The other meaning that Lola is glad that the person she's with is a man.
I’ve always loved the wordplay that makes both versions make sense, despite it being pretty clear what the real story is.
@@CoffeeConnected - Yes, but so was she. She "nearly broke his spine" and talked like a man. As they say, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's a duck.
I was 19 in 1970 when this song made it to the radio. I heard it a half dozen times before I really listened to the words. I was cruising town with 3 of my buddies and after the song was over, I said, "Lola's a boy." My buddies were all saying, "no way." Sure, as heck when it came on again, we all listened carefully, followed by loud laughter. I thought it was so cool. 🤣
I also was 19 in 1970 and I had the same experience with my friends. But, in NYC we just happy this wasn’t just a local issue.
I remember when this song came out I was 19 in 1070. We lived in the time of the greatest music ever.
Lol! Yep, I don't think kids these days could possibly understand just how naughty and mindblowing such a concept was in the 1970's. Today Gay and Transgender things are just so normalized nobody even notices.
As a kid I told my brother, "No way Lola's a dude", and then I listened again.
Same with me, guys cruisin around with the 8 track blasting when one said what the F--k they are singing about a guy. It took us a while as we just grooved on the music usually so loud the words didn't matter
Another funny one by the Kinks is " Dedicated Follower of Fashion", but for a more serious song by them (and which I think is their best ever) there's the most beautiful" Waterloo Sunset". Brilliant playing, brilliant harmonizing, brilliant song-writing,who doesn't love the Kinks???So underrated.🇬🇧♥️♥️♥️🐊🐊🐊
I'd add "The village green preservation society" to make a trio ☺️
@@theother1281 I almost said that one too!I also like 'Autumn Almanac'! I absolutely love the Links,bostin' band,as they would say in the Black Country!🇬🇧❤️❤️❤️🐊🐊🐊
@@theother1281 ps,I also meant to throw into our Kinks mix, Shangri-la!Love it!👍👍👍🇬🇧❤️❤️❤️🐊🐊🐊
Can't go wrong with Waterloo Sunset or Dedicated Follower of Fashion! This is the music I grew up with as a kid.
Now I'm a Baby Boomer and been a Kinks fan since the 70's so I know all about this song. I was waiting to see if one of you two would realize what Lola was and was just waiting to see when that part came when Lola was outed.........so at 4:40 the look on Amber's face was priceless!!!!!!
Always loved this song! "Girls will be boys and boys will be girls ..." That should've been a big clue. LOL "Lola" was released in 1970. They were ahead of their time! Loved this reaction, thanks! ✌💙✌
The 70s and the early 80's were a lot about 'gender bending' - with early Glam and some of the early New Wave that saw a lot of ambiguity going on so hardly a new thing, despite what some may be advocating today
@@philvallee645 - You're right. Not a new thing; however, to record and release a song of this nature WAS ahead of their time. I'm 65, and I remember.
@@faithnyou1732 Absolutely. I was too young in ‘70 to remember but it was still well known a few years later when I hit high school . I was never quite sure if it caused a stir cuz we were just a bunch of HS kids who thought it was funny or those older than us did too!
@@philvallee645 - Yeah, it was actually a pretty big hit, but also caused a bit of a stir. I was actually a little surprised that it didn't cause a bigger stir than it did.
@FaithNYou, I know that it is only a lyric from a song but would Loretta Martin be considered trans/gay like Lola? ("Sweet Loretta Martin thought she was a woman, but she was another man")
The Kinks are truly one of London's greatest bands. If you haven't already listened to it, I suggest you react to 'Waterloo Sunset', which is undoubtedly one of the best songs ever written about my home town. Cheers from the UK!
Mate, for me they are the best band of that era to come out of the UK.
In my opinion, they were the blueprint for the 90’s indie scene and every band there after.
Legends!!
When asked if I was more of a Beatles or Rolling Stones fan, my response was always The Kinks. :)
@Bajemo 😂 I like it 👍🏼
Waterloo Sunset is in my top 20 greatest songs. I love to stand and watch the evening set in over the Thames with that song in my head.
Totally agree, should be England's National Anfem
I was lucky enough to see Kinks live twice in the eighties. They were still sensationally good. Agree with other comments, Ray is one of the finest songwriters England has ever produced. So glad some of the current youngsters are getting to hear an appreciate what I did as a teenager.
Ray Davies is such an amazing lyricist, arguably the best of the rock era. Lola is a great example of his skill. Sort of like The Sixth Sense, it is all there to see from the beginning, but you don't notice it until the very end. If you enjoy a good musical story served up in a rock song, The Kinks definitely deserve your attention. Waterloo Sunset might be their best in that regard, worth a listen!
For my money, Autumn Almanac was their best. Celebrates the everyday British life and culture I grew up in, and which has all but disappeared now.
So many classic stories from the pen of Ray Davies, and all wonderful in their own way. Pete Quaife and the Davies brothers went to school with Rod Stewart, who sang with them in the Spring of 1962 before they came up with the Kinks name. They would play under the name of the person who got the booking, so the Ray Davies Quintet or Pete Quaife Quartet would appear in the area regularly.
I agree Ray Davies is a great song writer. Go online and look, I bet he has published 300 songs. A lot of top notch tunes in that catalog. Dave Davies’ guitar playing and backing vocals are another thing that IMO make the Kinks one of the top 5 rock bands of their era. Like story songs? Go listen to “Hatred”, Ray’s look at (his) sibling rivalry.
I love Shangri La. I can't ell if he is genuinely positive about it, or mocking, or somewhere in between. Same with Waterloo Sunset
I have always liked this song but once you really listen to the lyrics, oh my!
I loved it when 1) the light went on in her head and Amber "got it" and 2) when Amber looked over at J with this "I know something you don't know" look on her face, PRICELESS!!
That moment you caught it was priceless! Here's to Lola
One of my all time favourite bands and one of the best “story “rock songs ever.
I saw Ray Davis one man show in Toronto about 20 years ago and he talked about his life and family growing up. Great guy and great songwriter of life’s stories. He signed autographs outside the theatre , thanked everyone for coming and then left in a taxi.
Davies. Not Davis
In 64 I was 10 years old- saw them in an airport- they all were friendly to me- gave me autographs- seemed happy to be talking to a kid who recognized them.
I had a very similar great experience seeing Ray Davies live. Storyteller tour with great friends. Some of my absolute favorite memories.
I still can't hear this without immediately thinking of Weird Al's parody, "Yoda". lol. I hope the next Kinks song you do is "Come Dancing". It's a lively 80s hit that I think you'll love.
For anyone who thought the line was "cherry cola" you're not wrong. To be played on BBC Radio, The Kinks had to record an alternate version because singing "Coca-Cola" was considered advertising.
I hadn't put this together before. Out of curiosity, I checked when Cherry Coke was actually invented and it wasn't until 1985! The Kinks should have patented the idea... 🍒
Yes... Ray had to fly back to record a second version for release as a single or it wouldn't get airplay on BBC TV or radio, but the album kept the original lyrics.
@@psyraven76 Cherry cola was already a thing. Soda fountains would mix Coke with cherry syrup. Coke started making it premixed in 1985.
69 y/o boomer here. Way back in the day, when drug stores had lunch counters and soda fountains, all soft drinks were mixed by hand. The "cherry coke" was well-known even then. The Coke would be made first (in a glass), then a certain amount of cherry syrup would be added to it and stirred in by hand. Damn! it was tasty!
It wasn't re-recorded it was just over dubbed with Cherry Cola!
Gorgeous storytelling. The Kinks are amazing. Brilliant video, guys.
All the live versions of Lola are epic as the crowd goes crazy singing along!
Davies adds the "EL - OH - EL - EH" as a kind of call/response
Given how old this song is, it strikes me as remarkably daring. I heard it on the radio for years before I listened carefully and twigged. Love it!
With Trans Hate right its actually unbelievable. I'm gonna start blasting it all the time.
@@ExecutiveChefLance Trans hate is made up drama created by the govt and a group DEMANDING PRIVILEGES , parroted by the media to divide people that normally wouldn't care. I was listening to Lola when I was 12, understood it, and thought it was awesome. Anyone wants to come over and preach how great it is to be a tranny, how everyone needs to transition, how you're a "hater" or "transphobe" ( another made up bit of nonsense ), screech they need privileges, ( not rights, because ALL members of American society have the same rights ), talk about sexuality, or show sexually explicit material, to my 9 year old granddaughter, or 8 year old grandson will get hit with a shovel and planted in the woods. Oh, and if you're blasting Lola going through my town, the over 50s will be thinking "Oh, it's cool that someone young digs this music"... get over yourself you snowflake groomer.
I’m frequently impressed at how quickly Amber picks up on song meanings that flew over my head for years. Another great video. Always enjoy y’all!
She *really* pays attention to lyrics!
It's when Amber catches on and quietly says "Jesus". Freaking hilarious 😅
I LOVE this song. I LOVE the Kinks.
I've seen The Kinks a couple of times and they did a loooooooooooong version of Lola both times. The crowd goes crazy singing along with the refrain at the end.
Both times I saw them, they teased the audience with the intro every couple of songs but it wasn’t played in its entirety until the last song of the set. When they came back on for the encore (first gig), Ray advised that he was dedicating the next song to his brother Dave and went straight into Days. Such an awesome band live or recorded, though both times I saw them (both times were in ‘93) it was in very different environments. First time was in Glasgow Barrowlands and the second was at the Glastonbury Festival.
A MUST HEAR Classic,, The Kinks "Sleepwalker"
..Nuff Said.
I have to say that this is the third reaction I’ve watched and you win the prize for guessing what this song is about, Lola’s a dude!
" 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..." 😅🤣😂 funniest double entendre lyrics ever.
Amber, you didn't miss many of the hints in the song. One hint was "she sat me on her knee". I love watching people listen to this song & realize what it's saying. Amber, I could see the 💡 go on over your head when you figured it out. That was one awesome smile. This came out when I was super young & I really liked it before I was old enough to grasp what it was about. I loved it even more after I "got it".
LOLOLOLOL 😂 I gotta watch this again!! The point where Amber “gets it” and J is still just be-boppin’ along with his eyes closed is the funniest thing I’ve seen in ages. You both definitely made me smile today!
Always loved the kinks and Lola even tjpugh i never knew when yong what it was about.
I'm now 70.
Love your posters of the Bee Gees. Saw them when I was 14
You two are priceless! To me the best thing about this story is the gentle way it is told. He's a young man out in the big world for the first time meets a girl (he thinks) and she is going to show him a good time. But when he finds out what is really going on he doesn't get angry and or violent he basically goes home and writes a song about it.
It's actually about their manager who was on a night out and was propositioned by a LOLA, so they wrote a song to playfully remind him of it as often as possible.
To get this song played on Radio 1 here in the UK they couldn't use the Coca Cola lyric because of the advertising (which would have massively affected the sales and chance of a number 1) so Ray Davies had to fly back from the US where they had started a tour and re-record it so it says Cherry Cola and fly back.
No digital audio editing back then. That would be an easy fix with today's recording tech.
@@willdwyer6782 Yes, probably send the new vocal by WhatsApp and they'd drop it in 😁
Ray Davies was a fearless song writer. Songs like "Art Lover " take you in a certain direction but are about something else entirely.
The double meaning in ...glad I'm a man "and so is Lola" is so subtle and so in your face that Amber's reaction was on point! LOL
The Kinks were sort of blacklisted here for about 4 years because of raucous behavior and union troubles. This band should have been much more popular here in the states. This song was a comeback of sorts. You’ll like Victoria and Come dancing. Come dancing has some horns for Amber. Precious reaction from Amber on her a ha moment!❤ The kinks imo are a top 5 band all time.
There are so many great kinks songs it's hard to believe they're all by the same band. You could listen to one a week and not run out for a year.
Their song "Come Dancing" also tells a story, one that's more family oriented. And it has one of the best videos of the 'eighties.
That is my favorite Kinks' song, written for Ray's sister!
Love that song!
Good choice, & it shows their range. “Come Dancing “ & “Lola” sound like they were recorded by 2 different bands.
I adore that song! So sweet!
@@randallphobia8698 -
Not just that but a tribute to his sister who loved to dance. She had an undetected heart ailment from having rheumatic fever and died at 31 while dancing at the Lyceum. She was much older than him and gave him his first guitar for his birthday. The song always reminds me of an amusement park that was over 100 years old in the town where I live. "The big bands used to come and play" just like in the song. It was torn down and is now a gated community. Just like the song says "Part of my childhood died" with that park. 😔😔
I love The Kinks, one of the most underrated rock bands. I love Lola's gender ambiguities, becsuse you can interpret the lyrics different ways. I think it was all deliberate and they really had fun with it.
The Kinks were absolutely ambiguous with the lyrics. It was the early 70's, and being gay was still incredibly taboo, much less being transgender. The song is written such that they had "plausible deniability" - of course Lola was a woman! Or, maybe.....???? I was a teen when this came out, and it remains in my top 3 songs of all time.