Finally hitting The Kinks! We are doing our first Deep Cut Livestream tomorrow @ 2pm EST! Be there or be square, also make sure to vote in the poll for this week on the community tab, cheers friends! 🙌🏻🔥
No way! This is going to be pretty cool. The Kinks rock. Great Guitar Rock songs in mid 1960’s. Band has been around for years. This song is little more Acoustic, but it one of their most classic songs. Lyrics are hilarious. Enjoy guys, this is the opposite of Prog Rock. If there were more bands like the Kinks in the 1970s, Punk Rock may have never happened... Talk to Artie before you listen to the song...
@@marianmanzo I liked how, after they read about the song, they continue to talk about how awesome it would be to be 'that chick' having a song written about her. I think this generation is just not particularly bothered about all that, and it seems good. It's like 'oh, but you're a girl? OK, cool'. it's interesting to watch as a much older person from a time when this song was scandalous… in part because Ray's not horrified by his experiences. He almost fell for his Lola, after all :)
Even that line, though, is brilliantly ambiguous: you can read it as either Lola is a man or Lola is glad the singer is a man. Davies is extraordinarily clever that way. (And yes, Lola is a man. My point is just that Davies is intentionally coy about it.)
@@camasprairie1369 At the time this was being written the 'Sexual Offences Act 1967' was just making itself felt in England. The words would have been noticed (and generally approved off). Sexual Offences Act 1967 was a real changer by basically saying that things consenting adults did in private was no buisness of anyone else. A lot of ajustment was going on at this time.
She walks like a woman but talks like a man. When she grabbed me she nearly broke my spine. Lots of clues in this song. We all got it way back when it first came out!
I can’t believe the most important phrase of the song was missed. ‘I know I’m a man and SO IS LOLA’. 😂 I was watching with my wife and we were both waiting for that “moment of realization” and when your eyes open and you look at each other at the same time. Great song.
There are many hints in the song - "dark brown voice" , "when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine", "she walk like a woman and talk like a man" AND "I'm glad I'm a man and so is Lola". Times were WAY different when this song aired and The Kinks were fond of innuendoes. Lola is a man.
The Kinks are possibly the most underated influential band of all time. They influenced so many other musicians from members of the Who, to Van Halen, Boston and practically every punk rock and garage band.
@@wingnutofcoolness certainly not in the original British Invasion. As Paul Schaefer told me after seeing the Who for the first time, their first three Chords in Substitute were good, after that there wasn’t much. The Who became popular in the later 60’s
Saw them around '84 and they were nothing less than stellar. Ray teased the crowd a number of times with the guitar opening of "Lola", so by the time they actually did play it, we were more than set for it. Very memorable show.
I wouldn't pick "Lola" as an intro to the band. When it came out, it was considered more of a novelty song. On the other hand, when "You Really Got Me" came out, it was probably the hardest rock on the radio.
It's definitely not a song to intro The Kinks on, but I wouldn't consider it just a novelty song. It's actually really great and one of their biggest hit songs.
Jimmy Page working as a studio musician played guitar on the 'You Really Got me" original track and was the first person to record a song using distortion through an electric guitar. Kinda making it the world's first Hard rock/metal song.
@@Rahingo The Kinks and their manager say that Page played some rhythm guitar on other tracks, but that Dave Davies got that guitar sound by slashing his speaker cone with a razor blade. Check out what "Songfacts" says about it : www.songfacts.com/facts/the-kinks/you-really-got-me
@@Rahingo I believe that was all Dave Davies on that one. He deserves the credit. His own brother, Ray.....lead singer/songwriter, called little brother Dave 'The Raging Bull of the Les Paul". :)
@@MB-fy1mv Doing a bit more of internet research, Ray seems to come up with a different story every time. Once about him, once about his manager and once about a "crew member."
@@jonathanreich6360 Well, I'm not surprised.I've watched him on a few talk shows over the years and he seems to be a bit slightly off, but I still love and watch the Kinks now and then on RU-vid. Can't help it. I'm old now and then I go back and watch and listen to the (very) old stuff. Thanks for answering. Have a good day sir.
Dear Andy and Alex, as a 66 year old British man I've found it great fun to see how you have responded to tracks I've known most of my life. My eldest sister is now 71 and I've been inspired by her music since the early sixties. We even had St Peppers a week before its release date as our dad knew people at EMI who released it. So.... the trill of hearing these tracks for the first time when they were released can't be properly appreciated unless you follow the chronology of the years they appeared. St Peppers was mind blowing compared to anything before it. Lola was equally as brilliant... in fact the Kinks (Ray Davies') songs have been favourably compared to the Beatles over the same period. Waterloo Sunset is sublimely beautiful and - of its time - truly one the best tracks.... It even featured in the opening fn the UK Olympics in 2012. Anyway... thank you for your channel... do have a think of when these tracks were released before comparing, to much, to ones from a later time. Very best regards Paul
Cracks me up to see your non-surprised reaction to the subject matter. Back when this came out it was definitely a shocker!! But always a great song no matter how many times I hear it! One of my favorite lines of all time - “girls will be boys and boys will be girls, it’s a mixed up muddled up, shook up world”. Before it’s time, that’s for sure!
Personally, I really don't think they pay that much attention (or, and I don't want to be mean, maybe they don't comprehend them) to the lyrics most of the time. I've noticed on a few of their other reviews they talk more about the chords and sounds then the words.
How can you hear this song and still not know what it is about or how shocking it was at the time. It was amazing it was not banned at the time. Lola WAS a bloke. It was also a true story.
I must say that I enjoyed the total obliviousness of the understanding of the lyrics and the song.🤣 I'm 71 and the big majority of us got it the first time we heard it more than 50 years ago and we loved it. I'm not sure what that says about today's society. Glad you enjoyed it too. Thanks for sharing. They really were in the top 4 original bands and many later bands followed The Kinks style. They recorded some great songs. Check the others out.
The Kinks absolutely beat every other band of their era. I'd recommend some of their stuff like Waterloo Sunset or Sunny Afternoon for more story driven baroque pop stuff
I really thought that they would appreciate the lyrics a lot more. Even though a song about a transvestite doesn't have the punch these days that it had back in 1970, the lines are pretty brilliant they way they lay out the story. I mean, come on... "Well, I'm not the world's most physical guy but when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine". Maybe it's a song that will grow on them with more listens.
Could tell by their reaction to the obvious that they didn't get it. The chick wasn't a chick and soho is in central London so not too dingy. I think Lou Ried is a step to far for them.
Bless the Davies brothers! The world needs rough, boozy, bawdy bands like The Kinks! I highly recommend the “Muswell Hillbillies “ album, where we delve into demon alcohol, acute schizophrenia paranoia, and the complicated life of the 20th century man. Also the people in gray to take you away!
Something else you should know about the Kinks is that the band is fronted by two brothers, Sir Ray Davies on vocals + rhythm guitar and his younger brother Dave on lead guitar. Of all the great feuding pairs in rock, or indeed any popular, music, their 50+ years of constant fighting probably tops it all!
"I'm glad I'm a man and so is Lola". Ah, but is she also 'a man', or is she also 'glad I'm a man.? I always loved how that was left deliberately ambiguous.
Groovy Music Lessons yeah, for sure. At first I thought it went over their head, but no, it’s just acceptance which is a good thing today. A kinder more understanding generation.
I’m so pleased that when they finally got it (after looking up the lyrics and meaning), they didn’t mis-gender Lola. That is so rare in these react videos. What a wonderful generation!
When this song was first released in England it was censored. But not for what you might think. They had to change the reference to "Coca Cola" to "cherry cola". They had a ban on using brand names in songs. Go figure.
Ray was in the US and they made him fly back to England to sing "cherry cola and fly back. When he got back they said, "Oh sorry, we didn't quite get it and made him flay back a second time. Rumor has it that is why he wrote the line "The air pollution is a 'foggin' up my eyes" in Ape Man. At least that's what the lyric sheet says. It may be the first time the f bomb was sung in pop music.
they are kinda part one and part two of the same song aren't they? they missed the point of the song. the kinks were excellent. another kink song they might consider listening to is - Apeman. its an ecology song and its one of my favorites. you gotta hear it! thanks for the upload.
I'm a gay who did drag for a while... I never hit on straight dudes, though... not my gig. I gotta love how you two just sort of took that part of the song in stride. It tells me a lot about who you are. For the LGBTQ+ community, I want to thank you for NOT being creeped out about it. It was fun watching your reaction to this song. Love the Kinks!
I'm sorry but I think it much more likely that they simply "Didn't Get It," rather than the two of them being so advanced that this wouldn't even provide cause to raise an eyebrow, or something, thus, I don't believe that it tells you shit about who they are. However, I don't think that anyone would be Offended by this song today. I remember when this song first came out, in 1964 and it was fun back then, much like it is today. This song was actually banned in the U.K. when it first came out, but I don't know for how long? Keep Smiling...
At first I thought "oh man they missed it..." and the discussion after was sounding like you were gonna be blown away when you got to the lyrics. Then you got to the lyrics and -- holy Cow I loved your non-reaction. Great job, took it in stride and got the gritty vibe of the song.
What are you talking about? They DID "miss it". You can tell by their facial reactions at the line "I can't understand why she walked like a woman but talked like a man" ... You could also tell at the line "I'm not the world's most masculine guy *but I know what I am* IN THE BED, I'm a man & so is L-O-L-A ...) ... ... I mean-- It must've dawned on them *only afterward* when they started seeing the comments. Because *back when hearing* those lines, their faces registered-- NOTHING. You were right the first time-- They did miss it.
John Lennon was rumored to be a closet Kinks fan. Pete Townshend was a total out-of-the-closet Kinks fan citing Ray Davies as one of his influences, and later saying that Ray should be Poet Laureate (of England, of course).
@Joan In Florida sucks? buy yourself a couple of ears and never ever talk again about The Kinks with that potty mouth, blasphemous kid... God save The Kinks!
@Joan In Florida I'm clueless? says the guy stating that Lola sucks? OK, then explain to me why this masterful song sucks... I'm waiting for your arguments. And better give some convincing ones
I totally agree I was waiting for it! they did that with a Bob Segar song too the part "with points of her own sitting up way firm an high"went totally over their head an im thinking their life experience to young to get it - im guessing its disapointing
When this came out I happened to be in a church group. The assistant pastor was trying to connect with a group of us teens and played this current hit song for us in order to have stuff to talk about and see what our reaction would be. He was surprised and a little disappointed (I think) that we all knew exactly what the song was about but it didn't bother us at all. Darn hippie teens, so peaceful and accepting... It was a bit scandalous at the time to the adults, but for us kids it was just a fun tune. I'd already heard it and have loved it ever since. The live version is particularly exciting.
For my money the Kinks 'Destroyer' is a top 10 rock song; inexplicably underappreciated. One of the few songs I still get exited for when I hear those first notes. Also worth a listen is "A Rock and Roll Fantasy', primarily for it's lyrics. Every time I hear it I'm dumbfounded that they could write that and actually put it on an album.
You're starting your journey on what may be THE most underrated band in the history of rock. There's so many albums that deserve a listen and the majority of people have no idea they even exist- Arthur, Village Green Preservation Society, Lola, Muswell Hillbillies, Everybody's in Showbiz, Sleepwalker, Preservation acts 1 and 2, Soap Opera, Schoolboys in Disgrace, etc,etc,etc... But I'm gonna say that to start off, you should stick to the basic popular tracks, then venture out. You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night should be next. Maybe even in the same video! They're only about 2 minutes long each. One of the very first songs to have real guitar distortion. Dave Davies got the crunchy, fuzzy guitar sound way back in 1964 by slicing his speaker cone with a razor blade. After that, everyone wanted that distortion sound and the production of fuzz pedals kicked off. Those songs are truly a giant leap towards the modern hard rock, punk, metal genres.
Around Christmas time have to do "Father Christmas"... you are spot on about them being one of the most underrated and forgotten rock bands in history... so much great stuff in there.
Way too many great Kinks songs and albums to list, but Arthur may be my favorite. I think Shangri-La would be a great one to react to next. That or Waterloo Sunset.
@@danhartzog9274 Shangri-La might just be my favorite all time Kinks song. I think Dave Davies mentioned in an interview that's it's his favorite as well.
I think the trans factor for those of us that are older raise this up an entire grade from you guys. Your generation (thankfully) wasn't raised to be shocked by this reveal where we absolutely were and, as such, that makes this song a bit more surprising even after hearing it a thousand times.
I was in my pre teens back in 1970 just about to turn 12 so and moved to the UK from NYC to live, I was brought up after on British music as my older sister worked in a record department and brought up on all the hits of the day although she was mainly a Beatles fan, my elder brother was into heavier rock and loved the stones. My own personal taste was the rockier music from sabbath, zeppelin and the like. On a Sunday the record player never seemed to stop playing music from morning till night. Even today I love the hits of my early years.
There are some more Kink's songs that people really love. Probably not everyone's suggestion but "Come Dancing" keeps getting better with each passing decade to mine ears..
I think the Kinks had broken up when "Come Dancing" was made. It's one of my favourite song's. The diversity in Ray Davies's writing is breath taking. Yes I'm a fan.
More Kinks? "You Really Got Me" from the early period; "Destroyer" (which references "You Really Got Me"), "Juke Box Music," "Do It Again," "Better Things" from the later period. The gorgeous "Celluloid Heroes from the in-between period.
One of the things I like seeing when people react to this song is the expression on their face when they realise what the song is about. You guys are normally good with this but this time it seemed to go right over your head and there was no lightbulb moment. Shame on you. Great song though
The line where it said "Coca Cola" was never played on the BBC because it was considered as advertising. It was changed to "Cherry Cola" just for the radio and that's what I usually sing.
The Kinks are one of the greatest rock groups of all time and are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sir Ray Davies is a song writer on the Lennon McCartney Richard Jagger level. They are less well known because they were very naughty boys who were banned from the US for 4 years at the height of their career. They still managed to have 24 top 40 songs. They have been covered by an astonishing number of big names, in a wide variety of genres, from Cher and Tom Jones to David Bowie, Green Day, Peter Gabriel, Elvis Costello and many, many others. They have inspired and influenced everyone from The Who to Oasis to Ozzie to Pearl Jam. God Save the Kinks.
In honor of Eddie Van Halen Dual reaction Kinks " You Really Got Me"(64) Van Halen'- You Really Got Me"( 78 seminal cover). First hit for both bands(Google it)!!!! Both major influence in rock! Suggest Halen "Eruption" which segue's into " You Really Got Me". BTW Who- "My Generation (circa 65) Kinks-You Really Got Me"(circa 64) Both pre-Punkish Both opposite of what Alex doesn't like about most from that era. In Andy's words- Both major Bops !
The Kinks are a great band. They did a very interesting range of songs, from simple hard rockers like _You Really Got Me_ to developing a strong story-telling element, like in this song. _Waterloo Sunset_ is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. _Dead End Street_ is also recommended.
The song actually gave me a nudge in trying to understand what being gay meant to a twelve year old in 1970. I think it may have assisted in my acceptance of the gay community. Sounds kinda cheesy when I say it out loud, but it's still true.
Check out “Celluloid Hero’s” “Victoria" "Till the End of the Day" "Tired of Waiting for You" "All Day and All of the Night" "Sunny Afternoon" "Waterloo Sunset" "You Really Got Me“
Shangrila - Face in the Crowd- HAVE ANOTHER DRINK!!!!!- these guys would LOVE that.-Australia. Village Green Preservation Society- Too Much On My Mind- All of My Friends Were There- you could fill up this page with great songs by the Kinks.
I wanted to add that The Kinks catalog of songs Rivals that of any band!, and it's universally known that there's not very many songwriters better than Ray Davies
Shhhh.don't say that..back in 1970..they did what they needed to muddy the mix.. Really..computers weren't around till 1990..you did what you had to , to get the sound..Millelienals..
The point of "Lola" is at the end of the song you still don't know. Their first big song, "You Really Got Me", was probably the first "hard rock" song and Jimmy Page sessioned on it.. "Victoria", off their Arthur album, kicks ass too.
Jimmy Page did a number of Kinks session work but You Really Got Me is not confirmed as one of them. Another urban myth is that on those Kinks sessions Page recorded the guitar solo. NOT TRUE. According to Page himself, most of his work on most sessions comprised of locking in the rhythm section. Which in his case meant he recorded rhythm guitar alongside session drummer Bobby Graham. Most singles of their early work dos not have Mick Avory on the actual record. Session pianist Nicky Hopkins was the other regular contracted by production to do Kinks sessions. Most of the Kinks members were not made aware of what was done to their recordings after they left their recording sessions. All this during the first three years - their first self-titled album to Something Else (1964-67). By the time of Arthur you had the full band on all the tracks of the album.
@@JulioLeonFandinho There's an interview with Page on RU-vid where he talks about his session work and specifically mentions this song, Goldfinger with Shirley Bassey, and Donovan. That it's an urban legend is the urban legend.
I'm not the world's most masculine man, but I know I'm a man and I'm glad I'm a man and so is Lola. That line explains the song, if you didn't already know from the beginning.
I love today’s youth. The song in its day was exceptionally edgy for its content, but today, even after finding out she is trans, you still refer to her as “she” and “chick” and don’t bat an eye. Thank you for that 🥰
Rock and Roll Fantasy, Sleepwalker, Sunny Afternoon, 20th Century Man, Strangers, Better Things, Catch Me Now I'm Falling, (Wish I could fly like) Superman, Low Budget
My mother's name was Lola. She talked like a woman and walked like a man. That song absolutely tortured her. It's based on an actual incident, where the Kinks' managed picked up a woman in a club and got something of a surprise. He never lived it down.
You all might like "Victoria" by the Kinks. It's a banger. Great lyrics to unravel, too. In that era, lots of dance bands put "Victoria'' in their repertoire.
@@sirslice It was the BBC that forced the issue - no "product placement" allowed on BBC Radio at the time. Hopefully, the BS practice has changed since 1970...
@@Lwize They have changed. You could leave it as Coca Cola now, but the next line would have to be 'Other carbonated soft drinks are available. A-B-L-E, able'.
Van Halen covered a few Kinks songs, ten years later in '81 they did a sequel song of sorts called Destroyer. Spoilers, he's still with Lola. In late 80s, 75 cent beers and ten cent wings. Reminiscing
Gents, I recommend "Waterloo Sunset" for your next Kinks song, a song with a great melody. "Sunny Afternoon" is my 2nd choice. I'm glad that you're checking out The Kinks, generally regarded as the 4th greatest band of the British Invasion, after The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who, all of whom you are well-acquainted with.
I love Waterloo Sunset and wish I had a convertible Jag just so I could drive around playing it. To me it's just such a British sounding song. I feel like these guys won't like it that much though, seems like they like '60s music less than '70s.
@@douglasfrantzen3011 They like some late '60s music. I think that The Kinks were at their peak in the late '60s, so to me, you can't skip that music if you're going to listen to The Kinks.
I remember Bob Geldof comparing "Waterloo Sunset" to Wordsworth's poem "Upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802." To my mind, it is the most romantically (and Romantically) beautiful song any of the first wave of British invasion bands ever produced, better than the Beatles' "Something" and "For No One" or the Stones' "Angi."
You guys needs a crash course in British rock. The Kinks are one of the greats, released albums from 1964 until 1993 and scored a lot of hit singles. You've heard the 2 most popular but there are tons more. 'Waterloo Sunset' is one of the best songs ever written. Their '60s hits are very catchy and reflective of the period. They didn't get into psychedelia like other bands, they made a string of concept albums from '68 to '75. In the '80s they went arena rock and did very well in the US. Other great songs: Tired of Waiting for You, A Well Respected Man, Stop Your Sobbing (covered by The Pretenders, Ray Davies ended up marrying Chrissie Hynde), Sunny Afternoon, Days, Victoria, Apeman, Come Dancing, Better Things, Father Christmas, Misfits, Scattered
Pop / Rock history was made on this track. To get this pop song to sound more Rock, guitarist Dave Davies (brother of singer/songwriter Ray Davies), stuck a screwdriver in the studios main guitar cab loudspeaker cones, to get the dirty rasp of the guitar lead tone (before the days of the amplifier 'overdrive' dial). The story is supposed to recall an evening out in Soho, London, related to the bands manager getting very drunk and leaving a club with a rather tall and muscular new acquaintance.
Yes, the Kinks are behind "You Really Got Me" (and apparently *invented amp fuzz* along the way). Re: Soho, I learned recently that it's been London's LGBT Neighborhood for quite some time, and was when this was written. For people who knew that, the punchline was in the first line all along. For everyone else, I figure this helped get us to where we are today. Hit "Celluloid Heroes" or "Come Dancing" next.
The Kinks were one of the early "British invasion" bands who came to the States in the mid=1960s along with the Beatles and Stones. A string of pop hits then. Later on in the 1970s, a string of albums filled witht he song writing and wit of Ray Davies, one of my favorites. My friends and I listed a lot to Presevation Act I, Preservation Act II, Village Greeen Preservation Society et all. Ray's songs are known for their social commentary. Saw them in 1978 on their tour promoting the album Superman was on. Really fun showby this classic Brit band.
They came to the States in the mid 60s and were kicked out and banned for 4 years before their first tour really started. Their career as a band might have been completely different if not for that.
His first solo album, the "Primal Scream" Plastic Ono Band one. God, Mother, Working-class Hero, I Found Out, the whole thing, really would have been a great choice.
The funniest part of this reaction was when the guy said I get the point.. when in fact he missed it by a mile. The expression brain dead springs to mind.
Kinks recommendations: “The Village Green Preservation Society” “Powerman” “Waterloo Sunset” “Victoria” “Autumn Almanac” “Days” “Strangers” I could go on, but that should be enough for now.
My little brother recently discovered The Kinks on RU-vid. He’s been turning me on to a lot of deep cuts. They’re fantastic. I don’t know why they don’t have as much notoriety as The Who Alex your hair looks fantastic
The guy on the left even said at the start that they need to listen out for the layered meaning. And then didn’t even attempt to do that and completely missed it 🥴
