The Kinks – Lola

“Lola” – Single by The Kinks from the album Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One

Charted No.2 in UK and No.9 in US
The song was released as a single in the United Kingdom on 12 June 1970, while in the United States it was released on 28 June 1970.

This song is about a guy who meets a girl (Lola) in a club who takes him home and rocks his world. The twist comes when we find out that Lola is a man.

As stated in The Kinks: The Official Biography, Ray Davies wrote the lyrics after their manager got drunk at a club and started dancing with what he thought was a woman. Toward the end of the night, his stubble started showing, but their manager was too tanked to notice.

The Kinks came up with the riff after messing around with open strings on guitars. The group’s guitarist, Dave Davies, contended that he deserved a songwriting credit on the track, leading to additional friction with his brother Ray, who got the sole composer credit.

“Lola” revived The Kinks in America, where they hadn’t had a Top 40 hit since “Sunny Afternoon” in 1966. Their first American tour in 1965 did not go well – they clashed with their promoter, drew sparse crowds, and often played short sets. The group was so petulant, the American Federation of Musicians refused to issue them permits, effectively banning them from the country until 1969. By the time “Lola” was released, most Americans hadn’t heard from the Kinks in years, but the song proved very popular and this time, the band could promote it.

The Kinks
Ray Davies – lead vocal; acoustic and resonator guitars
Dave Davies – backing vocal, electric guitar
John Dalton – bass
Mick Avory – drums

Additional personnel
John Gosling – baby grand piano
Ken Jones – maracas

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The Kinks - Lola (Live)05:43

“Lola” a fost lansata in 1970, si are o istorie interesanta. Pentru ca textul original facea referire la Coca-Cola, iar BBC-ul avea niste reguli stricte in materie de reclame la produse, au refuzat sa difuzeze melodia. Ceea ce ar fi fost catastrofic pentru vanzarea discului in Marea Britanie. BBC avea monopolul radioului public.

Ca urmare, Ray Davies a trebuit sa zboare de la Londra la New York si sa re-inegistreze, o fraza din text, “Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry-cola” , pentru a satisface cenzura britanica.

In mod surprinzator, nu textul cantecului a fost probema, care se refera la un trasgender, “Walk like a woman, but talk like a man”. Melodia a fost interzisa in Australia, iar statiile americane de radio, incheiau melodia, inaintea ultimei strofe, care arata cine este Lola, “Now 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.”

Acum traim intr-o alta lume….

Lyrics/Versuri:
I met her in a club down in North Soho
Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like
Cherry Cola
C-O-L-A Cola
She walked up to me and she asked me to dance
I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said, “Lola”
L-O-L-A Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola

Well, I’m not the world’s most physical guy
But when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine
Oh my Lola, lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo Lola
Well, I’m not dumb but I can’t understand
Why she walks like a woman and talks like a man
Oh my Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola

Well, we drank champagne and danced all night
Under electric candlelight
She picked me up and sat me on her knee
She said, “Little boy won’t you come home with me?”
Well, I’m not the world’s most passionate guy
But when I looked in her eyes
I almost fell for my Lola
Lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola

Well I’d left home just a week before
And I’d never ever kissed a woman before
Lola smiled and took me by the hand
She said, “Little boy, gonna make you a man.”
Well I’m not the world’s most masculine man
But I know what I am and I’m glad I’m a man
So is Lola
Lo lo lo lo Lola. Lo lo lo lo Lola

[Outro]
Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola

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