It may have hit airwaves 56 years ago, but one of British rock band The Kinks’ biggest hit songs still has the capacity to make headlines.
‘Lola’, penned by frontman Ray Davies, describes an encounter in a Soho bar between a young man and the titular Lola, who is possibly a trans woman or a drag queen.
“Well, I’m not the world’s most physical guy / But when she squeezed me tight, she nearly broke my spine”, goes the opening of the chorus, followed by lines like “Well, I’m not dumb, but I can’t understand / Why she walks like a woman and talks like a man” and “Girls will be boys and boys will be girls / It’s a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world / Except for Lola…”
The song expresses how infatuated the narrator / singer is with Lola, despite the possible initial confusion.
“But I know what I am and I’m glad I’m a man / And so is Lola…”
The song was originally banned by the BBC, but not for the reason you might think.
The broadcasting regulators were scandalised by the mention of the brand “Coca-Cola” in the opening lines “I met her in a club down in old Soho / Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like Coca-Cola“.
This went against the BBC’s policy against product placement, and the song was banned until Davies changed the lyric to “cherry cola” for British radio.
‘Lola’ ended up reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart in 1970, and the song has since become one of The Kinks’ best loved tracks. It has also gained further praise over the years for its “risqué” lyrics for the time, with many celebrating its progressive take on transgender topics.
Davies previously explained that the song was inspired by various interactions with drag queens and today, the track is considered as one of the first commercially successful LGBTQ+ songs. More than that, ‘Lola’ is championed as a song which embraces love and sexuality in all its forms.
However, one artist doesn’t read it that way…
Over the weekend, American musician Moby was interviewed as part of the Guardian’s Honest Playlist feature.
When asked what song he can no longer listen to, Moby replied: “Lola by the Kinks came up on a Spotify playlist, and I thought the lyrics were gross and transphobic.”
He added: “I like their early music, but I was really taken aback at how unevolved the lyrics are.”
This prompted Dave Davies, guitarist with The Kinks and brother of Ray Davies, to hit back at Moby’s take.
In a social media post, Davies wrote: “I am highly insulted that MOBY would accuse my brother of being ‘unevolved’ or transphobic in any way.”
He also shared a letter he’d received from transgender singer, actress and artist Jayne County, once leader of proto-punk band Wayne County & the Electric Chairs, who began identifying as a woman in 1979.
“Regarding Moby’s criticism of our song LOLA in a recent Guardian interview, these are the words sent to me and Ray from our dear friend trans icon Jayne County”, said Davies.
“When I heard the song I was both thrilled and amazed that the Kinks would be singing a song about a trans person and wondered if anyone else had picked up on it!”, County wrote in the letter. “Who was cool or hip enough to realise what The Kinks we’re singing about! Lola will always be one of those songs that for me, broke the ice, so to speak! A song that breaks down barriers and brings a used to be, hush, hush subject to the forefront and makes it sound perfectly natural to be singing a song about a ‘girl’ named Lola!”
“Lola will always be a very special song to me!” she continued. “With this song, The Kinks projected themselves into the modern world. The real world! A world full of all kinds of people! Bisexual, Gay, Trans, not just a world full of straight heterosexuals! Lola broke down the doors of narrow-mindedness and I will always be grateful and happy that The Kinks gave me this incredible song with such a great story! Being Trans myself, this will always be a very special song for me.”
In a follw-up post, Dave Davies continued: “I don’t wanna show the guy up, but Moby should be careful what he says. [Famous drag troupe] The Cockettes and their friends used to follow us around on tour. We appreciated them.”
He added: “Why is Moby being so rude about this simple song? We’re not transphobic. Why does he have to have a go at us?”
Social media also had some thoughts – and none of them good for Moby…
At the time of writing, Moby has yet to respond to Davies’ reaction.