L. O. L. A. Lola

I love “Lola” by the Kinks. Its witty and warming, surprising and empathetic – and a banging good tune! Considering the time it was written – 1970 and only three years after homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK – its an amazing piece of music. It was ground-breaking and still stands as such.

The core of the song is a young man who meets Lola in Soho in London and very nearly gets seduced by her. We never know whether she is a man in drag or a trans woman – and that ambiguity seems intentional and precision would be irrelevant. His confusion and acceptance of her is truly heart-warming and the whole point of the song.

When critics disagree

The wonder with “Lola” is that there is ambiguity throughout the song, which invites thought and interpretation. I am not alone in seeking for the song’s inner meanings.

One of the band members, Dave Davies, identified as bisexual and has had relationships with men and women. Apparently, Dave said that the band wasn’t concerned with backlash and focused on their creative expression.

It remains a controversial song. The electronic musician, Moby, criticised it as “gross” and “transphobic”, which I feel is reading it through a modern lens. But reading the acceptance that the song finishes with I rather think that Moby has missed the point.

The line “I know what I am and I’m glad I’m a man, and so is Lola” would suggest drag rather than trans by the modern usage of the terms, but such distinctions weren’t as strong in the 1970s. I don’t think too much should be read into this line regarding drag, trans, or transphobia by the writers.

As one might expect, a few radio stations banned it because of the subject matter. But not the super-prim BBC. Well, it did ban it initially, and partly for product placement issues, leading “Coca Cola” to become “Cherry Cola” in the British release.

The song helped pave the way for people like Lou Reed, Bowie, Elton John, and so many others come out and sing about sexuality. Gender remains something that isn’t sung about so much.

Ray Davies based the song on a real incident involving The Kinks’ manager, Robert Wace, who unknowingly danced with a trans woman in a club. Davies later said he embellished the story for lyrical effect. He did so with insight and compassion.

Personally…

There are lots of ways to read the song. One very important way is the narrator’s own acceptance of Lola. To me he feels admiring of her.

My favourite line in the song is “Its a mixed up muddled up shook up world, except for Lola” because, for me at least, it says that the only person who really knows who they are is Lola – she knows herself best and is her authentic self.

And that’s why, for me, this is a triumphant song about gender identity and authenticity.