Dave Davies, the legendary lead guitarist of the iconic rock band The Kinks, has launched a fiery rebuttal against musician and activist Moby, who recently criticized the lyrics of the band's classic hit "Lola" as transphobic. The dispute erupted after Moby, in an "honest playlist" feature for The Guardian, singled out "Lola" as a song he "can no longer listen to," calling its lyrics "gross and unevolved."
Moby's Controversial Comments on a Timeless Track
In the interview, Moby explained that "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." The song, released in 1970, tells the story of a young man meeting Lola, described as someone who "walked like a woman but talked like a man," in London's Soho district. Despite Moby's critique, "Lola" has long been celebrated by LGBTQ+ community members and is widely regarded by music critics as one of the greatest songs of all time.
Historical Context and Support from Trans Icons
Ray Davies, the lead vocalist and primary songwriter for The Kinks, who are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, previously told The New York Times in 2020 that he "did a bit of research with drag queens" while writing "Lola" and expressed admiration for "anyone who can get up and be what they want to be." In response to Moby's remarks, Dave Davies took to social media on Sunday, declaring he was "highly insulted" by the comments from "@thislittleidiot Moby." He also shared supportive messages from trans punk rock pioneer Ginger Coyote and Jayne County, rock's first openly trans singer.
County's message read, "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! 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!"
Dave Davies' Emotional Defense and Call for Caution
In a separate post on X, Dave Davies elaborated on his feelings, stating that he didn't want to "show the guy up" but advised Moby to "be careful what he says." He reminisced about the San Francisco hippie drag troupe the Cockettes, who used to follow The Kinks on tour, saying, "We appreciated them." Davies passionately questioned Moby's motives, asking, "Why is Moby being so rude about this simple song? We're not trans phobic. Why does he have to have a go at us?"
The online exchange has sparked widespread discussion among fans and critics alike, highlighting the ongoing debates around art, representation, and historical context in music. As of now, HuffPost has reached out to Moby's representatives for comment, but no response has been publicly issued. This incident underscores the delicate balance between modern sensibilities and the legacy of classic works, with Dave Davies standing firm in defense of his brother's songwriting and the band's inclusive intentions.
