Ray Davies was both an amazingly creative songwriter and an elite level lyricist. He ranks among the absolute best in all of modern music.

@sourisvoleur4854

Жыл бұрын

And has exactly the perfect voice for the songs he writes.

@markrich7171

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely agree 100%

@501625abc

Жыл бұрын

Pete Townsend is one of Ray Davies biggest fans. He said he can't think of one song of theirs that he doesn't like. He calls Ray a poet laureate.

@neilfranklin5644

Жыл бұрын

One of my 1st records as a 1st year secondary school kid

@ComplicatedLife1

Жыл бұрын

God lives in between the gap in Ray Davies’ front teeth.

The most amazing thing about The Kinks is that their lyrics are still absolutely dead on 50 years later. Who can’t relate to this story today. That’s the real proof that you were ahead of your time. ✌️ PS Dedicated Follower of Fashion for the next reaction.

@Jessica_Roth

Жыл бұрын

Speaking of lyrics… "I look out my window but I can't see the sky The air pollution is a-fogging up my eye" Didya notice that Ray was a little soft on the "ogg" part of "fogging"? I have a hunch that, in concert, he may have sung a rather different "f***ing" word there, lol.

@Ahzpayne

Жыл бұрын

Is it a sign of a good songwriter or a shit society? If people know about issues for 50 years and fail to address them that isn't "insight into the human condition". It's a complete failure of humanity to solve its problems. That's not a "feel good" scenario unless you squint real hard and ignore what still comes through 😕

@TheCornishCockney

Жыл бұрын

They are still seeking for him.

@Jessica_Roth

Жыл бұрын

@@Ahzpayne Does that have to be an either/or question? Yes, Ray was brilliant and effective and shone a light on a lot of things that were wrong with the world. But awareness ≠ end of an issue. For every Ray of insight [/cheap pun], you have greedy bastards trying to pull the wool over our eyes. I don't think the failure to improve negates the impetus. It just proves that Ray isn't God. (Which Dave would argue is a very, very good thing.)

@andymageen5308

Жыл бұрын

@@Ahzpaynehumans have had the same problems for 50,000 years, we simply don’t change or evolve so we keep doing everything that humans have always been doing. Ray Davies recognizes that and shines a light on our basic human conditions. ✌️

Jay & Amber, you'll love their "All Day And All Of The Night" and "Destroyer!!!

They are silly & smart at the same time, better than almost anyone. This song is really smart while being such silly fun.

"Apeman" was the next single The Kinks released after their Top 10 hit, "Lola." "Apeman" peaked @ #45 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971.

@MySundin13

Жыл бұрын

No matter what it peaked at ...this song is in their top 5 for me

@clivenewman4810

Жыл бұрын

UK #5 January 1971.

@bigpants6121

8 ай бұрын

no 45 was far too high. An awful record.

Basically, this song could have been written today and everything he is singing about is still very timely.

I think that the Kinks were one of the most musically creative bands of the era. You should add "Celluloid Heroes" and "Rock & Roll Fantasy" to the queue. "Destroyer" is a great song if you want to hear something with a harder edge to it.

@pigmeatmarkham898

Жыл бұрын

And I like to hear “Better Things” when I need cheering up. 😇

@dongiovanni6796

Жыл бұрын

Rob Squad would LOVE "Celluloid Heroes". It should be next.

@salbuda6957

Жыл бұрын

@kst357. “A Rock ‘n Roll Fantasy”, not to confused with Foreigners’ “Rock ‘n Roll Fantasy” released the same year 1978. 😉

@eallawson7601

Жыл бұрын

"Destroyer"? The hook is quite clearly from "All day and all of the night". I've never heard of a band going to court over copyright issues citing material that was their own, but I bet Marvin's family could get a result if they listened to these two tracks! Another first - "lose, lose" and "win, win"? Only a complete oxymoron could conceive such an idea!

@kevinbillingsley8256

3 ай бұрын

@@salbuda6957 Rock and Roll Fantasy was Bad Company, not Foreigner.

I'm with Amber. The Kinks are my favorite British Invasion band. The have a deep catalogue of great songs.

One of my favorite Kinks' songs ever. Easy listening with a simple, but relatable message. Great stuff Squad!

@bigpants6121

8 ай бұрын

easy and awful. Terrible choice

Did you know The Kinks have a song that is your motto? Yep, a song called "Give the people what they want." It was the title track from an album of the same name. It is one of their more harder rock songs. Other songs I would recommend by them are "Low Budget, (Wish I could fly like) Superman, All day and all of the night, Celluloid Heroes, just to name a few.

@Jessica_Roth

Жыл бұрын

They've hit "All Day", but all the others are great suggestions.

@aaradia

Жыл бұрын

@@Jessica_Roth Are you sure? I did a search for that song on this channel and it didn't come up. I also google-fu'ed it and it didn't come up. Maybe it got taken down?

@rayutube

Жыл бұрын

They haven't done ADAAOTN yet.

@Jessica_Roth

Жыл бұрын

@@aaradia Quite possible. I know I've been wanting to recommend "Destroyer" for ages, but I wanted to wait until they covered "ADaAotN" and "Lola" first, because of "Destroyer" having roots in them. So I kept an eye out for those. I just went to check for it, and my search box took "rob squad kinks" and gave me a further suggested search of "rob squad kinks all day and all of the night", which means I must have done that search before. I'm fairly confident that was after they did "Lola" and I checked to make sure that they had, in fact, done "All Day" before i went and typed this on their "Supersonic Rocket Ship" reaction: " Or you could move forward and hit "Destroyer", which is a different sort of whimsy. You may recall I told you not to do that until you heard "All Day and All of the Night" as well as "Lola" , but you've done those now, so go for it." So I KNOW I searched and I THINK found it. I'm pretty sure. That said, I've been pretty sure and yet completely wrong before, so…

@Mr-SRG

Жыл бұрын

I've been requesting "Give the People What They Want" on every one of their Kinks reactions!

The Kinks always sing about REAL life issues amazing.

More Kinks songs to listen to, Celluloid Heroes, Rock N' Roll Fantasy, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, Stop Your Sobbing, Destroyer, (Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman, Low Budget, Don't Forget to Dance, etc.

@cahrns5931

3 ай бұрын

OMG I loved listening to the Kinks in my brand new 1980 Toyota 4x4 the first year a small truck was a 4by! I used to open the back sliding windows lock my front wheels so I could hear my Dick Cepek off road tires humming down the freeways in So Cal while listening to Destroyer and my favorite SUPERMAN! I did not know Lola was a man! I love that song too!

The Kinks were WAY ahead of their time!! 🎸🎸

@BBaum05

7 ай бұрын

Too many bands get this title, but for the Kinks its well deserved.

You’ll absolutely love Celluloid Heroes!

So glad you found this gem. A Well Respected Man is another good one.

If you haven’t listened to Sunny Afternoon yet….it’s a must hear! 🎶❤️🎶

@richardkint6531

Жыл бұрын

They did that one earlier.

@Serpe10

Жыл бұрын

@@richardkint6531 Thanks! I’ll look for it! 👍🏼

You two would love The Village Green Preservation Society by The Kinks. It's the title song of the LP of the same name.

"Strangers" off of this album is an incredible and moving tune... the Kinks are so dynamic in their songwriting ability its really incredible!

@sjames1955

Жыл бұрын

Strangers is actually a Dave Davies song. Just as good as big brother Sir Raymond.

Kinks are in my top 5 bands of all-time. This is actually from 1970 :)

Thanks for this. Hadn't heard Apeman before. The Kinks never disappoint.

'20th Century Man' is near my favorite Kinks song.

I love The Kinks. A phenomenal band. You should give a listen to A Dedicated Follower Of Fashion.

@ukesrule58

Жыл бұрын

"Oh yes he IS......oh yes he IS!"

The Kinks have an amazing concept album (and one of their best albums) from the late '60s called The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society - some of the songs are about nostalgia for childhood and longing for a simpler life in the country. If you ever feel like listening to and/or reacting to a full Kinks album, this would be a great choice.

The power chords of You Really Got Me will always be my favourite period of The Kinks. Basically started hard rock right there, so you can see why Van Halen covered it. All Day and All of the Night is another example of their mid-60s power rock

@bigpants6121

8 ай бұрын

and now there is 'Ape man!' what the hell happened?

"A Well Respected Man" should be the next Kinks song.

I grew up with the Kinks! They were well ahead of their time with the messages in their music.

Hey guys, given your channel motto you need to hear The Kinks do _"Give the People What They Want."_ You also can't go wrong with _"Celluloid Heroes."_

The Kinks were killing it into the 80s. My favorite song of their's is Mr Big Man from the great album Sleepwalker. Every song on that one is great.

@timarmstrong3251

Жыл бұрын

My bank went broke and then my well ran dry it was almost enough to contemplate suicide So I turned on the gas, but then I soon realised I hadn't settled my bill and they'd cut off my supply Brilliant stuff

@mikehawkins4752

Жыл бұрын

@@timarmstrong3251 Life goes on...haha

"give the people what they want"/ "destroyer"/superman/"catch me now im falling"/:low budget"/"all day and all of the night".....etc..etcc these guys are legends

Dedicated Follower of Fashion is another solid Kinks song. Y'all continue to impress with your willingness to go all over the place with your reactions!

A great deep cut from The Kinks is "Two Sisters" which is an allegory of the complex relationship between Ray & Dave Davies.

@bloppysloppy4057

Жыл бұрын

As is "Hatred (a Duet)"

Loved The Kinks. This generation (in the western world) were probably the first to develop conscience towards the environment and humanity's pathway. You might be interested in a song called In the Year 2525 by ... Zager and Evans I think. It is miserable to listen to but it is an interesting example of what some people were thinking at the time.

@jdw5678

Жыл бұрын

I think one of the best environmentally conscious songs back then (early '70s) was Three Dog Night's "Out In the Country," which I don't think they've reacted to yet. It was yet another terrific (and big) hit from 3DN, but with a heavier message than most of their other songs.

@derekp1963

Жыл бұрын

The thing with 2525 is that some of the verses can be applied to today

@stormy8207

Жыл бұрын

@@derekp1963 yes unfortunately. But only 2 years to go and things aren't as bad as predicted. That at least is a bonus.

@fidge54

Жыл бұрын

"....misereable to listen to..." You got that right. Ugh

@martingilbey1618

Жыл бұрын

@@stormy8207 Make that 502 Years - but it sure ain't time to resting on those there laurels!

Check out a video of this song with the Kinks playing on tv. An ape is playing piano! Next Kinks suggestion either Victoria or Waterloo sunset! Love it

All day and all of the Night .........next one

YEEEEESSSSSSS!!!! Definitely my favorite Kinks song!!! It’s used to awesome effect on the Robin Williams flick “Club Paradise”….thanks for this AWESOME reaction y’all. 🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🍹🍹🍹🍹🍹🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🦍🦧🦍🦧🦍🙈🙉🙊🐵🐒

Check out The Kinks, "Artificial Man", "God's Children", "Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues", "Alcohol", and "20th Century Man".

Great song choice for a reaction! Love the Kinks and this is one of my favorite songs by them. How many times I had this album blasting on the stereo!

The Kinks are amazing. A lot of their albums are concepts. This album, Lola vs. Powerman and the Money-Go-Round, is a take on the recording industry. Arthur takes on Victorian England's culture and politics. Muskwell Hillbillies takes on the physical and psychological stresses of working-class people. Other songs I think you'd enjoy: Victoria, Australia, This Time Tomorrow, 20th Century Man, Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues, and the incredible Alcohol. That can get you started. Plus, they were cranking out singles at the same time as the early Beatles and Stones and have quite a catalog from the 60's!

@timarmstrong3251

Жыл бұрын

Arthur is a take on present-day (late 1960s culture and politics). There weren't too many people driving or emigrating to Australia for the surfing in Victorian times. Nor was Princess Marina yet born. There are two songs that are about WW1 (possibly WW2) but obviously those wars were fundamental in shaping 60s culture and politics.

You would love The Kinks’ “Victoria”

Yes. Yes. Yes. Great band. The Kinks have stood the test of time. Enjoy!!!!!

Check out "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" by The Kinks. It is a real banger from the late '70's that overlays hard rock onto disco!

I went to SUNY at Stonybrook and my freshman year I lived in James Hall. We had a pub in the basement of James Hall and on the juke box was the single Lola. The B side of that single was Apeman. Come 1100 o'clock or so on a Thursday Friday or Saturday night someone would inevitably play Apeman and it was on. People dancing on tables people imitating apes and people just dancing and singing in unison. Hadn't thought about that in awhile

Man, I haven't heard this song in a long time, the kinks are so freakin cool. 😎

I'll be your Tarzan, you'll be my Jane - great line. Highly recommend Celluloid Heroes and A Rock and Roll Fantasy.

David Watts is a hoot of a song, check it out.. So's their upbeat song about living on Dead End Street.

The Kinks are my favorite band ever. Saw them 10 times all around the Philadelphia area. The loved Philly also.

"Low Budget" MUST be next. So fun. Love you, Guys.

I noticed in the comment section that people are missing two of The Kinks best songs like "Living On A Thin Line" and "I'm Not Like Everybody Else."

The Kinks aren't underrated. They're also an inductee in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and Ray Davies an inductee in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. They just should have been so much BIGGER! Don't think you guys have listened to any songs from Muswell Hillbillies, Arthur or The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society. So much great songs on those albums to experience.

Top 5 Kinks song of all time. It's perfect.

You should give Celluloid Heroes a listen

1970. 54 years later and the words are even more true today.

For me, this one, "Waterloo Sunset," and "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" are the indispensable Kinks songs. But they do have so many great ones. Please keep the Kinks reactions coming!

@padresteve619

11 ай бұрын

I’m Not Like Everybody Else by the Chocolate Watch Band is the banger.

I think "Give The People What They Want" is one of their album titles.

One of my favorite songs by the Kinks, the lyrics appear simple but everyone can identify with them.

I Wish I Could Fly Like Superman. Another great song by the Kinks.

Two songs you have to do to show how great these guys were are CELLULOID HEROES, and DESTROYER. One is a tragic tale of Hollywood Royalty, and the other is one of their best rockers they ever wrote. The Kinks are so underrated as a band and as songwriters, it's criminal.

the kinks have been my favourite for over 50 years

My recommends from an Englishman Hoobastank - The Reason, Level 42 - Lessons in love, Simple minds - Alive and kicking, Thompson twins - Hold me now, The blow monkeys - It doesnt have to be that way, Joe Jackson -Different for girls. Hope you like them.

Yes, one of my favorite songs. Love it....

I adore the piano in this.

I was hoping this was gonna be I wanna Fly like Superman!!!! ❤❤❤ 😮😮😮

I am happy happy happy for this! I forgot totally about this song! Thank you so much for bringing it back.

The Kinks "Low Budget" album from the early 80's was a pleasant surprise when I first dropped the needle on it back then!! Graat sense of humor!!

My favorite Kinks song. When I was 12 I saw the horribly underrated film Club Paradise, and this song was in it. I knew the Kinks, but not this song. Bought the soundtrack, which is amazing with a lot of Jimmy Cliff, who I already loved (and who if you haven’t already, I invite you to check out) but neither this song nor the song by Yellowman were on it. So I went and bought Lola vs Powerman…, which is phenomenal. So glad y’all digged this one and that they made you fans. Cheers.

@6699230

Жыл бұрын

True, 'Club Paradise' - Robin Williams.🙃

So glad that you did this one! I've been requesting it!!

Talking Heads - “[Nothing But] Flowers”

My kids absolutely love dancing around to this song. Kinks songs are so timeless and fun.

The Kinks are quintessentially English. Their lyrics are deeply patriotic and reactionary

Waterloo sunset was the quintessential English pop song but AUTUMN ALMANAC runs it very close, give it a review you won't be disappointed, from a huge Scottish Kinks fan. Great video as always Jordan and Amber.

@Dave-ey8up

Жыл бұрын

"From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar" ... who else writes lyrics like that ...

Yep, more whimsical early 1970s Ray Davies, from the same album as "Lola". Another classic from this period is "Celluloid Heroes", which I see suggested below. Two of his earlier satirical songs (from when the band was doing mostly hard rock) are "A Well-Respected Man" and "Dedicated Follower of Fashion". And from a few years after this, when they came back to England and started doing singles (after their detour to concept stage shows), we get "Sleepwalker" and "Prince of the Punks" and then "Low Budget" and "Superman". And then, after that, we get "Destroyer", which is wacky in its own special way. All very enjoyable. Of course, the Kinks are hardly the only band to talk about ditching it all and getting back to nature. You've heard "Jungle Love" by Steve Miller Band, but don't forget "Bungle in the Jungle" by Jethro Tull And other bands also mock modern life. "Industrial Disease" by Dire Straits is an all-time classic. I think that was the first song that inspired me to write down the lyrics in my notebook. (We did that, before we had lyrics sites…or the internet…or home computers…) Jay's comparison of the Kinks to Talking Heads is very clever. I think David Byrne's humor is rather dryer than Ray's, but you should still definitely check out "Don't Worry About the Government". Keep on Kinkin'!

It’s great you guys are getting the vibe of these guys. They are gods over here and once I met the lead singer, Ray Davies at Belfast airport and no one recognised him. I was in total awe

OMG!! I had forgotten about this song! So much fun! Love your reactions to this.

It's an amazing song. Ray manages to give an important message without coming across as preachy. He's a guy with a rare lyrical gift.

Another great song by The Kinks is "Attitude," a real banger from their 1979 album "Low Budget."

Omgosh,I love you Amber! They were horribly mismanaged & taken advantage of early on in their careers, and then some relationship issues within the group gave them a really rough start and prevented them from getting the recognition they deserved from the beginning. I absolutely love them! One of my fave albums is School Boys in Disgrace and this is one of my fav songs along with Well Respected Man. Saw them in concert in senior yr of high school at a small hall here in Boston and,probably,one of the best shows. They're just not like any other group that came across the pond 😊. I actually thought of requesting this not too long ago. Thank you! Peace,love & prayers to you & your beautiful family! ❤❤

That’s why they are so big money for the albums great music and music

Been my favorite band since ‘65.THE most socially and politically aware band over their careers.Nearly every song they did had this profound fundamental element in its lyrics.In that respect their appeal to that generation was very deep.Even toward their end, “Living on a Thin Line” carried a prophetic socio-political message with exquisite musical execution.

I’m so happy for this !! My dads fav song! This was so beyond great and I appreciate this on so many levels. 💔 miss you my apeman

I love you guys! The Kinks are my favorite group of all time. So, I appreciate you giving them the love. Awesome!!

The kinks definitely were fun at times and this is certainly one to prove that But they could get heavy as well I’d love to see y’all react to their song Celluloid Heroes A great song with strong lyrics

It's so great to see you guys getting into The Kinks. If I may offer a few suggestions: "Shangri-La", "20th Century Man", "Dead End Street", "See My Friends", "Days", "Celluloid Heroes".

So happy to see you guys loving the kinks for a bunch of lads from London they created such a groove in this and ray’s lyrics are amazing

This was played all the time on the radio in the 70's. As a kid I loved it. It is even better on reflection

30 years ago I painted an advent calendar from its lyrics (one pic depicting a part of the lyrics behind every window). This is a song we have been playing a lot when gathering together with friends. And very actual again!

DEAD END STREET , has grim gritty lyrics and great trombone [Amber] Ray and Dave Davis grew up working class with five sisters so they know about the "have nots" in society .

A silly song with very important lyrics, love it. Their tongue in cheek style is emphasized on tunes like "Sunny Afternoon" & "Dedicated Follower of Fashion"

True Story...I'm not making this up!!! Sunday evening around 8:00 PM, I was driving across I-80 in Pennsylvania listening to a Kinks anthology CD in my car. The song "Apeman" comes on and immediately, I started thinking that this would be a great song for Jay and Amber to listen to and how I'd love to see your reactions. I just now sit down to check out what songs I missed from you two yesterday and today and what comes up from yesterday? Apeman, of course! Loved it! Lots of great Kinks songs but another old favorite of theirs that I haven't seen mentioned is "(Wish I Could Fly) Like Superman". Anyway, keep listening and reacting kids, watching the two of you almost makes me feel as though I'm hearing these great old songs for the first time all over again!

From the same album, I recommend Powerman and Strangers.

You need to do more of The Kinks. Like "All of the Day and All of the Night", "A Well Respected Man", "Living on a Thin Line", "Tired of Waiting", "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman", & "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" to name a few

I'm just coming across this post now. I have been posting debut studio album tracks on my Facebook page, and by coincidence, I just finished posting on the debut album for the Kinks. The song I highlighted was "I Took My Baby Home," which is sort of a surf rock meets punk song. It is short -- under 2 minutes -- but worth a listen. It was one of three songs from the UK version of the album that were omitted from the US version.

This song was on their Lola vs Powerman album which was early 70s I believe. Gotta Be Free and This Time Tomorrow are also great songs off of the album. Other favorite albums by them: Arthur; Muswell Hillbillies; and, Sleepwalker. Loads of great songs and band arrangements.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Dave Davies was perhaps the first heavy metal guitarist. He at least paved the way to a new sound that influenced a lot of great players...

@bigpants6121

8 ай бұрын

he must find 'Ape man' appalling. I know I do.

And Ray and Dave Davies were constant combatants in and out of the studio I'm told Like the Galagher brothers

You guys would love, the kinks, you really got me, dead end street, all day and all of the night and dedicated follower of fashion. All of them are superb. keep up the good work.

Guys my favourite Kinks track is Autumn Almanac - it's awesome

All right more kinks ! Way to go guys . Celluloid Heros should be on your list also the live version of Hard way see the kinks live nothing like them !

Congrats on officially entering the kinks rabbit hole. Ive been living here since 1981.

The music video for this song was a sort of hazing for the new guy in the band. They made keyboard player John Gosling wear the gorilla costume.

O K Kids! It's time for Eric Burden & War. The song us Spill The Wine. It's got flute, it's got maracas, it's got cowbell, it's even got bongo drums.... Oh, and it's got a S T O R Y . Spill The Wine.