Middle age Dudes like the attention from a younger lady. Makes em think they may still be attractive in some way or other besides getting older ...but face reality....
wow this is crap! there comes a time when every band begins to lose what made them great, and need to give up writing before they start releasing shite like this. every band's popularity will perish over time, and bands like the kinks needed to accept it much earlier. Ray should of had a solo career for writing rubbish like this so that is doesnt tarnish the rep of an outstanding 60s rock band
@MUSIChannel91 This is NUMBER 2 best love song. The WHO Let My Love Open The Door (unplugged), is NUMBER 1. People grow and they change, and they don't always stay punk rock or whatever. Ray Davies is a genius, and has proved it over and over. He was good in the 60s and is good now. Times and people change. If you decide not to, then keep listening to the 60s stuff. Don't badmouth the Kinks. I prefer "Superman" to all of their songs. what do I know. I like ALL Kinks music.
@tyleryesta1 The video is horrible, but the song is actually quite good. All the Kinks songs are quite good. Hello you, Hello me. comes to mind. (Rock and Roll Fantasy) This is just a really bad video. The song is excellent.
Well I just tried to close my eyes and listen to it and I find myself still cringing at some of the lines. He wrote some amazing songs after this period so I feel like it was something he forced out during a writers block. To each there own I suppose.
@tyleryesta1 When you are in the US and have Britany Spears, you can't go much further downhill! lol. Really, the Kinks have been known to put out quality stuff, and I happen to really like this song. Like you say, to each his own. maybe not the best, but it resonates with me, anyway. I'm glad they made it. If I ever get over the pond, I'll buy you a beer and we can dissect it! What are your favorites?
sounds good man. I like most of the the earlier stuff, "Walters" a favorite of mine. Picture Book, Wonder boy, Two Sisters, Days. He wrote so many good songs that are perfect and different from anything else back then. Cheers!
They did get their recognition in the '60's as they were a major group. Since then, not so much as the media doesn't dig mature groups with meaningful lyrics. Thank goodness the mass media has become largely irrelevant except for supporting posers.
broncobra,what's wrong with you pal??? you've got it all wrong I guess,I never said this song is for the old.I was only following the lyrics a little bit playing with the fact that Ray is a little mature when singing,and his brother too..that's all.Sorry to upset you.. you know: I'M not young like you say,I'm 40 and I started listening to the Kinks in 1984,after Beatles and Stones before that.. is that a short time for you pal? your ''damn you" to me is a God bless you to you.Long live the kinks
Unrequited love IS silly, young mtopper66--especially the older you get. But not trite. It doesn't make it any less poignant to be an old fool in love--if anything, age and experience make it harder cause you already know how it will play out.
Long Live The Kinks! as usual Dave & Ray with their finger on the pulse of real human emotions, that driving sad beat Oooo I liked it-thanks for posting...nj (just finishing Dave's autobiography "Kinks" )
Musically, it's OK. Lyrically, it's silly, way below par for Ray. There are better songs on that album, which overall is OK...it's probably a good thing they disbanded when they did and preserve their legacy, rather than come out with increasingly worse albums like The Stones.
there are countless examples of truly great kinks songs that NEVER become hits........this is one of them......lets see...to the bone, picture book, I need you, etc
the song is great the singer is great and "that guy" has a name
its ray davies and if u have a life thats even half as amazing as his u would be privaliged
(if i seem to angry or if im overreacting it might have something to do with the fact that i just read the whole wikipedia page and am only just realising how truly underrated the kinks were - so at a latter date i will probably remove this comment due to my current moody-ness)
@jamreaper They might not have gotten the recognition on the radio or media, but I gaurentee you, I bought and played the hell out of their stuff. I still listen to it. The Kinks are a big part of my life. I'm in the U.S.
and I do love Dave's solo work and I will keep it! I only want a kinks reunion for the right reason. Their music is & has always been too important ti the fans and rock community for them to reunite just for a nostalgic reason & to go out labeled an an oldies act. I want them both to want it and to write and record news songs. I would not care if a reunion show was all new songs! God save the Kinks, preserving the old ways for me and for you, protecting the new ways, what more can we do?
btw that was in response to senjocram's post below...obviously not a real kinks fan if he really feels that way. God save the kinks, Ray and Dave and all their fans who have supported them through the years, and for all we know they still may have a way to go, but in the mean time the solo careers of Ray and Dave are here for us to enjoy now. - Frank Lima, The Montvale, New Jersey Hillbilly Boy aka Dan the Fan
If they don't reform soon members will start dying.
I am a Kinks fan but not a huge fan of Dave (who caused the infighting that led to original members such as Avory having to leave).
They all want a reunion except Dave so why not move ahead, Dave can come back if he wants to in the future. If Queen can continue without Freddy then the Kinks can without Dave. It's better than nothing - I unlike you was too young to see them play together. If you enjoy Dave's solo work you can keep it.
The Kinks right up to the end in 1996 oe 1995 in the USA and up to Phobia and To the Bone, were still one of, no make that the best band ever, in all the land! And for all we know they still may have a way to go. God save the kinks and all their loyal fans who have stuck by them and supported them through the years. - Frank Lima, The Montvale, New Jersey Hillbilly Boy aka Dan the Fan in KinKdom.
I love the Kinks but this is obviously a band at the end.
Ray is the greatest lyricist of all time but Dave is a knobhead (he really believes he is in personal contact with aliens). I hope Ray, Dalton and Quaife get together and record a new Kinks album without Dave (whose ego would ruin it). Session guitarists are ten-a-penny.
YOU ARE JOKING OF COURSE? NOBODY COULD EVER FULL DAVE'S SHOES AND THERE NEVER COULD BE A KINKS WITHOUT DAVE! -The Montvale, New Jersey Hillbilly Boy, aka dan the fan, - frank lima
Can someone please tell me why this song was NOT a hit? This is klassic Ray Davies...I agree the best verse is left out...This is one of my favorite kinks songs of ALL TIME..
Im 59 now and Ive heard them all (over 500 songs written sung by the KINKS who are top 3 in best rock groups ever...the beatles, kinks and the over-rated stones...the who dont make the grade here
Why is the last verse edited on this? At 3:00 this verse should come in(the best verse in the son IMHO): Waiting by the elevator Feeling optimistic and keen Waiting for my executive goddess to appear as if in a dream Then the elevator opened She was talking to another guy And I tried to say hello to her But I failed to even catch her eye Then everybody crowded inside And I sadly stood my ground Thinking life's just like that elevator It takes you up and brings you down
rudi1966: Exactly what I thought! In my opinion too, and in most Kinks' people I am friends with, that IS the best verse in the song, and I can't imagine why it's left out. It appears to be the official video, but I don't know.
The last two lines in particular:
"..Thinking life's just like an elevator
It takes you up and brings you down.."
Ain't that the damn truth? Thumbs up to your great comment. "God Save the Kinks."
Dave is such an awesome guitarist. He just has to stare at a guitar, and it will start playing itself. It's annoying that he only came 88th in the Rolling Stones top 100 Guitarists.
One of the great story songs of all time, especially for a guy who is entering his middle age.....Ray always writes songs that seem to be directed at the average person.
wrong - ray still is the man and will always be; and he's always good to his fans unlike all the other poncifide, big-headed rockers, untouchable and above everyone. ray is the real deal
This is the absolute nadir of The Kinks' recorded output. How did they get so turgidly shit? Those synth strings are like Chris De Burgh's vomit served up in a thermos.
Either you like it or you don't. But Kinks fans are more likely to. They weren't producing hit, but there was a bittersweet quality to this record and other during this period that are very touching. If it doesn't speak to you, fine; but taste is subjective.
It is indeed. My personal taste is that I think their last three albums were utter guff and I don't think that makes me any less of a Kinks fan. Sorry.
I didn't say it did (nor did my original post use the "true ____ fans," as if there is some kind of loyalty test for appreciation). But Phobia and UK Jive really weren't out of line with what the Kinks have been doing for 30 years.
But The Kinks never previously made albums that sounded like Jive Bunny and Def Leppard, respectively! Do you genuinely feel moved by these horrible albums?
I don't hear Def Leppard and have no idea who Jive Bunny is. Phobia has a sense of various struggling through difficulties but surviving, a common Kinks theme. UK Jive had a more energetic sense, particularly the title song, but also a figure taking a wistful look at a changing world,another common theme. I'm not saying they are the strongest records put out by The Kinks but are interesting works nonetheless and not the garbage you view them to be. But as we both agree, different strokes
Unbelievable. If it had been promoted properly, i reckon it could have got in the top 10, village green preservation society didnt chart too well for the same reason.
Good to see the brothers together at this point still making music!
2hamboigahs 6 months ago
Man, I really love this song!
broncobra 7 months ago
Ebullient.
KurtRileyOfficial 8 months ago
Middle age Dudes like the attention from a younger lady. Makes em think they may still be attractive in some way or other besides getting older ...but face reality....
trollerguy 8 months ago
wow this is crap! there comes a time when every band begins to lose what made them great, and need to give up writing before they start releasing shite like this. every band's popularity will perish over time, and bands like the kinks needed to accept it much earlier. Ray should of had a solo career for writing rubbish like this so that is doesnt tarnish the rep of an outstanding 60s rock band
MUSIChannel91 9 months ago
@MUSIChannel91 This is NUMBER 2 best love song. The WHO Let My Love Open The Door (unplugged), is NUMBER 1. People grow and they change, and they don't always stay punk rock or whatever. Ray Davies is a genius, and has proved it over and over. He was good in the 60s and is good now. Times and people change. If you decide not to, then keep listening to the 60s stuff. Don't badmouth the Kinks. I prefer "Superman" to all of their songs. what do I know. I like ALL Kinks music.
broncobra 7 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
ray and dave getting along priceless.god save the kinks.
MsMikefox 11 months ago
ray and dave getting along priceless.gos save the kinks.
MsMikefox 11 months ago
I always hoped they would tour in the late 90's or early 2000"s with the original four but now that Pete is gone there is no chance.Such a shame.
imdonho 1 year ago
Ray rox. Unreal. Takes the ordinary, finds the beauty in it, and presents it artistically. He is a gem.
JohnnyCxviii 1 year ago
I love the kinks but this song is just horrible.
tyleryesta1 1 year ago
@tyleryesta1 The video is horrible, but the song is actually quite good. All the Kinks songs are quite good. Hello you, Hello me. comes to mind. (Rock and Roll Fantasy) This is just a really bad video. The song is excellent.
broncobra 7 months ago
Well I just tried to close my eyes and listen to it and I find myself still cringing at some of the lines. He wrote some amazing songs after this period so I feel like it was something he forced out during a writers block. To each there own I suppose.
tyleryesta1 7 months ago
@tyleryesta1 When you are in the US and have Britany Spears, you can't go much further downhill! lol. Really, the Kinks have been known to put out quality stuff, and I happen to really like this song. Like you say, to each his own. maybe not the best, but it resonates with me, anyway. I'm glad they made it. If I ever get over the pond, I'll buy you a beer and we can dissect it! What are your favorites?
broncobra 7 months ago
sounds good man. I like most of the the earlier stuff, "Walters" a favorite of mine. Picture Book, Wonder boy, Two Sisters, Days. He wrote so many good songs that are perfect and different from anything else back then. Cheers!
tyleryesta1 7 months ago
They did get their recognition in the '60's as they were a major group. Since then, not so much as the media doesn't dig mature groups with meaningful lyrics. Thank goodness the mass media has become largely irrelevant except for supporting posers.
lightlyone 1 year ago 2
@lightlyone Well said! Look to the media when you ask "why are there so few good bands, good movies, god politicians etc.."
OdinsCloud 11 months ago
broncobra,what's wrong with you pal??? you've got it all wrong I guess,I never said this song is for the old.I was only following the lyrics a little bit playing with the fact that Ray is a little mature when singing,and his brother too..that's all.Sorry to upset you.. you know: I'M not young like you say,I'm 40 and I started listening to the Kinks in 1984,after Beatles and Stones before that.. is that a short time for you pal? your ''damn you" to me is a God bless you to you.Long live the kinks
jea241269 1 year ago 2
Comment removed
broncobra 1 year ago
Is it my imagination playing tricks on me? is it real or is it only a dream? If its only a dream, its good enough for me.
Ray always says it bettert.
phinerman 1 year ago
GOD SAVE THE KINKS
jansawa 1 year ago
I saw them in Pa. early 1980s does anyone have an update on them?
roughntumbledad 1 year ago
this isnt the whole song. the last and most important verse is missing.
drax333 2 years ago
Hey dont you know? Love makes the world go round!
Usurped 2 years ago
Unrequited love IS silly, young mtopper66--especially the older you get. But not trite. It doesn't make it any less poignant to be an old fool in love--if anything, age and experience make it harder cause you already know how it will play out.
dalexwats 2 years ago
Long Live The Kinks! as usual Dave & Ray with their finger on the pulse of real human emotions, that driving sad beat Oooo I liked it-thanks for posting...nj (just finishing Dave's autobiography "Kinks" )
njgarvin 2 years ago 3
Musically, it's OK. Lyrically, it's silly, way below par for Ray. There are better songs on that album, which overall is OK...it's probably a good thing they disbanded when they did and preserve their legacy, rather than come out with increasingly worse albums like The Stones.
mtopper66 2 years ago
Comment removed
broncobra 1 year ago
This is, by far, the most underrated Kinks album ever. Phobia was pretty good. (Not as good as their 80's stuff, but still excellent)
Swartenager 2 years ago 3
there are countless examples of truly great kinks songs that NEVER become hits........this is one of them......lets see...to the bone, picture book, I need you, etc
ethifanman 2 years ago 3
wtf??? is that guy really singing that stuff? I wouldn't expect it in a million years. Seriously
marieorlandoe 2 years ago
"that guy"?????-------go away littlle girl, your kitten is not here
MrKinkyForever 2 years ago
that had better be a compliment m8
the song is great the singer is great and "that guy" has a name
its ray davies and if u have a life thats even half as amazing as his u would be privaliged
(if i seem to angry or if im overreacting it might have something to do with the fact that i just read the whole wikipedia page and am only just realising how truly underrated the kinks were - so at a latter date i will probably remove this comment due to my current moody-ness)
jamreaper 2 years ago
@jamreaper The Kinks were never underrated in my book. They were pioneers.
broncobra 1 year ago
@broncobra yea but they did not get the recognition they deserved and were in that way underrated
jamreaper 1 year ago
@jamreaper They might not have gotten the recognition on the radio or media, but I gaurentee you, I bought and played the hell out of their stuff. I still listen to it. The Kinks are a big part of my life. I'm in the U.S.
broncobra 1 year ago
@broncobra good for you mate :D
kinks are the best
jamreaper 1 year ago
This is an incredibly beautiful song!
But I shouldn't be surprised, this is the Kinks we're talking about!
sbarr10 2 years ago 5
@sbarr10 One of their best! If not THE best!
broncobra 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Phobia is the worst Kinks album.
LEFWWFC 2 years ago
yeah i didn't think was up to rays usual genius
skint0n0minted 2 years ago
There is a key verse missing, when reality sets in. Lifes just like the elevator it takes you up and brings you down
paddyo702 2 years ago
Comment removed
nogrouchy 3 years ago
but rays lyrics were completely original and nothing like any other bands.
skint0n0minted 2 years ago 2
not only aged people live these things,if anything it's one of the most beautiful songs ever written by the Davies brothers...
jea241269 3 years ago
Comment removed
broncobra 1 year ago
Sad - anthem for the aged - how the heck did we get here.....
midwife61 3 years ago
@midwife61 Time flies like an arrow. fruit flies like a banna.
broncobra 1 year ago
and I do love Dave's solo work and I will keep it! I only want a kinks reunion for the right reason. Their music is & has always been too important ti the fans and rock community for them to reunite just for a nostalgic reason & to go out labeled an an oldies act. I want them both to want it and to write and record news songs. I would not care if a reunion show was all new songs! God save the Kinks, preserving the old ways for me and for you, protecting the new ways, what more can we do?
krankiekat 3 years ago
btw that was in response to senjocram's post below...obviously not a real kinks fan if he really feels that way. God save the kinks, Ray and Dave and all their fans who have supported them through the years, and for all we know they still may have a way to go, but in the mean time the solo careers of Ray and Dave are here for us to enjoy now. - Frank Lima, The Montvale, New Jersey Hillbilly Boy aka Dan the Fan
krankiekat 3 years ago
If they don't reform soon members will start dying.
I am a Kinks fan but not a huge fan of Dave (who caused the infighting that led to original members such as Avory having to leave).
They all want a reunion except Dave so why not move ahead, Dave can come back if he wants to in the future. If Queen can continue without Freddy then the Kinks can without Dave. It's better than nothing - I unlike you was too young to see them play together. If you enjoy Dave's solo work you can keep it.
senojcram 3 years ago
I enjoyed the album Phobia. It was much better than UK Jive and Think Visual.
tbmang12 3 years ago
The Kinks right up to the end in 1996 oe 1995 in the USA and up to Phobia and To the Bone, were still one of, no make that the best band ever, in all the land! And for all we know they still may have a way to go. God save the kinks and all their loyal fans who have stuck by them and supported them through the years. - Frank Lima, The Montvale, New Jersey Hillbilly Boy aka Dan the Fan in KinKdom.
krankiekat 3 years ago
I love the Kinks but this is obviously a band at the end.
Ray is the greatest lyricist of all time but Dave is a knobhead (he really believes he is in personal contact with aliens). I hope Ray, Dalton and Quaife get together and record a new Kinks album without Dave (whose ego would ruin it). Session guitarists are ten-a-penny.
God preserve the Kinks!
senojcram 3 years ago
YOU ARE JOKING OF COURSE? NOBODY COULD EVER FULL DAVE'S SHOES AND THERE NEVER COULD BE A KINKS WITHOUT DAVE! -The Montvale, New Jersey Hillbilly Boy, aka dan the fan, - frank lima
krankiekat 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
ohai! xD msg me. id is on my profile. J
cat0shex 3 years ago
Can someone please tell me why this song was NOT a hit? This is klassic Ray Davies...I agree the best verse is left out...This is one of my favorite kinks songs of ALL TIME..
Im 59 now and Ive heard them all (over 500 songs written sung by the KINKS who are top 3 in best rock groups ever...the beatles, kinks and the over-rated stones...the who dont make the grade here
ethifanman 3 years ago
rudi1966 3 years ago 4
rudi1966: Exactly what I thought! In my opinion too, and in most Kinks' people I am friends with, that IS the best verse in the song, and I can't imagine why it's left out. It appears to be the official video, but I don't know.
The last two lines in particular:
"..Thinking life's just like an elevator
It takes you up and brings you down.."
Ain't that the damn truth? Thumbs up to your great comment. "God Save the Kinks."
jvaljean69 3 years ago
Correction: "THAT" elevator (lol)
jvaljean69 3 years ago
A lovely song, but I think Ray's hair could use some conditioner in it - it's a little frizzy!
TeaLeaf1020 3 years ago 3
Dave is such an awesome guitarist. He just has to stare at a guitar, and it will start playing itself. It's annoying that he only came 88th in the Rolling Stones top 100 Guitarists.
quadrophenia0901 3 years ago 2
Frank Zappa was like 48 or 49 on that stupid list. Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane wasn't even on it.
zitlight73 3 years ago
Like anything else, I just a popularity contest.
paddyo702 3 years ago
One of the great story songs of all time, especially for a guy who is entering his middle age.....Ray always writes songs that seem to be directed at the average person.
thank you for posting.
Joe In NH.
kringles4 3 years ago 18
Comment removed
broncobra 1 year ago
Ray is so lovely.
KaybeePeppers 3 years ago 11
Wow
A video from Phobia
JoeChrisMorris 4 years ago 2
i loved the kinks.. i live this too.. we getting older
tenorvagen 4 years ago 3
r&d gods, fantastic.
sircumcision 4 years ago 2
The woman in the song probably thought, "Wow, that used to be Ray Davies"
paulsmartialarts 4 years ago
wrong - ray still is the man and will always be; and he's always good to his fans unlike all the other poncifide, big-headed rockers, untouchable and above everyone. ray is the real deal
RONJAN2 4 years ago 5
Just don't ask DAVE about Ray!
JoeChrisMorris 4 years ago 3
i love this song...and drift away is my all time fav from this album...it kicks ass
pooponjcena 4 years ago 2
I think this video is trying to tell us something about the nature of the brothers' relationship. Although I have no idea what that is.
petey1892 4 years ago
Very rare video! Loved it. Any more from Phobia, please?!
PRINCIPALBROKER 4 years ago
This is the absolute nadir of The Kinks' recorded output. How did they get so turgidly shit? Those synth strings are like Chris De Burgh's vomit served up in a thermos.
paulsmartialarts 4 years ago
They're not synth strings, it's a resonator guitar (even though Dave's not playing one in the video).
ModernDayMod 4 years ago
Either you like it or you don't. But Kinks fans are more likely to. They weren't producing hit, but there was a bittersweet quality to this record and other during this period that are very touching. If it doesn't speak to you, fine; but taste is subjective.
ksim43 4 years ago 4
It is indeed. My personal taste is that I think their last three albums were utter guff and I don't think that makes me any less of a Kinks fan. Sorry.
paulsmartialarts 4 years ago
I didn't say it did (nor did my original post use the "true ____ fans," as if there is some kind of loyalty test for appreciation). But Phobia and UK Jive really weren't out of line with what the Kinks have been doing for 30 years.
ksim43 4 years ago
But The Kinks never previously made albums that sounded like Jive Bunny and Def Leppard, respectively! Do you genuinely feel moved by these horrible albums?
paulsmartialarts 4 years ago
I don't hear Def Leppard and have no idea who Jive Bunny is. Phobia has a sense of various struggling through difficulties but surviving, a common Kinks theme. UK Jive had a more energetic sense, particularly the title song, but also a figure taking a wistful look at a changing world,another common theme. I'm not saying they are the strongest records put out by The Kinks but are interesting works nonetheless and not the garbage you view them to be. But as we both agree, different strokes
ksim43 4 years ago
dear lord, this song is so half assed, and the album itself is...well...*gags* ATROCIOUS! good god this album is awful.
ruggleduggle 4 years ago
Great video! Funny, in the sunglasses you almost can't tell which brother is which. Scary! :) The Kinks rock!
NCS11364 4 years ago
Thanx for uploading this, Phobia is their best album
parejita 4 years ago
Are you mental?
paulsmartialarts 4 years ago
r you a sheep? yes u are...
parejita 4 years ago
This is a fantastic song, do u know the chart position (uk)?
ModernDayMod 4 years ago
Sadly, it charted on #79.
EddyRoma1977 4 years ago
Unbelievable. If it had been promoted properly, i reckon it could have got in the top 10, village green preservation society didnt chart too well for the same reason.
ModernDayMod 4 years ago
why do people always ay Ray and HIS BROTHER Dave??? it's Ray and Dave Davies!!!
tallyrulz 4 years ago
A beautiful and underrated song by The Kinks. Enjoy it!
EddyRoma1977 5 years ago
beautiful
SuzieCreamCheese 5 years ago
oh ! ray & his brotherdave are in paris !
Dadchris 5 years ago