The path to becoming a rock classic isn’t always a smooth one.
For The Kinks, that journey included an unexpected run-in with the BBC. Released in 1970, “Lola” became one of the band’s signature songs despite being temporarily banned from BBC airplay, a setback that ultimately did little to slow its remarkable success.
The controversy had nothing to do with the song’s subject matter, which tells the story of a man drawn to a woman who is later revealed to be a gender non-conforming person.
“In Lola’s journey, I did a bit of research with drag queens,” Davies said in an interview with The New York Times. “I admire anyone who can get up and be what they want to be.”
But that wasn’t the reason for the ban. Instead, the BBC objected to one lyric that mentioned “Coca-Cola,” enforcing its longstanding policy against broadcasting commercial brand names. To secure radio play, songwriter Ray Davies famously flew from New York to London during the band’s U.S. tour to rerecord a single line, changing “Coca-Cola” to “cherry cola.” The revised version was then approved for broadcast.
The unusual episode became part of the song’s legend.
Built around one of Davies’ most memorable melodies, “Lola” tells the story of an unexpected romantic encounter and challenged social conventions in a way that was remarkably progressive for its time. Its witty storytelling, catchy chorus, and distinctive acoustic guitar riff helped make it one of the most recognizable songs in The Kinks’ catalog.
“It was a real experience in a club,” Davis told Louder. “I was asked to dance by somebody who was a fabulous looking woman. I said, ‘No thank you.’ And she went in a cab with my manager straight afterwards. It’s based on personal experience. But not every word.”
Listeners embraced “Lola” around the world.
Released as the lead single from Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One, the song reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and climbed to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The hit revitalized The Kinks’ commercial fortunes and introduced the band to a new generation of fans.
“I wrote ‘Lola’ to be a great record, not a great song,” Davies later recalled. “Something that people could recognize in the first five seconds. Even the chorus, my two-year-old daughter sang it back to me. I thought, ‘This must catch on.'”
Davies was right, and its reputation has only grown in the decades since.
“Lola” has become a staple of classic rock radio and remains one of Ray Davies’ most celebrated compositions. Frequently appearing on lists of the greatest rock songs ever recorded, it continues to be praised for its unforgettable songwriting, humor, and willingness to explore themes that were uncommon in mainstream pop music at the time.
“I didn’t think the song would be so ahead of its time,” Davies told The New York Times. “But time has proven it so.”
Fifty-six years after its release, “Lola” remains one of The Kinks’ most beloved recordings. What was once briefly banned by the BBC over a single lyric ultimately became a timeless rock classic, proving that a great song can overcome even the most unexpected obstacles.
Related: 1972 Soft Rock Song, Inspired by Warren Beatty, Became a Career-Defining No. 1 Hit
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