Hip Hop Fan Reacts To Lola by The Kinks
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- Опубликовано: 27 янв 2023
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The key to the song is that the world is mixed up and muddled up...except for Lola. She is happy and comfortable in her own skin, while everyone else isn't.
That's a beautiful way of putting it and it's true. Homophobic people often turn out to be closeted.
@ok9908 yeah and sad strange that' Mandela and Desmond tutu were pro gay and homosexulity tights ate included in the constitution god bless Mandela and Desmond tutu anc suid afrika/South Africa, piss off Uganda Kenya and Nigeria laziest people on the face of the and stop coming to the UK if you're country so great stay there' remember our country our rules Nigerian nurses laziest pile.of crap on the planet
@@ok9908 Never quite understood that accusation. Are people who are scared or or don't like terrorists secretly harboring terrorism tendencies? Are people who are scared of heights secretly harboring a desire to climb ladders? Oh well. Fun song for sure, and believe it or not I'm in no way anti gay or trans and want everyone to live their life as they want. Just never been convinced that people who are against certain lifestyles or have fears secretly want to be part of them or live them. Why can't they just not like and agree with those lifestyles instead of, as you say, secretly be part of them.
I think it's a genuinely sweet song. He thinks about storming out, and changes his mind, and realises he doesn't care and he loves her anyway.
That last lyric- “I’m glad I’m a man….and so is Lola” just adds to the overall power of the song. And so is Lola what? Glad or a man? Brilliantly written. We all know what Davies is talking about, but he never actually says it. One of many genius efforts by one of the 20th centuries best songwriters. Waterloo Sunset for the win, if you are looking for another Kinks’ masterpiece.
I think people assume the man instead of glad. I can also see it both ways.
@@NunyaDammeBiznis I agree but I love how, considering the times, Davies makes sure he has Plausible Deniability….
Yes! Someone else GOT the line! The whole set of lyrics is deliciously ambiguous!
I always read it as lola is glad to be a man, I think, because I've always thought of lola as a drag queen who causes the singer to question his sexuality but idk that's just my interpretation
@@1827crowley - Deliciously ambiguous, as befits the times (air play was critical). Plausible deniability!
The delightful ambiguity of "I'm glad I'm a man and so is Lola". First class writing.
I'd never twigged that ambiguity before!
Agreed - I think it's one of the most brilliantly written lines in songwriting history.
This "Ambiguity" is a New Concept. I'm 71 and we knew what he meant ....
@@jamesalexander5623 Of course we did. But the "ambiguity" is how they got away with it. They could not have written "Lola's a dude too."
@@TheoZoffrok There isn't any. It's a New idea!
“It’s a mixed up muddled up shook up world EXCEPT FOR LOLA”. Lola is strong and confident!
This is based on a true story. The Kinks and their manager went to a nightclub in Paris, and their manager spent the night dancing and making out with this one girl. When they all stumbled out of the club at dawn, everyone saw that the manager's girl had a five o-clock shadow!
😂
There is nothing in the actual story about "making out".
@@jnagarya519bruh they were making fun of him for trying to take a man in a dress home.
@@CannabisDreams Nope. Ray Davies spent the night dancing in a club. The person he was dancing with, he discovered when they left the club at dawn, was a man in drag.
Nothing in the song is about anyone making fun of anyone.
I was an adult when it was a hit; as one who was 15 when "The Beatles" hit the US, and who had as long been into "The Kinks," I recognize/d that the song is an inferior "novelty" which became a hit because there is a segment of record buyers who snap up "novelty" records.
It really isn't that important a record when compared to Ray Davies' important work.
@@jnagarya519 and they were still making fun of him. People in the 60s weren't as fucking disgusting and degenerate as we are now.
I love the respectful way they treated the topic. They weren’t homophobic or disgusted by the thought of meeting a trans person and falling for her. I just love this song. And cheers to you for your , as always, great analysis of lyrics.
They wrote the song to make fun of their manager for getting so drunk he brought home a black dude in a dress and fucked him. The song is mockery.
It wouldn't have been a hit if it weren't "weird" to the listening audience. It isn't "respectful"; it is disturbed and shocked to discover that he was enjoying being with an attractive female that turned out to be a man in drag.
@jnagarya519 I disagree. The lyrics are purposefully designed to be ambiguous. Most people listening to it had no clue what it was about.
It's certainly way too generous to say the Kinks are like some kind of 1970s LGBT ally but it is also inaccurate to say the point is supposed to be mocking. To me it seems intentionally transgressive. There certainly isn't anything saying the character in the song regretted the experience.
Again I don't agree with either side. It isn't respectful or mocking. It's just a thing that happened and seemed pretty enjoyable for the singer. Make of that what you will
@@SamSullyV Ray Davies was often a social satirist. That's the context in which this minor lyric was written. An incident happened and he "reported" it. Whether he "enjoyed" it more than the momentary surprise or shock isn't known or even relevant.
If you look at his fuller writing -- his focus on affirming nostalgia and conservative values, you'll see he is conservative, not "transgressive". That he enjoys from time to time poking convention in the eye does not mean he's "transgressive" -- which is a narrow view of the arts, which are, across the board, a criticism of imperfect reality.
It was a novel experience; there are many novel experiences; art is, in that sense, like "news": dog bites man is the norm, not "news"; man bites dog is not the norm, therefore is "news". That which is not the norm stands out from the background of normalcy. He wasn't pro- or con- about the novel experience; he was simply reporting it.
And it was a hit -- whereas more significant and substantive "Kinks" were not -- see "Dead End Street" -- because it was a novelty -- there is an audience for that. Many who bought it probably never bought any other "Kinks" recordings.
There is much made of the lyric because current "values" are being applied to it -- "values" which had nothing to do with the times in which it was written. More is made of it than it deserves. Davies wrote about the distinctive -- the distinctive gets attention; those who like the "freaky" make a big deal out of that which, in context, isn't of much merit.
To claim it is DELIBERATELY ambiguous can't be known; it is "ambiguous" because underwritten. He encapsulated a one-time incident and then moved on -- listen to the ENTIRE LP on which it was included: what is its theme -- what is the "Moneygoround"? Where does the song "Get Back in Line" originate? There's an old blues song which has the lines --
"If you're white. you're alright.
"If you're brown, stick around.
"If you're Black, get back."
And what is "Denmark Street" about? Isn't that London's "song publishers row"?
"Lola" is a throwaway.
Travestite* not trans
Harmonies always seem to be great when brothers sing. Ray and Dave's voices just blend so well.
I’m hard pressed to think of a more defiantly British band than the Kinks. From Waterloo Sunset, to The Village Green Preservation Society, all the way to the 80s tracks like Come Dancing, over and over they celebrated the minutiae of British people and British life. Hell they did an entire Rock opera called Arthur, not about King Arthur, but an ordinary bloke named Arthur. they also wrote hands down the greatest anti-war song ever, the under-appreciated masterpiece Some Mother’s Son, which I play every Remembrance Day without fail. God Save The Kinks.
I always cry when I listen to Some Mother's Son. All dead soldiers look the same. Omg
Yeah ! Forgot about Come Dancing. I didn’t like it at the time, I was a teen at the time. Much better now!
Maybe Stone Roses? Then again Love Spreads is 80s Lola
Tull could be pretty darn British at times as well.
It wasn't defiance. When "Lola" was written and released it was an era during which "anything goes" -- including, especially, confusion -- was the "norm".
Just goes to show that our generation was always more accepting of people than the current day narrative allows.
I don't know wtf you're talking about.
It's amazing how people can read their own agenda into songs where, in truth, it isn't there.
I agree guicho gf, seems everyone just did their own thing, no judgement, except maybe by the squares.
@Ziggy Marlowe I'm 61 and I don't care how anyone chooses to live. I draw the line at expecting me to play along with your delusion.
Well, it's not rocket science Jeff, You must know we did have transsexuals , lesbians , homosexuals and straight guys who were happily married but were transvestites they just liked wearing female clothes and wearing make up....drag artists Its nothing new . Ever heard of Quentin Crisp. ?No bullying on social media and trolling... Today's generation just sometimes can't get their heads round their parents and grandparents partying as hard as they do.. seeing and experiencing stuff that they think is all new . We had the best music growing up. Just brilliant.. metal. , glam rock !! Hard rock, funk, punk , , west coast, east coast just real musicians and raw talent . ..so to comment wtf is someone on about is just disresptful.
Loved your discussion of this classic song, Syeed. Lou Reed had a similar hit everyone sang without giving it much more thought than “Lola.” Reed’s was called “Take A Walk On The Wild Side.” Similar story, similar time, great music and hook.
Lou Reed knew all the people in Wild Side and Ray Davies knew Candy Darling.
@@sjames1955 Candy Darling was likely who it was about, though there are conflicting stories as to whether he or the drummer dated her.
The Kinks are a band that will constantly surprise you the deeper you delve into their magnificent catalogue.
As sharp, witty and sophistiqué as it got in 1970. Ray turns the world on its head a couple of times in a couple of minutes and brother Dave is howling ethereally alongside him in addition to bringing those beautifully sculpted guitar lines in his impassioned way just to drive home the licentiousness, looseness and overall loveliness of the sitch, b*%@$.
Ray Davies is widely recognized as one of rock's greatest songwriters and was absolutely revolutionary. The Kinks are like the rock star's rock stars they are so highly regarded. You Really Got Me changed the course of modern music. Kinks style guitar riffs are everywhere and the number of other major artists who have covered their songs is astounding.
I saw The Kinks repeatedly over the years and this song was always a showstopper. Ray would tease the crowd with the opening acoustic riffs, listen to the response and say "No, you're not ready yet" several times thru the show. By time they would play it the audience was already super hyped for it. Being in a crowd of thousands of people and singing along to the song and the out chorus was just such a huge pile of fun! Celluloid Heros is a classic by them, Apeman is a cheery look at rampant pollution and nuclear annihilation, but for out and out fun R&R give a listen to Ducks On The Wall.
There's a great musical based on the Kinks' story. It's called 'Sunny Afternoon'. It's great fun and at the end, it's like being at a Kinks concert.
Loved that song!
One of their best songs "Celluloid Heroes" refers to all the movie stars of the 1930s. Great track. They also backed up Joan Jett on her '90s remake.
Saw them in 81 and i had never heard that. I left the venue singing it.
@@toddism that's fantastic!
Love Celluloid Heroes-gives me goosebumps every time 😁👍👍
@@alabhaois Me as well. Hey, have you heard Joan Jett's version? She imitates Ray Davies' cadence, it's so clever.
@@jons.105 I have now. Very good.
I have a younger sister who, when this song came out, hated it with a purple passion. For the life of me I couldn't figure out why. Maybe because her name is Lola
It still amazes me that this received as much airplay as it did when it was first released. You're right, it is such a genuinely sweet story and a delightful song, more relevant than ever. I would describe Lola as a drag queen rather than as transgender, mainly for the line "I'm glad I'm a man, and so is Lola". Besides, "Lola" has often been used as a drag name. Great song, by a great band.
It was cleverly written enough that it went right over the heads of the people who would want to stop it from playing on the air
@@izzonj 👍🏼
But what IS Lola?
Is she 'a man?'
Or, is she "glad?"
@@coachhannah2403😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@Coach Hannah
.both, dumbass. Lola is glad HE is a man, Yu dumbass.
Kinks are full of great witty and emotional lyrics. After '66 they expand so much poetically. Waterloo Sunset is a must listen, up there with A Day in the Life and God Only Knows of God-tier 60's songs. Other ones with great lyrics are Do You Remember Walter?, Picture Book, Sunny Afternoon, Top of the Pops. So many hits, you can't go wrong.
I grew up in Germany. Here, of course, we also heard all the big songs that came from the US and UK. But we didn't understand them - it was in English and we only spoke German.
And so it happened that when we were 16 we cried along on the street in front of our favorite bar "Lola" without knowing what it was about.😂
The awakening eh?
The idea of bi-sexuality and trans people was pretty rampant really around that time. Bowie among others certainly addressed these topics. Mick Jagger was wearing makeup, etc.
Yeah, this song was *not* "ahead of its time" as the thumbnail suggests. Modern youth seem to think that all of the past was one long, depressing nightmare of bigotry, repression and intolerance. Modern activists certainly want to portray themselves as the very first people in human history to be openminded and accepting of the eccentricities of others. But actual history isn't the cartoonish dystopia they seem to think it is.
@@flatebo1 generally agree. the sixties had a lot of what might be referred to as "modern" themes . Unfortunately history is not a hot topic in today's society.
Tat was during the "glam rock" days.
Yes, Bowie and Jagger and the Sweet etc liked to wear makeup and female clothing, as part of the act.
They had a song called Apeman after Lola, I liked it.
Once you hear this song, it is freakin' impossible to get that "Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola" our of your head......forever! Very perceptive reaction. 🙂❤
I still love to sing along with this song. Fun what?!!!
Story goes this is based on some truth regarding Ray Davie's road manager running into to this personally when he was drunk at a bar.
As an old guy, I watch a lot of classic music reaction videos on RUclips. I love many reactors, but yours are easily the sharpest and most insightful of the bunch. Kudos to you! (And to Lola!)
This track shows off everything that makes The Kinks so great - witty, satirical lyrics, interesting arrangements and song structure plus killer hooks to keep you coming back.
Usually played at the end of Kinks concerts for it anthemic qualities.
I am so glad I was blown away by "You really got me " as a kid and stuck with them ever since.
Ray Davies's lyrics have cheered me through good times and bad times.
GOD SAVE THE KINKS!
None better
This might be one of the first commercially successful LGBTQ+ songs. A VERY progressive track for 1970 about accepting attention/love in whatever shape or form it presents itself.
Sorry its far from accepting.
@@jeffjones6221 FACTS!!
You think this song is accepting? Listen to it again.
Wayne -
Why do you think this song is not accepting?
@@joealberti7762 you actually know the lyrics? It's not condemning, but it's certainly not accepting.
Loved this! The Kinks rabbit hole is deep. Ray Davies writing is up there with the best of them. As someone mentions below, 'Arthur' is a gem of an album. Check 'Brainwashed' from said record. 'Some Mother's Son' is one of the most poignant antiwar sentiments ever.
The Kinks were a superb band. All Beatles aside (they are their own genre so don't get mixed with everyone else IMHO) my favourite 60s song is Waterloo Sunset. Also they do a fabulous song called Superman which is also awesome live. One last mention is Rock and Roll Fantasy which no one has even mentioned. You won't be disappointed Syed.
They’re my favorite group-I’ve seen them five times and loved every minute. 🎸🎸🎸
The great thing about listening to this as a teenager is that some of our mothers really loved this song, missing out on the lines "I'm glad I'm a man/ and so is Lola" (I don't know, maybe some of them got it--never broached the subject.) We would snicker at my friend's mom who would enthusiastically sing along with the chorus. Now, all that said, the 70s were pretty tough times for LGBT people, but the Hippie/Free Love culture beginning in the 60s was pretty much "anything goes."
"70s were pretty tough times for LGBT people" - That's why David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Liberace, Freddie Mercury, The Village People, Joan Jett and many others were so unsuccessful, right? Try again.
My mom knew what it was about. I first heard it in 1977 at age 12, and I got it (but I was also closeted trans, so...). And don't tell the TERFS, but a lesbian 70s band covered it and *they* knew what it was about.
Also, I think you'd love "Apeman"--great lyrics in that one too.
Sunday Afternoon and Waterloo Sunset, which is the quintessential English song.
This band is fantastic. Try celluloid heroes. Epic song. Also try some Fountains of Wayne. Adam (the main writer) tried to write like the Kinks. Real names. Real places. Ricky and Ruben is a perfect example. Also Adam wrote That Thing You Do. Nearly perfect song.
Apart from the comments on "her", I love the reference to the old Soho clip joints, selling "champagne" which was really something like ginger beer or cola.
Have you tried Lou Reeds Walk On The Wild Side from 2 years after Lola? It details several of the major characters from Andy Warhols Factory scene in the late 60s. Like Lola, it also received huge mainstream radio attention.
I have been a Kinks fan since 1977, and I have to say this is the best Kinks reaction vid I've seen yet. Everything about it -- you get the vibe, you get the cheekiness, you get how ahead if its time it was. THANK YOU.
There's so much about this track that is wonderfull...The switch up, the voices, the way it sounds, so dirty, and the storytelling so sweet and so funny
A true classic. It always makes me think of the film "The Crying Game".
Ape Man and Sunny afternoon are two other kink songs that are very cool and have great writing.
Brilliant songwriting. And I love the song. I wonder how many caught this back in the day?
This 14 year old got it right away. I don't recall anyone missing the point. All in fun.
Always enjoy your perceptive, intelligent reactions and your interest in the whole story of modern era music - best on RUclips. Today, you’ve reminded me how great The Kinks were! I’d love you to react to some Steely Dan - brilliant lyrics and superb musicianship. Black Cow, Josie, Peg would be great places to start.
I never understood how anyone can be ahead of their time if what they have done is in their time
Is someone who makes a real great apple pie by adding an additional spice ahead of their time? No, they just doing something great in their time
Also check out their songs “Celluloid Heroes”, “Destroyer” and “Father Christmas”
I love it how you give the music I grew up with so much respect! Keep up the good work!
This such an amazing song and way ahead of its time- great job again 👏 you are great 👍👏
Waterloo Sunset next - you won't be disappointed
Cleverly written song. The lyrics can be read two ways (so as to avoid censorship), though it's pretty obvious what is going on. A real boundary-pushing song. I'd recommend their beautiful songs "Waterloo Sunset" and "Days".
Another cracking reaction, it's great to see the community built up in the comments having such a great effect on the channel. Can't wait till the next reaction!
Waterloo Sunset was a beautiful Kinks song out of that period
First time I've seen the lyrics😂for this great track - Sunday morning coffee and looking into lyrics and other songs from the Kinks - fantastic sound! Thanks for showcasing and to the person who suggested this.
Arguably their biggest UK hit and a great one to sing along with the jukebox back in the day!
I really enjoyed your reaction to this very funny song! You picked up on it very quick!
Great reaction.
Back in the seventies I listened understood and went a-ha and enjoyed and accepted it.
I'm really surprised how many reactors on youtube are shocked as well as surprised by the song
The Coca-cola reference at the start is about Soho 'clip joints' where customers are lured in by the small fee to chat with some sexy young woman (or, in this case, TS) but are then encouraged to buy a 'champagne' for the lady which turns out to be a small coke or similar for which they are charged an exorbitant amount. Any attempt to challenge the bill will see the exit blocked by a large menacing staff member. It's a con that just about everyone knows and avoids, but there's clearly no limit to the supply of naive guys who fall for it.
Often pass house in North London where Davis family grew up; always sing a Kinks number when pass there! Lola, a great song/great story!!
Great reaction, great song. You would really like Lou Reed Walk on The Wild Side.
Great reaction! Yes, way ahead of it's time...and very fun!🙂
Perhaps my favourite Kinks song is Shangri-La. Has some really interesting things to say about working/middle class lifestyles and is just a banger of a tune besides
Ray has a marvelous sense of humour!! 😉😏😁
Back in 1970 the older folks couldn't see the joke as it was frowned upon to talk about such things. I always got the lyric coca cola to mean it was his first night out as an adult and had only drank soft drinks prior to the night. Also Coca Cola had this song banned from airplay - Ray had to change the lyric and re-record with 'cherry cola'. Glad you caught the humour Syed🤭
Coca Cola didn't have the song banned, the BBC banned it because of their no advertising policy. The original version was released in the USA.
@@paulqueripel3493 Of coarse
I remember this when it came out. It shocked a few people at the time but it's brilliant. Good review by the way.
Ray Davies was the coolest of the British Invaders, very witty and smart in his songwriting. He was a regular of mine at a Jazz Club in NYC in the early 00s. Loved to jam with the legendary Les Paul on Monday Nights .
I've sung along to that blooming song and loved it for 50 years. Even when I went to see Ray Davies live and I still didn't get it? Not until on internet reactions and yes "I'm glad I'm a man and so's Lola", just spells it out once you know.
Original drummer Mick Avory still touring in a Kinks tribute band 'Kastoff Kinks' . They are out and about this spring. We'll worth seeing.
Way ahead of its time!
I was fortunate enough to see them in concert. Great song
A fine respectful analysis of a brilliant song.
Spot-on. I mean just as a song it's so catchy and it feels kind of like early Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart and so forth and I can't tell you how many people like me growing up sing-along with the song especially the car is having no idea what it meant. At all. That's how far ahead of its time it was and that's how amazing The Kinks were
A throw-away novelty. It was a hit with people who otherwise knew nothing by or about "The Kinks".
Hi my friend great reaction to a great band a young gentleman taking RUclips by storm is ren -hi ren this video has had 3 million views in 2 weeks and it is pure genius worth a look many thanks love and respect from the UK 👍👍👍👍👍👍🌟😀😀 amazing channel 👍
Thank you, 53yrs so you can tell us, what Ray has been telling the world... hats off to you. God save the Kinks
When it came out, they had to change coca cola to cherry cola because of advertising or copyright ©️ 🤔 Just trivial in the whole song ambience and deeper lyrics . Just brilliant ... The Jam, Paul Weller and a lot if punk style bands say the Kinks were their idols and inspiration
Really good reaction, thank you.
Thanks for the laugh.
Great reaction.
Great reaction!
Great reaction thank you 😃 wild bill
Very astute and intelligent observations in your reactions, Syed. Thanks - I get tired of reactions that just repeat back the lyrics as if that's the only level of the song that exists. Great job!
Great reaction! I’ve always like “Destroyer” and “(Wish I could fly like) Superman”.
Very great review! Yes, I heard this when I was 11. I've always been a lyrics person. I'm 55 yrs. old right now and it does (as you point out) it was way ahead of it's time when dealing with sexuality. But is just a love song first and foremost.
I love this song so much. You get it!!! You get it!!! You get it!!! You get it!!! SUBBED!!
great reaction also look at a London group called the Small Faces around the same time as the Kinks
whats even more amazing is that it was a hit.
Ever since I was born I had a oldies station playing 0-24. Loved that song since the start, and realizing the meaning at the ripe age of 10.
This song is a classic, I remember hearing it as a kid. I never knew what the song was about until about a year ago.
1977 Anaheim Stadium, my boyfriend Brian McKenzie and I skipped our way to the front of the stage while the Kinks performed Lola. One of the best memories of my life.
The original lyric was changed when released to " Cherry Cola " from " Coca Cola " as the BBC wouldn't allow product placement, ergo no UK airplay.
A reminder for the young generation. In 1970 homosexuality was a criminal offense in a lot of countries, western countries included
Nailed it!!
I was a teacher (now retired) and played this and many other old songs in my Chemistry Class in HS during labs. Lol the town I taught in was and is a Far-Right town! And thankfully I never got in trouble.
This is a fun one. For my money though, there's a lot of other Kinks songs that hit him more for me. My suggestions would be Picture Book, Victoria, or A Well Respected Man. Something I like about them is they often include their Britishness (both good and bad) in their songs more obviously than the Beatles or Stones did.
I would add Dedicated Follower of Fashion and Apeman, and (a bit more obscure) The Village Green Preservation Society (as a pure send up of traditional "conservatism"). Their satirical lyrics are excellent!
@@seajaytea9340 Great choices. Totally agree. The entire Village Green album is a thing of beauty.
The public single had to say Cherry Cola instead of Coca Cola. The lead singer had to fly back from the States to sing Cherry to replace Coca. Then fly back again.
I read somewhere that this song was based on a true incident. Wouldn’t be surprised.
😎🤣
I love The Kinks, i grew up with them. One if the most underrated , but best lyrical, and musical bands of all time. please play more.
Try: "Rock and Roll Fantasy",
"Full Moon"
" Misfits"
and too many others to mention.
Love your show!
Good stuff here love you
classic! ♥
"{I am glad I'm a man and so is Lola" Such a clever lyric
Great song, right up there with Lou Reed's "Take a walk on the side" Anything from the 70's Broadway Musical "Rocky Horror picture show", but I would go with "I'm a sweet transvestite" song by the great Tim Cuury on stage and in the movie that also starred Susan Surranden as "Janet". Then pick any song from the musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" (NYC Musical and movie). Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) has covered a number of the songs in live awards shows.
If I recollect correctly, this song was based on an experience Ray Davies had in a club in France, where he was propositioned by a man dressed as a woman (to give that an old explanation). There's clues all the way thorough in the lyrics but he spills the beans at the end. That was a pretty early recording of this song. Ray Davies had apparently gone to the USA after recording it. However there was product placement in there "cocoa Cola" and he had to come back and change that to "cherry cola" which is what you'll normally hear now. Fantastic song.