The song Lola, released by The Kinks in 1970, has unexpectedly found itself at the center of controversy. This uproar was sparked by a statement from American musician Moby, who labeled the track as “crude and transphobic,” prompting a swift response from the band’s guitarist, Dave Davies.
🗣️ A Direct Critique in The Guardian
The controversy originated from an interview Moby gave to The Guardian, where he shared his “honest playlist.” This segment highlighted songs that he believes are challenging to listen to in today’s era.
Among them is “Lola”, criticized for its lyrics, which he finds outdated and problematic:
“Crude and transphobic”
Moby highlighted a certain persistence of outdated mindsets in classic rock texts, suggesting that some lyrics don’t fit today’s cultural landscape.
🎶 A Song with Gender Ambivalence
When it was released in 1970, “Lola” narrated a story of a man’s encounter with a person of ambiguous gender identity. The song intentionally plays on this ambiguity:
- “She walked like a woman”
- “And talked like a man”
Far from being just a caricature, the song already touched on complex themes:
- identity confusion
- challenging masculinity
- gender fluidity
A standout line:
“Girls will be boys and boys will be girls”
can even be seen as an early nod to gender fluidity, well before these topics became mainstream.
⚡ Dave Davies’ Firm Response
In response to the controversy, Dave Davies quickly addressed the issue on X (formerly Twitter):
“We are not transphobic.”
The musician, now nearly 80 years old, expressed being deeply offended by the accusations against his brother Ray Davies’ work, who wrote the song.
He also underscored several key points:
- his openness about same-sex relationships
- the band’s closeness to the queer scene of the 70s
- their connection with the avant-garde drag troupe, the Cockettes
🌈 Jayne County’s Unexpected Support
In the midst of this debate, a strong voice emerged: Jayne County, a trans punk icon.
She passionately defended the song:
“Lola broke the ice… It made a taboo subject seem natural.”
According to her, the track played a crucial role in promoting LGBTQ+ visibility at a time when such topics were largely kept in the shadows.
🤔 A Dated Work or a Pioneering One?
This controversy raises a significant underlying question:
👉 Can we evaluate a work from the 70s using the standards of 2026?
Two perspectives clash:
- A modern critical reading → some lyrics might seem insensitive today
- A historical perspective → a groundbreaking song for its era
In truth, “Lola” remains a complex cultural artifact:
flawed by contemporary standards, yet a groundbreaking approach to gender themes.
🔥 A Revealing Controversy
The heated exchange between Moby and Dave Davies is about more than just a song.
It highlights:
- the evolving societal sensibilities
- the re-evaluation of past works
- the tension between historical culture and modern viewpoints
👉 While not perfect, “Lola” remains a significant milestone in the history of queer representation in music.
This debate around Lola is part of a broader historical narrative of LGBTQIA+ representation in music—a topic we delve into extensively in our section dedicated to queer musical culture.
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