Why was "Hotel California" such an incredibly popular song?

"So I called up the Captain

"Please bring me my chee"

He said, "We haven't had that cheeit here

Since 1963"

Because everybody obsessed over the line about those pretty, pretty boys and their sweet summer sweat!

Always hated that song

I fucking hate this song. And it is STILL popular. Whereas Stairway to Heaven's popularity has declined.

Overplayed crap

The song is a whole vibe, OP, it's either up your alley or it isn't, there's not much more to it.

Because it has a lot of insider references.

Young people love a dark themed song with thinly veiled imagery, especially if it annoys and/or concerns their parents. It’s likely resurgent because that whole California rock sound is big with the “kids these days”.

I always liked it. And in fact, that entire album.

Yet again, those were the days.

It's huge in Asia.

[Quote] because that whole California rock sound is big with the “kids these days

It is r8??

Catchy hook, great guitar work, mysterious lyrics. What's not to love?

r12 The whiny vocals?

All I know is I can’t get my hands on the Stevie Nicks Barbie doll, R11.

It was the darkness of the song.

It’s a staple on my playlists.

I loved it. I moved to LA in 1978, and it felt like a theme song. "The Last Resort" was the more correct theme.

I never liked the song--the phrasing seemed awkward and the Eagles didn't have their usual harmonies.

I suspect it was popular, because Southern California was still some place aspiried to to live, although even then people were complaining about the Mexicans and the rising cost of living. The first time I went there, in 1980, they also were complaining about the Chinese moving in, too (at least in the San Gabriel Valley). It all seemed like an anti-climax---the people were no prettier than in the East or Midwest, the ocean was cold and if you looked closely, it was dirty and built on a desert. The decline of California in the collective imagination probably started around the time this song was released and it seemed like people started talking about leaving in the 90s. I've been back many times for work and family, but the idea of living there never took hold for me.

Probably as an antidote to the Disco wave. Here are the top 100 for 1977, it seems the rock acts have more of a somber theeme:

Horrid song

[quote] that whole California rock sound is big with the “kids these days”.

“Anton LaVey? Ooo-whatter YOOOOOO doing here?

Come

on

baby

Beats me! Never liked it. Or most songs I ever heard by the Eagles.

It's a long song so DJs could do lines, take a shit and get blown by a groupie without having to worry about dead air

R8: "California music" was pretty much over by this time or in decline. The singer-songwriter thing from Laurel Canyon definitely was in decline---Linda Ronstadt was doing tone deaf Motown covers, although Jackson Browne was at his peak, but the heydays of Buffalo Springfield & The Byrds and their offshoots were well over. Beach music had had its day, although the Beach Boys were something of a nostalgia thing by then.

I always liked it. Especially since I moved from California for professional reasons.. It’s true, you can always check out but you can never leave.

R14 yeah that’s completely unrelated to this as was that dreams tik tok video from a few yrs back.

For the same reason "California Dreamin'" or "Welcome To the Jungle" is such an incredibly popular song, OP

Because Los Angeles is AMERICA'S BABYLON

It captivates the imagination with its simultaneous intertwining of heaven and hell (which is actually a lyric from Hotel California!)

Unlike songs about New York with its near-religious puffery, songs about Los Angeles have always been perfectly candid about the city's flaws which, like Los Angeles itself, is part of its ironic charm.

It was more about the whole album. At the time, the Eagles were always touring and this was the title song/theme for their big Concept Album. Captain Fantastic and Tommy were similar concept albums of the time. "New kid in Town" and "Life in the fast lane" were just as popular. But the guitar lines at the end are lovely, electric.

remember the line from "Angels" where Harper points out the irony of Brigham Young leading the Mormons to the promised land, and the water (Great Salt Lake) is undrinkable?

That's what Los Angeles is to the American consciousness. It's America's promised land, the terminus of "Go West, Young Man". And it is ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE.

It's very dreamy, hypnotic music -- perfect for a time when junior high and high school kids toked up right after class.

Every GOOD song about California is IRONIC.

Come on, man. I had a rough night and I hate the fuckin' Eagles, man

Arguably the greatest California song ever written is completely ironic.

I like the song. I also really like Al B. Sure’s cover versions (the Spanish was sexy).

"Kiedis's alienation led him to feel that the city of Los Angeles was his only companion, and that "there was a nonhuman entity, maybe the spirit of the hills and the city, who had me in her sights and was looking after me"

Why? Rampant marijuana use in the 70s

It always creeped me out when I was a kid - but I was young when this came out. It sounded like describing a horror movie.

"California Love"'s music video incorporates the apocalyptic imagery of Mad Max

Don Felder wrote the music and did a wonderful job of it, in my opinion.

It’s a bad Yelp review with a two minute guitar solo.

There are videos on You Tube of the Eagles performing it live when it was new and they sounded great. You get to see Don Henley with his permed fro, Don Felder with his handsome face and Joe Walsh wasted. Good times.

R37, I recently listened to Kiedis’ memoir. He spoke at length about writing that song — and is also pretty frank about his limitations as a singer. I think that song is a good example of something transcending the vocalist’s skills.

If you play it back is says try the unrinsed cilantro pesto at Olive Garden.

Never was a fan.

Horrid vocals

It's about hell, that's why it's so popular.

I didn’t like it at the time it came out. Somewhere around 2005 or maybe earlier, a live version came out with a deconstructed (?) opening and I loved it.

Now, I like any version of it. This was the time of guitar solos. The Eagles had some really good guitar solos (One of these Nights) that weren’t too long and self-indulgent.

Don Felder and joe walsh do seem to have had fun when performing HC live.

I never really liked Hotel California, although every time I hear it, I think a gay male singer should do a cover of it and just change the sex and have a man running the hotel.

His mind is Tiffany-twisted

He got the Mercedes-Benz, uh

He got a lot of pretty, pretty boys

That he calls friends.

California sound

Beach Boys

Jan and Dean

Mamas & Papas

Byrds

Buffalo Springfield

Crosby, Stills Nash (later Young)

Eagles

Spirit

Jefferson Airplane

Doors

Grateful Dead

Blue Oyster Cult album cover looks like it could be a cover for Hotel California

It's a great song. They lyrics are poetry, and the music and performance is first rate.

That's why.

are

Will drop everything to air guitar along to Hotel California.

R37, that is one of the many Red Hot Chilli Pepper songs that is even more irritating than Hotel California. The RHCP made so many shitty, braindead songs about California. And people still eat that shit up!

I fucking hate The Eagles.

^ sux 2 b u

Yeah well you know, that's just like uh your opinion, man.

OP Ever hear of Muskrat Love?

It is invocative of a time when everyone and I mean everyone I knew graduated and moved to LA.

Because California is a mindfuck and like R28 said, America's REAL sin city

[quote]She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys. That she calls friends.

I always heard: He got a lot of pretty, pretty boys... he calls men.

Why? Cocaine.

[quote]The decline of California in the collective imagination probably started around the time this song was released

Okay.

[quote] Because everybody obsessed over the line about those pretty, pretty boys and their sweet summer sweat!

Are you dancing to remember or dancing to forget?

It is not the best song ever written or performed, for sure. Still, I liked it then and still do. The lyrics are dark and convey a mood, a mysterious picture and take me back to that time. It is a unique and obviously lasting song.

Gold is another creepy one, by John Stewart.

Wretched singing

Horrible room service

Yes, R39, exactly.

I heard it and thought it was a literal monster that they couldn’t kill. A devil or some such. It was living in that hotel and you couldn’t escape and leave.

Metaphorically, of course, but now I understand.

You get to Cali and it’s practically impossible to leave. Your life changes so much living there that even if you hate it, you can’t summon up the will or the courage to go back to where you were.

I love the song. The guitars at the end were incredible.

It's very e-z listening.

R34. You don’t know the half of it…

Groovy gravitas, baby.

i love brentwood

R71 you’re a literal monster for using “Cali”—that’s a sin, a mortal sin.

i love del taco

I think a lot of people tell themselves they understand what it’s really secretly about and feel kind of smug in their knowledge that it’s about addiction/satan/LA etc.

Henley is a pretentious lil’ twat.

R79, maybe, but he's also undeniably talented.

[quote] You get to Cali ...

Call it "Cali" and native Californians know you're not one.

I didn't like the use of the word "Cali," but I thought the rest of the post / analysis was OK.

Except that California has such a high cost of living that I think people would GTFO and return home to Idaho or wherever. (You can check and you can leave, too.)

I never liked it but it's a weird song to me. It describes a "Sehnsuchtsort", a place I'd love to be but at the same time it's obviously not desireable to be there. I once read a short story about a traincar stuck in a time loop on its way to hell and it's got exacty that kind of vibe. Similar is true for "White Room" by Cream.

R71 I think you're right. I have always felt that ambiguity and the lure when it comes to the song.

It’s a great song. The problem is it’s overplayed.

Perhaps the beast was The Howling Man

WAY overplayed song.

They were singing about Bank of America.

Never said I was, R81.

Yes, R83/84, ambiguity and a longing, in a way, of wanting to go anyway and see for yourself.