Classics in Thailand: “Hotel California” by the Eagles
Editorial credit: Blueee77 / Shutterstock.com
Thailand has a lot to offer for live music lovers. Wherever you go and even in the corners of the country, you will find Thai or sometimes Filipino bands that play music with conviction. The pronunciation of the English language is sometimes difficult for Thai, but the enthusiasm of the musicians is no less.
Especially the rock genre is well represented and especially the classics. That may have to do with the popularity of bands like Loso, Carabao and Bodyslam. You will also find a variety of bands in the entertainment venues in Pattaya, Phuket and Bangkok that will gladly play a song for you for a tip of 100 Baht.
Standard in every repertoire is the classic “Hotel California” by the Eagles. A popular song both in Belgium and the Netherlands.
“Hotel California” is a song by American band Eagles, released on their 1976 album “Hotel California”. The song was written by Don Felder, Don Henley and Glenn Frey, and it was produced by Bill Szymczyk. The song became a worldwide hit and is known for its unique guitar intro, emotional vocals and symbolic lyrics. In addition to the original performance, The Eagles also included the song on their 1980 live album and also (but in an acoustic version) on their 1994 CD and video Hell Freezes Over.
Lyrics
The lyrics to “Hotel California” tell the story of a man who arrives at a luxury hotel in California, but soon discovers he can't leave. The hotel is seen as a metaphor for the temptations and pitfalls of the American dream, and the lyrics contain several symbolic references to these themes. The song describes how the hotel has become a kind of prison, where the traveler is trapped in a life of luxury and hedonism.
The song became a huge hit, reaching the top of the charts and winning several music awards. It remains one of the Eagles' most popular and recognizable songs to this day and is known as a worldwide classic in rock music, which is also enjoyed by many musicians in Thailand.
Lyrics:
On a dark desert highway
cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitis
Rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance
I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinking to myself
“This could be Heaven or this could be Hell”
Then she lit up a candle
And she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor
I thought I heard them say
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year (any time of year)
You can find it here
Her mind is Tiffany twisted
She got the Mercedes Benz
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys
That she calls friends
How do they dance in the courtyard
sweet summer sweat
Some dance to remember
some dance to forget
So I called up the Captain
“Please bring me my wine”
He said, 'We haven't had that spirit here
Since 1969″
And still those voices are calling from far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night
Just to hear them say
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
They livin' it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)
Bring your alibis
Mirrors on the ceiling
The pink champagne on ice
And she said, 'We are all just prisoners here
Or our own device”
And in the master's chambers
They gathered for the feast
They stabilize it with their steely knives
But they just can't kill the beast
Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
“Relax,” said the night man
“We are programmed to receive
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave"
Source: The Eagles
About this blogger
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Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and a lover of good music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
My motto: "Don't worry too much, others will do that for you."
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Idd 'Hotel California' is a topper that you hear in many places in Thailand. Just like John Denver's famous 'Country roads'…. is there one too.
Yes, the Eagles and the Scorpions are immensely popular here.
Yes Chris,
Those were still times. I mean The Scorpions in 1965 with their hit 'Hello Josephine'
Moreover, I was one of those lucky ones who got to see The Eagles perform in Bangkok on February 20, 2011.
But also Eric Clapton, also in Bangkok, 4 days earlier. On February 16
I have never in my life been able to experience such a music orgasm as in that week at the beginning of 2011!!
hello pear,
I was also at that concert of The Eagles in 2011.
Even stronger: my wife was there too, but then I didn't know her yet…….
I think Chris means here the German group Scorpions with the song Wind Of Change.
https://youtu.be/n4RjJKxsamQ
Yes, of course I know those Scorpions.
But in Thailand it's the other, German band The Scorpions, from 'Wind of Change' and 'Gorky park'.
The real hotel California is located along Sunset Bld in LA. The name is Beverly hotel.
The world famous guitar solo in the song is by Joe Walsh simultaneously with Don Felder
It was Don Felder who wrote the melody of the most famous Eagles song hotel California, he also plays the guitar solo on that song which was composed by him, together with Joe Walsh as second guitarist, in 2001 he was fired because of a fight, with especially about the difference in pay between the various band members.
Thank you for Hotel California!
That way I always have it with me on my mobile.
Idk , I worked in Thailand for three years and I had to listen to Hotel California several times a day . Fortunately, it's a song you won't get tired of…
Thank you for this live performance of the song Hotel California;
this song never gets old.
A lot of good music was released in the 70s,
still worth listening to!
For years I was annoyed to death by two musicians who kept walking around our table and nagging to sing...they had both violins with them...to get rid of the nagging I asked if they could play hotel California..' sure we can...
I sat down and laughed my ass off…
I really have never heard such a beautiful version on 2 violins and I was completely full…The men left with 500 baht…
Hi, one of my favorite songs that I sing at karaoke gatherings of my Thai friends and family, they look forward to me singing this song for sure as well as several other songs and definitely one of my favorites from the Scorpions.
Beautiful music from the years when music was still really music, although my parents thought differently.
No idea why this song is so popular in Thailand. Everyone is entitled to their own taste and yes, in the beginning I also thought this was a good song but now that the needle has gone through the vinyl, so to speak, it is a hackneyed song. The same goes for Rod Stewart with his I don't want to talk about it. But yes, most Thais swoon over that, well not me. There is much better music to listen to but it is completely unknown to the Thais. Listen to Dr Project (a song for V) or Kad mesec prosperekom srebra sjaj Ft. Bajaga. Or what do you think of Merle Haggard / Waylon Jennings or even lesser known Eddie Rabbit and Alan Jackson with the great song The older I get!! (Beautiful lyrics for us older people!). Club des Belugas!! Straight to Memphis A lot of good blues music and I can go on. Again, there are so many better songs than Hotel California but yes, tastes differ and I can live with that.