Moby called the Kinks' 1970 hit 'Lola' 'gross and transphobic' in a Guardian interview, prompting a sharp response from guitarist Dave Davies. Davies defended the song, sharing his brother Ray's dismissive remark and support from transgender artist Jayne County. Soft Cell's Marc Almond also praised the track online.
In a recent Guardian 'Honest Playlist' feature, musician Moby listed the Kinks' 'Lola' as a song he can 'no longer listen to,' stating, '[It] came up on a Spotify playlist, and I thought the lyrics were gross and transphobic.' He added, 'I like their early music, but I was really taken aback at how unevolved the lyrics are.' The 1970 single from Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One tells the story of a man surprised to discover Lola's true nature, with its final line noting, 'I'm glad I'm a man and so is Lola.' At the time, some UK radio DJs faded out the song before this revelation, while Australian stations banned it entirely. Ray Davies, the songwriter and frontman, once said, 'It really doesn’t matter what sex Lola is. I think she’s all right.' Whether Lola is depicted as a trans woman or cross-dresser has long been debated. Kinks guitarist Dave Davies responded on X (formerly Twitter), writing, 'I am highly insulted that Moby would accuse my brother of being “unevolved” or transphobic in any way.' He shared an essay from transgender punk artist Jayne County for the song's 50th anniversary box set in 2020. County described 'Lola' as one that 'broke the ice,' adding, 'A song that breaks down barriers and brings a used to be, hush, hush subject to the forefront and makes it sound perfectly natural to be singing a song about a “girl” named Lola!' Davies recounted a phone call with Ray, who asked, 'Who the fuck is Moby?' After listening to Moby's music like 'South Side,' Davies said he did not like it but appreciated Moby's animal advocacy, accusing him of 'misinterpreting us.' Soft Cell frontman Marc Almond defended the song on Instagram: 'Oh for God’s sake, a brilliant, funny, affectionate, sweet and actually groundbreaking song... Chill out.' A representative for Moby did not immediately comment.
