Dave Davies drops warning to Moby about criticism of Kinks’ massive hit

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I was really surprised to read that Moby, one of my favorite DJs from the 90s, actually dislikes The Kinks’ “Lola”! He told The Guardian he can’t even bring himself to listen to it anymore, and the reason is he feels the lyrics are transphobic. It’s definitely a bold opinion on such a classic song.

The core of the disagreement wasn’t his dislike of the song, but how he expressed it, calling the lyrics “unevolved.” While his general point might be valid, Moby was unfairly judging a 1970s song by today’s standards.

Songs that mock or criticize any group of people are often met with strong disapproval, but that wasn’t the Kinks’ goal with this particular song. The lyrics were actually inspired by the band’s past encounters with crossdressers, and those experiences weren’t necessarily negative.

Kinks’ Dave Davies pushes back against Moby for recent criticism

Ray Davies, brother of Kinks guitarist Dave, wrote the lyrics. Recently, Dave responded to Moby’s interpretation of the song “Lola,” offering some background information. He also cautioned Moby to be more mindful of how he expresses his critiques in the future.

Davies expressed strong offense on X (formerly Twitter) after MOBY accused his brother of being insensitive or prejudiced towards transgender people. In a series of posts, Davies questioned Moby’s behavior, asking why he was being so critical of a song and firmly denying any transphobic views.

The original post featured a letter from transgender punk singer Jayne County, who applauded “Lola” for openly addressing a previously sensitive subject. Moby’s criticism of the lyrics as “unevolved” seems to overlook this important impact.

The Kinks didn’t intend their song to be a commentary on transgender issues, and in the 1970s, radio stations wouldn’t have played a song with progressive views on the subject anyway. The song is simply a story, set to excellent music. It’s unfair to suggest The Kinks were behind the times in 1970; society as a whole was simply less accepting then.

Moby’s feelings about transgender people are positive and inclusive, and he’s right to believe all viewpoints deserve respect, even those we disagree with. However, his interpretation of the classic rock song “Lola” is simply incorrect, and likely always will be.

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2026-03-24 18:00