The song, which was released as the lead single from the band’s concept album Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One, traces an encounter between a young man and the titular Lola, who is either a transgender woman or a drag queen, at a Soho bar. The tune has long been hailed as anthemic by the trans community—if, perhaps, inherently limited by its era—and has proven to be one of the band’s most enduring hits.
As such, Moby’s self-assignment as the trans community’s unasked-for white knight went less smoothly than the singer-songwriter might have hoped. Even the best DJs, after all, sometimes press the wrong buttons. Dave Davies, lead guitarist for the band and brother of the song’s co-author Ray Davies, responded to Moby’s interview on X earlier today: “I am highly insulted that Moby would accuse my brother of being ‘unevolved’ or transphobic in any way.”
The guitarist’s post included a message from transgender punk singer Jayne County, who noted that she feels the tune “breaks down barriers and brings a used to be, hush, hush subject to the forefront.” County continued, “When I heard the song I was both thrilled and amazed that the Kinks would be singing a song about a trans person and wondered if anyone else had picked up on it! Who was cool or hip enough to realize what The Kinks we’re singing about! Lola will always be one of those songs that for me ‘broke the ice’ so to speak!” Admittedly, it is a bit on the nose that Davies’ reply amounted to, “Well, I have a trans friend and she liked it,” but the point stands.
Davies, whose responses have likely taught the electronic musician something about receptions of self-righteousness in the internet’s public square, tagged Moby in the post. Keyboard warriors called Moby, among words I’ll get fired if I write here, “submoronic,” a “clown,” and the “gender police.” He has yet to respond to the backlash, but if he is looking for a little gratis advice from the team here at Paste, we might advise that he not get himself embroiled in future online beefs with an X handle like @thelittleidiot. Magnanimously, Davies clarified that, despite Moby’s social media moniker, he “would never insult someone over their stature.”
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