Talk:Hotel California (song)

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Another theory is that, like in other popular songs, California (or in this case the "Hotel California") represents death.

Huh? Jrincayc 02:42, 29 Oct 2004 (UTC)
I second that "Huh." I want to know in what other popular songs California represents death. 06:66, 13 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I don't know that California represents death in other songs or even this song, but The Hotel California seems to me to be a logical allegory for death: "...You can check in anytime you want, but you can never leave..." Drugs make sense for this too, however. --CannotResolveSymbolT 04:52, 12 October 2005 (UTC)


Contents

[edit] Version of interpretation

It seems to me strange - nobody told about version, that Eagles said in this song about USA, and Hotel is compared with this state. This version has a place in Russia, f.e. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.151.223.30 (talk) 09:25, 28 February 2008 (UTC)

I suggest calling this an allegory rather than a metaphor. Any seconds? Theaterfreak64 06:57, Feb 18, 2005 (UTC)

CannotResolveSymbol, I think the song actually goes "..You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave..." I always thought it was about a brothel, and everyone I spoke to agreed. I am surprised to find absolutely nothing about this idea here. Carter Somerville 05:02, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] The 'What this song means' explanation

Was repearted SIX times, I took out the last 5 so it is now only in there once. Just cleaning up some idiocy, people really need to read the damn article. Babrook 07:57, Dec 26, 2006 (UTC)

Why does crap like "Conspiracy theorists also have come with various other intrepretations of the song but none have been officially confirmed" keep popping up? Basically, every wikipedia entry imaginable could have the same basic statement, so why waste the space? It's an obvious, general statement that has absoloutely no substance to it. It's like putting "This article may or may not be incorrect" at the bottom of every page. Lame. . . 146.63.253.183 19:43, 9 August 2007 (UTC)


Heard on the 'CASEY KASEM TOP HITS OF THE US' radio show that the there is actually a place called 'Hotel California' in Mexico which the band members used to frequent. And the managers of the hotel have apparently verified that the place described in the song is similar to the actual hotel. The Casey Kasem Show is a reputed radio show and the guy has been around for a long time. So if his word counts for anything this could be one of the most valid explanations for the SONG TITLE!! Please try and verify this information and consider updating your article

                                                                                                                                                              1. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Cybernator (talk • contribs) 02:56, 23 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Satanic lyrics proven false

I've noticed that the band is quoted for not having any relation with that frontier hotel, but there's no quote for proving the Satanic rumours false. How were they proven? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 200.76.103.97 (talk) 02:06, 1 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Here's a thought

The song can easylky be seen as a drug use methaphore. In the master's chambers sounds like the Master of puppets by Metallica, don't you think?
That is genius, if Master of Puppets did not come out almost 10 years after this song.

[edit] Reggae cover

I have downloaded a song that purports to be a Bob Marley cover of "Hotel California", and which does rather sound like his voice, though not really his style. Can anyone confirm that he has covered the song? Anybody know of any reggae covers by somebody who could be mistaken for Bob Marley? Tuf-Kat 05:06, Jun 16, 2005 (UTC)

YES YOU ARE ALMOST RIGHT IT IS IN FACT ZIGGY MARLEY COVERING THE SONG HOTEL CALIFORNIA. NOTICE THE SUBTLENESS IN HIS VOICE AS WITH HIS FATHERS.ALSO IT WAS IN A WOODSTOCK ARTICLE. LELLOW@AOL.COM
LELLOW@AOL.COM ---
I see that you did some research in your answer below...

"(UTC)YES YOU ARE ALMOST RIGHT IT IS IN FACT ZIGGY MARLEY COVERING THE SONG HOTEL CALIFORNIA. NOTICE THE SUBTLENESS IN HIS VOICE AS WITH HIS FATHERS.ALSO IT WAS IN A WOODSTOCK ARTICLE. LELLOW@AOL.COM" However, I also googled and found the page you are referring to. No where in the page could I find a direct statement that Ziggy Marley covered this song. Did I miss something? I am most concerned because if you google "Ziggy Marley Hotel California" the google summary returns..

"Ziggy Marley led a sprawling 14-piece band, the Melody Makers, ... As Henley sang in "Hotel California, "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969. ..."
So did you post your answer based on the summary from google? If so I am not sure this is 100% proof that it was Ziggy Marley that did this song (although I will say it is compelling evidence). bh
(moved people's comments around to make this easier to read) I forgot that I had asked this question. I have done some more research and decided it was more likely Majek Fashek -- unfortunately I don't remember what gave me that idea. I have to say it doesn't really sound like Ziggy, but I don't listen to a whole lot of him. Tuf-Kat 05:06, 18 January 2006 (UTC)

The only cover of hotel california version reggae is from Majek Fashek.

I just listened to both versions and the purported Bob Marley version is most definitely not the same as Majek Fashek's version ℬastique▼parℓer♥voir♑ 18:52, 20 February 2006 (UTC)

Track 12 of the album "Reggae Rocks: The Tide Is High" (Bongo Boy, 2001) is Edi Fitzroy's version of 'Hotel California'. I'm pretty sure this clears up the mystery! Why is it that every unkown reggae track gets attributed to Bob??

I came across a ska version of hotel california, supposedly by reel big fish. When I saw this discussion, I assumed you were all refering to this version because ska music has reggae stlye guitar rhythms. But, in response to the previous comment saying this is Edi Fitzroys version, I have found a sample of this song on this page: http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1833203/a/Reggae+Rocks:+The+Tide+Is+High.htm
and this is a different version to the one I have.
This ska version has brass playing the melody of the chorus, as opposed to vocals. I must say, it does sound a LOT like something reel big fish would do. Can anyone confirm it is by them, or does anyone know who it actually IS by? - Mat
I have that same version, Mat, but mine thinks it's by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. They're a cover band, and it would sorta make sense, but they're not ska and a complete discography tells me they've recorded Desperado, but not Hotel California. So it's a mystery to me, too! Which is a shame, because it's a pretty cool version. :) Kyou 18:18, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

Well... I've heard that before, some friends say it's Bob, but listen carefully please! it's not him... You should listen to his first songs and then you can agree with me. I hope not to be wrong. Thelawgiver2003@hotmail.com

"Anybody know of any reggae covers by somebody who could be mistaken for Bob Marley?" To the uneducated ear, -any- reggae song performed by a man might be attributed to Bob Marley... in much the same way that many novelty pop songs are mis-attributed to Weird Al Yankovic. Never trust the tags on mp3s you download off the internet or receive from friends, because there are a lot of dumb people out there who incorrectly tag MP3s. "Marijuanaville", anyone? MRuss 13:37, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] some doubts

I could agree with both theories, the one about the drug addiction's metafor and the one about the brothel, despite, in my opinion the second one is too obvious. Anyway, I'd like too know the meaning of a part of the song, which I think would help...

"And she said ’we are all just prisoners here, of our own device’ And in the master’s chambers, They gathered for the feast The stab it with their steely knives, But they just can’t kill the beast"

What do mean "the beast" and "our own device" in this context?

See Also http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=4793

Something cool Found from the link you provided is that i guy clams the whole album is a concept album I have a very interesting little story for all of you in regards to this song and it's meaning. About 15 years ago, I was taking an English class in University, and the and the professor of the class had an assignment for us. He handed out a sheet of paper face down to everyone. When we turned it over, we were told to write what we thought the song was about. He added, however, that the song was NOT about a cult so don't even write that. So, basically almost every member of the class then proceeded along the next route....the drugs/addiction metaphors. When we were done, he proceeded to tell us what the song, and the corresponding album were ACTUALLY about. It seems our prof had, at one time, lived in the California area and was very good friends with a certain drummer named Don Henley. Don explained the story behind the song to him, and said he was amused at the wide varieties of interpretations the song had developed over time. According to the source, The "Hotel California" is actually, L.A. itself. The song and album take you on a trip though the music industry in L.A. in the late sixties early seventies, when agents and studios controlled artists like puppets. Back in the late sixties, 1969 to be exact, there was a major onslaught of artists being signed left, right and center, and artisit at the time were often known to basically "sell their soul" to a record company executive in order to get a recording contract. Many times these artists were given little if anything for their music, and thus ended up basically a victom to their love of music. Just imagine the scene at the time, it's late 60's, you are on your way to L.A. to strike it big with dreams of glamour and fame...and you basically are prepared to sell your soul of you have to to attain it. I must admit, when I first heard this explaination, I was a little skeptical...but trust me....listen to the WHOLE album again, start to finish and keep this definition in mind when you do it. Every song ties together in one big story, finishing off with the Last Resort which gives you a clear summery of the whole album and idea. I don't deny that drugs and addiction have a lot to do with the lifestyle and results of the quest for fame. All I ask is to keep an open mind and think of "The Hotel California" as L.A., and you may be surprised.

I've had a similar experience, with my professor claiming similar story, but a completely different meaning, and it was in a philosophy class (The meaning I was taught was about how we always, in every facet of our lives, ern for something different. Single people want someone committed to them, married people want their social freedom, poor people want better jobs, people with better jobs want to tell their boss to F.O. and quit, people want to own a home, homeowners want the freedom to easily move around, etc.). I have met another person that makes the same claim with a different supposed meaning. I'm inclined to believe all those professors are full of shit, and wouldn't be surprized if none of them ever came within a mile of any member of The Eagles.146.63.253.183 20:01, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] more drug references

I've seen "stab it with their steely knives" claimed to be referring to injecting heroin. The image that comes to mind for me is chopping cocaine with a razor on a mirror. "The beast" is then cocaine, (less literally, cocaine addiction). "Prisoners of our own device" -- we brought it on ourselves.

[edit] "Steely Knives"

The line "They stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast" is a reference to Steely Dan. They shared the same manager and had a friendly rivalry. The year before, Steely Dan included the line "Turn up The Eagles, the neighbors are listening" on the song "Everything You Did." [1] David Bergan 18:49, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

I heard that it could be about drug rehab...not sure, could be about drugs, drug rehab, or the whole experience. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 134.121.254.188 (talk • contribs)

When I heard it for the first several times, I was sure it was about drugs. I'm willing to take the band member's word for it, though, and say that it's about 1960s California hedonism. -Theaterfreak64 06:13, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure it's about Steely Dan, didn't one of the members of the Eagles say it was in fact?

Hi, Has no one ever wondered whether the 2 lines are in fact a more literary allusion to the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding??? I have always assumed that it was, since I first heard the song back in the 70s. tc847 18:32, 3 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] "Colitas"

The explanation of "colitas" as marijuana buds seems plausible enough, and is elsewhere attributed to "Eagles management honcho Irving Azoff." But I just discovered that it's also a brand of cigar, which raises a whole other possibility!

Yep... at the time, Dominican made Colitas were a cheap (and legally distributable) alternative to Cuban Cohiba cigars... 136.145.192.75 17:50, 28 August 2006 (UTC)

When I heard this line, I thought it meant that the church can try and get rid of the non-believer, yet they will alwaysbe replaced by other non-believers. Toby Keet 05:15, 25 September 2007 (UTC) "Colitas" in spanish means Little Butt and it is use for cigarette (colita de cigarro) or anything that can smoked. (Marijuana) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Oerivasc (talk • contribs) 20:50, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

Think the last comment about butts is more wrong than right. The correct term for a cigarette butt is "colilla". Colitas are small tails (as in the restaurant menu offering of colitas de langosta (lobster tails)) or an unmentionable part of the female anatomy (warning: do a google.es search and you will be surprised what you find in response to colitas). However, the net effect is correct. "Warm smell of colitas" is most certainly a reference to some kind of reefer being smoked in the near vicinity. tc847 18:37, 3 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] External Links

This is a personal opinion, however - I don't really see the significance of the "Compulsary License Infoo" in the External links, as it does not seem to be particular to Hotel California. [elynnia]

[edit] orphaned work

Like a lot of music today, there is some music from another composition that is woven into this song. This is documented on the liner notes "copyright in dispute", in the EU copyright designation (U standing for underlying music), anyone can verify it by calling the Compulsory License Div. of the Copyright Office. This is an Orphan work that is at the center of pending copyright legislation.(sj)

[edit] drugs or hell

at first I believed that the song was about hell and death, wich does make sense in many places. But there is overwhelming evidence for the song being about drug usage. I don't think that there really is a definate answer to what "hotel" california means, I think it is referring to both drugs and Hell.

It's a song! It can mean whatever you want it to mean. There's no wrong way to interprit art.Mustang6172 04:40, 18 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Sopranos reference

The last song to the premiere episode to Season 3 was not "Hotel California". It was "High Fidelity" by Elvis Costello.

[edit] Lead Vocal

I was just a little curious as to who sings lead vocals on the song. 75pickup (talk · contribs)

Don Henley, as can be learned from just about anywhere on the 'net

[edit] Earl Reference

I believe the "sped-up Mexican version" played in My Name is Earl is actually a snippet of the Gipsy Kings cover version. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 76.167.251.116 (talk) 00:56, 24 December 2006 (UTC).

[edit] We beg your pardon, but does there need to be that "Hidden Message" section?

OneWeirdDude 02:19, 13 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Is Felder considered a "main songwriter"?

A line in the (current) article says: "Writing credits for the song are shared by the group's three main songwriters: Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Don Felder." I know Felder shares writing credits on many of the Eagles' songs, but was he really considered one of the main songwriters? Thomas Dzubin Talk 18:16, 16 February 2007 (UTC)

I have to say I agree with the above poster. I have every song the Eagles ever recorded and Felder didn't write many of them! It was his only songwriting contribution to the Hotel California album. He co-wrote 2 songs on The Long Run (The Disco Strangler and Those Shoes) and 2 songs on One of these Nights (Too Many Hands and Visions). He wrote none of the new songs on Hell Freezes Over and I'm pretty sure (though I haven't checked) that he didn't write anything on their first 3 albums. Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon each wrote more songs than that for the band so describing Felder as a main songwriter is very misleading. (Henley and Frey clearly were the bands main songwriters however).

[edit] Why not? A lot of the guitar hooks are his.

Being a songwriter doesn't just mean the guys who write lyrics. Don Felder lent his musical talent to many Eagles songs. Hotel California would never have been the success it was without him and Joe Walsh's music. For evidence of what the band sounds like WITHOUT Don Felder listen to their newest double CD ripoff. Tired, tired, tired. Just their last grab at the big bucks. They wo't fool a lot of people again. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.164.163.44 (talk) 22:41, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Waco Tribune-Herald Feb 1982 reference doesn't seem to exist

While trying to research the article statement: "The Eagles manager, Larry Salter admitted in the Waco Tribune-Herald in 1982 that they were involved with the Church of Satan.", the statement seems to be originally from an old backmasking web page that no longer exists, but good old archive.org still has a copy. http://web.archive.org/web/20020415115516/http://www.geocities.com/backmasking_2000/heavymetal.html ... anyway, after calling the Waco Tribune Herald, talking to Entertainment editor Carl Hoover's assistant and then the Waco-McLennan County Library asking them to look into Feb 1982 copies of the newspaper and notfinding anything, I think the article statement and associated reference was actually completely fabricated. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.146.251.64 (talk) 15:49, 28 March 2007 (UTC).

rare exception

in the rareexception.com hotel california, stand for materialism, please don't change it back.

[edit] History

Cite #1 simply links to a page that shows someones interpretation of the song, but is structured as if it were proof. Simply being on the Web hardly serves as proof. Unless someone can show where the supposed proof lies on that page, for I have read it and see nothing more than opinion and speculation. 146.63.253.183 20:14, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Take it from the Band

There have been numerous interviews where Henley, Frey etc. have said the song (and album) are about the dark underbelly of Hollywood. Materialism, hedonism, addiction, and so forth. If there is dispute, finding those interviews should clear it up. The article as it stands now is correct. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.171.0.140 (talk) 07:23, 6 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Liner notes on Eagles

I just fixed the dead link on the article under Lyrics Interpretation but I'm not sure which The Best of Album it was referring too, since it wasn't cited, PhilB ~ T/C 18:38, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Hotel California and Sartre's No Exit

I have always remarked on the similarities of Hotel California and sartre's No Exit. No Exit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Exit) is about three people doomed to spend the rest of eternity in a hotel room with each other, watching their past lives unfold without them. The references to hell and the No Exit themes are many:

"And I was thinking to myself, / ’this could be heaven or this could be hell’" - obvious Hell reference.
"How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat / Some dance to remember, some dance to forget" - in No Exit the characters struggle with the remembrance of their lives and their regret for their sins.
"’please bring me my wine’ / He said, ’we haven’t had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine’" - with the interpretation of wine as the blood of Christ, this would mean that the Christ / holy spirit is gone.
"And she said ’we are all just prisoners here, of our own device’" - the occupants of the Hotel / Hell are trapped there for eternity because of their sins.
"They stab it with their steely knives, / But they just can’t kill the beast" - obvious Satan reference
"’relax,’ said the night man, / We are programmed to receive." - in No Exit, the damned cannot escape receiving visions of their past lives, tormenting them for eternity.
"You can checkout any time you like, / But you can never leave" - Like the characters in the play, the Hotel's occupants can never leave.

Taken as a whole, the song carries through many of No Exit's themes, including desparation, entrapment and resignation.
Jotade43 (talk) 03:05, 22 January 2008 (UTC)

We could include that, but then it would be original research, and that's not allowed. ViperSnake151 02:08, 12 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] The Interpretation Section

IMO this section is highly inappropriate for any Encyclopedic article.

Especially since: a) there can be as many interpretations as there are listeners, b) several are not only unsupported but factually incorrect (ie there are no minarets on the cover), and c) the authors of the lyrics have been rather specific about what the song's meaning is.

Unless I see any cogent arguments against it soon, I shall edit out the rumors and insert the Eagle's quoted description of the song's meaning. IMO any other interpretations should be left to the blogs on other sites.

If common sense were truly common, every one would have it. (talk) 10:22, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Mystery man on cover

Does anyone know any truth to the rumor of there being a figure of someone on the cover that the photographer says wasn't there when he took the photo?--69.229.242.103 (talk) 07:36, 9 March 2008 (UTC)