Shangri-La (The Kinks song)

"Shangri-La" is a song written by Ray Davies of The Kinks. The song appeared on the 1969 concept album, Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire).

The song describes a man named Arthur, the title character from the album. Arthur lives in a house which is called, somewhat sarcastically a Shangri-La. In the beginning of the song, the Shangri-La appears to be a true paradise, but as the song continues, it becomes clear that Arthur's house is as much of a prison as it is a haven. The lyrics "All the houses in the street have got a name, 'cause all the houses in the street, they look the same", may be interpreted as a commentary on the mass of identical suburban housing prevalent in Western society.

The song itself is eclectic in musical sounds. It begins quietly, with Ray singing quietly over the finger-picking of an acoustic guitar. After one verse, the tension builds as brass instruments subtly add to the soundscape. Then, the finger picking becomes faster, and harpsichord as well as drums come into play, as Ray's brother Dave joins in on harmony vocals. Then the climactic and eponymous chorus comes. After another verse/chorus, the fast-paced rock 'middle-eight' arrives, sandwiched between the beginning and end soft rock verses. Dave Davies, the lead guitarist, claimed this his favorite song by his brother Ray.