Talk:Hotel California

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. --CannotResolveSymbol^T 04:52, 12 October 2005 (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)

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)

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.

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

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.

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.

"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)

"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)

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]

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)

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.

Sopranos reference

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

Lead Vocal

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

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).