Two songs that fascinated me when I was a child for their gothic atmosphere and mysterious subject matter. I did an art project in ninth grade where I listened to Hotel California on repeat for three class periods and drew whatever images came to mind that weren't literally connected to the lyrics. (We were able to pick the song we used.) Today, Don't Fear the Reaper feels a little too... obvious?... with its provocative glamorization of suicide, but I still find it chilling when I happen to hear it playing in CVS or whatever. Hotel California is an undisputed masterpiece in my view. "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969" is an excellent line, made more poignant by the fact that the Eagles are considered emblematic of the counterculture's "fall" from idealism to hedonism in the 70s. Many say this song is decrying the commercial excess of Los Angeles and that's certainly part of what's going on, but I think the totality is more difficult than that.
Both songs feature incredible guitar solos.
Poll closes on Halloween.
Poll Results
Option | Votes |
Don't Fear the Reaper | 112 |
Hotel California | 15 |
― Treeship, Saturday, 20 September 2014 17:05 (nine years ago) link