Sing-along Song – Hotel California
I cannot remember exactly what started me on my musical journey. But I do remember attending music lessons at Yamaha, and performing in mini Electone concerts throughout my learning journey. My level of motivation to practise dropped as I got older and stressed with school, but I still appreciate good music and talented musicians.
a1 – From left: Paul Marazzi, Christian Ingebrigtsen, Ben Adams, Mark Read
During the boy band era in the 1990s, I was head over heels in love with a1, a group of 4 musically-inclined English-Norwegian boys who wrote most of their own songs, and played musical instruments. After all, a band is not a real band unless its members play their own instruments! This year marks the 20th Anniversary of a1, and they had their extraordinary Reunion Tour that includes Paul, who left the band in 2002.
Grandpa and Grandson enjoying America in Concert
I think it also helps that my Dad plays the guitar, and likes to sing in the second voice to songs on the radio, which sustained my interest in music. My appreciation for music was pushed along by my Dad who introduced us, as kids, to other genres of music. He would buy concert DVDs to the likes of The Bee Gees, Bruce Springsteen and America, amongst others. One of his collection is the Eagles‘ Hell Freezes Over DVD. Having watched it at least twice, I thoroughly enjoy all the songs, and found this one to be particularly mesmerising, from the lyrics to the guitar solo. This made me decide to feature it in this post, because every time I think “guitar”, I think “Hotel California”.
This is a fairly detailed and interesting instrumental cover by Henry Enciso, of the Eagles’ 1994 live concert version of this song: Enjoy it with the lyrics below!
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinking to myself
‘This could be heaven or this could be Hell’
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor
I thought I heard them say
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year (any time of year) you can find it here
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
‘Please bring me my wine’
He said, ‘we haven’t had that spirit here since nineteen sixty-nine’
And still those voices are calling from far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night
Just to hear them say
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face.
They livin’ it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise), bring your alibis
The pink champagne on ice
And she said, ‘we are all just prisoners here, of our own device’
And in the master’s chambers
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives
But they just can’t kill the beast
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
‘Relax’ said the night man,
‘We are programmed to receive.
You can check out any time you like,
But you can never leave!’
Eagles
Or come on down to our studio to learn how to play the guitar, and be the next Don Felder or Joe Walsh, and rock with your own solo guitar riff! Fill up our Online Enquiry Form to find out more about our guitar instrumental course (quote REFXDENISE in the description). Hope to see you soon!
