Destroyer (The Kinks song)
Encyclopedia
"Destroyer" is a song by British
rock
band The Kinks
, written by Ray Davies
. It was released as a track on the group's nineteenth album
, Give the People What They Want
, in August 1981, and was the album's lead single in the US. It was not released as a single in the UK.
".
The lyrics are based on The Kinks' song "Lola
" which is about a transvestite. In this song, the guy becomes paranoid
after taking Lola back to his place.
.
In the UK, the track was only available when the album was released there in January 1982.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, written by Ray Davies
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
. It was released as a track on the group's nineteenth album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Give the People What They Want
Give the People What They Want
-Personnel:*Ray Davies - guitar, keyboards, vocals*Dave Davies - guitar, vocals*Jim Rodford - bass*Mick Avory - drums*Ian Gibbons - keyboards...
, in August 1981, and was the album's lead single in the US. It was not released as a single in the UK.
Style and lyrics
This song borrows the main riff from The Kinks' song "All Day and All of the NightAll Day and All of the Night
"All Day and All of the Night" is a song by the British band The Kinks from 1964. It can be found on their debut album "Kinks". It reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart and #7 on Billboards United States chart in 1965....
".
The lyrics are based on The Kinks' song "Lola
Lola (song)
"Lola" is a song written by Ray Davies and performed by The Kinks which details a romantic encounter between a young man and a transvestite he meets in a club in Soho, London....
" which is about a transvestite. In this song, the guy becomes paranoid
Paranoia
Paranoia [] is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of conspiracy concerning a perceived threat towards oneself...
after taking Lola back to his place.
Release and reception
The track was chosen as the lead single from the album in the US ("Better Things" was the lead single in the UK), although it was released after the album in September. The single reached #3 on the Billboard Rock Top Tracks chart and #85 on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
In the UK, the track was only available when the album was released there in January 1982.