Best Kinks Songs
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You Really Got Me
When punk bands recognize a song as the seminal sound of punk, garage bands recognize the same song as their initial influence, and hard rock/metal bands recognize that exact same song as their genre's starting point, you have something incredible that almost no other band can lay claim to.
As far as the Page myth: even Jimmy Page himself has admitted that he did NOT play on this song. I absolutely agree with the comment about how difficult it is to realize how radical this song was over 50 years ago. If you listen to nothing but Gerry & the Pacemakers for about a week and then put this on, that should do the trick.
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Come Dancing
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Waterloo Sunset
Hands down, the most beautiful pop song ever written. From Ray's lyrics and perfect voice to Dave's legendary guitar work, this is classic pop rock defined. It doesn't and never will get better than this. God save the Kinks!
People compare this to Penny Lane, but that song is a consciously quirky tableau, static. Waterloo Sunset is an open-ended story, full of movement, flowing like the river, already nostalgic before its present moment is over, and yet timeless.
They don't get much more classic than this. Every young person should hear this. Ray Davies performed it at the Olympics in London.
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Lola
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All Day and All of the Night
I came to this list expecting it to be number 1, but number 7? That's just messed up.
Brings back memories of when I was younger.
Hello, I Love You - haha. I think The Kinks are such an underrated band.
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Sunny Afternoon
Great song. Makes you feel like you are just floating away.
Just a relaxing, laid-back feeling to this song.
The Kinks are one of the few things that make me wish I was born 25 years earlier.
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Tired of Waiting for You
The part where the vocals go higher and then build up is so pretty. The Kinks really are the most underrated band in modern music (with maybe Depeche Mode and Madness).
Their second No. 1 single had a very different sound from the first - a bit more laid back with lyrics of sadness about waiting for someone you love.
Such a brilliant song that has inspired many equally excellent covers. This should be higher!
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A Well Respected Man
Names the way normal society thinks.
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Destroyer
Really, this should be in the top 5. It's so addicting. Come on, people, this is a great Kinks song. Some people don't know the definition of music.
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Days
I started listening to this song in memory of a certain someone. Even today, this song is still stuck in my head.
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Muswell Hillbilly
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Uncle Son
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Celluloid Heroes
It's a really good song. It's one of my favorite songs. Awesome!
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20th Century Man
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Apeman
In this time of COVID-19, I'd like to go live in a jungle away from society. This song just makes me think of a less complicated life.
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Victoria
Oh my God. Not only one of the Kinks' best songs but surely an all-time great. Croquet lawns, village greens, Victoria was my queen. Suck on that, Take That!
I love this song. It really should be higher on the list.
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Shangri-La
Starts off depressing, ends up becoming a masterpiece. To get the real effect, you still have to listen to the entire album, like Village Green.
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Better Things
The optimism in this song is beautiful, and it makes me feel happy every time I hear it. Severely underrated, though.
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Dedicated Follower of Fashion
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Rock and Roll Fantasy
I can't believe it is number 51 on the list! This is my favorite Kinks song of all time. Great ballad leading up to a triumphant ending.
Best Kinks song by far! Should be number one!
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Autumn Almanac
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Do You Remember Walter?
Not sure who it is for, but it is by far one of my favorite songs. In my opinion, the whole album is the best.
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Strangers
Probably the most underrated song of all time! Always gives me the feels.
Sung by Dave Davies. Much better than You Really Got Me.
My personal favorite on the album. So underrated.
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Animal Farm
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Do It Again
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David Watts
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The Last of the Steam Powered Trains
