About the song
“Hotel California” is a seminal track by the American rock band Eagles, released as the second single from their album of the same name on February 22, 1977. This iconic song features music by Don Felder and lyrics by Don Henley and Glenn Frey. Don Henley’s haunting vocals are complemented by a memorable 2 minute and 12 seconds guitar solo, where Felder, using a Gibson Les Paul and Joe Walsh, with a Fender Telecaster, take turns playing lead before harmonizing in a climactic arpeggio fade-out.
“Hotel California” quickly became one of the band’s most recognizable songs. Its intricate guitar coda was voted the best guitar solo of all time by readers of Guitarist magazine in 1998. The song’s allure and complexity helped it earn the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1978. The enigmatic lyrics have sparked debates among fans and critics alike, with the Eagles describing the song as an “interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles.” In the 2013 documentary, *History of the Eagles*, Henley explained that the song is about “a journey from innocence to experience.”
Commercially, “Hotel California” was a massive success. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 and entered the top ten on several international charts. It first appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 26, 1977, and hit the number one spot for a week in May 1977. It also peaked at number 10 on the Easy Listening chart in April 1977. By the end of the year, Billboard ranked it number 19 on the 1977 Pop Singles year-end chart. The single was certified Gold by the RIAA three months after its release, representing one million copies shipped. In 2009, the song achieved Platinum status for digital sales, surpassing three million downloads.
“Hotel California” has remained a staple of the Eagles’ live performances, played over 1,000 times, making it their third most performed song after “Desperado” and “Take It Easy.” The song’s legacy extends beyond its commercial success. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003 and is listed at number 49 on Rolling Stone magazine’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” Additionally, it is included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.”
The song’s influence is further underscored by its prominent ranking in various polls and music lists. It was named the best 12-string guitar song of all time by Guitar World magazine in 2015. During the Eagles’ induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, all seven members of the band, past and present, reunited to perform “Hotel California” and “Take It Easy.”
“Hotel California” remains a timeless classic, capturing the essence of a pivotal era in rock music and continuing to resonate with listeners across generations. Its intricate musical arrangement and thought-provoking lyrics ensure its place in the pantheon of rock greatness.
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Lyrics
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
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
There she stood in the doorway, I heard the mission bell
And I was thinkin’ 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
“Welcome to the Hotel California
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”
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes-Benz, uh
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
So I called up the Captain, “Please bring me my wine”
He said, “We haven’t had that spirit here since 1969”
And still, those voices are calling from far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night just to hear them say
“Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
They’re livin’ it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)
Bring your alibis”
Mirrors on the ceiling, 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
Last thing I remember, I was 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”