# Kinks' Lola Opening Lyrics?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [March 20, 2018, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862 "2018-03-20T01:20:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2018, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/1 "2018-03-20T01:20:34Z")
OK, I have heard this song hundreds of time, and I am finally convinced. However, I need validation from the SDope. Are there two versions of this song? I swear one says “the champagne tastes just like cherry cola” and another version says " the champagne tastes just like Coca-cola". Am I crazy? I could swear I clearly heard “Coca-cola” just today on the radio when most times they play “cherry cola”. What says the SD?
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2018, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/2 "2018-03-20T01:22:29Z")
Yes. [http://www.feelnumb.com/2009/11/30/the-bbc-made-the-kinks-change-their-lyrics-to-lola-in-order-to-get-airplay/](http://www.feelnumb.com/2009/11/30/the-bbc-made-the-kinks-change-their-lyrics-to-lola-in-order-to-get-airplay/)
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### Author:  [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2018, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/3 "2018-03-20T01:23:48Z")
According to Wikipedia
> [@](#):
>
> The single version (mono) used the words “cherry cola” while the album version (stereo) uses the name “Coca-Cola”.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2018, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/4 "2018-03-20T01:44:15Z")
Yes, **Telemark** ’s link is correct.
> [@](#):
>
> Davies had to fly from New York to London just to change some lyrics to get the song on the air.
>
> The original lyrics used the word “Coca-Cola” but because of BBC Radio’s policy against product placement, those words were changed to the generic “Cherry Cola” for the single release.
FWIW, in the later (live) versions I checked, it’s sung as “cherry cola.”
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### Author:  [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2018, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/5 "2018-03-20T01:52:39Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#):
>
> FWIW, in the later (live) versions I checked, it’s sung as “cherry cola.”
I actually prefer it that way. I actually can more easily imagine a cheap champagne tasting like an overly sweet generic cherry cola as opposed to the very specific flavor of Coca-cola.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2018, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/6 "2018-03-20T03:16:58Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#):
>
> I actually prefer it that way. I actually can more easily imagine a cheap champagne tasting like an overly sweet generic cherry cola as opposed to the very specific flavor of Coca-cola.
But you lose the assonance.
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### Author:  [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2018, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/7 "2018-03-20T12:29:18Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> But you lose the assonance.
I hate when that happens.
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2018, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/8 "2018-03-20T12:43:19Z")
That’s what HE said!
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### Author:  [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2018, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/9 "2018-03-20T12:44:41Z")
Yeah, it’s about getting rid of the brand name for UK broadcast reasons. I believe there was a version of Tina Turner’s “Private Dancer” that changes the line “American Express will do nicely, thank you” to something more generic as well, for the same reason.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/10 "2018-03-20T16:46:58Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> But you lose the assonance.
> [@jaycat](#):
>
> I hate when that happens.
I found it. It was in the hallway closet.
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### Author:  [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/11 "2018-03-20T19:09:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> I found it. It was in the hallway closet.
Glad to hear. I was helplessly hoping with harlequin hovering that would happen.
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### Author:  [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/12 "2018-03-20T19:21:58Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> But you lose the assonance.
Obscure reference: "Don’t ask him what an assy-thingummy is,” said Edmund. “He’s only longing to be asked. Say nothing and perhaps he’ll go away.” -
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### Author:  [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/13 "2018-03-20T19:27:10Z")
All my life, I’d heard the “cherry cola” version; when I first heard the “coca-cola” version - not all that long ago, if I recall - I thought it sounded horribly “off”.
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### Author:  [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2018, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/14 "2018-03-21T04:53:21Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#):
>
> Obscure reference: "Don’t ask him what an assy-thingummy is,” said Edmund. “He’s only longing to be asked. Say nothing and perhaps he’ll go away.” -
Eustace Scrubb! One of my favourite characters!! 😃
And now I have to find some music to get rid of the Lo-Lo-Lo-Lola earworm :smack:
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2018, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/15 "2018-03-21T12:31:12Z")
> [@gkster](#):
>
> And now I have to find some music to get rid of the Lo-Lo-Lo-Lola earworm :smack:
I met him in a swamp down in Dagoba
Where it bubbles all the time like a giant carbonated soda
S-O-D-A, soda
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### Author:  [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2018, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/16 "2018-03-21T12:55:47Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> I found it. It was in the hallway closet.
Only if that’s a coat closet. If not, check in your kitchen cabinets.
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### Author:  [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2018, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/17 "2018-03-21T14:50:59Z")
Interesting timing… LOLA was the answer to a clue in yesterday’s NY Times crossword.
And while we’re on the subject, can someone fill in the blank for me on the second line of lyrics?
_She walked up to me and she asked me to dance
I asked her her name and in a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ voice she said Lola_
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### Author:  [@pdhenry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pdhenry)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/18 "2018-03-21T15:41:18Z")
The lyrics sites say “dark brown,” as in guttural.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/19 "2018-03-21T16:30:49Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#):
>
> Obscure reference: "Don’t ask him what an assy-thingummy is,” said Edmund. “He’s only longing to be asked. Say nothing and perhaps he’ll go away.” -
I wasn’t attempting to show off. Assonance is the word for what I was describing. If anybody didn’t recognize it, they could quietly look it up online without anyone else knowing.
For the record, assonance is not the same as alliteration or consonance. Assonance is when a series of words have similar sounding vowels; _try to light the fire_ has assonance but no alliteration or consonance.
Alliteration and consonance use consonants in a similar manner. Alliteration uses consonants at the beginning of words or syllables - _she sold shells for six sequential summers_ - while consonance puts them at the ends of words or syllables - _Chris wished to kiss Melissa on the lips_.
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### Author:  [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kinks-lola-opening-lyrics/810862/20 "2018-03-21T16:36:49Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> I wasn’t attempting to show off. Assonance is the word for what I was describing. If anybody didn’t recognize it, they could quietly look it up online without anyone else knowing.
>
> For the record, assonance is not the same as alliteration or consonance. Assonance is when a series of words have similar sounding vowels; _try to light the fire_ has assonance but no alliteration or consonance.
>
> Alliteration and consonance use consonants in a similar manner. Alliteration uses consonants at the beginning of words or syllables - _she sold shells for six sequential summers_ - while consonance puts them at the ends of words or syllables - _Chris wished to kiss Melissa on the lips_.
No offense intended. Use of the word “assonance” just reminded me of the quote from “Prince Caspian.”
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