The “most British” song The Kinks ever wrote, according to Ray Davies
The Kinks earned their status as the archetypal English band through more than happenstance. Ray Davies, the frontman, possessed a perceptive eye for English life, allowing the band to create songs that captured both the idiosyncrasies of English culture and the shifting social dynamics of the nation.
Davies grew up during a pivotal era in the UK. In the aftermath of World War II, there was a prevailing sense that once the nation had stabilised, innovation was essential. This triggered a psychological shift, leading to a widespread rejection of Victorian values throughout the country. During this time, the reverence for churches and the once-dominant Victorian morality began to wane.
Through songs like ‘Waterloo Sunset’ and ‘Sunny Afternoon’, The Kinks truly grasped the essence of English identity. However, this is also most pronounced in songs like ‘The Village Green Preservation Society’, which encapsulates the UK’s psyche, delving into themes of nostalgia, societal change, and the preservation of traditional English values.
The band’s music emphasised the tension between preserving old customs and embracing evolving societal norms, focusing on the core of English identity amidst a shifting landscape. The Kinks’ portrayal of this concept was intricate, showcasing both a pride in tradition and a critical view of societal changes, painting a nuanced portrait of England through their music.
For Davies, this particular musical representation was clear. Fusing rock, folk, pop, country, R&B, and British music hall influences within intricate compositions centred on the everyday lives of English individuals, the band played a pivotal role in shaping the foundations of garage rock and heavy metal. Although there are many songs to choose from which provide the archetypal British sound, Davies points to one in particular that summarises it all.
During a time when numerous contemporaries aimed for America, Davies distinguished himself by writing with extraordinary empathy about the working-class Brits — their aspirations, grievances, and the at-times overwhelming burden of the nation’s traditions. ‘A Well Respected Man’, for instance, came at a time when criticising the UK’s elite was a powerful choice amid the prevailing patriotism touching various corners of the country.
“While lots of bands sang in American accents, we were singing in London accents,” Davies told the LA Times. He also commented on the country’s class divide, exemplified in this cutting portrayal of a privileged son waiting to “grab his father’s loot when pater passes on”.
Back in 2009, this song was used for the opening sequence to an episode of Supernatural, depicting the main characters in an alternate reality where they don’t know each other. That alternate reality played on class divides, portraying one character as seemingly well-off while the other was at the bottom of the ranks with no power whatsoever. This was precisely Davies’ trail of thought when crafting the song.
A satire on the British upper class, ‘A Well Respected Man’ says more about the class system than Davies’ strange vacation. It humorously jabbed at the wealthy, categorising those in the upper class as frequenting a different reality to the general public. In the song, Davies paints Britain as a place where the privileged enjoy a life that runs in technicolour, but it’s a farce, one where conservatism is rewarded, and charisma helps you climb the professional and societal ladder.
Underneath this facade of respectability, the song subtly critiques the emptiness and artificiality of such a lifestyle, highlighting the man’s lack of genuine fulfilment or depth.
