I always wanted to remake The Eagle’s Hotel California.
I’m tired of the original recording. In fact, I’m pretty tired of all the recordings made in the ’60s and ’70s. Yes, even the classic stuff. Especially the classic stuff. I think I’ve heard it all too often. I think most people are tired of it too. That’s probably why we all love cover versions so much. I prefer listening to Seu Jorge sing David Bowie than the Diamond Dog himself. I love Nouvelle Vague.
I often think that the USA is stuck in a time trap from that era. Culturally, the country had not advanced too far beyond that time. Baby boomers are quite happy with The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame playing in the background all the way to the grave. Scorcese, Lucas and Spielberg keep on regurgitating. (I went to see the new Indiana Jones and loved it in the same way I loved the original when I was like nine.)
So, a long time ago, I began to re-write the lyrics to Hotel California. I tried to update the setting and the vibe. A little bit Miami (shades of dawn in the Fountainbleu jacuzzi circa ‘95 - Robbie, Scott, Wade, Steve, Huggy?), a little bit Ibiza (poolside in San Antonio circa ‘98) , with a stronger hallucinogenic twist.
I had a lot of collaborators along the way. David Denny laid down a brilliant guitar track, Briejock delivered the vocals, Gavin Duffy played some drums, Ben played bass and trumpet, and after seven years of tinkering, the song was finally released on my Hawke album Love Won Another.
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