Celluloid Heroes – A tip of the hat to the great #RayDavies. Showman, songwriter and philosopher. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #TheKinks #JoanJett #BonJovi #SteveVai

For many fans of The Kinks, ‘Celluloid Heroes’ stands as one of many classic compositions by the band and more specifically, Ray Davies. With ‘Celluloid Heroes’ you get an example of Ray Davies at the peak of his lyrical brilliance. While it is a lesser known piece for casual fans of this essential act from the British Invasion, it holds a special place in the hearts of anyone lucky enough to see The Kinks live. In the lexicon of rock and roll there are few acts who can orchestrate their audience as masterfully as Ray and Dave Davies and The Kinks. While songs like ‘You Really Got Me’, ‘Where Have All the Good Times Gone’, ‘All Day and All of the Night’ and ‘Lola’ bring the fans to a euphoric crescendo, ‘Celluloid Heroes’ had the ability to bring the listener back to a moment of personal reflection. The version I included to launch this post is a live performance from The Kinks ‘One for the Road’ tour, recorded in 1979/80. This contemplative piece of rock and roll poetry is the subject of today’s Ted Tocks as the music community celebrates Ray Davies’ birthday.

‘Celluloid Heroes’ first appeared on The Kinks ‘Everybody’s in Show-Biz’ album in 1972. The song is a lament for the lonely plight of stardom experienced by some of the early stars of Hollywood. The list of actors Ray Davies cites are Greta Garbo, Rudolph Valentino, Bella Lugosi, Bette Davis, George Sanders, Marilyn Monroe and Mickey Rooney. Here is the studio version of ‘Celluloid Heroes’ which includes all of these icons. The live version eliminated a verse that mentioned the latter three.

For The Kinks, ‘Celluloid Heroes’ was a bit of a departure on the formula that had generated a series of radio friendly hits. It was timed at over six minutes. When it was released as the album’s single, radio stations struggled with how they should approach it. In the United States an edited version which clocked in at a full two minutes less, managed to get some airplay in the U.K. the song failed to reach the top 20. As is so often the case radio audiences of the day were hopelessly conditioned to shorter songs with an immediate hook. This was to their own detriment. The song stands as another in a long line of classics by The Kinks. The ones who hung around to listen were rewarded.

Here are the lyrics:

Everybody’s a dreamer and everybody’s a star
And everybody’s in movies, it doesn’t matter who you are
There are starts in every city
In every house and on every street
And if you walk down Hollywood Boulevard
Their names are written in concrete

Don’t step on Greta Garbo as you walk down the Boulevard
She looks so weak and fragile that’s why she tried to be so hard
But they turned her into a princess
And they sat her on a throne
But she turned her back on stardom
Because she wanted to be alone

You can see all the stars as you walk down Hollywood Boulevard
Some that you recognize, some that you’ve hardly even heard of
People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame
Some who succeeded and some who suffered in vain

Rudolph Valentino looks very much alive
And he looks up ladies dresses as they sadly pass him by
Avoid stepping on Bela Lugosi
‘Cause he’s liable to turn and bite
But stand close by Bette Davis
Because hers was such a lonely life

If you covered him with garbage
George Sanders would still have style
And if you stamped on Mickey Rooney
He would still turn round and smile
But please don’t tread on dearest Marilyn
Cause she’s not very tough
She should have been made of iron or steel
But she was only made of flesh and blood

You can see all the stars as you walk down Hollywood Boulevard
Some that you recognize, some that you’ve hardly even heard of
People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame
Some who succeeded and some who suffered in vain

Everybody’s a dreamer and everybody’s a star
And everybody’s in show biz, it doesn’t matter who you are
And those who are successful
Be always on your guard
Success walks hand in hand with failure
Along Hollywood Boulevard

I wish my life was non-stop Hollywood movie show
A fantasy world of celluloid villains and heroes
Because celluloid heroes never feel any pain
And celluloid heroes never really die

You can see all the stars as you walk along…
You can see all the stars as you walk down Hollywood Boulevard
Some that you recognize, some that you’ve hardly even heard of
People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame
Some who succeeded and some who suffered in vain

La la la la….

Oh, celluloid heroes never feel any pain
Oh, celluloid heroes never really die
I wish my life was non-stop Hollywood movie show
A fantasy world of celluloid villains and heroes
Because celluloid heroes never feel any pain
And celluloid heroes never really die”

Ray Davies

In what is considered by many to be Ray Davies’ lyrical opus, the song manages to juxtapose the world of Hollywood legends with people who are living their ordinary everyday lives. In six minutes of melancholy the listener goes from adoring fan to a star in their own ‘non-stop Hollywood movie show’ and back again. Ultimately, Davies’ manages to portray every artist as a vulnerable everyday citizen, and every listener as a vital player in the film they call life. On that stage we are all equals.

Everybody’s a dreamer and everybody’s a star
And everybody’s in movies, it doesn’t matter who you are
There are starts in every city
In every house and on every street.”

Ray Davies

Nobody said it better than Ray Davies.

‘Celluloid Heroes’ is not only an essential song by The Kinks, it is an artistic masterpiece, and it stands among my all-time favourite songs. There have been many times I listened to this song and found tears welling up in my eyes. I suppose in that sense, Ray Davies and I have made a personal connection. I suspect I am not alone.

Thank you Ray!

Here is a cool version of ‘Celluloid Heroes’ by Joan Jett who released this song on an album of cover songs known as ‘The Hit List’. This is a great cover. It puts Joan Jett’s talent on full display.

Here is a Ted Tocks Covers first. I am featuring a cover of ‘Celluloid Heroes’ by Jon Bon Jovi. Admittedly, I have gone through approximately 900 posts without featuring Bon Jovi in any form. Simply stated, I just don’t get the hype and I don’t buy into the pseudo ‘David Cassidy’ adoration. It’s cheap. One thing I will always give him credit for is his incredible philanthropy. For this he has my complete respect. Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora appeared on a Ray Davies album called ‘See My Friends’ in 2010. This live version features Jon Bon Jovi in London in 2002. He brings out a special guest and the result is pretty special. A wonderful concert moment even if it suffers from Jon Bon Jovi’s ‘over singing’…He sings every song like it is an extension of ‘Wanted, Dead or Alive’.

Also, from 2002, here is another incredible version of ‘Celluloid Heroes’ by Steve Vai. This is from his album ‘The Elusive Light and Sound Vol. 1’. This combines a strong vocal performance with Steve Vai’s guitar prowess.

Everybody’s a dreamer. Everybody’s a star.”

Ray Davies

Make your life a non-stop Hollywood movie show. It doesn’t need to be fantasy…and ideally it will exist without pain.