There’s no doubt that I love this record. “Hotel California,” by the Eagles released in 1976. Sadly, I don’t remember how I came across this album, or even its title track. Most likely during my early high school years, or even earlier who knows! But let me tell you that it’s a type of album that’s always worth going back and enjoying, no matter what the situation is. Like I say, it’s a timeless classic. But, I feel like it’s one of those albums that you carry with you for the rest of your journey. The melodies on how every single instrument that played along the record, all come together, song after song, constructing a monstrous melody for you wanting more and more. I’ve never started the “Hotel California,” album and stopped it from getting bored. I feel like it’s impossible because it’s one of those albums where each track segues perfectly from one to the other. There are no awkward breaks, or even awkward songs, it just flows. The only thing is that when a record continuously gets exposed, well, you get bored, and fed up of it. Sure, even the song, “Hotel California,” I’ve heard so many times, just like Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” but I’ve never skipped it, I’ve let it play. And what I realized was how the thrill, and energy that the song brought is what counts. Think about this, both songs start off light. Okay. But then you’ve got this energy building up towards this badassery of an electric guitar solo. Just pure BADASS. But going back to the “Hotel California,” record, I feel as if each track had something special to it. You’ve got songs, “New Kid in Town,” “Life in the Fast Lane,” “Wasted Time,” “Victim of Love,” and “The Last Resort.” Great lyrics, melodies, and let me exaggerate on this, vocal harmonies that are just remarkable. But, what amazes me is how this song has different mysterious interpretations. I’m talking about its title song that kicks off the record, “Hotel California.” First of all, it’s amazing, and still resonates to this day. PERIOD. You’ve got two different interpretations of the song. The first one reflects upon the “Californian” experience. From an outsider’s perspective, it’s the beautiful, ideal life to live.  But, you’ve also got the dark underbelly of the “Californian” life that, as much as you try, you can never escape it.

“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”.”

And the second one reflects somewhat the idea behind a romantic relationship, where after a certain point of meeting your “dream” girl, she becomes lost into this materialistic life, and at the end, it’s difficult to escape, and relive your previous life.

“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.”

And it’s impossible to forget that awesome guitar solo at the end of the song. You’ve got both band mates Don Felder, and Joe Walsh taking turns in soloing, and just the melody of this electric guitar solo ties the whole song all together, into this wonderful musical bowtie.