The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” and the Birth of
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The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” is one of the most influential songs of the 20th century. In this blog post, we’ll explore how the song came to be, and how it changed the course of rock and roll.
The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me”
The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” is widely considered to be one of the first true rock songs. The song was released in 1964 and quickly rose to the top of the charts. The song is credited with being one of the first to use power chords, which would go on to be a staple of rock music.
The song’s impact on the band’s career
The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” is widely considered to be one of the most influential rock songs of all time. The song, which was released in 1964, helped to launch the band’s career and establish them as one of the most important British rock bands of the 1960s. “You Really Got Me” was a huge commercial success, reaching number one on the UK charts and number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song’s success helped to make The Kinks one of the biggest rock bands in the world and established them as one of the most important British Invasion bands.
The song’s place in the history of rock music
“You Really Got Me” is widely considered to be one of the most influential rock songs of all time. The song is credited with helping to pioneer the use of power chords and distorted guitar sounds in rock music. It was also one of the first songs to feature a lead guitar solo, which would become a staple of rock music.
The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” was released in 1964 and quickly became a hit, reaching #1 on the UK charts. The song has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Van Halen, who took the song to #1 on the US charts in 198
The Kinks’ influence on other bands
The Kinks are considered one of the most important and influential rock bands of all time. They were one of the first bands to combine elements of British pop and R&B to create their own unique sound. The Kinks’ sound was so influential that it sparked a whole new subgenre of rock music, known as power pop.
The Kinks’ influence on the Beatles
The Kinks are often thought of as one of the most influential British Invasion bands, and their mark on popular music is still felt today. One of the band’s most lasting contributions was their song “You Really Got Me,” which helped to define the sound of garage rock and inspired countless other bands.
The Beatles were one of the first groups to be influenced by The Kinks. In 1964, they covered “You Really Got Me” on their British debut album, Please Please Me. The song became a hit for the Beatles, reaching number one in the UK and number seven in the US. The Beatles’ version of “You Really Got Me” is faster and more aggressive than The Kinks original, and it is often considered to be the definitive version of the song.
The Kinks’ influence can also be heard in the work of other British Invasion bands like The Who and The Rolling Stones. Both groups copied The Kinks’ use of power chords and feedback, and they also drew inspiration from “You Really Got Me” for songs like The Who’s “My Generation” and The Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction.”
The Kinks’ influence on the Rolling Stones
The Kinks are often thought of as one of the foundational bands of the British Invasion, but they were also highly influential on their contemporaries, especially the Rolling Stones. The Stones’ early hits like “The Last Time” and “Satisfaction” bear a strong resemblance to the Kinks’ style, and it’s no coincidence – both bands were aping the sound of American blues and R&B records. The Kinks’ 1964 hit “You Really Got Me” was especially influential on the Stones; its heavy guitar sound was unlike anything else in popular music at the time, and it inspired the young Keith Richards to start experimenting with distortion.
The Kinks’ influence on punk rock
When The Kinks released “You Really Got Me” in 1964, they had no idea that they would be influencing the punk rock movement nearly a decade later. The Kinks were one of the first British Invasion bands to make it big in the United States, and “You Really Got Me” was their first big hit. The song’s simple, three-chord structure and catchy melodies would go on to influence a generation of punk rockers.
The Kinks’ influence on the Sex Pistols
Many people credit the Sex Pistols with starting the punk rock movement in the United Kingdom, but the punk scene would not have existed without the Kinks. The Kinks’ 1964 song “You Really Got Me” was one of the first punk rock songs, and it influenced generations of future punk musicians.
The Kinks’ song “You Really Got Me” is about a young man who is obsessed with a girl. He’s trying to get her attention and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get her to notice him. The song is filled with sexual tension and aggression, and it’s these elements that would become hallmarks of punk rock music.
Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten has said that he was deeply influenced by the Kinks’ song, and that it was one of the songs that inspired him to start his own band. The Sex Pistols took the raw energy and aggression of “You Really Got Me” and amplified it, creating a sound that would change music forever.
The Kinks’ influence on the Ramones
The Kinks are cited as an important influence on the Ramones. In his autobiography, Commando, Tommy Ramone writes that he and Johnny Ramone used to go see the Kinks perform in the early 1970s, and that they were particularly impressed by the energy of their live shows. The Ramones’ song “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker” is directly inspired by the Kinks’ song “Lola”.
