Moby, your favorite DJ from the 1990s, doesn't like the Kinks' "Lola." He stated as much in a recent interview with The Guardian, and named the massive hit as one song he can no longer listen to. Why? He finds the lyrics "transphobic."
The issue was how he framed his dislike, specifically saying the lyrics were "unevolved." The problem with Moby's argument, though the sentiment in general might be a good one, is that he is discussing a song from 1970 and applying current thinking to the tune in the wrong way.
To be sure, any song that is written to poke fun at or judge a group of other people can easily be criticized harshly, but that wasn't the Kinks' intent when creating the song. In fact, the words were based on past experiences with crossdressers, though not overly negative situations.
Kinks' Dave Davies pushes back against Moby for recent criticism
The words were written by Ray Davies, brother of Kinks guitarist Dave, and Dave has recently responded to what Moby was trying to argue, placing "Lola" in context. The pushback from Dave also came with a solid warning to Moby to be careful how he phrases certain criticisms.
Writing on X, Davies wrote, "I am highly insulted that MOBY would accuse my brother of being ‘unevolved’ or transphobic in any way." And continued in a different post by adding, "Moby should be careful what he says...Why is Moby being so rude about this simple song? We’re not transphobic. Why does he have to have a go at us?"
The initial post also included a letter from Jayne County, a transgender punk singer, who praises "Lola" for "breaking down barriers" of a once-taboo topic. And that's part of the issue that Moby is missing when he calls the lyrics "unevolved."
While the Kinks weren't trying to make a statement either way about transgender people, radio in the 1970s was certainly not going to play a song that had extremely liberal feelings about that community. The song simply tells a story set to fantastically great music. The Kinks weren't "unevolved" in 1970; one might argue the world as a whole was.
Still, Moby's intent is off-base as he feels a way about transgender people that is open and welcoming, just as different ideas should be welcomed by all, even if they do not match our own, whatever the topic may be. Moby was just off about "Lola," an iconic rock song that will stay that way for as long as it can be played.