Ray Davies - Shangri-La

[@nancymattice2886]

Ray Davies is a genius like no other. This is the best song ever written about the quiet nightmare of suburban materialism. Pure brilliance.

[@peterzang]

You are right Nancy. Jagger writes about who we'd like to be. Ray writes about who we are. Love him to death.

[@nancymattice2886]

Are you on facebook? I'm a co-administrator of the Ray Davies Preservation Society group and two other Kinks groups . We'd love to have you there.

[@AlfredCMartino]

Nancy Mattice I appreciate your take on this marvelous song. Consider for a moment, however, that Davies might be mocking the complacency that had overcome British people at the time, that, as individuals, they were satisfied with being "just like everyone else." And then, of course, the song concludes with the very profound realization that each of their little slices of heaven were, in fact, not that at all. I think the idea mirrors, generally, the idea that the British "empire" was well into a decline by the sixties.

[@davlinful]

The song after which my house was named way back in 1972. A truly great song from a truly memorable night in London.

[@junieberri]

WOW!!!! what a great tune for the 1st time ever played live!!!!! put in out on ITUNES Ray!!!

[@EatSleepSkiRepeat]

That was amazing. I love how they are having these old acts play in such cool venues now. The producers recognize that their aging baby boomer audience doesn't want a rock show feel anymore so they do all this crazy choir grand hall things and it's awesome. Really makes me want to see these old bands play out again, never having lived through their heydays.

[@bushidobonce]

Close to musical perfection, must get the DVD, listen to the crowd , you can always tell when its genuine applause and the wonderful Angels from North London, superb stuff, dont worry about who is best or isnt just enjoy this mans unique talent, long may he write and perfom.

[@luigistella5821]

Great, great, great song!!! Wonderfull version!

[@sueharmes9443]

dear me Ray can have me in tears and thankyou Kinks for getting me through my youth .......

[@AlfredCMartino]

Shangri-La, A Well-Respected Man, Waterloo Sunset -- three of the greatest songs of rock. Utterly brilliant lyrics in each.

[@LaughingStock_]

And the B-side of Waterloo Sunset - Two Sisters - is the greatest of them all.

[@toxicgraphix]

This almost brings me to tears. Brovo Ray!

[@drgrl]

Ray Davies is nothing less than a treasure. a talent that remains as relevant as ever.

[@SmithersJones87]

He was obviously before my time, but christ he is a genius. Love this song, and the lyrics are among the best I've ever heard, they just ring so true in that world of safe old surburbia...

[@evanrkg]

one of the best songs ever in rock history

[@sharonra2000]

intensely ecstatic, this version is impeccable!!

[@fwzzybird]

this is brilliant! i've always loved this song since the first time hearing it but this is just absolutely gorgeous!

[@colinhoward2064]

What a brilliant song and amazing performance / arrangement. Brought a tear to my eye.

[@oasis903s]

man, what an amazing song and album

[@uepom0630]

キンクスの曲の中で一番好きな曲。 年は重ねたけど、頑張って歌ってくれてありがとう、レイさん。 今でも涙腺が緩みます。

[@kringles4]

Incredible version, the version I always dreamed of! Going to see him in Boston tonight front row....I hope its a similar version to this with an orchestra. Ram on Joe.

[@ZucchiniBrothers]

Incredible version and camera work! This should be officially released it's so good! Sadly, alot of these great performances never see the light of day. You can tell Ray likes it.

[@scarecrowwidow]

this gave me goosebumps

[@646tonny]

I think was the best song i hear by mr ray davies is was excellent performance a great women chorus and the people who remember this decade 1970

[@coldacre]

that was bloody amazing. hair-standing-up-on-back-of-neck type amazing.

[@maryfran2008]

Great live performance and arrangement of the song! My hat is off to you Ray. One of the last rock 'n' roll genuises left.

[@crisp99]

what a wonderful way to put it, cheers

[@saguaroboy]

humor, irony, insight, innate artistry, master of melody enhancing the sentiments, I could go on and on. Ray is a stone-cold genius.I like the "Arthur" album- but this song, for me, is best enjoyed on the "Kink Kronikles"- probably the best "themed" rock compilation of all time- each song considering home and how you fit in. Thanks for the post- it made my evening in shangri-la more joyful!

[@JohnnySeven]

all heads must bow, all tongues must confess..this man is the greatest of all time.

[@galericulus9736]

Excellent version

[@JDBliss-kr9rh]

Beautiful!

[@PigletVanGogh]

Piglet's flying right here and now!!! This is absolutely brilliant! The entire show was!

[@kenrg]

Excellent, thanks so much for posting this. When the chorale started, I was worried, but this was so perfect and so moving, as Ray always is. I'll be seeing him in SF on the 28th of this month and looking forward to it.

[@helmutgie]

Ray must release it on cd and dvd, with the choir one of his best songs and the best video on "you tube"!

[@chuckdee121]

I saw Ray a couple times this past Summer, and he is just the greatest! I think Arthur and the whole series of story songs within would have made a dynamite rock opera and show. Shame it never happened. Ray Davies is an inspiration to us all. God Save The Kinks!!

[@alv3rta]

God, I love Ray Davies.

[@elstero]

Guter alter Song from Arthur .... Einfach nur gut!!!

[@501625abc]

Saw him last night in Philly. Just friggin' awesome!! Enjoy yourself Boston! It was almost like a religious experience!!! Everyone will be singing every song.

[@pretorious700]

Great audio-great song too

[@kinksboss1]

this nearly brings me to tears. an incredible performance of an incredible song. greg from San Francisco Bay Area

[@1953chrisg]

I got this album from my mum Christmas 1969 played it to death god save ray

[@robbieclark7828]

Chris Gerrard I got this album from my mother Christmas 2016, and I'm cutting it to ribbons

[@brötzmannsax]

Wow, great song, excellent emotional version and fabulous choir, I'm very moved, thanks for sharing!!!

[@bigboyoz]

simply magic!! love you ray!! living legend, cant wait for your aussie gigs, long live ray davies!!!!!!!!!!

[@g7npl]

The kinks were simpley brillenent nice to see ray still looking well.

[@Soojian]

This is incredible! Is there no end to Ray's talent. Omggggggg.

[@Nukumatti]

What a performance. I'd never heard that song in this way. Great.

[@davidroot8]

fantastic

[@Harpplayer504]

This is incredible!

[@TomTirabasso]

One of my all time favorite songs. Thank you Ray! TomT

[@cinevita]

Chills. This is fantastic. Worth the wait! Ray is a genius.

[@gerlend]

I going to see him today!

[@soulhealer20]

Brilliant! Brilliant! Brillant!

[@kringles4]

You are so right, and the people all around me were talking about this video! True story....also got a chance to touch Ray about three times....I can die a happy man :)

[@alphuez]

Superb -- just off the scale good in all levels. Thanks much for posting!

[@kringles4]

Goosebump city on this!! Thank you so very much. My wife and I are going to see Ray in Boston tonight front row. thank you so much for posting... Ram on Joe.

[@TheJohnfirth]

WOW! thats all I can say.Ray Davies has written some great songs over the years but that performance and arrangement is pure genius

[@Adfumbler]

Damn!! My all time favourite Kinks song!! I love it. Thanks for posting this video!!

[@kirkwallboy]

The Arthur album is, in my humble opinion, one of the best ever collections of songs ever. Got it in '84, when touring the Highlands of Scotland in the sun. Forget concept album, each song is a peach in it's own right.

[@nsmith1586]

Arthur moved me in 1972 and in 2023. Many others I feel as well.

[@silverclive]

Absolutely brilliant, can't stop playing it. One of my all-time Kinks favourites. The choir is superb. This concert must surely be aired again or put on general release? Saw Ray in concert for first time last year was truly impressed. Hope he does another UK tour this year. Haven't seen any info about one yet though.

[@LewisFord22]

What a legend.

[@Paulhtubb]

Never been performed live before??????????? Amazing, an exceptional song from a man with an exceptional back catalogue.

[@giusenap83]

grande versione

[@pedrogarcia8591]

Genius!! Ray Davies!! MASTERPIECE!! GOD SAVE THE KINKS!!

[@organaphus]

This song is brilliant on the new choral album, Ray has still got it!

[@nancymattice2886]

The greatest song ever written.

[@jc8ward]

Extraordinary!

[@445sd]

THE BEST ROCK OPERA OF ALL TIEMS!!!

[@robbieclark7828]

Now if Ray could just do this with the whole album!

[@xdc020]

Incredible...goosebumps....and theres a hottie in the choir whos loving it lol

[@DaveinLeeds]

Do you mean the one at approx. 1:48 who the cameraman keeps returning to?!

[@patriziarossi9396]

Wonderful

[@robert13151]

what a rare treat - awesome

[@albatroce2324]

Beautiful

[@jbirenz]

Shangri-la and God's Children are my favorite Kinks songs. This is fabulous to see and hear. (Actually, Ray performed part of Shangri-la at Toad's Place in the run-up shows to the original 20th Century Man tour in 1995. I wonder if Ray/The Kinks ever performed God's Children.

[@rayutube]

My fave Kinks tune of all time. Loved it the first time I heard it. Golden Hour of the Kinks. Orange cover. Vinyl. Funny, have never heard it on radio.

[@billalbritton4972]

Fantastic!

[@Prellium]

Those sticks are called boomsticks and are actually really good because you can adjust the bands on them to get a full drum sound or quiter down to brush style playing. One of my all time favourite Kinks songs, glad to see it on the advert and recognised at last as genius.

[@modsfolk]

名曲♪

[@mikeincalifornia]

Good point, a little weak in the middle. What it needs is one of brother Dave's stinging solos. Even so it approaches perfection. God bless the Kinks.

[@johnnybsteelriff]

Stunning version....

[@budgethemusicsponge]

Possibly the greatest songwriter of all time?

[@Phaedrus212]

One of my favorite Kinks songs. I am amazed he never performed this live. I always laughed with the musical reference to Tales of Brave Ulysses on the bridge as he sings about a hum-drum life.

[@Soccerballiz]

This sent shivers up my spine! My favoritesong in the universe. This was not the 1st time he did Shangi-La though. Ray playedthisa few years ago in Madison WI. I peed my pants. Ilove that Olga Rucco was shown in the crowd singling along. Shedeserves it!Ialways thought that I was the most dedicated Kinks/Ray fan on Earth but Imust admit, Olga wins.I'm sort of the silent Kinks/Ray fanatic and then I saw this and had to comment. Peed my pants again. Xo Soccer ball Liz

[@Sturmvogel5]

Super - excellent - beautiful 5***** THX

[@luigistella5821]

Meravigliosa!!!

[@amusiclover1982]

one of my favorite Kinks song ...a real masterpiece...

[@acrowth]

Genius pure and simple

[@jaymoraski]

Such a great under rated song and brilliant version with the choir. First introduced to this song many years ago from the Kink Kronikles LP. Too bad this song is not widely known outside of kink fandom. Then again, that could apply to the majority of their catalog. 🎸

[@tonysinger]

class ,class,and class,need i say more.

[@luigistella5821]

Ray Davies The Genius!!!

[@richardblock2458]

Britain's greatest songwriter in the 20th Century. He may have not wanted to be there, but he stands head and shoulders above others including Lennon and McCartney.

[@Tekukuno]

Oh my gosh that was good.

[@Zeitgeist74]

My favorite Kinks song. EVER!

[@AlfredCMartino]

The original version is a masterpiece (though I enjoyed this one, as well).

[@Rgalvez]

This is quite a surprise...a classic from Arthur!

[@sergebasset6853]

An amazing version of a a brilliant song, the acme of socially-conscious songwriting. Where are the Ray Davieses of today?

[@StuartPitt]

Nice!!!

[@daisychan53]

Woaw..

[@fergal24kinney]

if anyone has this set on mp3 i will be forever indebted to them

[@LaughingStock_]

@ idriveaprius - sorry, mate, couldn't disagree more. I thought the choir were great. I am generally NOT a fan of live music, but this gave a beautiful twist to one of Ray's greatest songs. And, let's not forget, the choir look like they are pros - they sing what they are given: blame the arranger if you think the choir didn't deliver ;) This is a superb version & concert. What wouldn't I give to have a bluray copy of the whole concert? RELEASE THE FULL CONCERT NOW, BBC - ON BLU-RAY!

[@StonefolkNetwork]

Agreed, though the beginning and end are pretty strong. They need a stronger rhythm section (bass in particular it seems) to really bring the mid-section. Plus it'd help if he actually belted out. But overall, pretty impressive.

[@CurzoMusic]

Fantastic!!!!!! Ray is a living legend!!!! Do you happen to have the Working Man's Cafe he played there???

[@ClickUserName]

and the camera just can't get enough of her.

[@fredmila]

My favourite Kinks songs: 1- Shangri-la 2- Dead end street 3- I just can't go to sleep no..er... You really got me before...no...All day and all of the night.. oh it's too difficult to decide