Celluloid Heroes
The Kinks
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
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
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
14 facts about this song
Album Placement"Celluloid Heroes" is not just any song from the band's album; it is the closing golden track of The Kinks' 1972 album "Everybody's in Show-Biz".
|
Song DurationThe track stands out as one of the band's longest, clocking in at around six and a half minutes.
|
Song GenreDespite being performed by a rock band, “Celluloid Heroes” leans more toward the 'ballad' genre, distinguished by its slow tempo and narrative storytelling lyrics.
|
Origin of Name'Celluloid' refers to a type of plastic that was primarily used in the creation of movie and photography film during the 19th and 20th centuries, which ties in to the track's theme of Hollywood and its actors.
|
Song ThemeThe song is a beautiful tribute to Hollywood's past as it mentions several late stars including Bette Davis, Rudolph Valentino, and George Sanders.
|
SongwriterThe song was written by Ray Davies, the band's lead singer, and main songwriter.
|
Inspiration Source"Celluloid Heroes" conveys Ray Davies' fascination with cinema and films. He's known for his continual references to the movie stars and Hollywood in his songs.
|
Personal AppealThis song holds a special place in the hearts of many Kinks fans as it captures the band's unique style of deep thinking and emotional exploration.
|
Live Performances"Celluloid Heroes" was often the closing number for The Kinks' live performances.
|
Recognition StatusDespite not being a chart-topping success, many consider "Celluloid Heroes" to be one of The Kinks' finest and most significant songs due its lyrical depth and melodious appeal.
|
VariationsThere are two known live recordings of the song: one from 1979's "One for the Road" and another one from 1994's "To the Bone".
|
Cover VersionsBesides being popular with fans, the song “Celluloid Heroes” has been covered by other established artists, including Steve Earle and Yo La Tengo.
|
ReceptionDespite being over 6 minutes long, which is generally considered lengthy for radio play, "Celluloid Heroes" received considerable airtime because of its lyrical depth and emotional resonance.
|
Unique ExpressionThis song is viewed as a shining example of Ray Davies' uncommon ability to express the melancholy and regret in fame and celebrity life.
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Celluloid Heroes Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Jun 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1274452/The+Kinks/Celluloid+Heroes>.
Discuss the Celluloid Heroes Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In