Music heads (and egg heads) have debated the meaning of Hotel California for decades. The song is one of the – if not the – seminal classic rock tunes.
Great, but, what is the song about… the decadent 70s music scene in LA? A house of ill repute? A more grandiose statement about the corrupted American dream? Take Shmoop’s guide to this classic for a spin and decide for yourself. (Spoiler Alert: it’s not about a hotel).
We have 11 new Learning Guides this week. Check them out (ahem) any time you like.
New in Shmoop Literature:
- All My Sons, by Arthur Miller
- The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
- Disgrace, by J.M. Coetzee
- The God of Small Things, by Arundhati Roy
- Howards End, by E.M. Forster
- Libation Bearers, by Aeschylus
New in Shmoop Poetry:
- Big Poppy, by Ted Hughes
- Deathfugue, by Paul Celan
- Poetry, by Marianne Moore
New in Shmoop Music:
- Criminal, by Fiona Apple
- Hotel California, by The Eagles