The number one hit album in America eight weeks in early 1977 . “California Hotel” is a song produced by the Eagles, in the 1970's. Similar to many other songs and articles, “California Hotel” talks about the lifestyle these artists encountered after settling in California. To many people, living in California was a dream. In “Golden State, Golden Youth” Kirse Granat May states,“To those who followed the rush to gold, California remained unique: a place to regain health, live on the frontier, build a railroad, exploit agricultural possibilities, discover oil, or make fortunes in real estate. For newcomers, it was still the land of the second chance, glowing with opportunity amidst sunshine.” The Eagles were a band that moved to california to pursue their dreams, just like millions of people across the world. These artists heard many rumors about the endless money, women, and fame thats awaiting for them in the golden state, so they took their chances. Unlike many people which moved to california, their dreams of money and fame came true. But what they didn't know is that everything comes with a price. The lifestyle that came with that much fame and money, was a life style that had no true love, only meaningless sex, drug abuse, and an unethical life. After these artists discovered the true life of a Californian star, they wished they have never came; they tried to escape the life they were living but it was too late and they couldn't. The introduction of this song was very detailed and I think self explanatory. The Eagles try to make us visualize their arrival to the Golden state. The song starts off with “On a dark desert highway” this represents the deserts that surrounds the southern california border, I am guessing Los Angeles. The next line says “The warm smell of Colitas Rising up through the air” Ive done some research and “Colitas” mean marijuana. Marijuana in my opinion represented freedom for these artists, coming from different states that had stricter laws regarding marijuana. “Up ahead in the distance I saw a shimmering light” this literally represents the lights of Los Angeles. This scenery for the artists, was like the “light at the end of the tunnel”. It gave them hope to leave their old life behind, and start a new life. It can also mean, after all the darkness this group of people have lived in, they found the light that's going to help them pursue their dreams and be successful. The next stanza of this song, describes the beginning of “The Eagles” new life. “There she stood in the doorway I heard the mission bell” this is one of the most important lines of this song, its also were many people disagree on the meaning behind it. After listening and reading this song many times, I got an idea of what it means. “There she stood in the doorway” this represents “Hollywood” being so close to them. Becoming a “star” is now within their reach. All the artists/actors dream about going to hollywood, its were dreams of fame come true. “I heard the mission bell” the mission bell in this song, is used to describe the dramatic life changing decision these artists were about to make; It kind of gave them a warning to think about it. “This could be heaven or this could be hell” this is pretty much self explanatory. The decision these artists were about to make was so life changing, it can turn their lives into heaven or hell. Furthermore, the next next stanza of the song states “Then she lit up a candle And she showed me the way” the artists explain that “Hollywood” as promised to them, showed them the way of becoming stars. Then the artists go on by saying “There were voices down the corridor I thought I heard them say Welcome to the Hotel California Such a lovely place, such a lovely face There's plenty of room at the Hotel California Any time of year, you can find it here” This line is very important, because it assured the artists of the “Californian dream.” the artists try to make us feel the way they felt when making their life changing decision. At first they were skeptical about their decision, but the chorus of the song made California look so innocent and welcoming to strangers; it seemed very hard to say no to the offer. The artists of the song, go on by explaining the type of life they were heading towards. “Her mind is Tiffany twisted She's got her Mercedes Benz.” The word “Tiffany” represents expensive Jewelry that the artists could own. “Mercedes Benz” represents the expensive and luxurious cars they can afford and drive with the new life. Both cars and Jewelry provide people with a better social status, it makes them feel important and powerful. For people that never had anything luxurious in their lives, it is mind twisting to come across an offer that gives you all that. Then the artists state “How they dance in the courtyard Sweet summer sweat Some dance to remember Some dance to forget” this stanza explains, this lifestyle had to different groups of people. Some people dance to remember what they once had before(money, social status), and some people dance to forget about their unpleasing past lives; wether it is the lack of money or the bad living conditions these people had. The Eagles, started to realize the type of lifestyle they were getting into as they noted, “So I called up the captain Please bring me my wine He said We haven't had that spirit here since 1969” this is the hardest quote to explain in this song many people have a different explanation for it. In my opinion, the only connection between “wine and the spirit of 1969” is the love and harmony. Wine is a romantic/classy drink, when people go out on dates with their loved ones they drink wine. After some research, “the spirit of 1969” referred to The last year of the 1960's which was known for the peace, love, and harmony people had for each other. The next stanza of the song states “And still those voices they're calling from far away Wake you up in the middle of the night” when people wake up in the middle of the night, its usually because of a bad dream or a nightmare. The Eagles are trying to notify us of the lack of desire for the dream they once had. It was starting to feel like a nightmare that never goes away. Although The life of the hollywood stars provided them with plenty of money, cars, and jewelry to enjoy; it was lacking many important things. The authors state “Mirrors on the ceiling, the pink champagne on ice” the mirrors on the ceiling and pink champagne on ice, represents the luxurious lifestyle these artists were living. Then the song goes on “We are all just prisoners here of our own device” This line is saying that they are trapped in the pursuit of wealth, but they did it to their selves by buying into the idea of moving to california and becoming famous. It wasn't just them that felt that way about being a hollywood star, it was many people that shared the similar lives and feelings. “In the masters chambers they're gathered for the feast They stab it with their steely knifes but they just can't kill the beast” the “beast” in this line represents the peoples desire to go back to the free life they once had. The people that share the same lifestyle as the Eagles (rich and famous), want to kill that part of them which wants to go back to the old days, but they just cant beat it. Finally the hollywood stars decide to get rid of the life they currently live, and move back to their old lives. “Last thing I remember, I was running for the door I had to find the passage back to the place I was before” after failing to eliminate their desire to go back to the old lives they once had, the stars started running for the door because it was taking over their lives and they wanted to exit it. Then the song goes on “Good night said the night man We are programmed to receive You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave” this line lays it flat for them, as much as they try to leave this lifestyle they can never do it. Even if they “check out” which means stop singing, they can never leave the fame and all the drama that comes with it. Moving to California has been the dream of millions of people. People with all type of professions from miners to actors, everyone dreams about moving california it is the golden state. “Hotel California” by the Eagles, is Similar to many other songs and stories about the californian dream going bad. The Eagles did surely make it in the hollywood world, but they had to give up a whole lifestyle that they were used to. Money, status, and many luxurious items were the result of living an unethical life which included drugs, meaningless sex, and partying too hard. Regardless of the unethical lifestyles stars live, we cant blame them because thats what comes with the fame.