Hotel California revisited....

I've said that "Hotel California" is a great song that has never properly been captured in a music video. That still holds true, although the one you can watch below comes close.

It's just a shame it was made to support fairly weak cover by an performer who goes by the name TQ... and that it is a bit under-produced in spots. (Some shots look like they were designed for special effects to be tricked in, yet none are present.)

Still, it warrants a 5/10 rating, which is better than most you'll come across.

The best Hotel California cover (together with a great spoof)!

The video isn't much to write home about, but DAMN if this isn't a great performance and arrangement of a great song! Mostly instrumental, it captures all the beauty and creepiness of the classic Eagles song and gives it an entirely new and fresh life.

Leading the performance is Iranian musician Farhad Besharati, playing a Kanun, a traditional Persian 78-stringed instrument that has a reputation of being one of the hardest instruments to master in the world.

And on the flip-side... we have this (a "Hotel California spoof by Cliff Darby with a vaguely similar sound that made me laugh, and which I've posted to my Facebook page but not here):

Welcome to the Hotel California, Iran

There may be maniacal mullahs running the country, but this is one rockin' clip from Iranian television.


And here's a straight version of the song from Iranian-Armenian pop star Andy.