1948年 9月6日 Sam在广州出生，排行第四，父亲许世昌是著名国乐师，母亲亦是歌剧界中人
1950年 学家来港定居于钻石山1961年入读圣芳济中学，开始对音乐产生浓厚兴趣
1964年 首次跟友人组成Harmonick乐队
1965年 开始在夜总会及丽的的“乐韵之声”作表演。后Harmonick解散，即加入Bar Six乐队
1966年 在英华书院念大学预科课程；在格兰酒店演出时认识Rebu，自此共堕爱河
1967年 以Lotus名义为钻石唱片公司(即Polygram唱片公司前身)，灌录首只亲自撰写的作品“Just A Little”声名大噪，
其后推出第二张细碟“I'm Be Waiting”. 20/11开始为无线主持每周五次的青年人节目“Star Show”
1969年 考进香港大学攻读心理系.因功课太忙，暂离Lotus
1970年 以个人歌手身份发展，为丽风唱片公司灌录离锦民歌大碟.“First Folk Album”及“Second Folk Album”，
其中“Interlude”更成为流行榜的冠军歌曲。乘势推出细碟“Time Of The Season”
跟嘉禾电影公司签约，首部电影“马路小英雄”与上官灵凤合作
1971年 完成港大课程，30/12与Rebu在美国结婚. 正式签约宝丽金唱片公司，推出细碟“April Lady”.
在“双星报喜”中首次献唱他的第一首广东歌“铁塔凌云”
农历年间，与许冠文为TVB主持特别节目“双星报喜”，后因受欢迎，在四月开始成为每周一次的节目
1972年 再次与Lotus合作，并推出个人细碟“The Morning After”及“Skyline Pigeon”.
拍摄电影“小英雄大闹唐人街”
1973年 到星马等地作慈善演唱；19/9在大会堂举行个人演唱会；十二月推出“Horizon”，成为流行榜的冠军歌曲.
在泰国拍摄电影“龙虎金刚”
1974年 二月推出“The Morning After”大碟，一天之内销出一千张，哄动一时，后再推出细碟“Theme From Jeremy”
同名唱片“鬼马双星”与电影同时推出，唱片在东南亚总销量达十五万，破当年纪录，
“鬼马双星”主题曲成为一首在英国BBC电台及香港电台英文台播放地中文歌.
5/11在大会堂与Lotus再次举行演唱会. 27/12在明爱中心举行“许冠杰之夜”.
推出电影“绰头状元”. 十一月许氏兄弟首部合作的电影“鬼马双星”上映，
电影总收入高达六百万，成为开埠以来香港最卖座电影
1975年 三月在丽的主办的“金唱片大会串”凭“鬼马双星”荣获宝丽金唱片公司颁赠金唱片
五月推出“Interlude”大碟，十四日在大会堂举行演唱会.
八月推出“天才白痴钱钱钱”及“天才与白痴”，唱片在东南亚销出二十万张
6/10再次在大会堂举行两场“许冠杰演唱会”. 八月电影“天才与白痴”上映
1976年 3/9大儿子许怀欣出生
三月出版细碟“Streets Of London”，曾占流行榜首位. 24/5在大会堂举行两场演唱会
十二月推出唱片“半斤八两”，唱片在东南亚总销量高达三十五万.
十二月推出电影“半斤八两”，票房总收入为八百五十多万
1977年 26/3在第一届金唱片颁奖典礼中，凭“半斤八两”
获“百周年纪念奖”殊荣。&127(此奖是颁与全年最高销量唱片)
四月到星马演唱一个月，并推出“许冠杰精选唱片”
六月与陈秋霞合作灌录“One Tin Soilder”，十四、十五在大会堂演唱两场
27/8在政府大球场举行的Pop Folk'77演出
29/8在“皮礼士利追悼会”上，唱出Elvis Presley歌曲以表哀悼
十一月推出“Spaceman Came Travelling”大碟，主题曲高据流行榜冠军位置
28/11在大会堂举行两场演唱会
十二月推出电影“半斤八两”，票房总收入为八百五十多万. 十二月筹拍电影“卖身契”
1978年 14/2二儿子许怀谷出生
二月，大碟“财神到”推出，碟内有六首歌曲改自Elvis名作，
东南亚总销量为二十万，“加价热潮”亦曾以细碟推出。
8/4在“第二届金唱片颁奖典礼”中，凭“半斤八两”及“财神到”同获白金唱片，
“许冠杰精选”及“Spaceman Came Travelling”同获金唱片，更凭“财神到”再次夺“百周年纪念奖”
七月底在大会堂举行个人演唱会. 23/12在政府大球场举行“许冠杰圣诞狂热”
“卖身契”唱片在东南亚销量达七百八十多万. 七月电影〈卖身契〉上映，票房收入达七百八十多万
1979年 二月〈卖身契〉成为香港电台第一届“中文金曲”选举的十大金曲之一
三月在加拿大巡回演唱
14/4在“第三届金唱片颁奖礼”中，“许冠杰精选”及“卖身契”同获白金唱片
四月“半斤八两”大碟在日本推出，三星期内售出超过五十万张
17/6赴日参加第八届“东京音乐节”，乃首位香港代表歌手，并以“You Make Me Shine”获TBS奖
八月推出“79夏日之歌集”. 31/8-2/9首次在大专会堂举行六场演唱会. 22/12在政府大球场举行演唱会
四月电影〈半斤八两〉在日本公映，牵起一片Mr.Boo热潮
〈半斤八两〉在港重映，五天收一百九十万，创重映最高卖座纪录
五月到日本宣传电影〈卖身契〉.〈卖身契〉在台湾上映，成为当时映期最长及卖座最高电影
1980年 “半斤八两”及“浪子心声”改为英文版本，配合电影〈半斤八两〉在美国上映
七月推出〈念奴娇〉大碟
31/8以神秘嘉宾身份出席港台主办的“六十年代香港乐坛音乐会”
12/12“79夏日之歌集”在第四届“金唱片颁奖礼”中获白金唱片
〈半斤八两〉在美国公映
1981年 三月推出“摩登保镖”大碟
21/3在政府大球场举行两场演唱会，稍后赴美巡回演唱，七月再往星马演唱
3/8在第五届“金唱片颁奖礼”中，“念奴娇”及“摩登保镖”同获白金唱片
五月电影〈摩登保镖〉上映. 新艺城以二百万片酬邀请拍摄电影〈最佳拍档〉
1982年 推出“难忘你、纸船”大碟. 三月首次在伊馆举行六场演唱会
3/4以香港代表身份参加日本第一届“亚洲音乐节”
2/8在第六届“金唱片颁奖礼”中，“难忘你、纸船”获白金唱片
九月期间，在日本推出“梦追”及“I Love You”两张日文细碟
〈最佳拍档〉上映，票房收入高达二千六百万，创开埠以来最卖座电影纪录
1983年 二月推出“最佳拍档大显神通”大碟
5/5-7/5在红勘体育馆举行个人演唱会，是首位在红馆举行演唱会的歌手
六月加盟康艺成间像有限公司，推出转唱片公司后首张大碟“新的开始”
电影〈最佳拍档显神通〉在东南亚、澳洲等共一百三十间戏院同时公映，乃历史创举
年底开拍电影〈最佳拍档之女皇密令〉
1984年 九月推出“最喜欢你”. 十月赴美加巡回演唱
〈女皇密令〉上映，票房收入超过三千万，创开埠以来最卖座电影纪录
暑假上映〈全家福〉
1985年 23/12在尼泊尔患高山症返港
加盟新艺宝唱片公司，七月推出“最紧要好玩”
十一月推出“斤两十足”
暑假上映电影〈打工皇帝〉
十月开拍〈卫斯理传奇〉
十一月赴尼泊尔拍外景
1986年 一月第八届“十大中文金曲”颁奖礼中获金针奖
十月举行“最紧要朋友”演唱会，为Lotus成员周华年及肾病协会筹款
十月尾推出“热力之冠”
圣诞期间，推出EP大碟，收录了“宇宙无限”及“寂寞圣诞”
上映〈最佳拍档之千里救差婆〉
1987年 获“十大劲歌金曲”颁奖荣誉大奖
二月推出“潮流兴夹Band”
七月推出“新曲与精选”大碟
6/10-8/10在红馆举行三场演唱会
一月上映电影〈卫斯理传奇〉
1988年 一月与歌迷拍摄贺岁MTV“财神到”
三月在商台主办的“饥饿三十”作压轴表演
七月在港台主办的“香港广播六十年”作神秘压轴嘉宾
29/6推出“Sam And Friends”大碟
客串〈鸡同鸭讲〉
开拍〈最佳新拍档〉及首部古装片〈笑傲江湖〉
1989年 25/1推出“许冠杰'89歌集”大碟
7/4在红馆举行十场“十万人大合唱演唱会”
十一月推出“十万人大合唱演唱会Live Album”
电影〈最佳新拍档〉上映
1990年 重返宝丽金唱片公司，三月尾推出“香港情怀90”大碟
7/4-16/4在红馆举行“香港情怀演唱会”
推出“90'香港情怀演唱会”及“许冠杰经曲电影金曲”
开拍电影〈泪眼煞星〉
电影〈笑傲江湖〉上映
1991年 父亲逝世，母亲发生交通意外
电影〈新半斤八两〉上映
1992年 18/3-22/4在红馆举行四十一场“告别乐坛演唱会”，创香港歌手在红馆举行演唱会最高纪录。
大碟:
1974 - 鬼馬雙星
1975 - 天才與白痴
1976 - 半斤八兩
1978 - 財神到
1978 - 賣身契
1979 - 79夏日之歌集
1980 - 念奴嬌
1981 - 摩登保鑣
1982 - 難忘您、紙船
1983 - 最佳拍擋大顯神通
1983 - 新的開始
1984 - 最喜歡你
1985 - 最緊要好玩
1986 - 熱力之冠
1987 - 潮流興夾Band
1988 - Sam & Friends
1989 - 許冠傑89歌集
1990 - 香港情懷90
Hotel California
許冠傑 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway;
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinking to myself,
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor,
I thought I heard them say...
Wee to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year, you can find it here
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
So I called up the Captain,
Please bring me my wine
He said, We havent had that spirit here since neen sixty nine
And still those voices are calling from far away,
Wake you up in the middle of the night
Just to hear them say...
Wee to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
Such a lovely face
They livin it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise, bring your alibis
Mirrors on the ceiling,
The pink champagne on ice, And she said
We are all just prisoners here, of our own device
And in the masters chambers,
They gathered for the feast
The stab it with their steely knives,
But they just cant kill the beast
Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
Relax, said the night man,
We are programmed to receive.
You can checkout any time you like,
But you can never leave
The song "Hotel California" by 許冠傑 is one of the most iconic songs in the rock genre. The lyrics of the song tell a story of a man who is driving on a dark desert highway and stops at a hotel. The hotel turns out to be a place of both pleasure and pain, where the guests are trapped and cannot leave. The first few lines of the song set the scene of a deserted road with the singer driving into the unknown. The cool wind in his hair creates a sense of freedom and adventure, but the warm smell of colitas foreshadows something strange and unfamiliar.
As he approaches the hotel, he sees a shimmering light, which represents a beacon of hope in the darkness of the desert. However, he soon realizes that the hotel is not what it seems. The woman at the door who shows him the way is just a façade, and the guests inside are prisoners of their own pleasures. The Mercedes-Benz and pretty boys represent the materialism and superficiality that exist in the outside world, and the dancing in the courtyard is a metaphor for the temporary pleasure that can be found in such things.
The line about the "masters chambers" signifies a descent into debauchery and darkness, and the stabbing of the beast with their steely knives suggests a collective desire to destroy the goodness that exists within each individual. In the end, the singer realizes the trap he is in and attempts to leave, but the night man tells him that he can never truly escape from the hotel. The lyrics are filled with metaphors and symbolic language that evoke a sense of mystery and intrigue, making the song a quintessential representation of the rock genre.
Line by Line Meaning
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
I was driving at night on a lonely highway with the cool wind giving me comfort
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
I could smell the sweet scent of marijuana, which was making me feel euphoric
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
I saw a light in the distance which appeared to be a place to rest for the night
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I was feeling tired and could not see clearly anymore
I had to stop for the night
I realized that I needed to find a place to rest for the night
There she stood in the doorway;
A woman was standing in the doorway of the hotel
I heard the mission bell
I heard a bell ringing, perhaps signalling the start of an event
And I was thinking to myself,
I was silently musing to myself
This could be Heaven or this could be Hell
I was unsure whether the place would be great or terrible
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
The woman lit a candle to guide me to my room
There were voices down the corridor,
I could hear noises coming from the other end of the hallway
I thought I heard them say...
I believed I heard someone speaking and listened closely
Wee to the Hotel California
This is the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
The hotel seemed like a pleasant place to stay
Such a lovely face
The person showing me to my room had a kind face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
There are many rooms available at the hotel
Any time of year, you can find it here
The hotel is open year-round and always available
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
The woman's mind is complicated and she owns a Mercedes-Benz car
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends
The woman has many attractive male friends
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
Her friends are dancing in the courtyard and sweating due to the hot summer weather
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
Some people dance to remember happy memories while others dance to forget their problems
So I called up the Captain,
I asked the hotel manager for some wine
Please bring me my wine
I asked for a specific type of wine to be brought to me
He said, We havent had that spirit here since neen sixty nine
The manager informed me that they didn't have that type of wine anymore
And still those voices are calling from far away,
I can still hear the voices of people from far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night
The voices could wake you up in the middle of the night
Just to hear them say...
You might hear the voices say...
Wee to the Hotel California
You have arrived at the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
The hotel is a beautiful and amazing place to stay
Such a lovely face
The hotel is staffed by beautiful and friendly people
They livin it up at the Hotel California
People are having a good time and enjoying themselves at the hotel
What a nice surprise, bring your alibis
The hotel is amazing and the people there will treat you well, so bring your evidence to back up your stories
Mirrors on the ceiling,
There are mirrors on the ceiling of the hotel room
The pink champagne on ice,
There is a bottle of pink champagne on ice in the room
And she said We are all just prisoners here, of our own device
The woman explained that we are all trapped in this hotel by our own choices
And in the masters chambers,
In the most important room of the hotel
They gathered for the feast
People were gathering for a meal or party in the same room
The stab it with their steely knives,
People were using sharp knives to stab something
But they just cant kill the beast
They were unable to harm the powerful enemy
Last thing I remember, I was
The last thing I remembered was
Running for the door
I was running to try to escape the hotel
I had to find the passage back
I was looking for a way out
To the place I was before
I wanted to go back to where I was before I entered the hotel
Relax, said the night man,
The person working the night shift told me to calm down
We are programmed to receive.
The workers at the hotel are obligated to make sure guests are happy and comfortable
You can checkout any time you like,
You can leave the hotel whenever you want
But you can never leave
You are always trapped in the memories of your time at the hotel
Writer(s): GLENN LEWIS FREY, DON FELDER, DON HENLEY
Contributed by Claire I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.