Songs About California

The golden state is diverse physical place and a state of mind. Through the written word, from Steinbeck’s vivid writing about the Central Coast region, Mark Twain’s humorous story about the jumping frogs of Calaveras to the beat poets of San Francisco, points near and far, California inspires. Many songwriters also were inspired by California whether it was through personal experiences or a longing to travel west, the beat goes on. It is difficult to say what the first song about the Golden State is, surely natives told tales and sang songs about their homes for generations, handed down by oral tradition. In some accounts the first written song about California dates back to the gold rush era, possibly the age-old tune “Oh Susana” written aboard a ship sailing to the gold fields of the sierra foothills. There is a debate about the official song of California. According the state’s website, in 1988 “I Love You California” was passed into law as the official song. The song however was penned in 1915. Songs about the sunshine state vary by genre. A brief search for songs titled, “California” numbered 207 (from artists as diverse as Chuck Berry, Datarock, Angel Olson, Wilson Phillips to Wiz Khalifa). It is fair to say many more songs with the state’s name count well into the thousands. Lyrics often tell the story of inspiration however; some well respected instrumental pieces also were penned about an artist’s appreciation for some of the special places, Dave Brubeck (a California born jazz player) composed “Blue Lake Tahoe”. A recent find (for this writer), the not so well-known Beach Boys album “Holland” includes an amazing tribute to the beauty and wildness of the California Coast, the “California Saga”, most notably the song “Big Sur”. The song accurately captures images of the sweeping cliffs and rugged coastal wilderness. Genres do little to define the musical inspiration. The golden state continues to be a muse for many. Hip hop and rap artists also composed many legendary tracks, from the neighborhoods of Los Angeles, to the streets of Oakland and many points in between. It is a symbol of our diversity and appreciation for the story-teller’s experiences.

My top 25 in no particular order:

“California Soul” Marlena Shaw

“Monterey” The Animals

“California Girls” Beach Boys

“California Gurls” Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg

“Hotel California” Eagles

“L.A. Woman” the Doors

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” George Cory and Douglas Cross, made popular by Tony Bennett

“In tha Oaktown” — Too $hort

“Going Back to Cali” LL Cool J

“Christie Road” Green Day

“California Saga” Beach Boys

“Lodi” Creedence Clearwater Revival

“California Dreamin” Mamas and the Papas

“Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” Otis Redding

“Lights” Journey

“California Republic” The Bodies

“California Sun” The Rivieras

“Straight Outta Compton” N.W.A.

“Hot Rod Lincoln” Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen

“Sunset Grill” Don Henley

“Going to California” Led Zeppelin

“Tight Wad Hill” Green Day

“West Coast” Lana del Rey

“Oakland Stroke” Tower of Power

“Freefallin” Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

*List subject to change