Picking the Best California Songs

So many songs have been written about California over the years, and many, more are sure to come in the future. Even with 100 entries, this list is far from exhaustive, so please feel free leave a comment noting any overlooked favorites.

The Ultimate California Playlist

California in photos

100 Songs About California, From Classic to Quirky

1. Malibu, Hole
2. Pacific Coast Party, Smash Mouth
3. California, Rufus Wainwright
4. Big Sur, The Thrills
5. Mendocino, The Sir Douglas Quintet
6. Summer '79, The Ataris
7. California, Eddi Reader
8. California, Dan Zanes
9. California, The Weekend
10. California, Hawk Nelson
11. Heads Carolina, Tails California, Jo Dee Messina
12. Catalina, Seven Foot Wave
13. California Nights, Lesley Gore
14. The Lights and Buzz, Jack's Mannequin
15. Miss California, Jack's Mannequin
16. 101, Albert Hammond Jr.
17. From California, The New Amsterdams
18. California Day, Starland Vocal Band
19. Go to California, Motorpsycho
20. I Remember California, R.E.M.
21. California Soul, Marlena Shaw
22. California's Burning, Augustana
23. California Sun, The Ramones
24. Back to California, Carole King
25. (More Bounce In) California, Soul Kid #1
26. California Rain, Silvertide
27. San Francisco Days, Chris Isaak
28. California, The Simpletones
29. California, Lenny Kravitz
30. California, The Kooks
31. California, Georgia Prophets
32. California, Atherton
33. California, The Beach Boys
34. California, Bag of Toys
35. California, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
36. Los Angeles, I'm Yours, The Decemberists
37. California One / Youth and Beauty Brigade, The Decemberists
38. California Sky, Unwritten Law & Blink 182
39. California, Weezer
40. Going to California, Led Zeplin
41. Back Home, Yellowcard
42. California 2005, Phantom Planet
43. San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers In Your Hair), Scott McKenzie
44. California Girls, The Beach Boys
45. California Calling, The Beach Boys
46. Hotel California, Eagles
47. California Deamin, Mammas and the Pappas
48. Dani California, Red Hot Chili Peppers
49. Santa Monica, Everclear
50. Holiday from Real, Jack's Mannequin
51. Beverly Hills, Weezer
52. A Long December, Counting Crows
53. California Love, 2Pac
54. Meet Me In California, Plain White T's
55. New York to California, Mat Kearney
56. San Diego, Parmalee
57. Siren On the 101, Over It
58. San Simeon, Goldfinger
59. California Soul, The 5th Dimension
60. California, Joni Mitchell
61. California Bound, Carolina Liar
62. Do You Know the Way to San Jose, Dionne Warwick
63. The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena), Jan & Dean
64. Bakersfield Bound, Chris Hillman
65. Orange County, Stefy
66. Hollywood, Daniel Powter
67. Goodbye Hollywood, JET
68. All I Wanna Do, Sheryl Crow
69. Los Angeles, Counting Crows
70. Los Angeles, Sugarcult
71. Los Angeles Is Burning, Bad Religion
72. L.A. Freeway, Jerry Jeff Walker
73. Lodi, Creedence Clearwater Revival
74. Pasadena Girl, Nellie McKay
75. Ukiah, The Doobie Brothers
76. Sutter's Mill, Dan Fogelberg
77. Monterey, Eric Burdon & The Animals
78. Venice, USA, Red Elvises
79. Santa Monica, Theory of a Deadman
80. Folsom Prison Blues, Johnny Cash
81. Palo Alto, Radiohead
82. Sausalito Summernight, Diesel
83. Ventura Highway, America
84. Parallel Universe, Red Hot Chili Peppers
85. House In California, Keb' Mo'
86. Midnight Train to Georgia, Gladys Knight & The Pips
87. California, Metro Station
88. California Love, Tupac & Dr. Dre
89. Sausalito, Conor Oberst
90. Back to California, Sugarcult
91. California Nights, Sweet
92. Not California, Hem
93. California, Low
94. Late Great Golden State, Mike Stinson
95. California Grace, Long Beach Shortbus
96. It Never Rains In Southern California, Albert Hammond & M. Hazelwood
97. Talk to Me of Mendocino, Kate & Anna McGarrigle
98. Back to California, The Wallflowers
99. California, Semisonic
100. (Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding

© 2010 E. A. Wright

Comments

Mitch-1 on November 24, 2019:

what about San Diego by Blink-182?

Northern California on June 01, 2019:

Lot of LA songs here, but if you're from northern California, Train's got a whole album, none of which are on this list, sooo

Lana Adler from California on June 26, 2014:

Great hub! I never knew there were so many California songs :-)

Rory Murray on November 21, 2013:

Pico & Sepulveda-Felix Figueroa

San Fernando Valley-Bing Crosby

Los Angeles, Los Angeles-The Zanies

San Berdino-Frank Zappa

San Bernardino-Christie

San Bernardino-Los Hobbies

hally smith on September 07, 2013:

you missed an oldie, but classic California song, and some others:

Mission Bells by Donnie Brooks, (LA born and bred)

Santa Monica by Savage Garden

Going Hollywood by Super Tramp

Hollywood Nights by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band

Tony C on March 05, 2013:

Surfin' USA - The Beach Boys -- my vote for the greatest rock n roll song written about California

LA Woman - The Doors

Freefallin' - Tom Petty

Missing the Bay on June 22, 2012:

Where's "15 songs about being hella homesick"? ;P

hmki on January 22, 2012:

ur missing Tony! Toni! Toné! - It Never Rains (In Southern California)

cheapestinsurance from California, USA on December 17, 2011:

What a list! I'll have to plug them into Spotify and give a listen.

Music lover on September 29, 2011:

Hi ! Nice site mate. But I really have to

say California Girls and Hotel Californie should

really been higher... MUCH higher ;)

henge on August 08, 2011:

aren't 88 and 53 the same thing?

Hildamari on May 28, 2011:

"California Gurls" by Katy Perry

leeroper from UK on May 11, 2011:

It's amazing how many people have named a song California, I just did a Spotify search and found 27 tracks all named after the sunny Cali.

Mark from Alabama,USA on May 05, 2011:

Nice Hub - I love Hotel California by the eagles it took me a month to learn the guitar solo on it.

Barbara Radisavljevic from Templeton, CA on April 14, 2011:

I'll have to come back when I really have some time to listen -- after I finish my taxes. I missed "26 Miles across the Sea, Santa Catalina is Waitin' for Me" (unless I just don't know the title.) I also missed, as someone else did, "California, Here I Come." Maybe they are on some of your other California song lists.

cali on March 30, 2011:

California Dreamin' by The Mama's and Papa's! i can't believe this isn't on the list!

Shadowblack from England on March 06, 2011:

"Flower Punk" - The Mothers of Invention

bwreed66 on February 21, 2011:

"Petaluma" or "California Earthquake" from Norman Greenbaum

asleeemdsfdsf on February 03, 2011:

500 miles by the proclaimers! Amazing roadtrip song!

Brian Smith on December 26, 2010:

California Man-Cheap Trick, Come To California-Matthew Sweet, California Here I Come-Al Jolson, California Uber Alles-The Dead Kennedys, Estimated Prophet-Grateful Dead, Californication-Red Hot Chili Peppers, Big Sur-Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard, Barstow-Jay Farrar, Santa Cruz(You're Not That Far)-The Thrills, I Left My Heart In San Francisco-Tony Bennett & California Stars-Wilco.

m.tariq your deer on December 12, 2010:

Nice hub, I was thinking about starting guitar as a hobby since I don't really have any you know. :)...thnx for the info and great hub.

Paula from The Midwest, USA on December 02, 2010:

The song about California, by Paper Tongues is my new latest favorite song about California. If you haven't heard that one, you have to listen to it a couple of times, love it! Great hub of fun songs.

Da guy on November 01, 2010:

California Flight Project song California Flight

might be the greatest of them all. It touches on Northern California the State of California. Including Southern California. A breezy smooth , laid back Cali style cut.

it only been out for a few years. And not many radio stations have heard of it but the underground mix DJ's world wide discovered a California gem of a song. By California Flight {Project} Song California Flight. What a classic.

ashman on October 10, 2010:

what about im going back to cali by biggie smalls

Drew on October 05, 2010:

One HUGE omission. Randy Newman's "I Love L.A." has been used in countless movies and CONSTANTLY makes me think of Southern Cal.

kel on September 16, 2010:

going on vaca to ca and needed a good playlist...thanks!

The Lanks on August 29, 2010:

This is a great list! But I think that the song listed as 'California - Weezer' is actually by The Rentals. It's a really common mistake though, The Rentals not only sound a lot like Weezer, but they also have a former member of Weezer.

Again, I LOVE this list, lots of really great songs!

jeff in sydney on August 28, 2010:

2 crucial omissions -

Linda Rondstadt's "Adios" with Brian Wilson's gorgeous backing vox, written by Jimmy Webb

"Ran away from home when I was just 17

To be with you

On the California Coast

Drinking margaritas all night in the old cantina"

"And I miss the blood red sunsets...Adios"

And Belinda Carlisle's "California"

"it took a lot for me say

To walk away, LA

From the shops and the chardonnay"

kachis from Lagos, Nigeria. on May 29, 2010:

You remind of the legendary 2paq. Thank you.

pete on May 28, 2010:

mi chota!

PhotoShowMan4U from United States on March 27, 2010:

Nice Hub, Great List! Some months back I was searching for some California related songs for a Photo Show I was making, but I couldn't get a list like yours.Lucky, I came across yours now.I am bookmarking this Hub.