Songs of California: 100 Songs About California
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
- Malibu, Hole
- Pacific Coast Party, Smash Mouth
- California, Rufus Wainwright
- Big Sur, The Thrills
- Mendocino, The Sir Douglas Quintet
- Summer '79, The Ataris
- California, Eddi Reader
- California, Dan Zanes
- California, The Weekend
- California, Hawk Nelson
- Heads Carolina, Tails California, Jo Dee Messina
- Catalina, Seven Foot Wave
- California Nights, Lesley Gore
- The Lights and Buzz, Jack's Mannequin
- Miss California, Jack's Mannequin
- 101, Albert Hammond Jr.
- From California, The New Amsterdams
- California Day, Starland Vocal Band
- Go to California, Motorpsycho
- I Remember California, R.E.M.
- California Soul, Marlena Shaw
- California's Burning, Augustana
- California Sun, The Ramones
- Back to California, Carole King
- (More Bounce In) California, Soul Kid #1
- California Rain, Silvertide
- San Francisco Days, Chris Isaak
- California, The Simpletones
- California, Lenny Kravitz
- California, The Kooks
- California, Georgia Prophets
- California, Atherton
- California, The Beach Boys
- California, Bag of Toys
- California, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
- Los Angeles, I'm Yours, The Decemberists
- California One / Youth and Beauty Brigade, The Decemberists
- California Sky, Unwritten Law & Blink 182
- California, Weezer
- Going to California, Led Zeplin
- Back Home, Yellowcard
- California 2005, Phantom Planet
- San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers In Your Hair), Scott McKenzie
- California Girls, The Beach Boys
- California Calling, The Beach Boys
- Hotel California, Eagles
- California Deamin, Mammas and the Pappas
- Dani California, Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Santa Monica, Everclear
- Holiday from Real, Jack's Mannequin
- Beverly Hills, Weezer
- A Long December, Counting Crows
- California Love, 2Pac
- Meet Me In California, Plain White T's
- New York to California, Mat Kearney
- San Diego, Parmalee
- Siren On the 101, Over It
- San Simeon, Goldfinger
- California Soul, The 5th Dimension
- California, Joni Mitchell
- California Bound, Carolina Liar
- Do You Know the Way to San Jose, Dionne Warwick
- The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena), Jan & Dean
- Bakersfield Bound, Chris Hillman
- Orange County, Stefy
- Hollywood, Daniel Powter
- Goodbye Hollywood, JET
- All I Wanna Do, Sheryl Crow
- Los Angeles, Counting Crows
- Los Angeles, Sugarcult
- Los Angeles Is Burning, Bad Religion
- L.A. Freeway, Jerry Jeff Walker
- Lodi, Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Pasadena Girl, Nellie McKay
- Ukiah, The Doobie Brothers
- Sutter's Mill, Dan Fogelberg
- Monterey, Eric Burdon & The Animals
- Venice, USA, Red Elvises
- Santa Monica, Theory of a Deadman
- Folsom Prison Blues, Johnny Cash
- Palo Alto, Radiohead
- Sausalito Summernight, Diesel
- Ventura Highway, America
- Parallel Universe, Red Hot Chili Peppers
- House In California, Keb' Mo'
- Midnight Train to Georgia, Gladys Knight & The Pips
- California, Metro Station
- California Love, Tupac & Dr. Dre
- Sausalito, Conor Oberst
- Back to California, Sugarcult
- California Nights, Sweet
- Not California, Hem
- California, Low
- Late Great Golden State, Mike Stinson
- California Grace, Long Beach Shortbus
- It Never Rains In Southern California, Albert Hammond & M. Hazelwood
- Talk to Me of Mendocino, Kate & Anna McGarrigle
- Back to California, The Wallflowers
- California, Semisonic
- (Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding
© 2010 E. A. Wright
Comments
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.
mi chota!
You remind of the legendary 2paq. Thank you.
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"
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!
going on vaca to ca and needed a good playlist...thanks!
One HUGE omission. Randy Newman's "I Love L.A." has been used in countless movies and CONSTANTLY makes me think of Southern Cal.
what about im going back to cali by biggie smalls
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.
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.
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.
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.
500 miles by the proclaimers! Amazing roadtrip song!
"Petaluma" or "California Earthquake" from Norman Greenbaum
"Flower Punk" - The Mothers of Invention
California Dreamin' by The Mama's and Papa's! i can't believe this isn't on the list!
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.
Nice Hub - I love Hotel California by the eagles it took me a month to learn the guitar solo on it.
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.
"California Gurls" by Katy Perry
aren't 88 and 53 the same thing?
Hi ! Nice site mate. But I really have to
say California Girls and Hotel Californie should
really been higher... MUCH higher ;)
What a list! I'll have to plug them into Spotify and give a listen.
ur missing Tony! Toni! Toné! - It Never Rains (In Southern California)
Where's "15 songs about being hella homesick"? ;P
Surfin' USA - The Beach Boys -- my vote for the greatest rock n roll song written about California
LA Woman - The Doors
Freefallin' - Tom Petty
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
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
Great hub! I never knew there were so many California songs :-)
29