Reflection 6: California, Here I Come—Songs of the Golden State

Red Hot Chili Peppers' Californication (1999)

In 1965, The Mamas & the Papas pined for a warm Los Angeles day in "California Dreamin'":

All the leaves are brown
(All the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray.
(And the sky is gray)
I've been for a walk
(I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day.
(On a winter's day).

I'd be safe and warm
(I'd be safe and warm)
if I was in LA
(If I was in LA)
California dreamin'
(California dreamin') on such a winter's day.

The Mamas & the Papas were certainly not alone in longing for California. For decades, hundreds of artists have drawn inspiration from California, and their songs are as diverse as the state itself. For this reflection, examine three of the following songs about California. In your examination, consider how the state is portrayed through all aspects of the song (e.g. melody, lyrics). What images are used? What emotions are evoked? Is it a realistic portrayal or a fantasy? Is the state contrasted with another place? Finally, is the California of these songs something you've experienced?

Note: I've included YouTube links to some of the songs below. To listen to songs, try Last.fm, SoundCloud, Pandora, Rhapsody, and Grooveshark. Lyrics can be found at Lyrics.com, A-Z Lyrics Universe, and LyricsFreak.

Sheryl Crow, "All I Wanna Do"
Missing Persons, "Walking in LA"
Tony Bennett,  "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"
The Beach Boys, "California Girls"
Carole King, "Back to California"
Randy Newman, "I Love LA"
Linda Ronstadt, ""Talk to Me of Mendocino"
Journey, "Lights"
Otis Redding, "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay"
Dwight Yoakam, "Streets of Bakersfield"
The Thrills, "Big Sur"
The Doobie Brothers, "Ukiah"
Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Under the Bridge"
The Mamas & the Papas, "California Dreamin'"
Johnnie Davis and Frances Langford, "Hooray for Hollywood"
Leslie Gore, "California Nights"
Phantom Planet, "California"
Eagles, "Hotel California"
Tom Waits, "San Diego Serenade"
2Pac, "California Love"
Tom Petty, "Free Fallin'"
The Presidents of the United States of America, "Fuck California"
Joni Mitchell, "California"
The Beach Boys, "Surfin' USA"
Frank Sinatra, "LA is My Lady"
The Decemberists, "California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade"
Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Lodi"
The Thrills, "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)"
Jan and Dean, "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena"
Katy Perry, "California Gurls"
Hole, "Celebrity Skin"
Scott McKenzie, "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)"
LL Cool J, "Going Back to Cali"
Al Jolson, "California, Here I Come"
Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Californication"
Judy Garland, "San Francisco"
Dionne Warwick, "Do You Know the Way to San Jose"
The Doors, "LA Woman"
Chris Isaak, "San Francisco Days"

Requirements:

• MLA format
• 2 pages minimum

Due: We 4.13 / Th 4.14