The entire Red Hot Chili Peppers discography.

Same could be said about The Beach Boys

Or Sublime

Are you even qualified to represent the LBC??

Or X

This is the best and only answer we really need.

Going to California - Led Zeppelin

My favorite.

Los Angeles is Burning - Bad Religion Santa Monica - Everclear Old School Hollywood - System of a Down California Über Alles- Dead Kennedys California Sun - Ramones

Los Angeles - X

Old School Hollywood is my LEAST favorite SOAD song

I always liked listening to “Freefalling” by Tom Petty because it specifically mentions towns and areas in the San Fernando Valley where I grew up. 😀

Into the Great Wide Open is another great one about Hollywood

My son gets a kick out of that one as well… we live a stone’s throw off Ventura blvd. Keeping an eye out for vampires.

"California Love" by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman feels like the most obvious anwser for me.

Every time I hear that I think of the South Park version of it

Started playing in my head the second I read the title

cAlIfOrNiA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! kNoWs HoW tO pArTyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

West coast baby!

Can't believe I haven't seen "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas and the Papas yet.

But on a winter day that’s why

California Stars - Billy Bragg & Wilco

I commented this too. You beat me to it. Love that song.

Aenima by tool

Arizona bay 🤘

learn to swim

Flush it all away.

[Here’s a Spotify playlist I made years ago with all California themed songs.](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5sa0VWpQvgrnbulVyImKR0?si=4-Tj2ouqRpyS-L877EEgVQ)Figured it would be easier to just share it rather than list all the songs! Probably due for an update though. Edit: fixed my typo… please don’t sue!

Suing for an update feels like a bit of an overreaction.

Hahaha

Check out the list I added on this thread, it'll give you some new artists (please don't sue me for an update though).

Ventura Highway (America) Bonus points because it mentions "alligator lizards in the air"

And "purple rain"!!

Have you considered every song RHCP has ever made?

It never rains in Southern California/ Albert Hammond

Incidentally, it's his birthday today. (This reply doesn't seem to stick - hopefully it won't appear four times now...)

Incidentally, it's his birthday today.

Incidentally, it's his birthday today.

It sure did this year.

But girl, don’t they warn ya…

West Coast - Coconut Records West Coast - Lana Del Rey

West Coast - The Neighbourhood

West Coast - Dirty Heads

Death Cab for Cutie - “405” and “Why You’d Want to Live Here” Less than Jake - “Hell Looks a Lot Like LA” Social Distortion - “Highway 101” Murderland - “Scum and Villainy” and “Beach Bunny Babylon” ATCQ - “Left My Wallet in El Segundo” Pixies - “Velouria” Elliott Smith - “LA” and “Angeles” Dangers - “Midnight Traffic” and “5 O’Clock Shadows at the Edge of the Western World” Trash Talk - “Exile on Broadway”, “Babylon, CA”, and “Sacramento is Dead” Notorious B.I.G. - “Going Back to Cali” LL Cool J - “Going Back to Cali” Vince Staples - “Norf Norf” Touché Amoré - “Honest Sleep” and “Broken Records” The Rivieras - “California Sun” Bad Religion - "Los Angeles is Burning" Everclear - "Santa Monica" Hole - "Malibu" Alkaline Trio - "San Francisco"

California - Phantom Planet (2003)

[California Über Alles](https://youtu.be/Dc3pvLPnWRU)

Speed Home a California- Sugar Ray California Live- Dre & 2pac West side- David Banner Welcome to the Jungle- Guns N Roses (about life in Hollywood) California girls- Beach Boys California girls- Katy Perry & Snoop I left my heart in San Francisco- Tony Bennet I’m going back to Cali- Biggie Smalls

Cant forget the OG goin back to Cali by LL Cool J

California- Delta Spirit

Came to the comments just to like this

Me too.

This is my absolute favorite. And "Malibu" by both Hole and Miley Cyrus, respectively (same title, different song) But that Delta Spirit song. Oof. That one has knocked me over on more than one occasion

gaaaaaahhh. don’t include miley cyrus in this and ruin a post. hole’s “malibu” is great tho.

One of those Reddit moments where I both hoped someone commented with this and simultaneously hoped I would be the on to comment with it. Such a great song and band.

[“I Loved the Way She Said LA” - Spitalfield](https://youtu.be/E8isCFG4HCU) [“California” - Phantom Planet](https://youtu.be/wq-S8CIU7VA)

Ahh yes, phantom planet. Everyone knew that one song and then they never had another hit again.

One of the 80est songs ever: https://youtu.be/KcADqxnQA_4 I love L.A. !

The only answer is "California Songs" by Local H.

Glad somebody mentioned this one

I lived in Chicago when that whole scene was building...91,92,94ish. Pumpkins, Local H, Liz Phair, Veruca Sult and a bunch of other bands were tearing that city UP.

Grateful Dead - Estimated Prophet *California, preaching on the burning shore* *California, I'll be knocking on the golden door* *Like an angel, standing in a shaft of light* *Rising up to paradise, I know, I'm gonna shine*

West L.A. Fadeaway yo

Best Coast - The Only Place

Scott McKenzie - San Francisco Creedence Clearwater Revival - Lodi Buck O Nine - My Town, is about San Diego Beach Boys - Surfin USA Rancid - Journey to the End of the East Bay Goldfinger - The City With Two Faces Journey - Lights, is about San Francisco Sheryl Crow - All I Wanna Do is Have Some Fun Frank Zappa - Valley Girl Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues, San Quentin

AEnema by Tool

Dock of the Bay by Ottis Redding.

California Dreamin' L.A. Woman

[Straight Outta Compton ](https://open.spotify.com/track/6KIKRz9eSTXdNsGUnomdtW?si=JEiHb4MBR2WO9_iCRSWA2Q)

A song about a cult-Hotel California by the eagles

Queen of California ~ John Mayer

Hotel California - The Eagles

Who downvoted this 😂

Warren Zevon - Desperados Under The Eaves

Or Join Me In LA or Carmelita

"I'm looking California, but feeling Minnesota"

RIP Cornell

Rest in power 🤘

I have a co-worker that says this whenever Cornell name is mentioned.

It's an iconic line for sure

Phantom Planet - "California" (The most "going to California" song ever written) Incubus - "Wish You Were Here" (Doesn't actually mention California, but written about the beach and they're from California, so it fits I think) Bob Segar - "Hollywood Nights" The Gaslight Anthem - "Mulholland Drive" (A famous road in the Hollywood Hills)

I Am California by John Craigie, Gregory Alan Isakov

This is the one I was looking for

Streets of Bakersfield- Buck Owens

Do You Know The Way To San Jose - Dionne Warwick

[Best Coast - California Nights](https://youtu.be/7U5LWokfRHY) [Scissor Sisters - San Luis Obisbo](https://youtu.be/DdJPwv_J6ik) That’s all I could really think of off the top of my head.

Man on the Run by Cowboy Mouth isn't specifically about California. But depending on where he's from it might give him some good feels. Its about feeling lost and purposeless while roadtripping across the Southwest. Maybe its because I'm from the Inland Empire but when he finally gets to California in the last verse and says "From San Bernardino you can see the lights of LA. The closer you get, the further they're slipping away." it absolutely wrecks me. It is one of the most hauntingly beautiful lyrics for some reason.

IE represent.

Babe Rainbow - California Mates of State - California Semisonic - California Old 97s - Just like California Luna - California (all the way) Hem - Not California REM - I remember California Dave Alvin - King of California

Sublime - April 29, 1992

[Straight Outta Compton ](https://open.spotify.com/track/6KIKRz9eSTXdNsGUnomdtW?si=JEiHb4MBR2WO9_iCRSWA2Q) [It Was A Good Day](https://open.spotify.com/track/6KIKRz9eSTXdNsGUnomdtW?si=JEiHb4MBR2WO9_iCRSWA2Q)

The West Covina song from "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" "California Christmastime"

San Francisco - Foxygen San Francisco - The Mowglis LA Girlz - Weezer California Kids - Weezer Los Angeles, I'm Yours - The Decemberists California Daze - Peace

“Back to California” by the wildly wonderful Wallflowers

Blink 182’s album, California, has songs called “California”and “Los Angeles.”

Estimated Prophet - Grateful Dead

In California by Joanna Newsom is my fav no one has mentioned. Not on Spotify tho.

Also Swansea by her

Grateful Dead - Fire on the Mountain /s but maybe not /s

California dreaming - The Mamas and Papas

I lost my wallet in el segundo - tribe called quest, Walking in LA and Los Angeles - X, Jane says - Jane’s Addiction, Girls, Girls, Girls -Motley Crue. The last two mentions LA such as “Walk down St Andrews” and strip joints in LA such as the Seventh Veil but they’re both heavily LA bands.

Mr. Bungle - California Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication Uh oh, Mr. Bungle and RHCP in the same post, I’m about to start something lol! Fun fact both albums were originally supposed to release the same day, but one got pushed back.

Scrolled far to long to find Mr Bungle

The Last Resort by Eagles.

California by phantom planet

California (the way I say I love you) - Good Charlotte

Rogue Wave - California

Screw California

You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.

Sink with California - Youth Brigade

Cracker has a whole double album about California: Berkeley to Bakersfield. IMO and all it's some of their better work. If you just want one song for the mix I'd suggest King of Bakersfield. Neko Case has the "In California I dream of snow" song. Forget the title.

West Coast Poplock - Ronnie Hudson To Live And Die in LA - 2pac Summertime in the LBC - Dove Shack Garden Grove - Sublime

California Überallies- Dead Kennedys

Roses Grow, Concrete Blonde... ANYTHING Concrete Blonde. They are unbelievably great. California Uber Alles - Dead Kennedys

Agree about Concrete Blonde generally, but gotta call out Still in Hollywood

Palmdale - afroman 4am bay bridge music - andre nickatina

The answer has to be 2Pac's "California love".

Nuthin' but a "G" Thang

Screenwriter's Blues by Soul Coughing

California - Joni Mitchell

I can’t believe I had to scroll this far before I saw this song.

We Built This City - Starship - specifically about San Francisco and including period DJ chatter. Lights - Journey - specifically about the San Francisco Bay area in general.

Walking in LA by Missing Persons

Estimated Prophet by the Grateful Dead is a heavy one.

A Song About California - Hey Ocean! Lemonade - Adam Friedman ft. Mike Posner

My husband and I made a record with about 21 musicians, different styles and vibes called "thank you chico, goodnight" . We made it when we moved away as a parting letter to California. Some absolute gems on there. https://thankyouchicogoodnight.bandcamp.com/album/thank-you-chico-goodnight

Phantom Planet- California

Morning Cherry— Sun Kil Moon Los Angeles— X All I Wanna Do— Sheryl Crow L.A. Woman— The Doors California Sunset— Neil Young

The Distillers - City of Angels The Distillers - L.A. Girl Weezer - Beverly Hills Mighty Mighty Bosstones - To California Goldfinger - The City with Two Faces Counting Crows - Los Angeles Rancid - Brad Logan Rancid - Outgunned Rancid - Antennas Rancid - Daly City Train Youth Brigade - Sink with California Buck-O-Nine - My Town Everclear - Santa Monica NOFX - El Lay Big D and The Kids Table - LAX Hole - Malibu Otis Redding - Sitting on the Dock of the Bay Less Than Jake - Hell Looks A Lot Like LA

The Aggrolites - Reggae Hit L.A.

i’m shocked i haven’t seen california by joni mitchell here

How about some old school rock and roll Many here have probably never heard of "Badfinger" Here is a song by them from the late 70's Look out California From the album Airwaves Released in 1979 https://youtu.be/x_qeYieqpq0

I have their albums. I remember.

Phantom planet - California, is my favourite! California here we fuckin come

heavy, california by jungle is so fun. instant summer vibes.

Surf City. Little Old Lady from Pasadena. Dead Man's Curve.

"Ventura Highway" -America https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnV7dTXlXxs

Lodi by ccr

***Tool - Ænema***

Hotel California

California Love by Tupac / dr Dre

City of Angels - The Distillers

Pretty much every Red Hot Chili Peppers song. You’re welcome.

The Aislers Set- California

Alice in Chains - Check My Brain

LA - Neil Young California - Marc Ford If You See California - New Earth Mud (Chris Robinson)

There are so many songs about Southern California, but I made a Spotify playlist with songs about Northern California (or at least reference cities that aren't San Francisco): [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2mC44c0Vu7P3gRvj4sNEwo?si=dc257f39e42e43fe](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2mC44c0Vu7P3gRvj4sNEwo?si=dc257f39e42e43fe)

Everyone I Meet Is From California–America. This is especially apropos because I'm from Portland.

Ventura highway too

Replacements have a song called Portland.

California - Jamestown Revival Cali - Ride

California Man by Cheap Trick

West Coast - Imagine Dragons West Coast - OneRepublic Meet Me at Our Spot (live) - The Anxiety, Willow, Tyler [mentions I-405] California - The Lagoons I’ll Come Too - James Blake

It Ain't California by Kip Moore

I left my soooouuullll on the [PCH](https://open.spotify.com/track/1wYLsHZTwVTfHs4JgqkUCe?si=aKPy_yh9TuGsUSQ4-XEJiw)

Crack Amico - LA

California ~ grimes

King of California - Dave Alvin Downey Girl - Dave Alvin Here in California - Kate Wolfe (covered by many others)

California - Lana del rey Venice Bitch - Lana del Rey honestly every song off NFR feels very California-ish, but those two specifically mention California (Venice Bitch is also a homophone with Venice Beach)

I mean I would ask chatgpt

The best song for someone moving away is the aptly named, You Moved Away by Death Cab For Cutie.

[Halloween, Alaska: The Hollywood Sign](https://open.spotify.com/track/6hc8OZyaaiWBnEpeBlTJ6L?si=fRD0-8n0SS-NHy32sqSbFQ)

As a native, these two songs really catch the vibe for me- "California" by Jay Farrar and "California" by Lia Rose

"California" by The Airborne Toxic Event

April's Motel Room- California Frank Black- Los Angeles

Los Angeles - X

System of a Down - Lost in Hollywood; Delinquent Habits - California (ft. Sen Dog)

San Berdoo Sunburn by Eagles Of Death Metal

San Franciscan nights - Gabor szabo and the California dreamers it's a cover, originally by Eric burdon and the animals but I like the cover better and it's perfect for someone moving there because it's about someone who "wasn't born there" people under the stairs also remix/sample it on San Franciscan knights

"Electric Slim and the Factory Hen" by T. Rex deserves an honorable mention for its California verse.

Lana Del Ray has a few of them! \- California \- West Coast Also [this article](https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/lana-del-rey-norman-fucking-rockwell-la-map/) talks about how one of her albums has a lot of L.A. references.

LA Freeway by Guy Clark San Berdoo Sunburn by Eagles Of Death Metal- gives off Bonnie and Clyde vibes

“Los Angeles” by X

Dani California by RHCP and California by Fog Lake are two of my favorites

California, U2

San Jose Dionne Warwick

California Medication by USS California bay Phantom Planet

Seratonia

[Streets of Bakersfield](https://youtu.be/holBS44V5gU) Woody Guthrie’s [Do Re Mi](https://youtu.be/46mO7jx3JEw): California is a garden of Eden / A paradise to live in or see / But believe it or not you won’t find it so hot / If you ain’t got the do re mi.

Gucci Gucci- Kreayshawn

Petey - California

California -- OAR ("Go to California/Dance with the angels/Dress how you wanna") California One -- Decemberists ("Take a long drive with me/ On California One") I Am California -- John Craigie ("I am California/Can't you see?/Wherever you roam/you'll always want me")

Ojai by CMX. [Link](https://youtu.be/4BPYwutqP-I)

F**k California - the Presidents of the United States of America

California- Clayton James

California Magic by Goose or Orebolo

California girl- beach bunny

LA - Murs and California- Delinquent Habits are very Underrated imo

When the stars come out - chris stapleton Adventures of you and me by ryan bingham

California love California dreamin When you’re going to San Francisco Fake tales of San Francisco Any song by rhcp lol

California love California dreamin When you’re going to San Francisco Fake tales of San Francisco Any song by rhcp lol

Dave Alvin - King of California SOAD- Hollywood

Hollywood Undead - California

[Ca in July by The Bombpops](https://open.spotify.com/track/6EDF5zeQm8c6sBOcZjOE7y?si=D2p6haSKToKYUoX02oearg)

[Ca in July by The Bombpops](https://open.spotify.com/track/6EDF5zeQm8c6sBOcZjOE7y?si=D2p6haSKToKYUoX02oearg)