California Dreamin’

California Dreamin’

November 12th, 2008 @ 5:37 pm by Mrs. Meatball
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Two years ago, Mr. Meatball and I drove across the country, from Chicago to Los Angeles, in search of a new home. The road trip was great - America is such a freakin’ beautiful place. Who knew that Utah would win as my favorite state for scenery? And best place for melons - but that’s another story…

California Dreamin' : wedding hollywood Img 0515 IMG_0515

Purple mountain majesty above the fruited plains

One of my favorite parts of the trip was that we listened to every California (or Hollywood) themed song we owned (which was like 5), to get us pumped as we approached. And, oh ma ga, it never stopped! For months, every time we drove into Beverly Hills, Mr. Meatball sang the Weezer song! Thank god those days are gone, or possibly I would have throttled him by now.

When we were brainstorming ideas for items to include in our fabulous Out-of-Town Bags, we thought it would be fun to make a special California themed mix-tape for our guests to enjoy. We’ve been keeping a record of songs that fit the bill, but our brains have dried up and our library is limited, and now we’re stuck.

So I turn to you, dear readers: What are your favorite California, Los Angeles, or Hollywood themed songs of all time? From the uber-trendy, to ridiculously obscure, we need your help!

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56 Responses to “California Dreamin’”

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Member

callalillies (message) 107 posts, Blushing bee

surfin’ USA!!!

11/12/08 @ 5:46 pm (reply)

Bee

frenchbulldog (message) 7,730 posts, Bee Keeper

Southern California - Wax (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPT7q825gwI)
California’s Burning - Augustana
California - Phantom Planet
Walkin’ in LA - Missing Persons
Also check out this list on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_about_California

11/12/08 @ 5:49 pm (reply)

Member

jess03 (message) 44 posts, Newbee

California Dreamin
California Love by Tupac
“If you’re going…. to San Francisco…. be sure to put some flowers in your hair.”
That song that was the OC Theme Song

11/12/08 @ 5:51 pm (reply)

Guest

MissSnapdragon

California–Joni Mitchell
Going to California–Led Zeppelin
California–Phantom Planet
California Girls–Beach Boys
California Dreaming–Mamas and the Papas
LA Woman–the Doors
Dani California, Californication–RHCP (not sure if that’s really what you’re going for thematically, though)
Hmmm…that’s all I can come up with.

BTW Miss Meatball, I did the same thing when I moved to Cali from the East Coast!

11/12/08 @ 5:53 pm (reply)

Guest

MissSnapdragon

OOH! One more, one of my faves (yes, I love Burt Bacharach): Do You Know the Way to San Jose…Dionne Warwick I think?

11/12/08 @ 5:54 pm (reply)

Member

indecisivebride (message) 338 posts, Helper bee

California Stars by Billy Bragg - lovely song!

11/12/08 @ 5:56 pm (reply)

Guest

bride2b

Randy Newman’s I Love LA. I’ve been running the l.a. marathon for years now and I always tear up when they play this at the start line.

11/12/08 @ 5:56 pm (reply)

Member

MsSeaGlass (message) 26 posts, Newbee

As an born-and-bred Angeleno, I have a few of my own. One of my favorites is Lucy Pearl’s “Hollywood”. My girls and I used to drive around Hollywood blasting that out the window. Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’”–he’s always singing about Ventura Blvd. Tori Amos’s “A Sorta Fairytale” in which she sings about driving up the 101. 311 mentions a bunch of streets up near Mulholland in the song “Random”, but its a bit of a crazy song.

11/12/08 @ 6:11 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Taffy (message) 3,104 posts, Sugar bee

oooh! Let me ask Mr. Taffy!

His favorite is California Soul by Marlena Shaw. He said there was a song by Luna too.

I drove from Detroit to LA a while back, and I agree about Utah. Colorado was really beautiful too.

11/12/08 @ 6:22 pm (reply)

10.

Guest

wanderus

born in east l.a. by cheech marin. LOL

11/12/08 @ 6:38 pm (reply)

11.

Member

MsSeaGlass (message) 26 posts, Newbee

“Left my Wallet in El Segundo” by A Tribe Called Quest…

11/12/08 @ 6:40 pm (reply)

12.

Hostess

HumarockBride (message) 1,542 posts, Bumble bee

Hotel California!!!

11/12/08 @ 6:45 pm (reply)

13.

Guest

lil_cupcake

hollywood nights -bob seger <3

11/12/08 @ 6:56 pm (reply)

14.

Guest

tifnicole

Gotta have the orginal Beverely Hills 90210 theme song.

11/12/08 @ 7:06 pm (reply)

15.

Guest

Tallbride

Ohh we are doing this too, most of the songs we are inclduing have been posted except…

Ventura Highway - America - A MUST!!!
Free Fallin - tom petty
Californication - red hot chilli peppers

11/12/08 @ 7:06 pm (reply)

16.

Member

mrshudson (message) 143 posts, Blushing bee

Two things…First, Utah is beautiful! I know becuase I live here. Greatest place on earth if you ask me. I’m glad y’all like it too.

Second…you HAVE to include the California song from the OC. I was (still am) obsessed with the show. I was so so sad when it ended.

11/12/08 @ 7:15 pm (reply)

17.

Guest

Karianne

The Decemberists - Los Angeles I’m Yours
Loudon Wainwright III - Grey in L.A.
Lee Hazlewood - L.A. Lady

how fun!!!

11/12/08 @ 7:23 pm (reply)

18.

Guest

Karianne

oh yeah, I also meant to note that miss taffy might have been talking about Luna-Malibu Love Nest (I can’t think of any other LA related Luna songs…)

11/12/08 @ 7:28 pm (reply)

19.

Guest

jennred782

What a great idea, what about the Fresh Prince theme song. Journey has a lot of California songs, Lights is actually about SF.

11/12/08 @ 7:40 pm (reply)

20.

Member

MsSeaGlass (message) 26 posts, Newbee

And, if you like something a little more folksy, check out Mason Jennings’s “California” (Part I and Part II)…”I’m gonna throw a box of books and my beloved guitar into the back of my truck and try my luck in California. I’m gonna stay away from LA. I’m stayin’ far away from there. I’m going north of San Francisco into the cleaner air….”

11/12/08 @ 7:41 pm (reply)

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