Saturday, October 16, 2010: TWOfer Saturday - The "Goodbye California" Edition

What a week.  What a trip.  What a state.

We're leaving the Golden State by revisiting the theme of coming to California.

Because, as I've said before, wherever you are, you'd probably rather be in California.

Today's closer is another TWOfer, as we are looking at two very different variations of the same theme.

Up first, originally released in 1961 by New Orleans-born Joe Jones, and covered by The Rivieras three years later, it's New York punk stalwarts The Ramones who, for me, give us the definitive version of this bright, sun-infused anthem.

Well, I'm goin' out west out on the coast

Where the California girls are really the most

Where they walk and I'll walk

They twist and I'll twist

They shimmy and I'll shimmy

They fly and I'll fly

Well they're out there a'havin' fun

In that warm California sun.

California Sun is the bright, sunny, impossibly happy destination on the Going To California spectrum.  Stating no point of origination (is the singer coming from North Dakota? Brussels? Mars?), all the singer knows is that when they get to California, it's all sock-hops, shin-digs, shimmies and twists.

And, of course, being sung by a bunch of dour, leather-clad New Yorkers, The Ramones have obviously taken huge liberties with this ditty and covered it with irony, paradox, satire and ridicule.

But....................................................wait.  They haven't.   No, I mean, it's there, on the fringes, if you really look, but basically our boys in black play it straight.  And loud.  And infuse it with more power and energy than the material really deserves, thus making their version one of those rarest of creatures; a cover version that actually surpasses the original.  You can even imagine 6' 6" tall Joey Ramone shimmying as they shimmy, and twisting, as they twist.  It's fantastic.

Talk To Me Of Mendocino, while exploring the same theme of coming to California, is a whole different experience.  If the Ramones "California Sun" is on the light, happy end of the spectrum, then Talk To Me Of Mendocino is definitely on down side.  Not dark, mind, but poetic and heavy with longing.

And, yes, it doesn't have California in the title.  I know.  But, Talk To Me Of Mendocino gave me one of the fastest turnarounds of opinion I've ever had with a song, and for that alone it deserves a praise on CSOTD.

When I first heard this, the opening piano notes were greeted with suspicion, and at 0:15 in I thought, "Right, stuff this too." However, for some unknown reason (Providence? Fate? Luck?) I continued to listen.  My cynicism was shaken at 0:51 by some absolutely heavenly harmonies, and by 1:43, when they sing:

"...let the sun set on the ocean

I will watch it from the shore

Let the sun rise over the redwoods

I'll rise with it till I rise no more"

I was reduced to a quivering, sobbing pulp longing to watch the sun rise over the redwoods for the rest of my own life as well.

Talk To Me Of Mendocino is the worst kind of syrupy-sweet folk-traditional pap listened to only by granola-eating, Volvo driving, Lake Wobegon loving Baby Boomers and I hate myself for loving it so much.  But, as such, it provides the perfect counter-point to California Sun, and songs like it.

Which, of course, is why these songs are the perfect culmination for California Week here on CSOTD.

Together, these songs go a long way in exploring the myth and mystique, the light and the heavy, the superficial joy and deep meaning of California.  The Golden State.  The destination for all of our poets and artists and starlets and businessmen in the other 49.

And all around the world.

I was lucky enough to have been born in California.  I can tell you I've traveled the world, and I've never really left her.

CSOTD Bonus Edition: Gipsy Kings - Hotel California

Could we do California Week without mentioning Hotel California?

Probably. There is a long list of songs I didn't get to this week. Obviously, I didn't get to any of the Beach Boys music. Or a thousand other bands associated with California.  But, again, that wasn't really the point of this week.  Tomorrow, we will wrap up with a couple of songs I feel go far to encapsulate what I was trying to bring out this week.

I'm especially frustrated I couldn't get to California by Rogue Wave.  But there's the link, check out that mellow classic.  Any song that begins with the line, "Screw California" should get a mention.

And Hotel California probably shouldn't get a mention.

But here we are.  Featured prominently in the Coen Brother's masterpiece The Big Lebowski, the Dude had a rough night and he hates the f&%#*&' Eagles, man, so here is an outstanding cover version that will gladly put a smile on every face and spring in every step for this Friday night.  Even The Dude.

The Dude Abides.

I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners.

This one's for you, Dude.

Friday, October 15, 2010: The Fifth Dimension - California Soul

When you think of California, a lot of things jump to mind. Soul music, unfortunately, is not near the top of that list.

And that's a shame, because California has made some tremendous contributions to Soul Music; Tower of Power, Santana, Sly and The Family Stone and Shuggie Otis, just to name a few.  It's about time that inequality is addressed, and CSOTD is right on doing it!

Originally written by Ashford & Simpson, covered by Marlena Shaw, and later as a duet by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, California Soul is one of those rare songs from the late 60's that successfully combines elements of soul, pop, and hippy-dippy peace and love without watering down the message or pumping up the cheese factor. The relatively understated mix between the vocals, strings and that outstanding horn section helps a lot.

The 2008 remix of Marlena Shaw's California Soul by Philadelphia-based Producer and DJ Diplo, was a hit in Fashion Week this year, and I was very tempted to make that the official CSOTD selection.

In the end, however, I just can't get over those angelic 5th Dimension harmonies.  When they kick in singing the "California Soul" chorus, it just feels like the sky will rip open and peace, love, joy and good grooves will rain from the sky.

I dig California Soul, this truly is a great, great record.

Thursday, October 14, 2010: Gomez - California

Probably the most evocative song on California Week, Mersyside-based band Gomez blends American swagger and British balladry for certainly one of the most unique songs here.

California's angel

It's more than I can stand

Calling down the sunset's pain

Sentimental star unsolved

As soon as we wake

Funny in the morning state

Funny in this morning state

God only knows what this song is about, but I love it more and more every time I listen to it.

Enjoy.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010: Dead Kennedys - California Über Alles

If the ideal of California is a dream, then the reality of California can be a nightmare.

Sung from the perspective of then California Governor Jerry Brown, California Über Alles imagines a nightmare world where Brown's "suede denim secret police" exterminate people with politically-correct "organic poison gas" for not being "cool". It is a scathing, sarcastic attack on hippies, politicians, and the abuse of power.

As such, it is also one of the coolest songs about California ever.

One of the testaments to this songs coolness is in it's flexibility.

DK frontman Jello Biafra has updated this song several times since it was the DK's first single in 1979. In 1984, this song was re-released on the Dead Kennedys album In God We Trust, Inc., which is about then-president Ronald Reagan. The song was re-titled, "We've Got A Bigger Problem Now."

The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy then did a cover of this song in 1991 skewering then California Governor Pete Wilson.

Most recently Jello Biafra has focused on the current California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his alleged pro-Nazi viewpoints. Kali-Fornia Uber Alles 21st Century cranks up the Nazi symbolism and Schwarzenegger parody to 11, thus invalidating most of the satire and poignancy of the original song.

That said, the take over of government by fascists and their extreme abuses of power that was imagined in the original song have come to bear some resemblance to reality in this newer version:

Mandate: Two-Thousand-und-four

Knock knock at your bedroom door

It's the Homeland Security Police

You're a terrorist, and so is your niece

Maybe we'll all look good as draw string lamps eventually.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010: TWOfer Tuesday - The "Going To California" Edition

Think about it: nobody ever writes songs about going to New York. All the songs about New York assume you are already there. Stranded, shattered, in some kind of unique State Of Mind.

California, however, is a destination.  The ultimate destination.  The perfect destination.  

Because, wherever you are, you'd probably rather be in California.

Throughout it's history, all roads led to California. The Siskiyou Trail, California Trail, Oregon Trail and Old Spanish Trail all crossed rugged mountains and harsh deserts to get to that unique patch of land variously occupied by Spain, Russia, Argentina and then Mexico, scraping out it's own independence under the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846. Everything changed in 1848, when gold was discovered in them 'thar hills.  In a very short time California's non-native population went from around 15,000 to over 300,000 in just a couple of years. California had indeed become the Golden State.

And from that day to this, whether is be starlets from Idaho or Iowa coming to be discovered, Okies escaping the dust bowl, hippies heading to the Haight-Ashbury or programmers heading to the new Mecca of Silicone Vally, wherever you are, you'd probably rather be in California.

Not in actual California, mind, with the smog, the traffic, crime, the insanely high taxes and miles and miles of souless freeways and shopping malls.  No, everyone is always looking towards that imagined Nirvana of California. 

The Palm trees, the beaches, mountains, redwoods, the laid back easy-life populated by all the beautiful people. Famous people.  Interesting people.  Watching warm, golden sunsets every evening.

The idea of packing up your old kit bag and making due West probably first made it into popular culture by Al Jolson singing "California, Here I Come," written for the 1921 Broadway musical Bombo. Certainly a whole new generation was inspired when Ricky and the gang sang "California, Here I Come" as their single-song road trip mix tape. I wonder how many times you can sing that song driving from New York to Los Angeles in a 1955 Pontiac Star Chief?  And where the hell is their dashboard?

California, Here I Come

Right back where I started from

Where bowers of flowers

Bloom in the spring

Each morning at dawning

Birdies sing at everything

A sunkisted miss said don't be late

That's why I can hardly wait

Open up that golden gate

California, Here I Come

Pure fantasy.  Each morning at dawning birdies sing at everything?  Please.

Going to California by Led Zeppelin is the perfect example of the longing to journey to the magical west, the golden coast, the zeitgeist zion. Supposedly inspired by the song California by Joni Mitchell, at least that song had some connection to reality.  You can imagine Joni actually sitting in a real park in Paris feeling homesick, put off by the old and cold of Europe:

Sitting in a park in Paris, France

Reading the news and it sure looks bad

They won't give peace a chance

That was just a dream some of us had

Still a lot of lands to see

But I wouldn't want to stay here

It's too old and cold and settled in it's ways here

Oh, but California

California I'm coming home

Going to California doesn't suffer any of that pretension of being rooted in reality. Plant and Co. even admit as much, that the California he's going to (with an aching in his heart), is pure fabrication:

Ride a white mare in the footsteps of dawn

Tryin' to find a woman who's never, never, never been born

Indeed. Which of course makes it perfect. And just about as magical as any song can get.

Can you imagine searching in Michigan for a woman who's never, never, never been born?

Thought not.

Of course, there are many other musical examples of people longing to make that trip to the Golden Coast. From the high song craft of Frank Black to the abhorrent dung of Phantom Planet, the journey to California has been the inspiration for thousands of dreamers.  And songwriters.

For me, Sophie B. Hawkins gets into the second spot on our TWOfer Tuesday for a couple of reasons; First, she's one of my favourite artists and criminally underrated and, two, any pop song that can slip in The Lord's Prayer gets props for pure ambition.





Wherever you are, you'd probably rather be in California.

For the first time, at least.  Unfortunately, LL Cool J doesn't think Going Back To Cali is such a good idea.

Monday, October 11, 2010: 2Pac - California Love

Let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild west, it's

CALIFORNIA WEEK 

 here on CSOTD!   

An entire week of songs devoted to The Golden State. The land of my birth.

See, Friday's post about all the great musicians coming from New Jersey got me thinking about other states and the musicians and musical styles that are associated with them.  Some states, like New York obviously, have a rich and historic tradition.  Other states, like Ohio, have DEVO and, well, that's about it.

Then I thought about California.  And I kept thinking about California, and thinking more about California, and pretty soon it was a done deal.

Now, obviously, the proper way to do a week of music about California would be to look at music thats normally associated with California, like Surf Music, or like the Psychedelic Sounds that San Francisco made famous.  Maybe look at some LA and Orange County punk bands, and ultimately move through the state as a kind of geographic primer as well as a musical journey.  That would be the way to do it.

That would also be boring as hell, and I've no interest in it.

See, I'm not that interested in California as part of these United States, but in California as an idea.  An abstract.  The real California will pop up during this week, sure, but more importantly we'll be looking at peoples interpretations of California; California as an abstract notion, a wishful longing, a mythology that overpowers all its appalling, disfigured reality.  We'll be California Dreaming, so to speak.

I promise you two things this week: first, it's going to be a wild ride and, second,

NO F&%$!#G KATY PERRY!

Ain't no party like a West Coast party, so let's give it up for Cali-forn-eye-aye!

No, not that California:

Sunday, October 10, 2010

No blogging on a Sunday.

See you Monday!