20 Essential Songs About California
NEWSLETTERS Emailed Daily. Always Free! - Home
- Quizzes
- My Quiz Activity
- Newsletters
- MY FAVORITES
- Add Sports/Teams
- SPORTS
- Sports Betting
- RESOURCES
- My Account
- YB on Facebook
- YB on Twitter
- YB on Flipboard
- Contact Us
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Quizzes
-
Follow Us
-
On Facebook -
On Flipboard -
On Twitter
-
Entertainment News
Home Movies TV Streaming Music Comic Books Quizzes Newsletter
Richard E. Aaron/Redferns 
Golden state of mind: 20 quintessential songs about California Updated October 10, 2025 | By Amy McCarthy Whether you're a California native, a transplant, or simply dream of living there, the world of music offers no shortage of tunes written in tribute to the Golden State. These songs span a wide range of genres, from soul to folk to hip-hop, and there's an iconic California song for pretty much any music fan.
Flip through the gallery for 20 of the most iconic songs written about California, from the haunting "San Francisco" to the legendary Beach Boys classic "California Girls."
1 of 20"California Girls," The Beach Boys
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Written by Brian Wilson and released in 1965, "California Girls" is actually an appreciation of girls all over the world, if only they could be in his home state. A top-ten hit, the song remains one of the Beach Boys' most successful — and enduring — tracks.
2 of 20"Malibu," Hole
Niels van Iperen/Getty Images A massive hit for this '90s grunge act fronted by Courtney Love, "Malibu" is actually a song inspired by one of Love's former flames, not her late husband Kurt Cobain.
3 of 20"Hotel California," The Eagles
Fotos International/Getty Images The title track of the Eagles' 1977 album, "Hotel California" is arguably the band's most recognizable track. Inspired by the lights of Los Angeles and the allure of Hollywood, the hotel in the song is inspired by the Beverly Hills Hotel, and its sonic vibe takes inspiration from both Latin music and reggae vibes.
4 of 20"Folsom Prison Blues," Johnny Cash
Bettmann/Getty Images Recorded in 1955, Johnny Cash was thousands of miles away from California when he penned this tune about one of its most notorious prisons while serving in the military in Germany. Later, he'd go on to record his famous live album at the state's San Quentin prison, performing the iconic song for incarcerated people.
5 of 20"Dani California," Red Hot Chili Peppers
Brill/ullstein bild via Getty Images Even though the protagonist of this Red Hot Chili Peppers classic is originally from the South, she eventually makes her way to the Golden State and lives the definition of a rough life. The character carries through other Chili Peppers hits, including "By The Way."
6 of 20"San Francisco," Scott McKenzie
GAB Archive/Redferns Written by John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas and recorded by Scott McKenzie, "San Francisco" became an anthem for hippies making the pilgrimage west in the 1960s. Its iconic refrain — "If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair" — is a subtle thumb at those who held concerns about the "free love" movement's impact on the city.
7 of 20"Marina del Rey," George Strait
Paul Natkin/Getty Images This stunning Southern California beach town serves as the setting for a whirlwind vacation romance in this 1982 George Strait hit. Even though the two lovers ultimately go their separate ways, this song doesn't have a sad ending. It was a massive commercial success for Strait, eventually earning a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Academy of America.
8 of 20"California Dreamin'," The Mamas and the Papas
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Perfectly encapsulating the breezy, folksy vibe of the 1960s, "California Dreamin'" is the perfect song for when you're pining away for a day in the sunshine. "All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey," the song goes. "I've went for a walk on a winter's day, I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A."
9 of 20"Streets of Bakersfield," Buck Owens
David Redfern/Redferns Originally written by Homer Joy, country legend Buck Owens made "Streets of Bakersfield" a hit in 1972 alongside Dwight Yoakam. The song exemplifies the distinct Bakersfield country sound, the sub-genre popularized by artists like Owens and Merle Haggard.
10 of 20"California," Phantom Planet
Wendy Redfern/Redferns This breezy tune about driving down California's legendary Highway 101 was recorded by Phantom Planet in 2002, and became completely inescapable when it was selected as the theme song for teen melodrama "The O.C."
11 of 20"Californication," Red Hot Chili Peppers
Steve Jennings/WireImage The title track from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' legendary 1999 album, "Californication" is a much deeper song than many think. It explores the downsides of Hollywood, and the pervasive influence of the movie industry, against a ridiculously catchy melody.
12 of 20"California Love," 2Pac
Raymond Boyd/Getty Images With 2Pac and Dr. Dre on the verses, "California Love" was practically destined to be an icon of West Coast rap music. It's widely considered one of the best songs in rap history and has sold more than 2 million copies in the United States alone.
13 of 20"Straight Outta Compton," NWA
Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images NWA stormed onto the fledgling gangsta rap scene in 1988 with "Straight Outta Compton," to immediate critical success and controversy. The song was banned from a slew of radio stations for allegedly promoting violence, but that didn't stop it from becoming a legendary success.
14 of 20"Going to California," Led Zeppelin
GAB Archive/Redferns This folksy tune appears on Led Zeppelin's untitled 1971 album and remains a fan favorite to this day even though songwriter and Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant doesn't consider it a lyrical triumph.
15 of 20"Do You Know The Way to San Jose," Dionne Warwick
Bettmann/Getty Images Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and recorded by Dianne Warwick, "Do You Know The Way to San Jose" earned Warwick her very first Grammy Award in 1968. The song's protagonist, a failed entertainer who tried to make it big in Hollywood and is now on the way back to her hometown of San Jose, did not fare as well.
16 of 20"Lodi," Creedence Clearwater Revival
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Released as the B-Side of massive Creedence hit "Bad Moon Rising," "Lodi" is one of the band's more underrated tunes, even if it is a little bit depressing It's about a man who's stranded in the once-tiny town, and the struggles of making it as a traveling musician.
17 of 20"California Gurls," Katy Perry
Michael Kovac/Getty Images for SiriusXM Taking a heavy pinch of influence from the Beach Boys classic of the same name, Katy Perry's "California Gurls" was totally inescapable after it was released in 2010. Co-written by Perry itself, it takes a bolder position than the original, positioning California girls as "unforgettable" and "so hot [they'll] melt your popsicle."
18 of 20"West Coast," Lana Del Rey
Michael Kovac/WireImage Lana Del Rey's music is deeply steeped in a laid-back Cali vibe, and "West Coast" is arguably the song that most exemplifies that ethos — even though its protagonist is technically planning to leave, at least "for the moment."
19 of 20"California," Joni Mitchell
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Joni Mitchell was living in France and pining for home when she penned "California" in 1971, the second single from her groundbreaking album "Blue." "Oh, but California, California, I'm coming home," she sings. "I'm gonna see the folks I dig, I'll even kiss a sunset pig."
20 of 20"California," Belinda Carlisle
Paul Natkin/Getty Images Released in 1995, this Belinda Carlisle tune kicks off with the death of River Phoenix, the actor who died of a drug overdose on the front steps of the now-infamous Viper Room nightclub on Los Angeles's Sunset Strip, and Carlisle reminisces about all the things that she loves — and those she doesn't miss — about California.
Amy McCarthyAmy McCarthy is a Texas-based journalist. Follow her on twitter at @aemccarthy.
More must-reads:
- Popular songs that weren't sung by the band's lead singer
- The 25 greatest opening song lines of all-time
- 20 underrated 1970s bands that you should be listening to
- 20 notable bands & artists that faded after starting strong
- 22 underrated lead singers who don't get enough respect
Breaking News
19 Christmas horror movies sure to terrify you this holiday season 25 of the most heartbreaking Christmas songs 20 Christmas movies that deserve a remake 25 classic Christmas songs that will never go out of style The 20 best TV shows about real people 25 popular songs turning 25 in 2026 21 emerging artists to watch in 2026 25 albums turning 25 in 2026Trending in Entertainment
Celebrity The 25 biggest music moments from 2025
1 TV 20 TV stars who quit, were killed off or fired from popular shows 
2 TV 20 iconic TV shows where the cast feuded with one another 
3 Movie News 20 actors who looked exactly like the real-life people they portrayed 
4 Celebrity 22 underrated lead singers who don't get enough respect 
5 Music 20 notable bands & artists that faded after starting strong 
6 Music 20 underrated 1970s bands that you should be listening to 
7 Music The 25 greatest opening song lines of all-time 
8 Customize Your Newsletter
+ 
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. MY ACCOUNT SUBSCRIBE ADVERTISE JOBS FAQ PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE FREE NEWSLETTERS Copyright 2025 YB Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. This site is for entertainment purposes only. There is no gambling offered on this site. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. 
Từ khóa » Cá Sõng
-
Randolph SONG - Director Of Enterprise Accounts, CA Technologies ...
-
Xinen Song (CA) - Manager - Westpac | LinkedIn
-
Rich Brian, NIKI, & Warren Hue - California (Official Music Video)
-
CANADA GEDI : KAKA ( Official Video) Pav Dharia | Kaka New Song
-
California Dreamin - Wikipedia
-
My Only Love Song - Wikipedia
-
Listen To Your Identified Songs In Spotify - Apple Support (CA)
-
Remix A Song With GarageBand For IPad - Apple Support (CA)
-
Song – “I Love You, California” | California State Capitol Museum
-
A Guide To The 101 Best Songs About California - The New York Times
-
Canada Songs - DAUGHTERS
-
Art Of Đờn Ca Tài Tử Music And Song In Southern Viet Nam