California Dreamin’
July 22, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Having lived my entire life on the east coast of the U.S. and briefly in Europe, the concept of California and the west coast was always an imagined, distant place for me. Eventually I’d like to make it out there, maybe spend a few years in San Francisco, experience some of that laid back attitude you hear so much about.
Anyway, these artists and songs, all from the Golden state, represent collectively the California consciousness. For me, as an outsider to this culture, it gives me an idea of the range and energy inherent in all the different genres of music that emanate from Cali. I can’t include some of the more popular choices such as Dr. Dre, Snoop, Sublime, and the Chili Peppers, but I’m sure you’ll recognize a couple of these artists. Enjoy and chillllllllllll…..
P.S. Gotta give props to the Mamas & the Papas too…bunch of characters, those guys.
Souls of Mischief- Let ‘em Know
on 93 ‘Til Infinity (1993, Jive)
Murs- Brotherly Love
on The End of the Beginning (2003, Def Jux)
Madlib- Sickfit
on Madvillainy (2004, Stones Throw Records)
Ugly Duckling- Rio De Janeiro
on Taste the Secret (2003, Emperor Norton Records)
The Nonce- Mix Tapes
on World Ultimate (1995, American Recordings)
Long Beach Dub All Stars ft. Barrington Levy - Saw Red
on Right Back (1999, Dreamworks Records)
The Crystal Method- Wild, Sweet and Cool
on Tweekend (2001, Outpost)
Image: Brandon Cayaban
[...] d. Check out this picture and then the songs.. HERE. [...]
What you say is interesting to me. I feel *exactly* the same sense of curiosity and wonder about California, having grown up in other places but having been inundated by cultural references, family who moved out there and never came back the same, etc.
It’s still all kind of mythical and distant to me, despite now having moved to the Bay Area for grad school and having lived (t)here for 2 years. It’s still an impossibly cool place to live, still too unlike any other place I’ve lived for me to fully come to grips with it. I expect some California haters to emerge in these comments, but I don’t care — that’s how I see it, as an inside-outsider.
Which is all to say, I appreciate this musical interpretation of your wonderment.
I appreciate this interpretation too! :P I spent the first 20 years of my life in Eastern Canada and the past 10 years in Korea; neither place being remotely like California. California is huge, but certainly has it’s own ‘personality’.
Cheers.