One of the coolest places to visit in the world, or at least in the USA, has to be California. From the beautiful beaches to the gorgeous women and its fantastic weather (save for maybe San Francisco), California has it all. As a reminder of how great and awesome the whole state is, here are the best songs to listen to while you're travelling throughout California.
15The Thrills - Big Sur
If you ever find yourself on highway 1 doing the California coastal drive, you’ll be taken aback by Big Sur. The mountains, the scenery , the beaches — it's oh so beautiful. Sure The Thrills didn't quite enjoy their stay, but that’s why they’re at the tail end of this list… Jerks!
Choice lyric: “Just don't go back to Big Sur, Hangin' around, lettin' your old man down”
14Guns N' Roses - Paradise City
One of the most iconic Guns N’ Roses songs and Slash’s favorite from the band is set in Paradise City. Now technically, that can be a fictions place for all we know but there’s is a Paradise town in California so this song does belong here. Fun fact, during one of the first takes of the song, Slash interrupted Axl and replaced the now infamous chorus with "Where the girls are fat and they've got big titties"
Choice lyric: “Take me down to the Paradise City, where the grass is green and the girls are pretty”
13Vampire Weekend - California English
There’s a lot different interpretations about California English. It may poke fun at the various Californian stereotypes and especially valley girls but the lyric below shows where Vampire Weekend's hearts are truly at.
Chocie lyric: “Living like the French Connection, but we’ll die in L.A.“
12Lana Del Rey - West Coast
Albeit a tad less catchy and certainly slower than the other tracks you'll find on this list, Lana Del Rey's West Coast deserves a special place on this list for being so good.
Choice Lyric: “Down on the West Coast, they love their movies. Their golden gods, and rock and roll groupies”
112Pac - California Love
Soon after being finishing his prison sentence in 1995, Tupac released his comeback song California Love which quickly became his best known and most successful song. The track has been covered, copied and remixed more than any other hip hop song out there, or so it feels.
Choice lyric: “California... knows how to party, In the citaaay of L.A., In the citaaay of good ol' Watts, In the citaaay, the city of Compton, We keep it rockin! We keep it rockin!”
10Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
Years before the show about the sex craved ficticious writer Hank Moody became a hit, there was an excellent and super popular album and song that shared the name Californiation. In case you’re wondering, the lawsuit over the use of “Californication” was settled out of court.
Choice lyric: “Space may be the final frontier but it's made in a Hollywood basement”