What is the most LA song?

I know this might be limiting, but not necessarily as so many of the LA stereotypes - both good and bad - are true, that everyone can have an opinion.

I think my choices might have to be "This Town" by the GoGos, "Los Angeles" by X or "Sunset People," by Donna Summer, which are quintissential stories about growing up fast and then trying unsuccessfully to make it last in the LaLaLand

How bout "Walkin' In LA", by Missing Persons?

LA Woman - Doors

Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers

April 29, 1992 - Sublime

Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N Roses

I Love L.A. is definitely a Classic :wink:

All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow. In the minds of so many, LA is a state of mind and its about having fun.

These are great. More thoughts:

California Girls - Beach Boys

Going Back to Cali - LL Cool J

Valley Girl

On 2009-07-19 20:50, christiki295 wrote:
These are great. More thoughts:

California Girls - Beach Boys

Going Back to Cali - LL Cool J

Valley Girl

Originally you said L.A. but since you've expanded it, I'm going to add:

California Über Alles - Dead Kennedys

Michelle Shocked's Come A Long Way from her brilliant 1992 album Arkansas Traveler.

An epic road trip song about L.A. full of references to the city and other songs. It plays like a movie of endless asphalt, concrete sprawl, dusty palm trees, and sun.

kicked in his door at 5 AM
"I've come for my bike" I told the repo man
My 920's gonna take me far today
You can travel for miles and never leave L.A.

I've come a long way
I've gone 500 miles today
I've come a long way
And never even left L.A.

I drive by the Plaza where the gay boys pose
Stand in their windows wearing no clothes
I heard the screams of the dying dark
Through the sweet green icing of MacArthur Park
And then I crossed the river into East L.A.
Pescado mojado me encontre
And I've given up on rock 'n roll
And I'm saving up for norteno
The river she runs by the railroad tracks
I swear I'll never take it back
A train, she cries on the midnight hour
All along the Watts Tower

I've come a long way
I've gone 500 miles today
I've come a long way
And never even left L.A.

I gunned it down to San Pedro Bay
Watched my ship sail in, watched it sail away
The sun was sinking into the sea
But a ball of fire inside of me
Was burning my motor and driving me hard
Past the big hair on the Boulevard
And up Mulholland where I made the scene
Like the one that took little Jimmy Dean
And then I shimmied up Wilshire like a little silk worm
Past the rodeo and the pachyderm
And then I stopped for coffee at an art cafe
I saw the repo man and made my getaway
Doing the Eagle Rock
Heading for the hills
Oh try to let my engines cool
And it is not my fault that this town shakes
I saw the falling rock and I hit my brakes

I've come a long way
I've gone 500 miles today
I've come a long way
And never even left L.A.

Now you tow it to the repo man's front door
And you give him these keys, I don't need them no more
You tow it to the repo man's front door
And you give him these keys, I don't need them no more

I've come a long way
I've gone 500 miles today
I've come along way
And never even left L.A.

Himno Nacional Mexicano

It'd be interesting to read why a song seems so L.A. to you, like the comments christiki295 and telescopes included in their posts.

There are a lot of songs with L.A. in the title or that reference L.A in the lyrics but that doesn't mean they're songs that seem really L.A. X's Los Angeles is technically an L.A. song but I never think of it when I'm thinking about L.A. so for me it's not an L.A. song. Similarly with Shawn Mullins' Rockabye which is a very L.A. song but for me it reflects a certain view of L.A. that I don't have.

Other songs may not mention the city but might bring it to mind. An additional comment with your post would be interesting to read. I'm unfamiliar with Limbo Lizard's suggestion of Himno Nacional Mexicano. I don't know who recorded it or what it's about or why it would seem like "the most L.A. song" to someone.

i think limbo was making a comment on the immigration issue,woof...

something very close to most Los Angeles citizens' radars

For me It's always been 'LA Woman' by the Doors

"L.A. Girl" by the Adolescents:

We don't really care if you say we're too young
We don't waste our time tanning in the sun
We don't even care what you now or think
Spoiled rich brat you ain't so neat
[Chorus:]
L.A. girl, L.A. world
Don't tell us how to act
Don't tell us what to wear
L.A. girl, L.A. world
You didn't create our scene
We don't care
We can't see why
We dont live our lives
To keep you satisfied
Stuck in your world of dreams again
My life starts where your life ends
You've burned out your battery has died
If it wasn't for O.C. your scene wouldn't be alive
[Chorus]
We don't really care if you say we're too young
We don't waste our time tanning in the sun
We don't even care what you now or think
Spoiled rich brat you ain't so neat
[Chorus]
I'm bored of the sleazy make-up
You'd fuck any guy in town
Your life's a total mess-up
Why the hell do you hang around
L.A. girl you bring me down
L.A. girl, L.A. world
Don't tell us how to act
Don't tell us what to wear
L.A. girl, L.A. world

RHCP did "Out in LA" as well. It was their first song...

I vote for Nickelback's "Rockstar"

I'm through with standin' in lines to clubs I'll never get in
It's like the bottom of the ninth and I'm never gonna win
This life hasn't turned out
Quite the way I want it to be
(Tell me what you want)

I want a brand new house on an episode of Cribs
And a bathroom I can play baseball in
And a king size tub
Big enough for ten plus me
(Yeah, so what you need?)

I need a a credit card that's got no limit
And a big black jet with a bedroom in it
Gonna join the mile high club
At thirty-seven thousand feet
(Been there, done that)

I want a new tour bus full of old guitars
My own star on Hollywood Boulevard
Somewhere between Cher
And James Dean is fine for me
(So how you gonna do it?)

I'm gonna trade this life
For fortune and fame
I'd even cut my hair
And change my name

'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses, drivin' fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat

And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny with her bleach blond hair

And well, hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar
Hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar

I wanna be great like Elvis without the tassels
Hire eight body guards that love to beat up a$$holes
Sign a couple autographs
So I can eat my meals for free
(I'll have the quesadilla, ha, ha)

I'm gonna dress my a$$ with the latest fashion
Get a front door key to the Playboy mansion
Gonna date a centerfold that loves
To blow my money for me
(So how you gonna do it?)

I'm gonna trade this life
For fortune and fame
I'd even cut my hair
And change my name

'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses, drivin' fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat

And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny with her bleach blond hair

And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary of today's who's who
They'll get you anything with that evil smile
Everybody's got a drug dealer on speed dial

Well, hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar

I'm gonna sing those songs that offend the censors
Gonna pop my pills from a Pez dispenser
Get washed-up singers writin' all my songs
Lipsynk 'em every night so I don't get 'em wrong

Well, we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses, drivin' fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat

And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny with her bleach blond hair

And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary of today's who's who
They'll get you anything with that evil smile
Everybody's got a drug dealer on speed dial

Well, hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar
Hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar

"Born in East LA" by Cheech

California dreamin

all the leaves are brown
and the sky is grey
I've been for a walk
on a winter's day

I'd be safe and warm
if I was in L.A
California Dreamin'
on such a winter's day

stopped into a church
I passed along the way
well, I got down on my knees
and I pretend to pray

you know the preacher likes the cold
he knows I'm gonna stay
California Dreamin'
on such a winter's day

all the leaves are brown
and the sky is grey
I've been for a walk
on a winter's day

if I didn't tell her
I could leave today
California Dreamin'
on such a winter's day x3

L.A. Blues from the album Funhouse by the Stooges

"Pico & Sepulveda" Felix Figueroa & His Orchestra

Back in the sixties when LA Woman was on the radio we were living the lyrics. Driving down her freeways, Hollywood girls in their Hollywood bungalows,topless bars and the Whiskey a Go Go. The hills on fire. Yeah, LA Woman has to be the LA song for me.

Moving To L.A. by Art Brut:
There's not much glam about the English weather
There's nothing left keeping us together
Sunshine on a rainy day
Makes me want to move away
I think I've got it sorted
I'm going to get myself deported
I'm considering a move to LA
(He's considering a move to LA)

Hang around with Axl Rose
Buy myself some brand new clothes
Everything is gonna be just fine
I hear the murder rate is in decline
Get me a southern accent
Maybe grab a piece of action

I'm considering a move to LA
(He's considering a move to LA)

When I get off the plane
The first thing I'm gonna do is
Strip naked to the waist
And ride my Harley Davidson
Up and down Sunset street
I may even get a tattoo
My problems are never gonna find me
I'm not sending one letter
or even a postcard back
I'm drinking Henessey
With Morrissey
On a beach
Out of reach
Somewhere very far away

I'm considering a move to LA
(He's considering a move to LA)

"Ticket to L.A." by Urge Overkill

or

"Los Angeles" by Frank Black

When I associate music with Los Angeles, I think of narcissistic odes to shallowness that nobody outside of L.A. really cares to hear. Perhaps the quintessential L.A. musician is Christopher Cross, with his “Arthur’s Theme/Best That You Can Do,” or maybe “Sailing.” It’s got it all: Michael McDonald, white leisure suits and that slight whiff of cocaine in the afternoon.

"Santa Monica" - Everclear

"True Men Don't Kill Coyotes" Red Hot Chili Peppers

After living the 70's Punk scene in L.A. & Orange County there is only one song for me that embodies L.A.

"Los Angeles" by X

I can't believe it took 26 posts!!
Thank you Atomic Tiki Punk.

"Los Angeles" by X.

Whittier Blvd by Thee Midniters

No Mr. NoNaMe, Thank You! & Kudos

Many City's have a heart & soul, but L.A. is more like a Vampire, it will suck the life out of you if you let it.
I know, I lived there for many years.

The Band "X" , wrote many songs about the real L.A. & people who inhabit the place.

Okay, you cant hoodwink me! Los Angeles by X was rightfully mentioned in the very first post of this thread! Nevertheless, Kudos to AtomicTikiPunk for bringing it up as X always deserves mention.

BTW, DJ Bonebrake has recently been spotted playing vibes for King Kukulele. It's true! Once again the inextricable links between Punk and Tiki are blatantly revealed.

Yea, I know! there is even DNA evidence to support these claims, Back in the 70s when Punk Rock was slugging it out in Orange County, we
were surrounded with all things Tiki, we wore vintage clothing when it was not cool to wear it, hey it was cheap then, we went bowling at
"Kona Lanes" friends lived at Kona Apartments, There was Googie architecture everywhere, still, Tiki bars to drink in, Polynesian Restaurants where everywhere, I think we just brought Tiki with us as we got old....

Many fine mentions. I'd like to add Tom Petty's Free Falling which always paints a picture of LA in my mind.

• fm

(Just for fun do a search for "Motley Crue Saints of Los Angeles" - not a serious contender but good for blast of deja vu.)

One of the 1st may be California Here I come by Al Jolson, Although it mentions Golden Gate which is more Frisco. I like Ray Charles version.

L.A. Is My Lady- Frank Sinatra

On 2009-10-05 20:09, Shipwreckjoey wrote:
Whittier Blvd by Thee Midniters

I second that!

I think Los Angeles by X wins this pole, yes I declare it....The Winner! XXXXXXXXXXXXX The Winner !

Here are the lyrics for those who have never heard of the song. Yes it is very punk!

she had to leave
los angeles
all her toys wore out in black and her boys had too
she started to hate every nigger and jew
every mexican that gave her lotta shit
every homosexual and the idle rich
she had to get out
she gets confused
flying over the dateline her hands turn red
cause the days change at night change in an instant the days
change at night change in an instant
she had to leave
los angeles
she found it hard to say goodbye to her own best friend
she bought a clock on hollywood blvd the day she left
it felt sad she had to get out