LA Metblog Series: Songs About Los Angeles

April 3, 2009 at 11:30 am in Announcements, LA, Music

laatnight LA Metblogs will begin a series of posts on Monday called “Songs About Los Angeles.” It will last about three weeks. But this is no Top Ten or Best Of series.

This is personal.

We will share the song (or songs) about LA that meant something significant to each of us. Los Angeles is a strange and wonderful city and has inspired some strange and wonderful music. We will delve into songs that had impact on us, songs that represent certain periods and places in our lives within this city we may (or may not) call home.

We look forward to your input as well.

UPDATE: Click past the jump for a compilation of the posts in the series as they unfold.

(Photo used with permission by Mike Smith, 2006. See the photo in his flickr stream here.)

Songs About Los Angeles:

“Los Angeles” by Frank Black (David Markland)

“Beverly Hills” by Circle Jerks (Sean Bonner)

“In California” by Lisa Marr (Lucinda Michele)

“Los Angeles” by X (Travis Koplow)

“Los Angeles” by X (Julia Frey)

“Southern California” by Wax (Sean Bonner)

“Los Angeles I’m Yours” by the Decemberists (Queequeg)

“Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N Roses (Matt Mason)

“Valley Girl” by Frank and Moon Unit Zappa (Jodi Kurland)

“Little Old Lady From Pasadena” by Jan and Dean (Frazgo)

“Fuck Tha Police” by NWA (Lulu of the Lotus-Eaters, aka David Mertz)

“Straight Outta Compton” by NWA (Sean Bonner)

“California” by Joni Mitchell (Chal Pivik)

“People Of The Sun” by Rage Against The Machine (Mike Winder)

“Under The Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers (Julia Frey)

“Moving to LA” by Art Brut (Travis Koplow)

“Los Angeles” by X (Burns!)

“Can’t Take This Town” by Colin Hay (Jodi Kurland)

“Beverly Hills” by Weezer (Sean Bonner)

“Sunset People” by Donna Summer (Chal Pivik)

“California Dreamin’” by The Mamas and The Papas (Frazgo)

“Que Honda Guero” by Beck (Mike Winder)

“Rooming House on Venice Beach” by Jonathan Richman (Lulu of the Lotus Eaters)

“The New Year’s Flood” by Woody Guthrie (Will Campbell)

“Cruisin’ (Lucy and Ramona and Sunset Sam)” by Michael Nesmith (Will Campbell)

“Electrolite” by REM (Jodi Kurland)

“Pico and Sepulveda” by Felix Figueroa and His Orchestra (Will Campbell)

“LA” by Neil Young (Chal Pivik)

“MacArthur Park” by Donna Summer (Chal Pivik)

“Blue Jay Way” by The Beatles (Chal Pivik)

“LA Woman” by The Doors (Chal Pivik)

30 Comments »

nathan

For Los Angeles,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAzF8iJ0gMw&feature=related
rosh

This one’s an automatic – I love LA by Randy Newman
dubate

I would say Long December would qualify
fsharp4565

Babylon Sisters by Steely Dan

Drive west on sunset
To the sea
Turn that jungle music down
Just until were out of town
This is no one night stand
Its a real occasion
Close your eyes and you’ll be there
Its everything they say
The end of a perfect day
Distant lights from across the bay
Babylon sisters shake it
Babylon sisters shake it
So fine so young
Tell me I’m the only one

Here come those Santa Ana winds again

Well jog with show folk on the sand
Drink kirschwasser from a shell
San Francisco show and tell
Well I should know by now
That its just a spasm
Like a Sunday in T.J.
That its cheap but its not free
That Im not what I used to be
And that loves not a game for three

Babylon sisters shake it
Babylon sisters shake it
So fine so young
Tell me Im the only one

My friends say no don’t go
For that cotton candy
Son you’re playing with fire
The kid will live and learn
As he watches his bridges burn
From the point of no return

Babylon sisters shake it
Babylon sisters shake it
So fine so young
Tell me I’m the only one
http://scv-workin.blogspot.com ricko

TOOL’s Aenema
flowerofhighrank

fsharp: YES
anything by Steely Dan, really. They get the threat of all this beauty.
The Doors, if they hadn’t been stoned all the time, if they had really seen the place.
Joni Mitchell…The Beach Boys… and I hate to suggest it, but…The Eagles ‘Life In The Fast Lane’?
dorit

Los Angels by X
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/06/songs-about-los-angeles-los-angeles-by-frank-black/ Songs About Los Angeles: "Los Angeles" by Frank Black | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] out more entries in the Songs About Los Angeles series. Related posts:LA Metblog Series: Songs About Los AngelesYuleblogging L.A.: The Greatest Christmas [...]
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/07/songs-about-los-angeles-in-california-by-neko-case-lisa-marr/ Songs about Los Angeles: "In California" by Neko Case Lisa Marr | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] For the initial Songs About LA post & the collection of published posts on the topic, go to Julia’s introduction here. [...]
jeremymiles

Moving to LA, by Art Brut.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OIzJQyq3WA&feature=related
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/08/songs-about-los-angeles-los-angeles-by-x-2/ Songs about Los Angeles: "Los Angeles" by X | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] out the rest of the Songs About Los Angeles series here. Related posts:Archiving Angeles (AA): 1932 Olympiad Los AngelesP.O.S. at Echo. Soon.Songs About [...]
cvcyn

Andres by L7
cvcyn

April 29, 1992 by Sublime
cvcyn

Beverly Hills by Weezer, Los Angeles by Sugarcult, Los Angeles is Burning by Bad Religion, Out in L.A.by Red Hot Chili Peppers (i’m sure this is not the only peppers song about LA)… so many others…Paradise City by Guns N’ Roses and the ever so funny Born in East L.A. by Cheech and Chong…
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/09/songs-about-los-angeles-southern-california-by-wax/ Songs About Los Angeles: "Southern California" by WAX | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] it wasn’t quite the same as watching it and I’m certain I lost it many many years ago. More songs about Los Angeles Related posts:Yuleblogging L.A.: The Greatest Christmas Songs Are About Los AngelesSongs About Los [...]
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/10/songs-about-los-angeles-los-angeles-im-yours-by-the-decemberists/ Songs About Los Angeles: "Los Angeles, I’m Yours" by The Decemberists | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] about Los Angeles love and hate songs. Read up on Julia’s introduction to our showcase here. Related posts:The Decemberists like tangerine liqueurSongs About Los Angeles: “Los [...]
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/11/songs-about-los-angeles-welcome-to-the-jungle-by-guns-n-roses/ Songs About Los Angeles: "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N’ Roses | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] Check out the rest of this series Related posts:“Guns N’ Roses” are gonna play their first LA show in 15 years!Ban guns in Los Angeles?Guns in Los AngelesStill Waiting For AxlSongs About Los Angeles: “Southern California” by WAX Embed this post on your own site: – VERY BETA! [...]
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/12/songs-about-los-angeles/ Songs About Los Angeles: "Valley Girl" by Frank & Moon Zappa | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] Click here to read more in our series on Songs About Los Angeles. Related posts:Songs About Los Angeles: “Los Angeles” by Frank BlackLA Metblog Series: Songs About Los AngelesSongs About Los Angeles: “Southern California” by WAXSongs about Los Angeles: “Los Angeles” by XNew Hands-Free Law Does Not Apply To The Valley Embed this post on your own site: – VERY BETA! [...]
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/13/songs-of-lalittle-old-lady-from-pasadena/ Songs About Los Angeles: "Little Old Lady from Pasadena" | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] tip to Julia Frey who came up with the idea for the series and explained it here. Related posts:Pasadena Chalk Festival returns this weekendFree (invited dress) of “It’s [...]
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/13/songs-about-los-angeles-fuck-tha-police-by-nwa/ Songs about Los Angeles: Fuck Tha Police by NWA | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] read more posts in this series. Related posts:Yuleblogging L.A.: The Greatest Christmas Songs Are About Los AngelesSongs About Los [...]
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/14/songs-about-los-angeles-straight-outta-compton-by-nwa/ Songs About Los Angeles: "Straight Outta Compton" by N.W.A. | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] entry is part of the Songs About Los Angeles series] Related posts:Songs About Los Angeles: “Southern California” by WAXSongs About [...]
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/16/people-of-the-sun/ Songs about L.A.: "People of the Sun" by Rage Against the Machine | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] entry is part of the Songs About Los Angeles [...]
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/18/songs-about-los-angeles-los-angeles-by-x-3/ Songs About Los Angeles: "Los Angeles" by X | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] out Julia’s post for the rest of the Songs About Los Angeles. Related posts:Songs About Los Angeles: “Los Angeles” by XSongs about Los Angeles: [...]
http://snarkydork.com Jodi Kurland

I’d thought about doing “Ventura Highway” by America. It’s not *really* about L.A. though, but I love blasting when taking the 101 out to the canyons to cross over to Malibu.
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/21/songs-of-los-angeles-california-dreaming-by-mamas-the-papas/ Songs About Los Angeles: "California Dreaming" by Mamas & the Papas | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] tip to Julia Frey who came up with the idea for the series and explained it here. Related posts:Songs About Los Angeles: “Southern California” by WAXSongs About Los [...]
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/22/que-onda-quero/ Songs about Los Angeles: "Que Onda Guero" by Beck | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] entry is part of the Songs About Los Angeles series. Related posts:Songs About Los Angeles: “Southern California” by WAXYuleblogging [...]
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/22/songs-about-los-angeles-rooming-house-on-venice-beach-by-johnathan-richman/ Songs about Los Angeles: "Rooming House on Venice Beach" by Johnathan Richman | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] read more posts in this series. Related posts:Annenberg Community Beach House OpensVenice Beach Blog BashVenice Beach Goes Green at [...]
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/23/songs-about-los-angeles-the-new-years-flood-by-woody-guthrie/ Songs About Los Angeles: "The New Year’s Flood" by Woody Guthrie | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] This is just one of the awesome series conceived by Julia Frey. For the latest list check out: LA Metblogs Series: Songs About Los Angeles. [...]
http://la.metblogs.com/2009/04/26/songs-about-los-angeles-electrolite-by-rem/ Songs About Los Angeles: "Electrolite" by R.E.M. | Los Angeles Metblogs

[...] Check out more of the “Songs About Los Angeles” series here. [...]
edieandy

Cruiser by Red House Painters

LA Metblog Series: Songs About Los Angeles

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