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Not to get mushy or anything, but we here at LAist love this city. That is very likely a logical deduction, as we do write a blog about LA, which (one would hope) requires some level of affection for the great sprawling metropolis we call home.
With that in mind, LAist would like to start conducting an informal Friday poll amongst our readers. We want to pick your brains and find out what you like about our collective habitat, as well as what you hate. What is it, in short, that makes LA such an iconic and unforgettable place.
Thus, to avoid any further ado, here is our first question:
What is your favorite song about Los Angeles?
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The L.A. Song - People Under the Stairs
Well, you've covered the obvious one (X's "Los Angeles"), but I'll add a couple to it - "4th of July" by X, "Hollywood Bed," by Phil Alvin, "Carmelita," by Warren Zevon, and you've gotta acknowledge Randy Newman, even though it hurts to do so.
A.L.
screenwriter's blues. soul coughing. hands down.
we are all in some way or another going to
reseda, someday, to die
and the radioman laughs because the radioman fucks a model too.
Randy Newman's anthem simply because I heard it on the radio one day when I was cruising up Laurel Canyon on an absolutely gorgeous day. It just all worked.
ok, maybe not strictly LA, but how about RedHotChiliPeppers' Californication. i think when they wrote it, they had LA in mind. or Vega$.
Frank Black's "Los Angeles" though he's singing about NOT this Los Angeles...but my guilty pleasure is howling along with the song in the car....
"Coming Into Los Angeles" by Arlo Guthrie. Because the X song is too obvious.
I also feel compelled to mention the album "The Battle of Los Angeles" by gone and desperately-needed Rage Against The Machine.
Here's 3 more that are some of my favorites:
Dave Alvin - "Ashgrove"
Tonio K. - "City Life"
Michelle Shocked - "Come A Long Way"
a small bit of rap/hip-hop:
L.A. Daze - People Under The Stairs
Kalifornia - Above The Law
Going Back to Cali - Biggie/LL Cool J
California Love - Tupac/Dre
I have to confess to liking L.A. Woman (The Doors version, not that heinous Billy Idol shit pile). There's just something about the imagery of the song (cops in cars / topless bars) that captures the scudzy feel of early 70's LA. And then when Jim turns into the Lizard King and starts with the "mr. mojo rising" thing... good stuff. Also have to mention Elliot Smith's "L.A.", as well as "Johnny Hit and Run Pauline".
I feel compelled to just throw out that anything by Los Lobos makes me think of L.A., especially the song from "Colors".
"Los Angeles, I'm Yours" by the Decemberists. It's perfect.
And while it's not really *about* L.A., Ryan Adams' "La Cienega Just Smiled" wins for most creative use of a local street name.
There are many songs related to L.A., i have a playlist going with some of my own quixotic favorites:
Already mentioned:
"L.A. Woman" - The Doors; "Coming Into Los Angeles" - Arlo Guthrie; "Los Angeles" - X; "Screenwriter's Blues" - Soul Coughing; "I Love L.A." - Randy Newman; "Los Angeles" - Frank Black
Not mentioned yet, but some of my faves:
"Santa Monica" - Everclear (okay, it's next door, so sue me)
"Lausd" - Jurassic 5
"How To Survive In South Central" - Ice Cube
"The Wasteland" - Warrior Soul
"Arlington Hill" and "Bermuda Love Triangle/Fox Hills " by Stew
"L.A. County" - Lyle Lovett
"Hollywood Swinging" - Kool & The Gang
"Mary C. Brown and the Hollywod Sign" - Dory Previn
"Hollywood Nights" - Bob Segar (mostly because Forrest Gump's girlfriend freaks out on coke to it)
I'm changing my answer to "To Live And Die In L.A." by Tupac. Can't believe that hasn't garnered a mention yet.
I love LA!
These deserve to be tossed into the mix for their bittersweet look at alienated life in the Southland: "Hollywood" by Rufus and Chaka Khan and Elliott Smith's "Rose Parade." Smith's "L.A." is both a great song and an excellent L.A.-themed song, but "Rose Parade" wins for its deeper subtlety, even if it's more about Smith's morose state of mind than about Pasadena. "It Was a Good Day" by Ice Cube is pretty amazing place-based story telling, too.
Lisa Marr Experiment's "In California." It was also covered by Neko Case on her Canadian Amp EP... both versions are equally great!
I'll echo Michelle Shocked "Come a long way" and everything X has done. And I'll add "Fountain & Fairfax" by the Afghan Whigs...
Death Cab for Cutie "Why You'd Want to Live Here"
Rufus Wainwright "California"
How 'bout Sheryl Crow's "All I Wanno Do" and Missing Persons' "Walking in L.A"?