LAist: Trivial Pursuits

Sylvie

Tue, 31 Aug 2004 16:37:03 -0800

How 'bout Sheryl Crow's "All I Wanno Do" and Missing Persons' "Walking in L.A"?

Paige

Mon, 30 Aug 2004 14:02:14 -0800

Death Cab for Cutie "Why You'd Want to Live Here" Rufus Wainwright "California"

Riley

Mon, 30 Aug 2004 09:31:26 -0800

I'll echo Michelle Shocked "Come a long way" and everything X has done. And I'll add "Fountain & Fairfax" by the Afghan Whigs...

nguan

Mon, 30 Aug 2004 03:46:59 -0800

Lisa Marr Experiment's "In California." It was also covered by Neko Case on her Canadian Amp EP... both versions are equally great!

Jess

Sun, 29 Aug 2004 16:51:32 -0800

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.

Phil

Sun, 29 Aug 2004 12:57:38 -0800

I love LA!

Tom

Sun, 29 Aug 2004 09:45:02 -0800

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.

Joe Crawford

Sat, 28 Aug 2004 17:04:51 -0800

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)

Gwen

Sat, 28 Aug 2004 13:13:12 -0800

"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.

Scott

Sat, 28 Aug 2004 12:49:59 -0800

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".

big steve

Sat, 28 Aug 2004 12:34:31 -0800

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

2Cents

Sat, 28 Aug 2004 10:20:52 -0800

Here's 3 more that are some of my favorites: Dave Alvin - "Ashgrove" Tonio K. - "City Life" Michelle Shocked - "Come A Long Way"

Tom

Sat, 28 Aug 2004 08:41:48 -0800

"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.

em

Sat, 28 Aug 2004 08:33:12 -0800

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....

no milk

Sat, 28 Aug 2004 07:09:01 -0800

ok, maybe not strictly LA, but how about RedHotChiliPeppers' Californication. i think when they wrote it, they had LA in mind. or Vega$.

ma

Fri, 27 Aug 2004 19:43:57 -0800

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.

me

Fri, 27 Aug 2004 19:03:48 -0800

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.

Armed Liberal

Fri, 27 Aug 2004 18:02:09 -0800

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.

Andy Hall

Fri, 27 Aug 2004 18:01:47 -0800

The L.A. Song - People Under the Stairs