California

"California"
Single by Phantom Planet
from the album The Guest
Released	November 4, 2002
Format	CD single
Genre	Indie rock
Length	3:14
Label	Epic Records
Certification	Gold (RIAA)
Phantom Planet singles chronology
- "California" (2002) "Big Brat" (2004)

"California" is a song featured in Phantom Planet's 2002 album, The Guest. The song was first heard on national television on episode 8 of Fastlane, which was executive produced by McG. Both the song and the band received major attention when it became the title song on the hit show on FOX, The O.C.. It was also previously in the soundtrack to the film Orange County. The song is about driving on U.S. Route 101, traveling to see a concert.

Song information

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The estates of Al Jolson and his songwriting team are co-credited for "California", presumably because the title and chorus bear strong resemblances to his own "California, Here I Come". Some websites refer to the Phantom Planet song as a cover of the Jolson tune. Some parts of the song, particularly the piano solos at the beginning and end, are similar to the Jolson song, but still contain several differences in melody. It also bears some thematic and melodic resemblance to Joni Mitchell's "California" from her 1971 album Blue.

The song was rerecorded in 2005 by Phantom Planet and re-released as "California 2005", a much mellower version of the song than the original. "California 2005" had its debut in the second episode of The O.C.'s third season, and is featured on Music from the OC: Mix 5. The song received extensive airplay in the state of California, but was relatively unknown elsewhere as anything but the theme song from The O.C.

Cover versions

The song was then covered in 2006 - again for The O.C., this time being covered by Mates of State for the sixth installment of the Music from The OC series. Canadian rapper, k-os, samples the song on a track called, "I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman", from his album, Yes!.

In popular culture

The song was also used on The Simpsons, in the episode "Milhouse of Sand and Fog", during a parody of The O.C.

The song appears in the documentary Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room when the film introduces Enron's misdeeds in California.

Charts

References

1. ^ Chart peak positions
2. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:h9fuxq9jldje~T51

External links

• Music video for "California" at YouTube (requires Adobe Flash)

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