California (song)

Infobox Single
Name = California


Artist = Phantom Planet
from Album = The Guest
B-side =
Released = November 4, 2002
Format = CD
Recorded =
Genre = Indie rock
Length = 3:14
Label = Epic Records
Writer =
Producer =
Certification = Gold (RIAA)
Chart position =
Last single =
This single =
Next single =
Misc = "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, who liked the song so much he made it the opening song for The OC. 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, travelling to see a concert.

The estates of Al Jolson and his songwriting team are co-credited for "California", presumably because the title and chorus come dangerously close 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.

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 '. 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."

The song was then covered in 2006 - again for "The O.C.", this time being covered by Mates of State for the of the "Music from The OC" series.

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 "" when the film introduces Enron's misdeeds in California.

Charts

References

External links

*YouTube|oNRs0RM3EEE|Music video for "California"

Navbox Musical artist

name = Phantom Planet
title = Phantom Planet
background = group_or_band

above = Nowrap begin

Alex Greenwald ·wrap Sam Farrar ·wrap Simon Rix ·wrap Darren Robinson ·wrap Jeff Conrad

group1 = Studio albums
list1 = "Phantom Planet Is Missing" ·wrap "The Guest" ·wrap "Phantom Planet" ·wrap "Raise the Dead"

group2 = Singles
list2 = "California" ·wrap "Just"

group3 = Other releases
list3 = "Polaroid (Phantom Planet album)" ·wrap "Connect Sets" ·wrap "" ·wrap "Live at the Troubadour" ·wrap "Negatives 2" ·wrap "Limited Edition Tour EP"