Beyond California Dreamin'
Check out our playlist of over 80 songs that embody the complete California experience -- the dreams, the realities and the myths.
Also From California Report
Examining how California is responding to climate change.
An inside look into the people and politics of state government.
A window into health in California.
The California Report | Friday, Jan 13, 2012, 4:30 PM
California Songs: Moonsville Collective's 'Califia'
The notion of California as a promised land has inspired many artists. Corey Adams and his group Moonsville Collective explore romantic legends about the state in their music. We continue our California Songs series with "Califia."
The California Report | Friday, Dec 09, 2011, 4:30 PM
California Songs: Chuck Berry's 'Promised Land'
Chuck Berry is widely admired as one of rock 'n' roll's pioneers. He's best-known for hits like "Johnny B. Goode." But another song, "Promised Land," chronicles a journey Berry made to California from Virginia after serving time in prison. We talk to Berry's biographer Bruce Pegg about the tune's back story.
The California Report | Friday, Oct 14, 2011, 4:30 PM
California Songs: El Vez's 'En El Barrio'
El Vez -- the Mexican Elvis from Southern California -- is much more than an impersonator. He's a character that's equal parts Presley swagger, wry comedian, glam-rock showman and Latino activist. That's particularly evident in "En El Barrio," his late-80s take on the Elvis tune "In The Ghetto."
The California Report | Friday, Sep 30, 2011, 4:30 PM
California Songs: John Vanderslice's 'Tule Fog'
Our "California Songs" series on music inspired by the Golden State continues with San Francisco-based singer and songwriter John Vanderslice. He tells us the story behind his song, "Tule Fog."
The California Report | Friday, Jul 15, 2011, 4:30 PM
California Songs: Cracker's 'Big Dipper'
The wooden roller coaster on the Santa Cruz boardwalk is a magnet for families, kids and teenagers on dates. It also inspired musician David Lowery's song "Big Dipper." Lowery studied mathematics at UC Santa Cruz, and "Big Dipper" appears on the album titled "The Golden Age" released in 1996 with his band Cracker. Lowery tells us the story behind the music.
The California Report | Friday, May 27, 2011, 4:30 PM
California Songs: John Doe's 'The Golden State'
We continue our "California Songs" series with musician John Doe. He may be best known as a founding member of the heralded L.A. punk band X and their country offshoot the Knitters. But he's also an actor, and has released seven solo albums. Doe spoke with us about the romance behind his song, "The Golden State."
The California Report | Friday, May 13, 2011, 4:30 PM
California Songs: 'Oh California!'
For this installment of "California Songs," we reach back to before California was even a state. Karen Arlen is a musician and a retired classroom music teacher who co-founded a group which researches, performs and distributes the traditional music of early California. Arlen gives us the back story about a song called "Oh California!" that became the unofficial theme song of the gold rush in 1849.
The California Report | Friday, Feb 18, 2011, 4:30 PM
California Songs: Vienna Teng's 'City Hall'
This week, the California Supreme Court waded back into a controversy over Prop. 8, the same-sex marriage ban voters approved in 2008. The issue can be traced back to 2004, when gay and lesbian couples lined up outside San Francisco City Hall to marry, until the courts stopped it. Those hundreds of marriages inspired musician Vienna Teng to write the song, "City Hall."
