Singing About LA
Whenever I plan a road trip, I have these complicated ideas for concept mix CDs that I rarely actually finish. This time though, dammit, I am going to finish my Los Angeles/SoCal mix. It will remind me about this loverly region for the brief day that I am away (attending secret nuptials in the City of Sin).
Lots of people write songs about LA, but I haven't heard any specifically about the "Inland Empire" (I've heard that phrase so often that I have started forgetting to include the ironic quotes). For any non-locals, the Inland Empire is the seething mass of humanity east of LA, south of the mountains, and west of Palm Springs. It's basically all LA, though, creeping its tentacles into cracks in the desert...
Here's the song list so far. If anyone has any other favorites, please let me know!!
1. Jonathan Coulton - I Hate California
I know your friends out there must think I’m pretty strange/
Because I dress as if the weather’s gonna change
2. David Bowie - Cracked Actor
Forget that I'm fifty cause you just got paid
3. Joni Mitchell - California
Oh will you take me as I am/ Strung out on another man/
California I'm coming home
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under the Bridge
The city she loves me/ Lonely as I am/ Together we cry
5. Sheryl Crow - All I Wanna Do
The good people of the world are washing their cars/
On their lunch break, hosing and scrubbing/
As best they can in skirts in suits
6. Ronnie Hudson - West Coast Poplock
Poplockin in Rolls Royce, Cadillacs, Lincolns and Mercedes Benz/
Poplockin at Howard Johnsons, Sheraton, Poplockin at the Holiday Inn
7. Tool - Aenema
I sure could use a vacation/
From this bullshit three ring circus sideshow of Freaks
8. Missing Persons - Walking in LA
Could it be that the smog's playing tricks on my eyes
9. Sisters of Mercy - Black Planet
Run around in the radiation/ Run around in the acid rain
10. Art Brut - Moving to LA
Everything is gonna be just fine/ I hear the murder rate is in decline
11. Shawn Mullins - Lullaby
She's seen her share of devils/ In this angel town
12. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Free Fallin'
There's a freeway runnin' through the yard/
And I'm a bad boy cause I don't even miss her
13. Guns N Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
You can taste the bright lights/ But you won't get them for free
Lots of people write songs about LA, but I haven't heard any specifically about the "Inland Empire" (I've heard that phrase so often that I have started forgetting to include the ironic quotes). For any non-locals, the Inland Empire is the seething mass of humanity east of LA, south of the mountains, and west of Palm Springs. It's basically all LA, though, creeping its tentacles into cracks in the desert...
Here's the song list so far. If anyone has any other favorites, please let me know!!
1. Jonathan Coulton - I Hate California
I know your friends out there must think I’m pretty strange/
Because I dress as if the weather’s gonna change
2. David Bowie - Cracked Actor
Forget that I'm fifty cause you just got paid
3. Joni Mitchell - California
Oh will you take me as I am/ Strung out on another man/
California I'm coming home
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under the Bridge
The city she loves me/ Lonely as I am/ Together we cry
5. Sheryl Crow - All I Wanna Do
The good people of the world are washing their cars/
On their lunch break, hosing and scrubbing/
As best they can in skirts in suits
6. Ronnie Hudson - West Coast Poplock
Poplockin in Rolls Royce, Cadillacs, Lincolns and Mercedes Benz/
Poplockin at Howard Johnsons, Sheraton, Poplockin at the Holiday Inn
7. Tool - Aenema
I sure could use a vacation/
From this bullshit three ring circus sideshow of Freaks
8. Missing Persons - Walking in LA
Could it be that the smog's playing tricks on my eyes
9. Sisters of Mercy - Black Planet
Run around in the radiation/ Run around in the acid rain
10. Art Brut - Moving to LA
Everything is gonna be just fine/ I hear the murder rate is in decline
11. Shawn Mullins - Lullaby
She's seen her share of devils/ In this angel town
12. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Free Fallin'
There's a freeway runnin' through the yard/
And I'm a bad boy cause I don't even miss her
13. Guns N Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
You can taste the bright lights/ But you won't get them for free