Wish they all could be
Before I begin, let me just state for the record that Katy Perry's "music" makes my ears bleed. Her idiotic lyrics laid over beats that were better utilized by other artists (you know, ones with discernable talent) could almost make a person give up music all together. She is one of the worst artists pop music has to offer theses days (although time will tell if Kei$ha supplants her as the queen of crap).
This being said, I think the Beach Boys and Rondor Records have it all wrong.
First of all, there are many songs with the title of "California Girls" (most even spelled properly!). My personal favorite is by the Magnetic Fields, from their "Distortion" album. Perry's schlocky "anthem" was neither the first nor will be the last to celebrate the girls of the Golden State.
Secondly, I was in a store recently and subjected to Perry's version of the song. (I am loathe to call it such, but it works for illustrative purposes. ) It couldn't be further from the sunny anthem with perennial appeal written by the original California Boys. If anyone should sue, it's Kei$ha - it sounds like they ripped off one of HER songs. It's a generic pop beat, and one you can find on any decent synthesizer.
The claim by the record company is that Snoop Dog (who for reasons I can not fathom and can only blame on either the green you fold and put in your pocket or the kind or smoke) drops a verse at the end of this abomination that references the Beach Boys song. A single line of the song. Copyright infringement 101 - how MUCH you use is a factor. As Eric Cartman once said, "Dude, you are seriously reaching right now.". I hate the song, too, but I don't think they have a leg to stand on in court - this song doesn't sample large swaths of the original, nor does it share any of the same lyrics, save Snoop's reference to the earlier hit. And it's just that, a very scant reference. I've seen much heavier references before and don't recall any lawsuits (Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" comes to mind.)
And on a personal note? "California Girls" is probably my least favorite Beach Boys song (after the bafflingly stupid "Long Tall Texan", of course). I think it's among their weakest, both lyrically and musically. It pales next to "I Get Around," "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Good Vibrations" and especially "God Only Knows," considered by many to be the very best song ever written/recorded.
I don't know if this is an attempt to raise awareness or revenue, but it's wrongheaded either way. And, Mike Love and Brian Wilson have both come out and said that they are against the lawsuit, so this is bound to get more interesting as it goes on.
This being said, I think the Beach Boys and Rondor Records have it all wrong.
First of all, there are many songs with the title of "California Girls" (most even spelled properly!). My personal favorite is by the Magnetic Fields, from their "Distortion" album. Perry's schlocky "anthem" was neither the first nor will be the last to celebrate the girls of the Golden State.
Secondly, I was in a store recently and subjected to Perry's version of the song. (I am loathe to call it such, but it works for illustrative purposes. ) It couldn't be further from the sunny anthem with perennial appeal written by the original California Boys. If anyone should sue, it's Kei$ha - it sounds like they ripped off one of HER songs. It's a generic pop beat, and one you can find on any decent synthesizer.
The claim by the record company is that Snoop Dog (who for reasons I can not fathom and can only blame on either the green you fold and put in your pocket or the kind or smoke) drops a verse at the end of this abomination that references the Beach Boys song. A single line of the song. Copyright infringement 101 - how MUCH you use is a factor. As Eric Cartman once said, "Dude, you are seriously reaching right now.". I hate the song, too, but I don't think they have a leg to stand on in court - this song doesn't sample large swaths of the original, nor does it share any of the same lyrics, save Snoop's reference to the earlier hit. And it's just that, a very scant reference. I've seen much heavier references before and don't recall any lawsuits (Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" comes to mind.)
And on a personal note? "California Girls" is probably my least favorite Beach Boys song (after the bafflingly stupid "Long Tall Texan", of course). I think it's among their weakest, both lyrically and musically. It pales next to "I Get Around," "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Good Vibrations" and especially "God Only Knows," considered by many to be the very best song ever written/recorded.
I don't know if this is an attempt to raise awareness or revenue, but it's wrongheaded either way. And, Mike Love and Brian Wilson have both come out and said that they are against the lawsuit, so this is bound to get more interesting as it goes on.