California (Phantom Planet song)

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"California"
File:Phantom California.jpg
Single by Phantom Planet
from the album The Guest
Released February 2002
Format CD single
Recorded 2001
Genre
Length
  • 3:14 (album version)
  • 3:17 (demo Version)
Label Epic
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Certification Gold (RIAA)
Phantom Planet singles chronology
"Hey Now Girl"
(2001)		 "California"
(2002)		 "Always On My Mind"
(2002)
Music video
"California" on YouTube

"California" is a song by American rock band Phantom Planet. It was released as a single from their second album The Guest in February 2002. The song was first heard on 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 television 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. The song became a top ten hit in Austria, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Republic of Ireland, reaching number 3 (in both Austria and Italy), number 9, and number 10 in the respective countries.

Song information

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.

Although normally this version of the song runs as the title song for The O.C., it was switched out for the Mates of State's cover version in a special episode where everything in the show took place in alternate universe, hence a different song for the title sequence.

The song is also featured in the documentary, "The Smartest Guys in the Room," which detailed the Enron Scandal and the california utility rigging.

Track listing

EP

No. Title Length
1. "California" (Tchad Blake Mix) 3:14
2. "Always on My Mind" (London Version) 3:16
3. "The Living Dead"   3:28
4. "Stiffs"   2:37
5. "California" (Demo) 3:15

Single

No. Title Length
1. "California" (Jack Joseph Puig Mix) 3:18
2. "The Guest"   3:44
3. "Do the Panic" (Live) 3:03
4. "California" (Live) 3:19

Cover versions

The song was 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! Alvin and the Chipmunks covered this song for their 2007 video game Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Charts

Chart (2002–04) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[1] 3
Germany (Official German Charts)[2] 13
Ireland (IRMA) 10
Italy (FIMI)[3] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[4] 17
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[5] 9
U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks[6] 35

References

  1. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Phantom Planet – California" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  2. ↑ "Musicline.de – Phantom Planet Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Phantom Planet – California". Swiss Singles Chart.
  5. ↑ "Phantom Planet: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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