There are few states in America as loved as California. The west coast is a dreamy landscape of Redwood forests, idyllic surf beaches, and scorching deserts. The Golden State has a rich history, incredible weather, and culturally vibrant cities where people from all over the world live together in relative peace and harmony. Recognized as the center of the entertainment world, many bands and artists have been inspired to write songs about California. 

These tunes highlight famous cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, make mention of the surfer lifestyle, and celebrate all that is great about the best state in America’s west. The bands and artists paying tribute to Cali range from old school rockers and pop stars to 90s rappers and folk artists. While they may come from different genes, what they do have in common is a passion for the sun and surf lifestyle of California.

So without further ado, here are 30 of the best songs about California to add to your next playlist. 

1. Californication – Red Hot Chili Peppers

There’s no better way to kick off a list containing songs about California than with this classic from Red Hot Chili Peppers. The track is taken from the album of the same name and finds the legendary LA band exploring the darker side of Hollywood. There are lots of pop culture references throughout, with the likes of Kurt Cobain, Star Wars, The Beach Boys, and murdered Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten all mentioned. 

Despite being one of the Chili’s biggest hits (it has over 950 million views on YouTube), the song almost didn’t make the record. The group was having a hard time putting it together until John Frusciante walked into the studio one day and said he had solved the problem. The result is one of the band’s best songs with a video clip to match.