California

Album: The Guest (2002)
Charted: 9
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Songfacts®:

  • All the members of Phantom Planet are from California. The song is a tribute to the state, and is often used to represent the culture there.
  • This song was voted as an MTV.com Viewer's Pick Video, which got it in MTV's rotation. It received more exposure when many stores did giveaways with this song. Urban Outfitters included the song on a music sampler that came free with a minimum $75 purchase. Some Virgin Megastores included a copy of the video with a purchase of the CD.
  • This appears on the soundtrack to the 2002 Colin Hanks/Jack Black movie Orange County, which takes place in California.
  • A live version is included on a 2001 5-song EP called Phantom Planet Live.
  • This was used as the theme song to the 2003 Fox TV show The O.C., which is set in Orange County, California. To capitalize on the new publicity, the album was re-released with a sticker that said, "Featuring the theme from The O.C..
  • This was featured in the documentary Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Steve - Kitchener, Canada

Comments: 26

  • Joel from Napa, CaliforniaGreat song
  • Jackson from Malibu,californiaLove this song. The O.C. was one of my favorite tv shows.
  • John from Jackson, MsDoes anyone who "Perry George" is as referred to in the lyrics of the song "California."
  • Sophie from Dewit, NyLove this song. Mates of State did a cover of it for the OC Soundtrack # 6.
  • Callie from Maplewood, NjUm, actually FHWOEROLGHWGWOEIFH8OWIHON9
  • Michael from Dallas, Txplease, do not put the beatles and weezer in the same sentence
  • Nick from Sdgdg, Chinahey i heard another version of this song the other day, it sounded like it was from the 80's or something so i'm trying to get to find out who acctually really wrote this song. Does anyone know
  • Jennifer from Kyle, TxUm, Actually, the drummer on this album WAS Jason Schwartzman... He left to concentrate on acting
  • Milena from Capitola, CaUm, actually, the drummer for this band is NOT Jason Schwartzman, it's Jeff Conrad. Look it up on their website.
  • Tim from Wertewteg, AlThe Drummer for Schwartzerman is a small, metallic robot with one large arm, that can fire rockets, and is powered by table scraps, and loves children.
  • A.j. from Chicago, IlThey had this song play during an "O.C." parody on an episode of "The Simpsons" last season.
  • Stacey from Nowra, Australiaexcelent song pity its the theme to such a bad show and that is what people will rememba it for "hey isn't that the song from the oc
  • Paul from Galway, IrelandListen to this song on the top of a tall building. Unreal feeling
  • Donnelle from Waupaca, Wiok, What's with all the talk about Jason Schwartzman's brother? I mean, yeah, he's the singer of my second favorite band, Rooney, but still, you're supposed to be commenting on Phantom Planet! By the way, it's my favorite band in the whole world. (I love you Alex!)
  • Lola from Street, MdThis song is amazing. Greg from Little River,SC - It's theme. Not theam. It's been said to be the theme song already :O
  • Danielle from Sydney, AustraliaJason Schwartzeman's brother, Robert Schwartzeman, is the oh-so-hott Michael in The Princess Diaries
  • Antonio from Orlando, FlThe "famous sons and daughters" connection: Phanton Planet's drummer, Jason Schwartzman, is the son of Talia Shire. At the same time, this song was used in the movie Orange County (2002), that featured Colin Hanks (Tom Hanks' son), Schuyler Fisk (Sissy Spacek's daughter) and was directed by Jake Kasdan (Lawrence Kasdan's son).
  • Luke from Martin, TnFor those who don't know....

    The singer for this band played the coke-head psycho guy in Donnie Darko.
  • Natasha from Chico, Caum, i'd hafta say that rooney doesn't even come within a trillion miles of the beatles or weezer, though they're even furthre away from the fab 4 than weezer. Rooney is just a fad, the beatles and weezer are here to stay.
  • Natasha from Chico, Caoh, i didn't know jason schwartzman was the drummer, that's quite interesting. He's a great actor too. He's great in Rushmore and even more fabulous in the more recent "I heart Huckabees" Everyone MUST see I Heart Huckabees! (and with an open mind, not just brushing it off as being "weird". It's the best I've seen in a while.
  • Greg from Little River, ScThe Band Rooney is also featured in The OC on FOX
  • Meredith from Grand Forks, NdJason Schwartman is the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola.
  • Greg from Little River, ScThe Theam song for "The OC."
  • Adam from Beaver Falls, PaJason Schwartzman's mother is Talia Shire, who played Adrian, Rocky's wife, in the Rocky movies.
  • Emily from Claremont, CaThe drummers brother is the lead singer of a band called Rooney, who is very similar to the beatles and weezer
  • Emily from Claremont, CaThe drummer of phantom planet is Jason Swartzerman, who plays "cool ethan" in slackers and is the lead guy in Rushmore as well as plays in Simone.
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