2002 : 20 "California" by Phantom Planet

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Hustlers grab your guns Your shadow weighs a ton Driving down the 101 California here we come Right back where we started from I am not sure I would love this song if I did not end up living in California. With that said, there is lots to love about it. The piano intro has an iconic feeling to it. The vocal and drum sections make me want to speed on 101—well, speed faster than everyone else is speeding. The song is constructed in a way to just grab you and keep you. That might be why it was used for the theme song to The O.C. (On a side note, I still think the first six episodes of the OC were brilliant, but it was never that good again.) I might love this song because I had been living in California a few years when it came out. I was finally getting used to the idea of California as my home. I was setting down some roots and making some friends. This song contains references to guns, driving, music and a longing for a place you already are. That sounds like California to me. Pedal to the floor Thinking of the roar Gotta get us to the show California here we come Right back where we started from —Rich Thomas Listen: Phantom Planet >> "California"