Lately, I have been thinking and dreaming (figuratively, not literally) about being in California. Something about California (certainly not the way it is run) has me wanting to be in California. Maybe it is because I plan on seeing my sister who lives in California when I (plan to) go to North Carolina to visit my sister, her boyfriend, and my mother in late December to ring in the New Year. Either that or seeing
2012 , which a lot of it was staged in California, has been making me do some California dreaming.
The beaches. The moderate weather. The laid back people. The relaxed attitude. Its too bad that it costs and arm and a leg to live in any desireable place in California.
Los Angeles is an adult amusement waterpark. Anyone who has driven into California from the east like I have, can understand. When you are coming from the east, from Florida, North Carolina, wherever, you are climbing the North American continent and gradually going higher and higher, as you would a slide at a water park. In parts of Arizona, the signage shows that you are 8,000 feet above sea level. As you go southwestward into Los Angeles, you start noticing the steep decline you take on the contintential shelf, and, you, in your car are taking the fun slide into that steep decline as you get closer and closer to the Pacific to splash into the ocean. That is one thing I specifically remember driving into California from the east. Before you know it, you are only 3,000 feet above sea level. Its quite a drop.
I remember when I was in Los Angeles, the first full day I was there with my sister. I spent most of the time with her and her friends from her adult recreational kickball league. I drank like a fish that day, which is uncharacteristic for me, because I finally had a designated driver that I somewhat trusted to stay somewhat sober. I remember that day, toward the end, we went to one of her friend's apartments, the Indian (from India) lesbian girl's apartment, and played Rock Band.
People kept wanting to play to "Dani California" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I am guessing that it was her friends' state pride. That is a catchy song. It stuck in my head for a while and always reminds me of my visit there to see my sister. That song is back in my head now. Its not a bad thing because it reminds me of pleasant memories.
In that game, that night, I think I was best at the drums, which if I was in a band, I'd probably want to be on drums or maybe on guitar, but I'd have to learn from someone who is also left-handed, and that is hard to find. I'd wanna be a drummer or a guitarrist that also wrote because I'm a better writer than a deliverer. Anyone wanna bring back Jimi Hendrix or Kurt Cobain? Well Paul McCartney is still with us. I'd probably want to have a sound like Tom Morello. Enough alcohol gave me the courage to sing, which I did to "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden, which I probably did a terrible job of singing to. For me, it was either that song or "Interstate Love Song" from STP That reminds me once, my sister and I, when we were both still in Fort Lauderdale, coincidentally ran into each other at the same karaoke bar in the Wilton Manors area. I remember this one group toward the end sang "Gangsta's Paradise" trying to sound like Cartman from
South Park. I was amused and they did a convincing job. I don't know if my voice could pull it off. Unless I became a smoker and my voice deepened, I don't think I could ever pull off sounding like Chris Cornell, but maybe I could do Rob Thomas. I've never been a fan of my own voice.
I must say. I think that Florida and California are frequently compared to each other because both are known for their beaches, sun, the entertainment industry, and attracting celebrities. It may sound like blasphemy, being a native Floridian, but I think I like California better. Florida tries too hard to be the California of the South.
I will leave you with a couple of RHCP videos.
I like how in Dani California they keep pretending to be different acts like Elvis, Prince, KISS, a lot of the 80's glam rock bands, Nirvana, Green Day. Its hard to find good music videos this past decade and this was one of them. I will also leave you with "Californication", another awesome music video where they are all players in a real-life-like video game. Ahhh, back when people cared about making good creative music videos.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California
Fuga. | MySpace Video
red hot chili peppers- californication
alexander the great | MySpace Video
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