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Wow! I was literally just writing on this very subject for my first published article on Substack. What a coincidence! I’m writing about a bunch of songs with California in the title — but also I’m including a few that have a California vibe. Having recently moved from CA after living there my entire life some nostalgia has set in.

I was researching the song, “Do you know the way to San Jose?” because I remember that song so well from my childhood. I read that Dion Warwick actually hated the song. But she needed the money. I’m trying to capture aspects of the social cultural aspects as well as the vibe during various areas: 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and beyond. I’m also attempting to reference how these various songs affected me as I was maturing.

I also reference, ‘It Never Rains in California’ (a song I used to sing as a child) and California Dreamin’ which is simply iconic.

I find it interesting how the mood of the songs changes through the various decades. Originally, representation of idealism exemplified by California Here I Come, then later California Dreamin’ which was more nostalgic, followed by tunes that were more dark, critical or cynical. The Sunset Grill by Don Henley captures that mood.

I lived in SoCal for twenty years and NorCal for twenty five years. So, that’s most of my life!

The fires are devastating. It’s sad. I had to evacuate my house a couple of years ago. With climate change and limited water supply I think that California is going to need to rethink housing and development.

I’ve been feeling a need to leave California for a long time as it’s no longer holds the meaning and significance it had in the past. My children have left. They say they’ll never return as there are no jobs for them in California. No reason for me to stay either. I felt I need to escape or move on.

Anyways, I hope your friend(s) or family member(s) are okay in LA right now. (I saw some comments alluding to that above earlier. But I can see them now for some reason.)

Take care.

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Anna, I never knew that Dionne Warwicke hated that song and it's such a great song. Go figure. I'm in Colorado, originally from New York. In fact my whole life in NYC. I'm not sure about now but for many years people were leaving California for digital jobs here. I live near where we had a wild fire three years ago. There are even some who left here because of the fire, went to LA and lost everything all over again. I'm rambling but thanks for your comments.

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I appreciate your ramblings. They are good ramblings. I enjoy rambling because that’s when the story tends to get more interesting. I thought that was an adage of the psychotherapist. There is something important you said about people being displaced and having to start over again in a new place or new land. It may be an illusion to assume that we are ever entirely settled. But, this ‘unsettling’ is occurring on a more frequent basis. It’s not a choice people are making of their own free will.

As a follow up to my earlier comment, Dionne Warwick said, “I thought it was a really silly song. Obviously Hal David [the writer] had a great affinity for San Jose as I believe he was stationed there during his time in the Navy and he loved the place and he wrote a song about it. I just giggled all the way to the bank, what can I tell you?"

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Oh Anna thank you and you are right about psychotherapists. You know what? I will ramble a lot more.

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😂

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I loved this article, and what a wonderful tribute to California. I, born and raised in the Midwest, fell in love with the state in the 70s and had the good fortune to move here in 1978. In the past almost 50 years, I've been up and down the state, all along the coast, through the desert, and into the mountains more times than I can count. The devastation in the LA area is unfathomable.

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I have only visited California once, but that trip was to LA and San Diego. Really hard to see any place literally burn to the ground, but with the filmmaking legacy of the area it seems almost surreal. It is time for California to get its act together, and no matter who's in charge they owe the citizens of LA more than what they received last week.

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Thank you for sharing something inspiring 🙏 🎶

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Allan, It's been heartbreaking to watch. I had to turn away from the news 2 days ago. It was just too much. I raised my daughter there. And although we moved from there in 2008, through the magic of the internet, both my daughter and i am able to stay in close contact with many of our friends there.

Thanks for sharing these wonderful songs!

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My niece lives there and I know many people there. It breaks my heart

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It’s so hard. I have some cousins there too. I hope your niece and her family stay safe. It’s too much to see.

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I'm worried because I've reached out but haven't heard. But my brother would let me know if anything is wrong.

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