Two Songs

The Mamas & The Papas-California dreamin von peakers

By Maria Dresler & Jessica Neumann

The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreamin’
All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray
I've been for a walk on a winter's day
I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A.
California dreamin' on such a winter's day

Stopped in to a church I passed along the way
Well I got down on my knees and I pretend to pray
You know the preacher liked the cold
He knows I'm gonna stay
California dreamin' on such a winter's day

All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray
I've been for a walk on a winter's day
If I didn't tell her I could leave today
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
California dreamin' on such a winter's day

California songs have become part of the world culture. There are numerous pop and rock songs about the Golden State, and this is definitely one of the most famous ones. ‘California Dreamin’ by American vocal group ‘The Mamas & The Papas’ was first released in 1965 and quickly peaked at number 4 in the US chart.

Band comprised of ‘Papas’ John Phillips and Denny Doherty, ‘Mamas’ Cass Elliot and Michelle Phillips recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971. They defined sunshine pop, a cheerful and upbeat subgenre of music characterized by warm sounds and prominent vocal harmonies. They played a big role in putting California on the musical map and were one of a few American bands which managed to tackle The British Invasion in the mid 1960’s.

The song was written in 1963 by the married couple John and Michelle Phillips, while they were living in New York, and was inspired by Michelle's home sickness for California. East Coast was struck by a string of cold and snowy winters at the time.

The deeply emotional song expresses the narrators beg for warm sunshine during a cold winter, and a desperate lust for freedom. California appears as a promised land of safety and optimism, where problem fade away and dreams come true. Lyrics induce lament and as well as hope, while representing the primal desire for a return to Eden.

Sunshine pop songs are meant to be fairly superficial and apolitical. Although, different attempts to find hidden meaning in “California Dreamin” were made. For example alluding Vietnam war as the cold wintertime, where the President was the preacher and young anti-war men conscripted to army “pretended to pray” out of duty.

“California Dreamin” is considered to be the unofficial anthem of the land of California. And have been covered by other artists multiple times since it has been composed.



L.A. International Airport – Susan Raye
Standing in that silent hall;
Waitin' for that final call
Says he doesn't love me anymore
Shakin' hands, I pack a bag;
Tremblin' voice, I call a cab
Slowly I start walkin' through the door;

The cab arrives, he blows his horn
I stumble out in the early morn'
Tell him of the place I've got to go
Hit a hundred signal lights; Peterbilts in a traffic fight
Gettin' to these doors has been so slow.

Chorus:
L.A. International Airport
Where the big jet engines roar
L.A. International Airport
I won't see him anymore.

Stewardess in a mini-skirt; Hippie in a leather shirt
Starlet on her way to Naples; Rome
While I'm wonderin' where it's at; I see a Paris diplomat
College kids are tryin' to get back home;
Baggage car goes quickly by; See my case and I start to cry
Stumble to the lounge to be alone
And while I'm tryin' to get some rest; I bite my lips and try my best
To fight the pain that's makin' me leave home.

Chorus

With Silver wings across the sky; Vapor trails that wave goodbye
To those below who've got to stay at home
I wish that I had flown at night; So I could take that Champagne flight
Rid myself of every tear I own;

Soaring high above the heavens; In a seven-forty-seven
Fighting back the tears that curse my eyes
Captain's voice so loud and clear; Amplifies into my ear
Assuring me I'm flying friendly skies.

Susan Raye recorded that song in 1971 in Bakersfield, California.  She was born and raised on Oregon. Raye began to sing very early in her life. It was a matter of time that she was discovered. In her case it was Buck Owens himself He was already a famous country musician from Bakersfield, California at that time. She soon moved to California herself to be closer to her mentor. The city Bakersfield became the place where she became famous. Buck Owens and Susan Raye sang many duets. Some of them are still well known and liked by people all over the world.

The song ‘L.A. International Airport is as the name already says it about the airport in Los Angeles. It has always been a big and busy airport and today it is the third largest airport in the United States. In the 1970’s the passenger flights experienced a boom. More and more airlines were established and flying became even more attractive for the people. It became easy to travel. And many people used the opportunity to fly to places they weren’t able to visit before that easily. Los Angeles was a very appealing destination, because firstly it is one of the biggest cities of the United States at that time and secondly of course it was and still is the city that holds and makes movie stars. The city that has the American dream living within it.

In the song that was written by Leanne Scott, is about a girl which explains that her boyfriend obviously broke up with her. Now she is on her way to the airport. She takes a taxi, which will take her to airport. Everyone on the streets, in their cars or trucks is apparently hectic or annoyed. Los Angeles is a city with a lot of traffic and people get annoyed easily by traffic jams or unobservant drivers. At the airport there are many stewardesses in their normal uniform, a short dress. She sees a hippie which is probably not unusual at that time. The anti-war movement was still at large. The clothing slowly had been integrated into the American society. So it became a style to dress like a hippie even when you were not actually anti-war. And then that girl in the song is in California and the hippie movement took place mainly in California. The hippie-mekka was San Francisco, also a big city of California and very attractive for tourists.

Then there is also a so called Starlet at the airport. A star in Los Angeles at the airport is also not unusual. In a city with that many famous personalities you can almost count on seeing one at a place like this. The girl assumes she is going to Italy to some of the fashion metropolises where she can be seen and spend some of her money.

Overall you can say that the airport of Los Angeles is a place where all different kinds of people come together. California is like a magnet for people no matter what their attitude is. They believe that in California they can life it or even perfect it. Flying back at home then is for a lot of people a relief when their dreams of or whatever reason they came for didn’t work out. So the airport is the gate to your dreams or away from them, either way you have to through them, sad or happy.