43 Best Songs About Los Angeles
Contents
34. “Escape From LA” by The Weeknd
Song year: 2020
Canadian singer The Weeknd released “Escape From LA,” a brooding song addressing his and his girl’s infidelities.
He blames the temptation to cheat on the LA environment and reveals he must escape the city to gain control of his life. The song’s title comes from the post-apocalyptic film of the same name.
35. “City of Angels” by The Head and the Heart
Song year: 2016
“City of Angels” is a song on The Head and the Heart’s third studio album, Signs of Light. They spent a long time on this piece, ensuring the ode to the city was satisfactory.
The lyrics describe Jonathan Russell comparing LA to the small town he grew up in and what it was like making new friends while living in a remote city area.
36. “City of Angels” by 30 Seconds to Mars
Song year: 2013
Rock band 30 Seconds to Mars vocalist Jared Leto wrote “City of Angels” based on his experience living in LA and the influence he felt from the city’s culture.
Although the title references Los Angeles, Leto explained that it could refer to any place you’d go to fulfill your dreams.
37. “California Roll” by Snoop Dogg ft. Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams
Song year: 2015
Snoop Dogg came together with singer Pharell Williams and Stevie Wonder playing the harmonica to produce “California Roll.”
The song is about the California lifestyle with a few plays on words for the phrase “California Roll.” In true Snoop Dogg fashion, he mentions getting a medical marijuana card in Los Angeles.
38. “Los Angeles” by The Bird and the Bee
Song year: 2015
The Bird and the Bee bandmates released “Los Angeles” as a love song for the city and paid tribute to their hometown.
As L.A. natives, they wanted to do it justice not only with the lyrics but the music video. It shows some of the city’s most well-known landmarks.
39. “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus
Song year: 2009
Party in the U.S.A. was the lead single from Miley Cyrus’s first-ever EP, Time of Our Lives. It’s an easy-going summertime pop song featuring lyrics about Cyrus’s move to Los Angeles from Tennessee.
The song was a massive hit, peaking at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
40. “California Stars” by Billy Bragg & Wilco
Song year: 1998
Woody Guthrie wrote the lyrics for “California Stars,” though he never recorded it. The exact date is unknown for the lyrics; it’s estimated they were written in the ‘30s or ‘40s.
His estate approached Bill Bragg in ‘95 to turn the lyrics into a song. The lyrics describe lying in a bed of California stars.
41. “American Boy” by Estelle ft. Kanye West
Song year: 2008
An ex-boyfriend inspired Estelle’s hit single, “American Boy.” She stated she met him while making her first album, which excited her about American boys.
In the lyrics, she comments about wanting to take a trip to see L.A.
42. “Christmas in LA” by The Killers
Song year: 2013
The American rock band, The Killers, releases an upbeat track each year. The group started this yearly ritual in 2006, supporting World AIDS Day. “Christmas in LA” is a song about a struggling actor in L.A. missing Christmas without his family while living in sunny California.
43. “Wandered to LA” by Juice WRLD ft. Justin Bieber
Song year: 2021
Juice WRLD wrote penned the true story of a hookup with a girl he was friends with in Los Angeles while in a hotel room.
The girl he hooked up with was his drug dealer, and he described how her hardcore abuse cast a shadow over their affair.
Top Songs About Los Angeles, Final Thoughts
Love it or hate it, Los Angeles is a city unlike anywhere else. Unsurprisingly, many musicians write and sing about the famous city. Some sing about their life in L.A., while others write lyrics about the city.
No matter what you’re looking for when creating your “City of Angels” playlist, you’ll find plenty of options in the songs about Los Angeles listed above.
