To commemorate July 4th, we asked our readers to tell us the best songs that feature a state in their titles. The votes have been tallied, and either the majority readers live in Sacramento or the Golden State is a superior musical muse, as California appears eight times in our Top 20 list. Leading the charge was the Mamas and the Papas‘ “California Dreamin’,” with the Eagles, Biggie, RHCP and the Beach Boys also declaring their Cali-love. Check below for the full State Songs list:The Mamas and the Papas – “California Dreamin’”The Eagles – “Hotel California”Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Sweet Home Alabama”Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Californication”Mountain – “Mississippi Queen”The Beach Boys – “California Girls”Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre – “California Love”Notorious B.I.G. – “Going Back to Cali”The Raconteurs – “Carolina Drama”John Mayer - “Why Georgia”
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “Louisiana Rain”Ray Charles – “Georgia On My Mind”Billy Joel – “New York State Of Mind”U2 – “New York”Train – “Meet Virginia”The Decemberists – “California One”Bob Dylan - “Mississippi”Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Dani California”Modest Mouse – “Florida”The Kinks – “Oklahoma USA”
[Photo: Baker/Redferns/Retna]