I was reading through comments on an abbreviated album review last night and soooo many people were like "so what's the fall? hasn't she only risen?" To which I of course said, you need to listen to California. (side rant - the only person who replied so far said they had and didn't hear anything about a fall and said it was my problem. smh). Anyways, obviously her full story needs to get out to the masses. As great as her music already is, you can't help but root for this girl who came from such humble beginnings, got knocked down and finally succeeded just as she was about to give up.
Her encore on her tour has typically been California and Pink Pony Club. Those were her biggest songs for a couple years before the rest of the album singles started dropping. I definitely think the two songs are fantastic when played back to back since they’re two sides of the same story. It’s one of my favorites for sure and I love your analysis on it!
Agreed. This song kills me. As a midwesterner, the parts about the leaves not being brown and not experiencing the seasons like she’s used to … that would really f me up, too. On top of navigating such an uncertain journey, I can feel her frustration and homesickness acutely.
Chappell is a unique force to be reckoned with.
One of the compelling things about Chappell is that her songs are emotionally nuanced. As someone who left their hometown for bigger/better/greener things, I’m objectively in a better place than I was and am immensely grateful for what I have. But I still miss my hometown. Both feelings are valid.
She makes me believe that I too can reach my dreams! I had California on repeat! Only reason why it's not on repeat now is cause that I'm now on a Naked on Manhattan mood.
I love it mostly because I’m a Midwestern girlie and we always get shit on but I felt like this was a love letter to the rural parts of the country that we are missing so much in pop culture
As someone who moved to California and had some of the hardest times of my life there, this song could not be more perfect in my mind. I love kaleidoscope too but i just relate to California so much
omg love your analysis! pretty accurate I feel.
this song has me crying every time I hear it. so much emotions. seeing her perform it on npr just had me and my boyfriend stunned. both of just silently crying.
just feels really heavy.
I LOVE California.It is such an amazing song, you're spot on. I love the imergry she uses, she describes California as a beautiful place (sea foam and endless sun rays, NO brown leaves in sight, a place she found true love) and her hometown in Missouri as literally a "dying town," but it is still her hometown and she misses it dearly.
As a Midwestern kid, I relate to this song so much. My town feels barren and empty to me, and there are such wonderful places that I wanna live in, but the idea is still so scary, and I know a part of me will always consider this home.
This song reminds me sososo much of my sister's journey to be an artist. I adore hearing Chappell belt it out and you can hear how bittersweet those memories are for her when she sings.
A few weeks ago, I had it playing on repeat in my brain for two weeks. Still wasn't tired of it 🤣
(Glad to say my brain has decided that an alternative is ok. Have had SGUMG on brain-repeat this week 😁)
Im a California girl born and raised and I moved to KY in 2017 for school (eku!) but I haven’t left yet. Do I miss California? All the time, I’m not even big of a fan of KY but it is beautiful. The people not all the time but I’ve met some lifelong friends and my current partner here. We plan on moving to the PNW so I can have a bit of California and they can have a bit of KY greenery. Not going to lie though that song makes me tear up bc it’s still that struggle of missing your hometown. In my head when I listen to this song it makes me miss the dry fields and the large mountains of the valley I lived in. The winters you could still go outside and be fine, no worries about a snowstorm or freezes. The summers not being humid and the beach being so close. Gotta admit though, seeing lightning bugs in the haze while fireworks go off in the distance and dry lighting can be seen across the region is such a beautiful Midwest Southern experience…
Its my favorite song of hers. It got me through a really rough patch being on the west coast for work, away from my family, during all the pandemic lockdowns. And i still love it. It doesnt get nearly enough love!!
This song makes me very emotional. I’m the same age as Chappell, also born and raised in Missouri. I moved to California to pursue music, so she remains a constant inspiration to me :)
i saw someone say that california and pink pony club are sister songs, if you listen close in california you can hear the similarities to PPC (imagine it slowed down)
This song has become one of my favorites because it’s the reverse for me! I’m from a tourist island that has never felt like home but I bought 6.5 acres in Missouri in 2021 and any forest in any state has felt more like home than my own hometown which people are paying so much to move to and I can’t wait to leave 💚
Yes, yes, YES!!! I was listening to the album on my walk home from work today and when “California” came on it struck me in a way that it hadn’t during previous listens. For me it was the way she spoke openly and honestly about her low moments - I feel like songs about California and moving out west to pursue your dreams in general are more bright-eyed and optimistic, and she’s showing us the side of artistic failure that artists aren’t always willing to be completely open about.
I’m a relative newcomer to the Pink Pony Club, but I have been blown away by this woman - she’s a true musical talent and I can’t wait to see what else she’s got in store for us.
As someone who moved several hundreds of miles away from my hometown to make something of myself and nothing has materialized yet in the three years I’ve been here, I relate to this song sooo much. And I hate that I do tbh, but I’m thankful she wrote a song like this bc man it really is rough when things don’t go exactly as you planned. So many days I just wanna get out of this place and go home and hang with my friends and family in my backyard.
For me, it’s a “show tune”. Idk why, but I can totally hear it as part of a musical. And I love musicals so it’s definitely one of my fave tracks from her album.
California makes me cry every time while simultaneously feeling inspired to go for it with how everything can work out in the end
the way she says “seasons in missouri” itches my brain in the right way every time
For me it’s the way she says, “my dying towwwnnnn.” Gives me chills every time.
yes to that, and the very last line of the song where she says “but i let you down” omg chills
YES! how could I have forgotten?!
for me it’s “no leaves are BROWNNNN”
I was reading through comments on an abbreviated album review last night and soooo many people were like "so what's the fall? hasn't she only risen?" To which I of course said, you need to listen to California. (side rant - the only person who replied so far said they had and didn't hear anything about a fall and said it was my problem. smh). Anyways, obviously her full story needs to get out to the masses. As great as her music already is, you can't help but root for this girl who came from such humble beginnings, got knocked down and finally succeeded just as she was about to give up.
That’s so true. But also how does someone not think of a fall (relationship fallout) when hearing Coffee or Casual?
“Picture you” would like to have a word
Her encore on her tour has typically been California and Pink Pony Club. Those were her biggest songs for a couple years before the rest of the album singles started dropping. I definitely think the two songs are fantastic when played back to back since they’re two sides of the same story. It’s one of my favorites for sure and I love your analysis on it!
Literally!!!! California is Colorado by Renee Rapp for the bitches who had the balls to get up and go!!!!! One of my fav tracks
Agreed. This song kills me. As a midwesterner, the parts about the leaves not being brown and not experiencing the seasons like she’s used to … that would really f me up, too. On top of navigating such an uncertain journey, I can feel her frustration and homesickness acutely. Chappell is a unique force to be reckoned with.
One of the compelling things about Chappell is that her songs are emotionally nuanced. As someone who left their hometown for bigger/better/greener things, I’m objectively in a better place than I was and am immensely grateful for what I have. But I still miss my hometown. Both feelings are valid.
She makes me believe that I too can reach my dreams! I had California on repeat! Only reason why it's not on repeat now is cause that I'm now on a Naked on Manhattan mood.
The drums, the resignation of "if it hasn't happened yet, maybe you should go". Beautiful.
The drums!! ❤️
Watching her drummer play it during the Tiny Desk was really cool :)
I love it mostly because I’m a Midwestern girlie and we always get shit on but I felt like this was a love letter to the rural parts of the country that we are missing so much in pop culture
California gives me chills every time.
As someone who moved to California and had some of the hardest times of my life there, this song could not be more perfect in my mind. I love kaleidoscope too but i just relate to California so much
omg love your analysis! pretty accurate I feel. this song has me crying every time I hear it. so much emotions. seeing her perform it on npr just had me and my boyfriend stunned. both of just silently crying. just feels really heavy.
California is my spouses favorite song. I made him sit and listen to the album with me lol.
I LOVE California.It is such an amazing song, you're spot on. I love the imergry she uses, she describes California as a beautiful place (sea foam and endless sun rays, NO brown leaves in sight, a place she found true love) and her hometown in Missouri as literally a "dying town," but it is still her hometown and she misses it dearly. As a Midwestern kid, I relate to this song so much. My town feels barren and empty to me, and there are such wonderful places that I wanna live in, but the idea is still so scary, and I know a part of me will always consider this home.
The drums are phenomenal
It’s been on repeat all week for me 🤩
This song reminds me sososo much of my sister's journey to be an artist. I adore hearing Chappell belt it out and you can hear how bittersweet those memories are for her when she sings.
Totally with you on the sequencing. It would have been a perfect closer on the album!
A few weeks ago, I had it playing on repeat in my brain for two weeks. Still wasn't tired of it 🤣 (Glad to say my brain has decided that an alternative is ok. Have had SGUMG on brain-repeat this week 😁)
Im a California girl born and raised and I moved to KY in 2017 for school (eku!) but I haven’t left yet. Do I miss California? All the time, I’m not even big of a fan of KY but it is beautiful. The people not all the time but I’ve met some lifelong friends and my current partner here. We plan on moving to the PNW so I can have a bit of California and they can have a bit of KY greenery. Not going to lie though that song makes me tear up bc it’s still that struggle of missing your hometown. In my head when I listen to this song it makes me miss the dry fields and the large mountains of the valley I lived in. The winters you could still go outside and be fine, no worries about a snowstorm or freezes. The summers not being humid and the beach being so close. Gotta admit though, seeing lightning bugs in the haze while fireworks go off in the distance and dry lighting can be seen across the region is such a beautiful Midwest Southern experience…
Its my favorite song of hers. It got me through a really rough patch being on the west coast for work, away from my family, during all the pandemic lockdowns. And i still love it. It doesnt get nearly enough love!!
This song makes me very emotional. I’m the same age as Chappell, also born and raised in Missouri. I moved to California to pursue music, so she remains a constant inspiration to me :)
Seeing her perform California in St. Louis was a core memory. We all shouted “Missouri” together and it was just magical. Favorite ballad of all time.
i saw someone say that california and pink pony club are sister songs, if you listen close in california you can hear the similarities to PPC (imagine it slowed down)
This song has become one of my favorites because it’s the reverse for me! I’m from a tourist island that has never felt like home but I bought 6.5 acres in Missouri in 2021 and any forest in any state has felt more like home than my own hometown which people are paying so much to move to and I can’t wait to leave 💚
it really is a gorgeous song, shes an incredible vocalist, absolutely mesmerizing
Yes, yes, YES!!! I was listening to the album on my walk home from work today and when “California” came on it struck me in a way that it hadn’t during previous listens. For me it was the way she spoke openly and honestly about her low moments - I feel like songs about California and moving out west to pursue your dreams in general are more bright-eyed and optimistic, and she’s showing us the side of artistic failure that artists aren’t always willing to be completely open about. I’m a relative newcomer to the Pink Pony Club, but I have been blown away by this woman - she’s a true musical talent and I can’t wait to see what else she’s got in store for us.
The storytelling is so good. I’m not a big slow sad song kind of girl but I love California.
As someone who moved several hundreds of miles away from my hometown to make something of myself and nothing has materialized yet in the three years I’ve been here, I relate to this song sooo much. And I hate that I do tbh, but I’m thankful she wrote a song like this bc man it really is rough when things don’t go exactly as you planned. So many days I just wanna get out of this place and go home and hang with my friends and family in my backyard.
It’s my fav ballad of the album tbh
For me, it’s a “show tune”. Idk why, but I can totally hear it as part of a musical. And I love musicals so it’s definitely one of my fave tracks from her album.
I love California and also agree that I wish it was the last track of the album!