California
| "California" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Beastette | ||||
| from the album Wildfire | ||||
| B-side |
"Ashamed" "Stop" | |||
| Released |
29 November 2010 (UK) 6 December 2010 (US) 7 May 2012 (France) | |||
| Format |
CD single Digital download Vinyl | |||
| Recorded | 2010 | |||
| Genre | Alternative | |||
| Length | 2:30 | |||
| Label |
independent release/no label Fusion (2012 France release) | |||
| Writer(s) | Rachel-Nichelle Kesh | |||
| Producer | Rachel-Nichelle Kesh | |||
| Certification | Gold (UK) | |||
| Beastette singles chronology | ||||
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"California" is a song by Franco-British singer Beastette. Written and produced by Beastette and released by her independently, the song was released as her debut single in the UK on 29 November 2010 and also on 6 December 2010 in the United States, where it also serves as the first single from her debut album, Wildfire. The US version of the single features Luke Ramada who wrote and recorded an additional verse for the song.
The song was very successful upon its release where it reached #6 in the UK and the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The single has been certified Gold in the UK by the British Phonography Industry (BPI) and also by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United States. The single also received critical praise for its wordplay and lyrics, which compares the protagonist's lover to the positive cultural aspects of the US state of California and is therefore considered a love song.
On 7 May 2012, a French version of the song, "Californie", was released in France, where it debuted at #10 on the French Singles Chart; the following week, the song rose to #1 becoming Beastette's third single to reach number one on the French Singles Chart.
Background, conception, and writing[edit | edit source]
Beastette wrote the song about a man that she had strong romantic feelings for, despite the fact that they were only best friends. The man, who was gay and was already in a relationship with another man, was from California. Every time Beastette would visit California she would visit him often. The singer even said that she and her friend would flirt a lot with each other despite him already having a boyfriend.
The song was originally supposed to be titled "A Friend Who Is Boy", which touched more on Beastette's true unrequited feelings for love for her best friend. Feeling that it would be "too personal", she changed the lyrics and eventually the title.
Lyrically, the song talks about how the protagonist is so much in love with her lover and that she is thankful that he is always there for her. She compares him to the "characteristics" and culture of California, which often has a reputation for being sunny, summer-like, relaxing, and even glamorous.
The song mentions the names "Diego" and "Francisco" which are references to the California cities of San Diego and San Francisco respectively.
Composition[edit | edit source]
The song has been described to have a "summery"/summer-like feel to it. Produced by Beastette, the singer wanted the song to sound "as if she was driving down the Pacific Coast Highway in Cali". The song uses elements of sunshine pop, surf pop, lo-fi, and noise pop to give its summery and also fuzzy quality to it.
The song uses the exact same background as a song titled "A Friend Who Is Boy", which Beastette decided to make drastic and major changes to. She, however, decided to keep the background music.
Reception[edit | edit source]
Crictical reaction[edit | edit source]
The song got positive reviews because of its wordplay and lyrics throughout the song, with many people being fond of her somewhat subtle references to California cities by saying parts of their names as if they were males. The song was predicted by some to be a potential hit before its release and many predictions felt that the single could reach the top five, top three, or even #1 in the UK.
American critics also liked the song as well with them feeling that Luke Ramada, who was featured on the US version, was a good addition.
Commercial performance[edit | edit source]
"California" in late October debuted at #7 on the New & Active chart, a component chart to the UK Airplay chart. The song has since reached #1 on the chart, giving Beastette her first #1 on the chart.
In December 2010, "California" debuted at #6 on the UK Singles Chart, scoring Beastette her first top ten single. The single sold 45,024 in its first week of availiability in the UK. The song dropped three places to #9 in its second week on the chart. The single stayed on the UK Singles chart for nine weeks. "California" has since been certified Gold by the BPI.
The single also managed to debut at #34 on the UK Airplay chart before rising to #12 in its second week.
Initially the song had "bubbled under" at #7 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart (which would be equivalent to #107 if the Hot 100 went beyond 100 spots). It eventually debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at #41 and quickly ascended to #9, which is its peak to date. The single also has hit the top five on Billboard's Pop Songs chart and has become Beastette's first number one single on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart. The single was eventually certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The song has also hit the top ten in Scotland and Ireland as well. In May 2012, the French version of the song debuted at #10 in France and on the following week, became Beastette's third number one single on the French Singles Chart.
Remixes and other versions[edit | edit source]
The "Midnight Sun Dub" remix of the song is considered to be the official remix of the single. The remix was produced and made by urban pop singer MIDNIGHT.
Beastette teamed up with alternative rock singer Luke Ramada to re-record the song for US audiences. Luke sings an additional verse in the remix. Luke's verse builds on Beastette's concept, continuing to mention the traits of the state's culture and dropping the names "Holly" and "Beverly", referring to the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Hollywood and Beverly Hills.
Other remixes by other remixists and producers were also commissioned for the single and have been made. All of them are available on the vinyl format of the single.
Music video[edit | edit source]
On 14 November 2010, Beastette posted her first video on her Vevo account; the video was the promotional trailer for "California". The promotional video, dubbed as the "trailer", featured Beastette and a male love interest kissing and "making out" continuously for more than three minutes. The "trailer" received a decent amount of attention and managed to get over 682,000 views to date.
The official video was posted by Beastette on her Vevo account four days later on 18 November 2010. With the video beginning with a sunrise over a beach coastline, it primarily shows Beastette enjoying herself at a party and also shows her making out and flirting with her male love interest; in one scene, Beastette exchanges suggestive looks with her love interest while he paints on her when she is nude. The video ends with the party attendees chanting various names of the cities in California and ends with a sunset over a beach.
Instead of the original version of the song being used, the 'Midnight Sun Dub' remix of "California" was used as the music for the video. The remix was made by popular urban-pop singer, Midnight, and is the official remix of the song.
Tracklisting[edit | edit source]
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Charts[edit | edit source]
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Certifications[edit | edit source]
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Release history[edit | edit source]
| Country | Date | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 29 November 2010 | independent release | CD single Vinyl single Digital download |
| Ireland | |||
| Unites States | 6 December 2010 | Digital download | |
| France | 7 May 2012 | Fusion |
