| California Dreaming | ||
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| Length: | 3:54 | |
| Released: | July 24, 2017 | |
| Writers: | Charlie Scene, Danny, Funny Man, Sean Gould, J-Dog, Johnny 3 Tears | |
| Producer: | Sean Gould | |
| Album: | V | |
| Last single: | Disease | |
| Next single: | Whatever It Takes | |
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California Dreaming is the lead single from the band's fifth studio album, V. It was released on July 24, 2017.
Background
In this article by Scene for Dummies, J-Dog talks about the track:
“It dissects both sides of California. You've got the glitz, glamor, sun, and surf. Then, you've got the super fucked side of people not being able to afford rent, celebrities being assholes, and that fake facade. We wanted to do a heavy song with a Red Hot Chili Peppers-esque chorus. It’s an old-school vibe explored in a new way.”
In an interview with Loudwire, Johnny 3 Tears talks about the song:
"I think for all of us, my whole life has been defined on some level by some of these things. Me and J [Dog], we grew up on Highland and Franklin, which is about three blocks above Hollywood Boulevard and the center of Hollywood. Now this area is unrecognizable now. We wrote part of the verse track, it's like this used to be our city and now, it certainly isn't.
We always kind of felt that we're the outsiders now. And there's a huge aspect of that in that song where we grew up here, but this belongs more to other people than to us. I think that's a big message in the song.
The interpretation of what California and what Hollywood is, you see the polarization now and the disconnect from the world of entertainment to reality and I think that disconnection is growing bigger and bigger every day and you see that especially in politics and these sorts of things. Not to get into those things, but there's a separation between Hollywood and reality is growing more and more.
We've already written songs based on this subject. It's odd enough because it still is a sticking point to me enough to go, "Hey, we need to write another song about this." Or it inspires me or us to go down that road again. We'll see how this whole thing develops. And I love L.A. and I love California, I love these places that I grew up. Obviously, there's a huge sense of nostalgia. To be completely honest though, the majority, I don't even recognize anymore."
Music video
The music video of the song was released on July 24, 2017, and was directed by Brian Cox.
Reception
It peaked at #46 on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart and #21 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart.
Official Lyrics
Funny Man and J-Dog: Like a sinkhole, like a sinkhole
J-Dog: Stars are born then fucking ate up in a day slow
Funny Man and J-Dog: What does it show, what does it show?
J-Dog: C-c-cut off all the tethers to your lost soul
Think about a time on a dotted line
Funny Man: Venice Beach, cut throats on the shoreline
J-Dog: And ain't a fucking crime, I'm taking back what's mine
Funny Man: Los Angeles, we on the front line
J-Dog: Click-click-boom, let 'em fall
Funny Man: Lining 'em up with the semi-matic auto
J-Dog: Hear the call, hear the call
Funny Man: Hop in the whip to demonstrate that I'm out though
When I do it like this
With a wiffle ball bat
Surf's up, bitches, and it's like that
Hollywood coming to attack
Danny: I'm no shooting star, just a burning heart
We never sleep, in California we're dreaming
Running through the dark, broken boulevards
We never sleep, in California we're dreaming
In California we're dreaming
Johnny 3 Tears: Armageddon now, Armageddon now
Coked out skeletons, come back down
Break 'em down, gotta break 'em down
Broke down Ford lights, sing so loud
The greatest story ever told, the greatest five ever known
Funny Man and Johnny 3 Tears: Dead men walking, audition for the big show
It's biblical, it's also cynical
Johnny 3 Tears: In the land of make-believe, the situation's critical
Sink into the ocean like some martyrs at our pinnacle
Yeah, it's just a vision but the waves are fucking literal
Funny Man and Johnny 3 Tears: As above, so below
Johnny 3 Tears: You wanna go to heaven but you sold your soul
Funny Man and Johnny 3 Tears: Dying young, I'm growing cold
Johnny 3 Tears: Cut yourself apart so you don't grow old
Funny Man and Johnny 3 Tears: We're living in denial but we're doing it in style
Johnny 3 Tears: Out here in California, it's a trial by fire
Danny: I'm no shooting star, just a burning heart
We never sleep, in California we're dreaming
Running through the dark, broken boulevards
We never sleep, in California we're dreaming
In California we're dreaming
Charlie Scene and Danny: Tension hidden in the question
Underneath the dreams I hold
I can see rejection in my own reflection
I can feel my dreams grow cold
Danny: (Dreams grow cold!)
I'm no shooting star, just a burning heart
We never sleep, in California we're dreaming
Running through the dark, broken boulevards
We never sleep, in California we're dreaming
In California we're dreaming
In California...
MUSYCA Children's Choir: (In California we're dreaming)
Danny: In California we're dreaming
MUSYCA Children's Choir: (In California we're dreaming)
Danny: In California...
Background vocals
- The MUSYCA Children's Choir sings "In California we're dreaming" behind Danny every time he says it. They also sing the entire last chorus behind Danny.
Personnel
- Hollywood Undead
- Charlie Scene - clean vocals
- Danny - clean vocals
- Funny Man - vocals
- J-Dog - vocals
- Johnny 3 Tears - vocals
- Additional
- Dean Butterworth - drums
- Liam Clinger - additional vocals
- Oliver Clinger - additional vocals
- Dan Lancaster - mixing
- MUSYCA Children's Choir - additional vocals
Trivia
- This is the second song to feature a children's choir as vocalists. The first was Young.
- Johnny's daughter, Ava; Danny's daughter, Scarlett; and Charlie's brother, Jake can be seen in the music video.
- Shady Fizz can also be seen in the video.
- Whenever this song is performed live J-Dog screams “dreams grow cold” with Danny.
- The MUSYCA Children’s Choir’s vocals were recorded at Clear Lake Studios, Burbank, CA.