"California" The Paperboys

"California" is a 2007 Celtic pop song about the Golden State by the world music band The Paperboys from Vancouver, BC, Canada.

A song about self-discovery, The Paperboys' "California" tells the tale of driving nonstop for three days in search of blue seas, palm trees and peace of mind in California.

With this great song, that's where the California cliche' ends because "California" is a fantastically un-California-sounding composition.

The Paperboys, celebrated Juno Award winners, are different from everyone else.  Unusual but hip in a strange way that's very cool, very tight, and so unforced, natural and easy.

Is "California" an Irish song or a roots rock song?  A pop song, soul song or hippie song?  The tune and the group are a bit difficult to categorize but very easy to like.

The telegenic, young-looking lead vocalist who founded The Paperboys 21 years ago is singer-songwriter Tom Landa, a native of Mexico.

This song gets stuck in your head for a week and doesn't stop.  It's kind of a subliminal hit that creeps up warmly, then demands repeated listening.

The band totally looks like they're "from somewhere else" but exactly where?

The Paperboys have a huge following in Canada, Europe and elsewhere, but Californians are like "Who?"

Well, not anymore.  The following music video features a great performance of "California" that also spotlights foxy fiddler Kalissa Hernandez and other stellar musicians.

Everything about The Paperboys is different and their song "California" is an example of how California songs from other nations offer refreshing sounds and perspectives.

The Paperboys | California