California fail

As the Mike Love–John McLaughlin–Charles Lloyd version ran through my head yesterday, I realized that I’ve always misunderstood “California Girls.”

I’ve always thought that the singer dreams the impossible dream that girls from all regions, in all their variety, could somehow be found in California — east coast girls, southern girls, midwest farmers’ daughters, northern girls. But no: what the singer really wants is for girls everywhere to look and be like the girls of California. He’s been all over the world and “seen all kinda girls,” but he couldn’t wait to get back to “the cutest girls in the world” — those of his home state.

And that is so dumb. And I am so dumb.

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[On the original recording Mike Love does indeed sing “I seen all kinda girls.”]