The Fabricated California Dream Causes "Californication"

Music has been an outlet for many to express their feelings or their beliefs in a way that can either be open

or inconspicuous to those who hear the songs they create. Considered one of their most popular songs, “Californication” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers is a perfect example of this musical suggestion. Seemingly harmless when initially heard, this song is believed to be celebrating the California image that is prevalent in so many songs devoted to it. However, on a closer inspection, this song tries to disenchant the captivating perception of California. “Californication” tells the story of how California is the origin of the deterioration of society on account of it hiding behind a fabricated mask and seeking others to follow suit, to believe in a fantasy in which they paint.

California — what society describes as a place of dreams. Nevertheless, not all believe that California is a paradise surrounded by palm trees and cameras. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are people who believe the latter of California. The Peppers describe California as “… the edge of the world and all of western civilization / The sun may rise in the East, / at least it’s settled in its final location.” They believe that this is the way, a way in which was employed by De Montalvo as “Paradise (31)…,” that people believe California to be — that California is a place where opportunities arise and greatness follows. This belief may stem from another in which California being on the edge of the world has caused its ideology to be different from the rest of the world. This is why others strive to copy California’s concepts because it is different — different is desirable. In accordance with this idea, the Chili Peppers say that “The sun may rise in the East, at least it's settled in a final location.” The sun rises in the East and it can settle in “a” location. When regarding the meaning of this phrase, one may believe that it speaks of how the sun could choose anywhere to set, but it designates California. However, when taken in a different light, the Chili Peppers may be using these phrases as a metaphor to portray California as uncivilized. Linking the term “civilization” to where the sun rises and sets, it can be assumed that where the sun set is the decline of civilization — which is California. Nonetheless, to measure civility of a place, one must look at the people that inhabit it.

Many people may fantasize that most Californians are all celebrities or embrace the surf culture. However, the Red Hot Chili Peppers disagree with this popular impression. The Peppers utilize the allusion of “Pay your surgeon very well to break the spell of aging/ Celebrity skin, is this your chin, or is that war you're waging” to describe the population that inhabits California. Fake, stereotypical, this is what the Red Hot Chili Peppers regard Californians. They conclude that so many people in California devote their time, money, and confidence to fighting this war on aging. This war is not only based upon not wanting to look older, it is war upon the escape of death. This symbolism exhibits the dissatisfaction that creates a longing for more than possible — which is the nature of dreams. These improbable dreams— the desire to avoid the predestined end of life, the strong yearning for more than we deserve— breed “Californication.” These ideas and ambitions arise from the need to better ourselves. The Peppers state, “A teenage bride with the baby inside / Getting high on information / And buy me a star on the boulevard, it's Californication.” It is known that most people come to California because they aspire to create a better life for themselves, such as a pregnant teen going to school and “getting high on information” because she wants to get her life together. While there may be honest intentions in this, the Peppers suggest that Californians will do anything to better themselves. Californian culture is known to be one of the most tolerant of what others who believe to be seemingly distasteful things — teen pregnancy, plastic surgery, celebrities who serve as poor role models. However, as years come and go, other places are inheriting this Californian perception. When others choose not to approve of something, some may refer to California because people in California are doing it. This is how this “Californication” spreads. This desire to have the same freedom and options as California has led many to homogenize Californian values. But, the Peppers question whether this assimilation of Californian values makes things better or worse. For the California dream influences many and if the dream includes things that are inadmissible, then the disintegration of society is inevitable.

“California has become a center of desire and thus a place whose lifestyle is envied and emulated around the country (Maasik and Solomon 315).” This notion of California is known by many and the suspect of the cause is the illustrious California dream. The Red Hot Chili Peppers feel that the connection between this illusion and the continuation of the dream is the infamous Hollywood. Hollywood is known for making fictitious things seem as though they are reality. Thus, many blame Hollywood for the preservation of the California dream. The Chili Peppers agree with this aspect and do so in a paradox, 

“Space may be the final frontier, But it's made in a Hollywood basement.” Hollywood paints this image of a California dream which allows people to devour this misleading appearance of California to support their own wistful thinking. While believing this, the Peppers emphasize that “It's understood that Hollywood sells Californication.” Hollywood sells these spurious dreams for others to accept. For what reason could either be for self-promotion or to prey on the desires and wants of others. Nevertheless, the Peppers understand that due to this feigned illusion of California told by Hollywood, the California dream is still prevalent and more people end up disappointed and disillusioned by what awaits them in this fabricated Garden of Eden.

California’s culture is both accepted and rejected for justifications that stem from the landscape to the people. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are some who seem to reject it because they believe that the culture of California will be its own demise. What it seems that the Peppers fear is the assimilation of the California culture to the world. For in their song they say that, “And Alderon’s not far away, It’s Californication.” Alderon can be used as symbolism in this phrase. Alderon, although not spelled the same, can be viewed as Princess Leia’s home planet that is destroyed in Star Wars. The Peppers believe the same fate may befall the world if this “Californication” continues. This claim is aided with the paradox “Destruction leads to a very rough road / But it also breeds creation… / And tidal waves couldn't save the world from Californication.” When something bad happens, one can look for some good out of it. However, the Peppers seem to believe that the world can’t be saved from this spreading of California culture. Once one is in, it is hard to get out — it leaves one captive. This sense of captivity will increase as Californian culture spreads — the more in captivity, the more following this culture. Thus, the more following this culture, the more likely that society won’t be able to be saved from the fornication of California.

California is a place that is what many consider to be the epitome of grandeur due to a dream that lies to them. In “Californication,” The Red Hot Chili Peppers wish to unveil California’s image to prevent it from deteriorating society further than it has. However, try as they may, they seem to believe that society will eventually succumb to “Californication” because this California dream is a dream that people don’t want to wake up from.