PARTY IN THE U.S.A.: Before the release of “California Gurls,” Katy Perry revealed her inspiration for co-writing the song:

“It’s so great that (Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’) ‘Empire State of Mind’ is huge and that everyone has the New York song, but … what about LA? What about California? It’s been a minute since we had a California song, and especially from a girl’s perspective.”

This week, “California Gurls,” featuring Snoop Dogg, spends a fifth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, intensifying the East-vs.-West Coast battle between Perry and Jay-Z and Keys’ chart performances. “Empire State of Mind” led the Hot 100 for five weeks beginning on the Nov. 28, 2009, chart.Thus, with one more week on top, Perry can claim bragging rights all to herself for the longest-reigning Hot 100 hit spotlighting New York or California. As of now, the following songs paying tribute to the Empire and Golden States have logged the highest peaks on the Hot 100:

Weeks at No. 1, Title, Artist, Year
No. 1 (5 weeks), “Empire State of Mind,” Jay-Z + Alicia Keys, 2009
No. 1 (5 weeks), “California Gurls,” Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg, 2010
No. 1 (2 weeks), “How Do U Want It”/”California Love,” 1996
No. 1 (1 week), “Hotel California,” Eagles, 1977
No. 2, “Spanish Harlem,” Aretha Franklin, 1971
No. 3, “California Girls,” the Beach Boys, 1965
No. 3, “California Girls,” David Lee Roth, 1985
No. 4, “California Dreamin’,” the Mamas & the Papas, 1966
No. 5, “California Sun,” the Rivieras, 1964
No. 5, “It Never Rains in Southern California,” Albert Hammond, 1972
No. 5, “Harlem Shuffle,” the Rolling Stones, 1986

Of the 11 such songs above to reach the top five, eight are odes to California and three put a shine on the Big Apple.

One artist is taking a stand against Perry’s proclamation of any West Coast domination. J-Hype has remixed the song, retitled “New York City Gurls”:

Source: Billboard

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