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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Music Box • Music

I Love L.A.

"I Love L.A." is a 1983 song by American singer-songwriter Randy Newman.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

"I Love L.A." is a 1983 song by American singer-songwriter Randy Newman, released on his album *Trouble in Paradise*. It is widely known for its upbeat chorus and tongue-in-cheek lyrics about Los Angeles.

What it is

The song was written and performed by Randy Newman, and first appeared on his 1983 album *Trouble in Paradise*. Its chorus repeats the title with crowd chants of "We love it!" and the lyrics are often described as ironic or satirical rather than purely celebratory.

Why it matters

Despite its critical and comic details, the song became closely identified with Los Angeles, Newman's hometown. It is frequently used as musical shorthand for the city in popular culture and public contexts.

Key details

The song is categorized as pop rock or soft rock. Commentators and Newman himself have described its tone as ambiguous, mixing affection for the city with satire of its culture.

In short

  • Released in 1983 on Randy Newman's album *Trouble in Paradise*.
  • Written and performed by Randy Newman about his hometown Los Angeles.
  • Lyrics are often seen as ironic or satirical, not purely celebratory.
  • Frequently used as a musical symbol for Los Angeles in media.

Quick questions

What is "I Love L.A."?
It is a 1983 song by Randy Newman about Los Angeles.
Who wrote and sings "I Love L.A."?
Randy Newman wrote and sings the song.
Is the song purely positive about Los Angeles?
No, it is often described as a mix of affection, irony, and satire.

Sources

  1. YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcADqxnQA_4
    Supports: Official video identifies the song as Randy Newman - I Love L.A. and notes it is from the album Trouble in Paradise (1983).
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Love_L.A.
    Supports: States that "I Love L.A." is a song by Randy Newman, originally released on Trouble in Paradise (1983), and discusses its meaning and authorship.
  3. Songfacts — https://www.songfacts.com/facts/randy-newman/i-love-la
    Supports: Provides background on the song, including that Randy Newman wrote it as a tongue-in-cheek song about Los Angeles.
  4. Universal Music Publishing Group — https://www.umusicpub.com/us/news/randy-newman-i-love-la
    Supports: Confirms the song was originally released on Randy Newman's 1983 album Trouble in Paradise.
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8358820/
    Supports: Describes the 1983 music video for Randy Newman's song "I Love L.A." and identifies it as a song from Trouble in Paradise.