Your songs for Los Angeles

Justin Chart loves Los Angeles with all his aching heart, and it pained him that the city didn’t have a song worthy of its splendor. So he wrote one. You can hear four different versions of Chart’s “Los Angeles The Song” here. And once you’ve listened, ask yourself: Is this the song the city needs? Or do you think you can do better?

Record your attempt at an anthem that’s fit for Los Angeles, upload it to YouTube or SoundCloud and send Steve Lopez a link via email at steve.lopez@latimes.com or Twitter @latstevelopez.

Column: Your ode to L.A.? Let’s have it

Los Angeles deserves a song

Do you love L.A.? Well, sing it loud, sing it proud! The City of Angels doesn't really have a proper modern anthem. Have you got skills enough to provide this great city a song? Times columnist Steve Lopez is asking you to submit your best efforts.

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Justin Chart's renditions

Los Angeles The Song

The original recipe, no frills, just a simple ode to Los Angeles.

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Los Angeles La Canción

Similar to the original version, but with Spanish lyrics and a short guitar intro.

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Dance Angeles

An electronic, new-wave-influenced version of the original. The video includes more urban shots and some parkour running clips.

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Los Angeles Latin

Horns, keyboard and an upbeat tempo define this version, though it struggles on lines such as “las colinas de Hollywood, todo esta aquí para tí.”

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Times reader submissions

My City of Angels

Sheba's Rain ode to Los Angeles, "My City of Angels." The video is also a tribute to just a few of the many murals of the present and recent past and the talents of the artists that help enrich our landscape.

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L.A. Comes Alive

John Torres is a songwriter and performing artist from Los Angeles who has toured throughout the country and abroad at many of the world's premier stadiums and venues.

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Ole' LA

The latest single/video from Two Homies From McKinney. After years of public dormancy, these two lads from the badlands of Texas reunite to lay down yarns of their travels to Los Angeles in the spring of 2011.

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Here's to LA

A great song for the city of Los Angeles. Hollywood, Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills All Here! Sung by musical theater performer Paul Wong.

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Los Angeles

Acoustic version of "Los Angeles" by the Sweet Confusion.

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Welcome Me Home West Hollywood

"Welcome Me Home West Hollywood" by Kristy Hanson.

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Gridlock Serenade

Another gem from the BroadReach Creative artistic director and composer Den Morgan. Making a statement that you don't necessarily need lyrics in a well-crafted tune in order to make a point about Los Angeles pop culture.

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CARchitecture

This slideshow is based on carchitecture, combining the two most essential items of the American dream or, in our case, California dreaming. The cars are all vintage affordable rides and the architecture is our own humbling el lay.

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Golden State Life

"Golden State Life" is the debut song of Kevin Wei. It is the first single off his self-produced debut album "Golden State Life."

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Los Angeles Belongs To You

Tune I wrote and produced here in my L.A. studio for Steve Lopez L.A. Times column discussing and asking for songs about Los Angeles.

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Observatory

From Mr. Smolin's album "Bring Back the Real Don Steele."

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Night in California

Original song by John Koellisch, performed by Buster's Friends.

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A Song For L.A.

By the Nikhil Korula Band.

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The Vampire Song

Performance of "The Vampire Song" during "The Campfire Sessions" show - a live six-camera webcast at Kulak's Woodshed in March 2007.

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Good Day in L.A.

Jason Luckett's "Good Day in L.A.," live at Kulak's Woodshed.

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Los Angeles, My Dream

Marvin Hornstein's "Los Angeles, My Dream," featuring Bonnie Bowden on vocals and Johnny Vana's Big Band Alumni.

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Angelyne

Severin Browne, performing "Angelyne" live.

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Up Los Angeles

Deborah Parducci's "Up Los Angeles."

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Dreams

Wayne Moore's "Dreams."

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City of Angeles

Amy Loftus' "City of Angeles."

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LA Song

Tiffany Baumbach, singing "LA Song," written by Alan Bailey.

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Los Angeles Blues

Ciro Hurtado's "Los Angeles Blues."

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L.A.

Marty Axelrod's "L.A."

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