Surf City, USA

The title "Surf City, USA" was the subject of a trademark dispute between the California coastal cities of Huntington Beach and Santa Cruz. Both cities historically claimed the "Surf City" moniker, but the dispute intensified in 2004 after the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau successfully filed the "Surf City USA" trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. A settlement was eventually reached in January 2008, which allows Huntington Beach to retain the trademark.

Background

The cities of Huntington Beach and Santa Cruz both claim to be "Surf City", based on their respective surfing culture. Santa Cruz was the site of first recorded surfing in California, by Hawaiians. It is also home to the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, 11 world-class surf breaks such as Steamer Lane which create some of the best surfing waves in the world, and the site of the O'Neill Cold Water Classic and other international surfing contests. Meanwhile, Huntington Beach is the home of the U.S. Open of Surfing and the International Surfing Museum. In addition, the rock and roll duo Jan and Dean had Huntington Beach, not Santa Cruz, in mind when they recorded their 1960s song "Surf City".

Surf City

Surf City may refer to:

Surf City (song)

"Surf City" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Jan Berry about a fictitious surf spot where there are "two girls for every boy." It was first recorded and made popular by the American duo Jan and Dean in 1963, and their single became the first surf song to become a national number-one hit.

In 1991, after moving to Huntington Beach, California, Dean Torrence helped convince elected officials that the town be officially nicknamed Surf City, USA. As of 2009, more than 65 businesses in the city included "Surf City" as part of their name.

Jan and Dean version

The first draft of the song, with the working title "Goody Connie Won't You Come Back Home", was written by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. While at a party with Jan Berry and Dean Torrence, Wilson played them "Surfin' U.S.A." on the piano. Berry and Torrence suggested that they do the song as a single, but Wilson refused, as "Surfin' U.S.A." was intended for the Beach Boys. Wilson then suggested that the duo record "Surf City" instead, demoing the opening, verse, and chorus. Wilson had lost interest in the song and believed he was never going to complete it himself. Berry later contributed additional writing to the song, while Torrence also contributed several phrases, but never insisted that he be given writing credit.

Surf City (band)

Surf City are a space rock/shoegaze/indie band from Auckland, New Zealand.

History

Formed in 2004 in Mt Roskill, Auckland, Surf City quickly formed a name for themselves as a "band to watch." This attention quickly spread overseas, with the band being picked up by notable label Morr Music for U.S and German distribution. Music website Stereogum tapped them as a "jangling, uptempo but melancholic form of shoegaze pop" They released a self-titled EP in 2008 a full-length album, Kudos on Fire Records, in 2010, and another album in 2013 entitled We Knew It Was Not Going to Be Like This.

Discography

References