Belinda Carlisle - California

What this video is

Released in February 1997 on Chrysalis Records as the fourth UK single from A Woman and a Man (1996), 'California' represents Belinda Carlisle's sustained commercial revival in the European market following the grunge-era marginalisation of her sound in North America. The song — written by Rick Nowels, Billy Steinberg, and Maria Vidal — is a reflective meditation on California identity and cultural loss,…

Why it matters

Documents the mid-1990s adult contemporary pop video aesthetic: fast-paced editorial rhythm, warm-toned cinematography, and performance-led mixed structure. Contextually significant as part of the A Woman and a Man campaign that re-established Carlisle's European chart presence after the…

The director

Philippe Gautier is a French music video director active from the late 1980s through the 2000s. His documented credits include videos for Eurythmics ('Revival', 1990), Lisa Stansfield ('All Around the World', 1989; 'Down in the Depths', 1990), Belinda…