ID the song from my quite limited description

[Pushkin]

I heard it a few years back on the late John Peel’s BBC show.

Basically most of what I remember is a lady enthusing over some fluffy clouds, California may have had a mention in the name of the song, the artist or the lyrics. It was a kind of laid back, trippy song.

Of course, since we’ve located the origin of “it does nothing,” I’m sure this won’t be too difficult

[pinkfreud]

It doesn’t have “California” in it, but my first thought was Both Sides Now, by Joni Mitchell.

Here is a video of Joni performing the song live.

[Manduck]

“Little Fluffy Clouds” by The Orb, I bet: Wikipedia.

Or Rio, by Duran Duran.

[Crusoe]

I’d put money on Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb as well.

The vocal sample is from LeVar Burton interviewing Rickie Lee Jones:

Burton: “What were the skies like when you were young?”

Jones: “They went on forever – They - When I - We lived in Arizona, and the skies always had little fluffy clouds in 'em, and they were long, clear, and there were lots of stars, at night. And when it would rain, they would all turn - They were beautiful, the most beautiful skies as a matter of fact. Um, the sunsets were purple and red and yellow and on fire, and the clouds would catch the colors everywhere. That’s uh, neat cause I used to look at them all the time, when I was little. You don’t see that. You might still see it in the desert.”

[Manduck]

Incidentally, what kind of interview was that, I wonder? Can you imagine preparing your list of questions, and thinking “Oh! Oh! I know what to as her!” and writing down “What were the skies like when you were young?”. Ooh what an excellent question! I bet she’ll have a good answer for that one!

… then when you ask it, she gives a full answer, instead if saying “Wha?” like anybody else would have done.

Anyway, that has always bugged me about that song.

[Pushkin]

Ack, I didn’t realise ignorance had been thought and my question answered, thanks all!