It's only fair that my last Saturday morning is one filled with songs from one of my favourite bands--The Red Hot Chili Peppers. 92.9's Top Ten from 8am, Saturday morning.
10. Soul to Squeeze
Coneheads Soundtrack, 1993
Kicking off the Top Ten is a 27 year old song in Soul to Squeeze. This was used in the 1993 movie Coneheads, a comedy based on a Saturday Night Live skit about a family with conical heads. It was a heavy song for a light movie, and for a while the soundtrack was the only album containing the song. Chris Farley, cast member of SNL appears in the film clip to this video.
9. Dark Necessities
The Getaway, 2016
It's strange to think that 2016 was the last Red Hot Chili Peppers release with their album The Getaway and the song, Dark Necessities. Initially it wasn't going to be the first single but they changed their mind at the last minute. Just as well because it was recieved well, #1 on the US alt charts, and made it to #52 in Australia. A decent feat for the week of its release as it was up against big names like The Chainsmokers, Drake, Lukas Graham etc. FUN FACT:
The Getaway is the first Chili Peppers album since 1989's Mother's Milk to not feature the production of Rick Rubin, instead, working with Danger Mouse.
8. Can't Stop
By The Way, 2002
For Can't Stop, Anthony Kiedis wrote the lyrics around the music. The words are a somewhat random collection of thoughts, with some creative rhyming thrown in to fit the rhythm of the song ("Can I get 2 maybe even 3 of these, come from space to teach you of the pleiades"). A fan favorite, the Red Hot Chili Peppers play this at most of their concerts.
7. The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
I'm With You, 2011
The Adventures of Raindance Maggie is the first single from Red Hot Chili Peppers' tenth studio album, I'm With You, was released three days earlier than expected due to the single leaking. It was the first single by RHCP in four years since Hump De Bump and was RHCP's first single with new guitarist, Josh Klinghoffer, following John Frusciante's departure in 2009.
6. Aeroplane
One Hot Minute, 1995
Aeroplane is based on a traditional blues song called Jesus Is My Aeroplane. On their Greatest Hits DVD, Red Hot Chili Peppers explain that is how they feel about music, that it takes them to a higher place. A big song in 1995 in Australia, reaching #35 on the charts.
FUN FACT:
The song/film clip include a group of kids singing at the end from the kindergarten class of Flea's daughter, Clara (she is the one towards the left, singing the loudest).
5. Scar Tissue
Californication, 1999
Scar Tissue won a Grammy for Best Rock Song. This spent a record 16 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. Scar Tissue represents the melodic rock sound RHCP tried out on Californication (in contrast to the psychedelic One Hot Minute, and dry funk of Blood Sugar Sex Magik).
FUN FACT: In 2004, Anthony Kiedis published a book named after the song. It's an autobiography about his life and about sex, drugs and rock-'n-roll. In the book he talks about the consequences of drugs (especially heroin) and in which way this can destroy somebody's life.
4. Dani California
Stadium Arcadium, 2006
Stadium Arcadium was a double disc album with two sides, Jupiter and Mars as reflected on the album art. Dani California was single #1 on disc #1 (Jupiter) and was massive in 2006. Charting at #8 in Australia and #1 on the US alt charts.
The music video to the song had the band perform the song in different era styles. Flea says, "We mainly did eras, not actual people."
Rockabilly - British rock - psychedelic rock - funk - glam rock - gothic - punk - grunge
This was the first single off Stadium Arcadium, the first Chili Peppers album in four years. In a Rolling Stone interview Flea said that the album was, "By far the best thing we've ever done."
3. By The Way
By The Way 2002
By The Way is both a massive album and massive song, charting at #6 in Australia and again #1 on the US alt charts.
Features the girl "Dani," who was the "Teenage bride with the baby inside" on the Red Hot Chili Peppers 1999 song "Californication," and also appeared in their 2006 song "Dani California" Kiedis says that "Dani" is a representation of every girl that he's come across in his life.
There was certainly a big debate about the top spot for today. Otherside and Under the Bridge are two big songs for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and it's no coincidence they are both ballads. It seems these songs have resonated with fans and stand the test of time. So without further ado....
2. Otherside
Californication, 1999
Otherside is the third single from Californication, and confronts the battles addicts have with their prior addictions. "Otherside" refers to former band member Hillel Slovak, who died of a heroin overdose in 1988. Otherside is in the top ten songs played at RHCP concerts, but apparently as a overall #1 pales in comparison to...
1. Under the Bridge
Blood Sugar Sex Magic, 1991
Under the Bridge was originally just a poem that Kiedis wrote. Lead singer Anthony Kiedis wrote this about his days as a heroin addict and the loneliness that went with it. The bridge mentioned in the song is a place where he sometimes went to buy drugs and get high. #2 in US alt charts, and #1 in Australia in 1991.
Chilis fan, Jake Tracey explains:
As well as it's importance in highlighting a tough and low point of Anthony's life, it was also a huge shift in the direction of their music and sound.
You wouldn't of had future hits like Otherside, Californication and Scar Tissue if the Chilis didn't allow themselves to become vulnerable and explore a new direction with Under the Bridge.
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