Top Ten Songs by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
10. Good Time Boys – Anthony Kiedis once described this song to sound like two trash trucks falling off the Empire State Building and crashing into the rectum of George Bush, Sr. I couldn’t agree more, even though I’m not sure what that would sound like. But the point is clear and when you listen to the song you’ll know why. Good Time Boys is a hard hitting rock song filled with crashing guitar riffs and hard drumming. The point of the song is simple and possibly represents the early Chili Peppers perfectly. It’s a snapshot of who they are at the time, four young party animals that tear up the town and live life to the fullest. This track appears first on Mother’s Milk, the album that John Frusciante and Chad Smith make their debut on.
9. Give It Away – This tune is thought by many to be pointless, typical of rebels without a cause, sophomoric youths just making noise for the sake of making noise. While it is that in a way, it is far more under the surface. Anthony Kiedis revealed in his autobiography ‘Scar Tissue’, that the lyrics were inspired by a friend of his that gave him her favorite jacket, explaining to him that you must let things go and spread positive vibes through generosity. The song conveys a sense of gleeful carelessness, but also urges good vibrations through its lighthearted tone. The fact that it is so simple and yet so deep is what makes it great. That is besides the fact that it is also one hell of a catchy song, full of great riffs and simplistic, yet forever memorable lyrics.
8. Can’t Stop – This song is in places melodic and in others chaotic. Its rhythm is harmonious, fusing an eclectic beat with soothing waves of sound. Can’t Stop is a perfect blend of the new Chili Peppers, explorers traveling through new frontiers of music, and the old Chili Peppers, pioneers of Punk Funk who were unstoppable crazed mad men on a beat boxing, guitar shredding journey to stardom. Can’t Stop is a song about not letting yourself fall down, and if you do, it makes you pick yourself up and keep on keeping on. The beat fits the message perfectly and even if you don’t pay attention to the lyrics, you automatically feel inspired to survive, to ignore the painful past and leap over obstacles in a single bound. Oh, and it’s a good listen too.
7. Venice Queen – I have always felt that this was two songs in one. Not only does it run longer than a usual song, but it has two totally different sounds. At first it is a quick paced, yet mellow tune that is introspective. Then it becomes a bittersweet goodbye to Anthony’s friend Gloria, who the song was written for when she died. Though many Chili Peppers songs that were inspired by death have been melancholy, such as Tearjerker for Kurt Cobain, and Under The Bridge for Hillel Slovak, this song is a happy goodbye, a melody of happy thoughts for a soul gone to Heaven. It is not very popular because it wasn’t released as a single, but musically it shows the band’s range and displays their progression over the years.
6. Behind the Sun – This was in my mind the earliest indication that there was plenty of potential for improvement in the band’s music. While does not feature pitch perfect melodic singing by Anthony, it is still somehow harmonious and shows a great level of creativity and innovation on their part. The band is now famous for creating new sounds and always coming up new styles of music, and Behind the Sun was the first sign of their incredible future in my mind.
5. Slow Cheetah – A new song off of their recent double album, Stadium Arcadium, this track is rated as a near perfect 10 by band members Flea and Anthony themselves. Slow Cheetah is a perfect example of how a good song builds up its energy and reaches a climax with perfect timing. The tune is mellow and inspires tranquility, but it is also powerful in a calming way. I think that this song signifies the progress of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ music over the last 23 years in the business.
4. Scar Tissue – A reflection of the way that Anthony damaged his relationship with John Frusciante, and perhaps the way he damaged many relationships in his life, this is a very meditative tune. It’s tone is nonjudgmental, just a pure and unbiased look back at events in the past. While it does have a bit of a sad tone with the lyrics “With birds I share this lonely viewâÂ?¦”, it is by no means a downer. The song in itself is a great listen over all, as its chords go with the lyrics perfectly and it allows you to either reflect on your own troubled relationships or simply sit back and enjoy the melody.
3. Californication – On the surface this would first appear to be about the Westernization of the world via Hollywood. While it is that, it is also mostly about sex, and how California had led the world into a love for casual sex, pornography, and sometimes degradation. But it is not a sad song, or meant as a negative reflection of our culture, but is just showing a different perspective of the influence of culture. Besides just the lyrics, it is also a beautiful song with great guitar riffs and an equally important baseline. It has also been one of the band’s most popular songs.
2. Under The Bridge – Written in mourning of Hillel Slovak, the band’s guitarist and Anthony’s best friend who overdosed, Under The Bridge may be the most heartfelt song that the Peppers have ever produced. Though it is about mourning the loss of a friend and expressing the irony of loneliness in a hugely populated city, it is also about Anthony’s own addiction. Anthony confesses in the lyrics that even though the death of his friend has torn him apart, he is still a heavy drug user and feels all alone in his pain. Under The Bridge is still a fan favorite and always gets a strong reception at concerts. It remains the most loved song in the band’s extensive history. Not only is it deep and meaningful, but musically it is truly amazing. The progression of chords, the flow, and Anthony’s voice and tone blend perfectly to make this a truly powerful song.
1. Otherside – A confession of continued drug addiction and depression, Anthony pours his heart out once again in this song. Flea and John Frusciante work perfectly together to blend the sound that makes Otherside so great. Both in the lyrics and in the musical progression there is a perfect story. There is a build up and a climax that strikes people’s soul. It is no wonder that this was the beginning of Californication’s immense success.
I hope that you give these songs a listen and enjoy them as much as I have. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are a diverse group and no one can match their overall ability and energy. The band remains a top live act, which I can personally attest to as I was there for the Las Vegas 100 year anniversary concert on July 2nd, 2005. RHCP has finally earned a number 1 album on the Billboard charts with their most recent release, Stadium Arcadium. In my opinion they are always number 1 and I will continue to be a fan until they retire. In 2009 they will become eligible for the honor of being inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame and I hope to see them there soon.
