Me and My Friends #64 - A Month in the Randomized RHCP Trenches
I go through moods, of course, with this band.
Dalliances (near obsessions, some might say) with certain songs, certain albums, certain periods. There are songs that I’ve loved from day one, songs that become “comfort” songs, songs that still give me that little thrill decades later.
But there are also songs I’ve never cared for too deeply, songs that get the ole’ heave-ho - by which I mean I hit skip on my phone - every time they come dancing by.
It depends on so many things; mood, energy levels, life stuff. But if I were walking somewhere now, or doing laundry, or doing anything really, headphones on, I shuffled my music library, and “Cabron” came up?
Hell, I’d probably skip. I’ve never loved the song, always thought it was the band doing a bit, which never works as well as when they’re just being themselves.
There are only so many hours in the day, right? Why not spend it doing something you love instead of something you tolerate?
But people change, minds change, and opinions change, and sometimes it takes… let’s call it enforced listening to realize that maybe you actually feel something different about a certain song, or even a certain album, after how ever many years. Maybe you feel different without even noticing. I spent years detesting “Hump de Bump” and now I get it - I find it goofy, sure, but goofy is the point.
What if “Cabron” came on while I was out somewhere, the sun shining, I was two beers deep - this band is always better two beers deep - and I realized that… hey, I actually kinda like it. It is catchy. The musical equivalent of a warm breeze on a sweaty forehead.
Opinions don’t have to last forever.
This band is “work” to me in a lot of ways - an obligation. That sounds more serious than it really is, but it’s true all the same. I write about them and think about them and consider them basically non-stop, but so little, comparatively, of that is actually spent listening to them. Enjoying the band for what they are.
A lot of that is because I’ve spent half of my life listening to them. I have baked-in opinions and feelings that aren’t easily altered. So many of their songs are so wrapped up in my double helix that I can pretty much play them in my head on demand. At this point I really don’t need to hear “Under the Bridge” again, no matter my positive feelings for it.
But I worry, from time to time: what if I’m too dismissive?
It’s so easy in this world of immediate validation and playlist-centric listening to just blast through your library until you find something you want. There are a worryingly high amount of bands in my library where one song has ended up on a playlist somewhere and that’s all I’ve listened to from that act.
What if I decided I didn’t like a song the first few times I heard it, and that opinion has calcified over time? Is that fair to the song, to the band, to myself?
An experiment was in order. I wanted to get back to basics, back to a world that existed pre-streaming and pre-instant gratification.
What I did, daily, from October 1 to October 31, was hit shuffle on the Chili Peppers in my Apple Music library and listened to the song that played. That’s every album, Greatest Hits, What Hits?!, and my own B-sides compilation, so, pretty much everything: 303 songs.
I only listened to the song that played, and no other RHCP tracks all day.
One a day. I couldn’t skip. I couldn’t call in a mulligan. The hope was it would be 31 different songs, and with a discography this extensive, maybe it would be, but with the randomness of it all I was bound to get a couple of repeats.
What kind of insight can be wrought from enforced listening? From absolute, no-excuses, no-skipping, no other activity, complete focus?
How would I feel about not being able to choose anything I heard? Would resentment start to bubble up?
Would my mind change about anything? Would there be some new perspectives?
How did I feel about the band over a month? Were they the same old friend or did they - by way of this project - become a bit of a chore?
What was going on with me at the time, mentally or physically? What was the weather like? October is springtime, with the days slowly getting warmer. Would that affect things?
So many questions.
What I was hoping for: Some new perspectives on old opinions.
What I was dreading: “Song That Made Us What We Are Today” turning up eight, ten, fifteen times.
Let’s begin.
October 1 - “She’s Only 18”
Great start. (As far as the song’s subject matter: let’s not go there.) This is John at the height of his powers during the SA era; that heavy metal chorus thing he tried out on a few songs, like “Dani California” and “C’mon Girl,” works the best here, where it feels the most natural. Brilliant solo, but you knew that already. Anthony’s Super Mario “ya-ha!” is maybe his best ad-lib?
October 2 - “In the Snow”
(This was weird, I basically pre-cogged that this would be the next song. Would that keep happening?) One of my favourites from Dream Canteen. Stunned, I was, the first time I heard this, almost two years ago exactly. Not only that they’d go for something so different sounding but that they wouldn’t relegate it to a B-side. Anthony’s spoken word bits are fun, but I’m curious if I’d actually prefer the song without them - they turn what could be a real morose, serious, sensitive track into a bit of a lark at times.
October 3 - “My Friends”
I’ve been lucky so far. Another all-time banger. Not my favourite song from OHM, but a sign of that record’s quality that it’s still so good. People cynically consider this song to be the expected, purpose-made follow-up to “Under the Bridge,” but I think it excels that song in many ways. Anthony’s lyrics are a light at the end of a tunnel. “Under the Bridge” is loneliness; this is all about friendship.
October 4 - “Andaman & Nicobar”
This song probably turned morphed into “Right on Time,” and thank God it did, because that is a much better song. This is half-baked, a kind of loose riff and then an explosion inserted in, just so the song would go somewhere.
If you’ve ever been in a band, you know exactly what this song is. The bottom of the list, something you’re not that excited about and which gets jettisoned immediately once better stuff comes along.
And that, really, is what being in a band, engaging with yourself creatively is all about: realizing what needs to be ditched, and ditching it, for the betterment of your craft.
That said, I have a feeling Anthony might be singing about Australia in his little verse, so that’s a nice touch.
October 5 - “My Friends”
The first duplicate! Not a bad song to have to hear again. This time around I thought about the falsetto parts, something not very frequent in Anthony’s work. I was also reminded of that BTS footage from the “Dani California” video. I’d always found it a little odd that AK - seemingly - can’t remember the lyrics to the song. “Something oh yeah…” he says, which Chad quickly latches on to.
I always wondered: does he really not remember the lyrics, or was he affecting a kind of detachment from the era? How could he not remember them? A decade previous he was singing the song five nights a week.
But it’s hit me in recent years that his failing memory makes sense. He’s not one of us. He doesn’t spend his time listening to the band for fun. Of course things like that would go out the window.
October 6 - “Funky Monks”
This is the reason I started this project, to actually hear a song I’d usually skip. Last year I suffered the wrath of a Reddit comment section for suggesting that this was my least-favourite song from BSSM. It’s still true; I think the stop-start/call-and-response aspects of the song drag down the album’s flow so early on, and everything around it is so much better it just pales by comparison. I also had to play it upwards of 400 times for my HSC, so maybe it’s just worn a little thin.
Not much has changed. It’s great, sure. But I never need to hear it again.
October 7 - “Happiness Loves Company”
This song was always in the bottom half of IWY for me. I like Flea’s bum-bo-bum-bo background vocals, but nothing else really clicks, and Anthony is in peak nasal heyyyy mode for most of it.
Every time I’ve heard this song, from August 2011 to October 2024, I’ve bristled a little bit because it was so long. There’s just something in it that makes it feel like it’s 5 and a half minutes long. It’s only 3.33! I guess that says a lot.
So that was it for the first week. Seven days and six songs. Immediately, I could tell this little experiment was going to be fun.
I was recovering from pretty bad Covid during this period, but I don’t think it affected me too much; there was no begrudging of the band or the project. Yet.
Where would another seven days take me?
October 8 - “Torture Me”
Another great song, one I chose for my own version of SA. Really strong vocals from Anthony, he uncharacteristically strains himself quite a bit during the verse, something he would not be able to get away with these days. A very stormy, overcast song, on what was an overcast day; two references to fallen leaves really help the feeling.
“Let’s turn it up and dumb it down” is a hell of a mantra.
October 9 - “Save this Lady”
Hmm. Never been a fan of this one. There’s really no surprise this was the last B-side released from SA, right? When it wasn’t clear that they’d be back, in the dark 08-09 years, I feared this would be the last official RHCP song.
AK’s vocal rhythm sounds like someone making fun of him, and the lyrics mean absolutely nothing. It’s like he’s just looking at his CD collection and looking for rhymes. Not ideal. The chorus is an obvious, 4-chord trip to Nowheresville (you ever notice how many John-written songs have the exact same chorus rhythm?); Flea’s bass doesn’t even change, and I don’t mean that in a good way. John’s backwards solo really the only redeeming feature of an otherwise forgettable track.
But that’s just me!
October 10 - “Higher Ground”
A classic if there ever was one, but - again - I don’t hear it as much as I really should. Part of me was a little disappointed this wasn’t the fairly different, much drier Greatest Hits mix, which I’ve really not heard often, and I would have liked to have investigated. But rules are rules. Fittingly, as I listened to this, staring into space on a train station elevator, my eyes landed on a Discover LA ad that was lining the walls. What would be a better soundtrack for the city than this band, and this song?
October 11 - “Funky Monks”
This one hurt. I really wasn’t in the mood to do this today - for the first time the daily task felt like a real obligation. And so of course it’s not only a duplicate but one of my less-wanted ones. That’s karma for you.
By the way… the song’s called “Funky Monks,” the documentary’s called Funky Monks.
But the first thing Anthony says is “there are no monks in my band.”
So… are they monks or not?
October 12 - “Tear”
Amazing to compare this song and the last one. The same band only a decade apart! Feels like this is famous for its chorus but my favourite parts are actually everything else; when the chorus hits it feels a little laboured, like the BPM drops about five beats. I like the dark, moodiness of the verses, punctuated by John’s angelic backups.
October 13 - “Falling into Grace”
Not just a great song but one of my favourite songs of all time. It’s an interesting one for a couple of reasons. Flea and Chad wrote and recorded it basically on their own, then Dave came in at the end; I guess that’s why his parts are more reactive, like they’ve been placed on top.
Dave was always uncomfortable with funk, and I think that’s why he reverts back to “obvious” things like the Hendrix chord in the chorus - it feels like someone unsure of what to do, playing a part. Hell of a guitar solo, though.
October 14 - “My Friends”
A third repeat! This has to be more frequent than is statistically normal, right? Maybe the shuffle isn’t as random as it’s supposed to be.
It’s lucky I still like the song. This time around I tried to focus on the little background sounds, the lesser-thought-about stuff; the very-very slight tapping (of a drum?) in the intro, the occasional tambourine, the heavy tremolo of the backing guitar in the chorus, the high notes Flea is playing in the outro. This feels like a song whose multi-tracks would reveal a lot of interesting, barely audible little tricks.
(Tomorrow better not be “Funky Monks”…)
Another week down. The month is going quickly. Some of these days were harder than others; the feeling of it being a daily task I had to complete started to bubble up a little. Seeing my month laid out like this is a little strange. It feels like it’s going by in a flash.
October 15 - “Give it Away”
I hear this song so frequently, but in live versions - this 2005 or this 2022 one are my usual favourites - so it’s nice to go back to the studio original. If anything it sounds a little stilted and quantized in comparison.
The backwards guitar solo is a risky move for a major rock radio staple, but it’s still quite hummable and melodic. Ever wondered what it sounded like in its original form?
October 16 - “One Way Traffic”
I don’t want to be too negative here, so I’ll just say that this song wouldn’t have made my version of Unlimited Love back in 2022 and it wouldn’t today.
Today is Flea’s birthday. Nice bass solo at the end - a rarity these days!
October 17 - “Sick Love”
I’ve always loved this song, but would really love a remix. A summery capsule to get your day started. Excellent guitar solo. An actual reference to Australia. Love it. Play it live now, you cowards!
October 18 - “It’s Only Natural”
Now this is why I’m doing this project! I never gelled with this song since… basically the moment I heard it, and it’s probably been - if I’m being honest - about two years since I have. Criminal, right? It’s the perfect example of the streaming curse.
My issue is the chorus. The song has a lovely verse (even if Anthony does sound like a chipmunk at times) but the chorus just brings the song to a screeching halt. I love everything else about it, especially the outro. Maybe I just need to listen to the instrumental version.
October 19 - “Whatchu Thinkin’”
From one of my least favourites off UL to one of my favourites. I’ve written about it here. Great song, great bass, great drums, great solo. Nuff said.
October 20 - “Gong Li”
Gorgeous stuff, though I can’t really see it finding a place anywhere outside of a B-side. I said this about it a few months ago…
Half the song is a delicate, interwoven, plinky-sounding thing that may as well be a song about raindrops on lilypads (it’s actually named after this actress). And the other half of the song is a pretty straight ahead pop-rock song that not only has nothing to do with Gong Li the person (I think it’s about John and Anthony’s relationship in 1997-1998) but also seemingly has nothing to do with the other half of the song. And it’s not like it was a last minute thing; the song existed like that as far back as the Teatro demo sessions. Just two things barely related to each other, smushed together, living in perfect cohesion. It shouldn’t work, but it does.
October 21 - “My Friends”
I’m starting to think the shuffle isn’t so random.
Still a great song. Will it appear again?
Three weeks down. A very heavy Unlimited Love week, but it was nice to revisit it. Every time I went to hit shuffle and begin the day’s song, a little thrill jolted through me. The thrill of potential I guess. What was I going to get? A Freaky Styley track? A By the Way one? “Funky Monks” again? It could have been anything.
October 22 - “I Like Dirt”
For such a quick and simple song there’s a lot to be unpacked here. It was one of the first ones written after John re-joined the band, and instantly it’s like the “old” band has returned - absolutely nothing from the Dave era sounds like this, nor do I think they’d be capable of it. It seems like something that would have come about so effortlessly too. No wonder they were glad he was back.
I love the little snare roll Chad does at 1.06, and the quick tom roll shortly after. Hallmark of a great drummer, there.
October 23 - “Search and Destroy”
Love love love it. Probably uncool to admit this, but I like it better than the Stooges version. One of Anthony's best vocal performances, especially the end.
October 24 - “Monarchy of Roses”
Not my favourite from IWY, in fact it’s one of my least favourite, and it’s not really a surprise, is it, that the band jettisoned the song after 2013.
Again, this experiment has paid off, because it’s probably been a full year or three since I heard this song, so it’s nice to listen to it again with fresh ears. Still doesn’t do much for me. What a crowded mix! Sounds like mush!
October 25 - “Soul to Squeeze”
An all-timer. I paid a little bit more attention to the bass and drum interplay and Brendan’s B3 organ here; Flea is basically doing Anthony’s vocal line at times. Unbeatable stuff, though I still wish he’d cut the scat and actually written some lyrics there.
October 26 - “Porcelain”
Maybe the first time I’ve ever listened to “Porcelain” and only “Porcelain.” Delightfully delicate.
Remember ladies, if you go back to his house and he doesn’t like “Porcelain” — don’t fuck him!
October 27 - “Stone Cold Bush”
When I was fifteen, this was the coolest song in the world. Now, well, I’m not fifteen anymore. If you’ve never seen the infamous SNL performance, I’ve uploaded it here.
I only noticed in this recent listen that Flea does a reprise of his solo in the last few seconds of the song.
October 28 - “Bella”
Hard not to find this infectious. For a simple sounding song, it actually has many different parts that sort of build on one another.
Anthony said this about the song: “My favorite line […] is: ‘Hell no my name ain’t Bradley,’ this line appears in the song, and it makes Chad Smith smile, so...”
I guess it’s important to remember that some of the things we (or I) might find a little goofy and weird about the band… well, they do too. That’s why they love ‘em, and I suppose that’s why we love 'em.
For the first time this week, I was frustrated that I couldn’t listen to the band outside of this little daily experiment. One afternoon in particular I really craved “My Lovely Man,” and just had to suck it up. When those random 4K remasters of “Scar Tissue” and “Road Trippin’” dropped I had to watch them on mute.
Only a few days left, luckily. Where would it take me?
October 29 - “Feasting on the Flowers”
One of those tracks that is going to be “discovered” by newer fans in ten or so years and rightfully considered some sort of hidden gem. It’s a shame Chad’s drums have been so neutered again - they sound like a practice kit in a carpeted room!
A nice little tribute to Hillel, with really nice background vocals from Josh (the second verse has lovely oohing), though I am of the feeling that the bridge is a little too “Even You Brutus?”
October 30 - “Aquatic Mouth Dance”
A sort of early-chapters-of-Scar-Tissue but in song form. This was one of my early favourites from the album though in recent years I’ve wondered if they could have trimmed the final verse or gone all in on the horn explosion. Still a joyful jam.
One day left… what’ll it be? Something significant to round out the month? “My Friends” again?
October 31 - “I’ll Be Your Domino”
Always a joy, and an ideal celebratory finish. The bridge onwards is such a perfect culmination of everything great about this band. John somehow hitting what seems like one chord but also matching Flea’s march up and down the bass, the high and low backing vocals. It’s silly but incredibly well done at the same time - ain’t that basically the Chili Peppers?
So. There goes a month. It went quickly! But October 1 also feels like a lifetime away.
As far as experiments go, I’m glad I did it. It made me listen to a lot of tracks that I’d have otherwise passed over, and listen more closely to some I thought I was pretty-damn familiar with.
Were there any new perspectives? I don’t think anything changed for me, fundamentally. The songs I already loved were greeted with open arms, and songs I didn’t love stayed that way. Maybe it takes more than a few years for opinions to really change. When I’m fifty will I still think the same way about “Save this Lady”? Is that a me problem or just human nature?
Blessedly, there were only a couple of duplicates. I’m even more thankful that there were a few songs I genuinely didn’t like; I wanted to be tested, and tested I was. Okay, I didn’t come out of this suddenly loving “One Way Traffic,” but at least I tried.
I also started to genuinely miss the band outside of this one track a day allowance I had. By the end of the month I was missing my comfort songs, missing the idea that I had their entire discography at my fingertips. But absence certainly makes the heart grow fonder.
I wholeheartedly recommend doing something similar yourself.
Tomorrow I get to listen to whatever I want. What’ll it be? Maybe I’ll let the shuffle decide, and keep that pesky hand away from the skip button.
Happy Halloween.
H.