The Top 10 Most Underrated Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs (Part 2)
So, I have a series on this blog where I talk about music that I think is underrated. I listen to music basically all day long, so I really enjoy writing these posts and telling you what I'm listening to. About a year ago, I wrote a post about the Red Hot Chili Peppers, one of my favorite bands of all time.
In case you don't know, RHCP is a rock band/alt-rock band (with an emphasis on funk, as you'll see) that was formed in the 1980s in LA. They've been making amazing music for decades.
There are very few RHCP songs that I don't like, so it was tough for me to decide what to put in that blog. I ended up leaving out some of my favorite songs (plus, I have discovered some new favorites since I wrote that blog), so I decided to put together a part two!
So, without further ado, let's get into the list:
1. Quixoticelixer from Californication (Bonus Track) - Wow does this song ever have a vibe! It has a softer sound with a mournful, almost sad air. But, even with RHCP's slower songs, there's a sense of energy in this song that's really enjoyable. I actually discovered this song fairly recently; it's a bonus track on one of RHCP's most famous albums Californication, which is why I hadn't encountered it before. To be quiet honest, I'm not sure why this song didn't make it on to Californication, since it's definitely better than some of the songs on that album (like, "I Like Dirt" made it on to the album and this didn't? Come on!). Anyway, this is probably one of my favorite RHCP songs at the moment.
2. Funny Face from Stadium Arcadium (Bonus Track) - A reggae inspired RHCP song? Who would have thunk it? Seriously though, this is a pretty unique RHCP song. Like I said, it has a reggae sound that is basically unprecedented in the history of the band. Anyway, this song is a bonus track off Stadium Arcadium, and I only discovered it fairly recently. I'm not sure why "Readymade" made it onto the album and this song didn't. But some things will always be mysterious to me. It's really a very sweet song about being in love, and it's—dare I say it—kind of adorable, not a word that can often be applied to RHCP music. Also, I'm pretty sure that Flea plays the trumpet on this song; he's a man of many talents.
3. Funky Monks from Blood Sugar Sex Magik - The funk in this song is almost too much for me. Just kidding, there can never be enough RHCP funk in the world for me. But seriously, the funk is strong with this song. The bass line is LIFE. I mean, all of Flea's bass lines are life to me, but this one is especially good. It's very simple, but you can just feel the funk in your bones. The guitar line is also fantastically funky, but it's John Frusciante's (the guitarist) falsetto singing in the chorus that really makes the song for me. Also, in true RHCP style, the outro is simply killer.
4. Funky Crime from The Uplift Mofo Party Plan - Based on the title, you'd probably think this was a super funky song, but it actually has a bit of a harder edge with just a tinge of funk flavor. The energy is just great in this song; if you don't get pumped up listening to this, I'm not sure anything can get you excited. You can just tell that RHCP put tons of their passion for music into this song. I think this is easily one of the best songs The Uplift Mofo Party Plan has to offer, and it's been one of my favorite RHCP songs for a while.
7. Go Robot from The Getaway - Let me tell you something, the funk in this song is 👏the 👏 real deal! Honestly, it's the kind of funk that you feel in your bones. The bass line gets into your bloodstream from the first beat, and it doesn't let go! This is also a fantastically weird song (as many RHCP songs are). The chorus is: "...I want to thank you and spank you upon your silver skin/ Robots don't care where I've been.../Robots are my next of kin." Like, I'm not even going to begin to try to dissect that. It's extremely weird, but in a fun way, and the music video—which features Anthony Kiedis in full silver body paint—is a hoot and a half.
8. Knock Me Down from Mother's Milk - The energy of this song is EVERYTHING. When you listen to RHCP's early music, you always get the sense that they made music because they really wanted to. There's a sense of real artistic freedom and creativity here; you get the vibe that they just did whatever they wanted to. Imagine being that free! Anyway, "Knock Me Down" has a harder edge than most RHCP songs. Written about the death of former RCHP guitarist Hillel Slovak, you get a real sense of the pain and anger behind the music. It's a fantastically energetic song, and, if you haven't heard it, it's well worth the listen.
9. My Lovely Man from Blood Sugar Sex Magik - I think this song is a bit of an acquired taste. I used to low-key hate it, but now I think it's lovely (get the joke? No? Okay, I'll stop). Anyway, it's really Anthony Kiedis' vocals that make the song for me. His voice holds the whole song together; it's kind of the emotional through line, if that makes sense. It's also about the death of Hillel Slovak, and you can really feel the mournful nostalgia in the lyrics. The drumming is also FAN-TASTIC here. Chad Smith's fills are on point 👌.
In case you don't know, RHCP is a rock band/alt-rock band (with an emphasis on funk, as you'll see) that was formed in the 1980s in LA. They've been making amazing music for decades.
There are very few RHCP songs that I don't like, so it was tough for me to decide what to put in that blog. I ended up leaving out some of my favorite songs (plus, I have discovered some new favorites since I wrote that blog), so I decided to put together a part two!
So, without further ado, let's get into the list:
1. Quixoticelixer from Californication (Bonus Track) - Wow does this song ever have a vibe! It has a softer sound with a mournful, almost sad air. But, even with RHCP's slower songs, there's a sense of energy in this song that's really enjoyable. I actually discovered this song fairly recently; it's a bonus track on one of RHCP's most famous albums Californication, which is why I hadn't encountered it before. To be quiet honest, I'm not sure why this song didn't make it on to Californication, since it's definitely better than some of the songs on that album (like, "I Like Dirt" made it on to the album and this didn't? Come on!). Anyway, this is probably one of my favorite RHCP songs at the moment.
2. Funny Face from Stadium Arcadium (Bonus Track) - A reggae inspired RHCP song? Who would have thunk it? Seriously though, this is a pretty unique RHCP song. Like I said, it has a reggae sound that is basically unprecedented in the history of the band. Anyway, this song is a bonus track off Stadium Arcadium, and I only discovered it fairly recently. I'm not sure why "Readymade" made it onto the album and this song didn't. But some things will always be mysterious to me. It's really a very sweet song about being in love, and it's—dare I say it—kind of adorable, not a word that can often be applied to RHCP music. Also, I'm pretty sure that Flea plays the trumpet on this song; he's a man of many talents.
3. Funky Monks from Blood Sugar Sex Magik - The funk in this song is almost too much for me. Just kidding, there can never be enough RHCP funk in the world for me. But seriously, the funk is strong with this song. The bass line is LIFE. I mean, all of Flea's bass lines are life to me, but this one is especially good. It's very simple, but you can just feel the funk in your bones. The guitar line is also fantastically funky, but it's John Frusciante's (the guitarist) falsetto singing in the chorus that really makes the song for me. Also, in true RHCP style, the outro is simply killer.
4. Funky Crime from The Uplift Mofo Party Plan - Based on the title, you'd probably think this was a super funky song, but it actually has a bit of a harder edge with just a tinge of funk flavor. The energy is just great in this song; if you don't get pumped up listening to this, I'm not sure anything can get you excited. You can just tell that RHCP put tons of their passion for music into this song. I think this is easily one of the best songs The Uplift Mofo Party Plan has to offer, and it's been one of my favorite RHCP songs for a while.
5. If You Want Me to Stay from Freaky Styley - This song is actually a cover of the Sly and the Family Stone hit, but it works so well for RHCP's sound that you'd think it was their song. First of all, this song has a wonderfully funky flavor, but it's the horns and smooth execution that really makes the song. Anthony Kiedis' vocals are perfect here. Usually, his singing has a rap-like quality, but here his singing is more like—well—singing, and there's a slight rasp to his voice that's just perfect. This is a wonderfully produced song, and it's really a just a gem.
6. Walkin' on Down the Road from The Uplift Mofo Party Plan - Okay, so this song GIVES ME LIFE! There's some kind of swampy, Delta blues sound on this track that I just can't get enough of. It just sounds so perfect with the normal RHCP funk. I can't describe what makes it so magical, it just is. Take my word for it. I think it's the delivery that really makes the song though. All of the insturments—including Anthony's voice—just sound so POWERFUL in this song. It's like a musical gut punch (in a good way).
6. Walkin' on Down the Road from The Uplift Mofo Party Plan - Okay, so this song GIVES ME LIFE! There's some kind of swampy, Delta blues sound on this track that I just can't get enough of. It just sounds so perfect with the normal RHCP funk. I can't describe what makes it so magical, it just is. Take my word for it. I think it's the delivery that really makes the song though. All of the insturments—including Anthony's voice—just sound so POWERFUL in this song. It's like a musical gut punch (in a good way).
8. Knock Me Down from Mother's Milk - The energy of this song is EVERYTHING. When you listen to RHCP's early music, you always get the sense that they made music because they really wanted to. There's a sense of real artistic freedom and creativity here; you get the vibe that they just did whatever they wanted to. Imagine being that free! Anyway, "Knock Me Down" has a harder edge than most RHCP songs. Written about the death of former RCHP guitarist Hillel Slovak, you get a real sense of the pain and anger behind the music. It's a fantastically energetic song, and, if you haven't heard it, it's well worth the listen.
9. My Lovely Man from Blood Sugar Sex Magik - I think this song is a bit of an acquired taste. I used to low-key hate it, but now I think it's lovely (get the joke? No? Okay, I'll stop). Anyway, it's really Anthony Kiedis' vocals that make the song for me. His voice holds the whole song together; it's kind of the emotional through line, if that makes sense. It's also about the death of Hillel Slovak, and you can really feel the mournful nostalgia in the lyrics. The drumming is also FAN-TASTIC here. Chad Smith's fills are on point 👌.
10. Monarchy of Roses from I'm with You - I feel like I say this about every RHCP song, but this song is fantastically funky. It also has great energy; I dare you not to nod your head to this song. I feel like the album I'm with You gets a lot of hate in general, but I have to say that I quite like it. The songs are well written and well executed, and most of all, they're funky, and—as you may or may not be able to tell—that's pretty much all I care about.
Just sayin'
Just sayin'
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