Song & Artist: Under The Bridge - The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Album & Date: Blood Sugar Sex Magic - 24th September 1991
Nationality of band: American
Members at release: Michael Balzary (Flea) (Bass - Australian), John Frusciante (American - Guitar), Anthony Keidis (Vocals - American), Chad Smith (Drums - American)
YouTube:
My rant;
Anyone who knows me will know that RHCP are historically my favourite band. I can't really go past Flea as one of the greatest if not the greatest bass players of all time. I love John Frusciante, he has a great story, you know, the one where the young guitar player whose favourite band is RHCP and he gets to play with them, then after getting everything he wants, goes on a decade long heroin/cocaine bender.... Chad is the perfect drummer for the band, even if he never would have been considered when the band first assembled.
Anthony, well the man is an enigma. Everything about him says he should never have been this good. For a guy with no initial talent, he sure became a journeyman type singer. What he has got, in spades, is a Jagger-esque front man appeal where he drags the band together and their powers combined make them far more potent that they could ever be individually (evidenced by the pathetic solo efforts of John)
However, this track. We've all heard it and we all love it. My brother Chris was well into this track before me and think it was the brotherly competition that meant I did appreciate its brilliance initially.
It is, amongst other things, a sad treatise on humanity, but by Christ it has a beautiful start that doesn't hint about whats about to happen to you.
Anthony's lyrics are sad, moving and depressing, but delivered with poise and intent. A single drum thing starts and its building, then the chorus kicks in and its all about love and depression, something we can all relate with. A city that loves me, brilliant.
It gets to point where we can all relate to the 'I don't ever want to feel like I did that day'
At 2:50, it steps up and away from the song started and then again 3:10 and its not the original song. It's deeper faster and better than most tracks could ever hope to be.
The ending brings you back to the beginning, a trick that a lot of songs use, but not a lot use it as well.
For me, this song will always remind me of sitting in the garage at Mayall Ave, at 12/13 y/o in the dark with posters blutacked onto the block wall. A simpler time, and also, a time before Dave Navarro!!
Bands: (multiple band entrys ARE counted twice)
9 - England
9 - America
Band Members Country of Origin: (multiple band entrys ARE counted twice)
38 - England
32 - America
2 - Germany
1 - Tanzania
1 - Australia
Decade Released
11 - 90's
4 - 70's
2 - 60's
1 - 00's
Year Released
3 - 1991
2 - 1994
2 - 1997
2 - 1993
2 - 1995
2 - 1971
1 - 1975
1 - 1965
1 - 1979
1 - 1968
1 - 2006
Genre:
6 - Alternative
4 - Grunge
4 - Rock
1 - Punk
1 - Glam Rock
1 - Post Grunge
1 - BritPop(Rock)
Chad Smith is vastly underrated as a drummer - to my mind his work with RHCP doesn't really showcase his skills, but check out Chickenfoot to see what he can do when he lets rip.
ReplyDeleteChicken foot, roger that. Definitely underrated.
ReplyDeleteOk, so I have listened to Chickenfoot, and the music is awesome. I'll admit I have a hard hearing Sammy Hagar with the glam rock sounds behind him, but once I get past that, they are playing some thumping good tunes. Also, awesome logo!!
ReplyDelete