The Red Hot Chili Peppers were formed in Los Angeles by Kiedis, Flea, guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons. Due to commitments to other bands, Slovak and Irons did not play on the band's 1984 self-titled debut album, which instead featured guitarist Jack Sherman and drummer Cliff Martinez. Slovak rejoined for their second album, Freaky Styley (1985), and Irons for their third, The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987). Irons left after Slovak died of a drug overdose in June 1988.
With new recruits Frusciante and Smith, the Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded Mother's Milk (1989) and their first major commercial success, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991). Frusciante was uncomfortable with their newfound popularity and left abruptly on tour in 1992. After a series of temporary guitarists, he was replaced by Dave Navarro, who appeared on the group's sixth album, One Hot Minute (1995). Although successful, the album failed to match the critical or popular acclaim of Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Frusciante and Kiedis struggled with drug addiction throughout the 1990s.
In 1998, following Navarro's departure, Frusciante rejoined the band. Their seventh album, Californication (1999), became their biggest commercial success, with 16 million copies sold worldwide. By the Way (2002) and Stadium Arcadium (2006) were also successful; Stadium Arcadium was their first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Frusciante left again in 2009 to focus on his solo career; he was replaced by Josh Klinghoffer, who appeared on I'm with You (2011) and The Getaway (2016), before Frusciante rejoined in 2019. They released their 12th album, Unlimited Love, in 2022.
The Chili Peppers' mix of hard rock, funk and hip hop has influenced genres such as funk metal, rap metal, rap rock and nu metal. Kiedis said the band were early to combine "hardcore funk and hip-hop-style vocals", and suggested they had influenced Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, and Linkin Park. Smith said, "Certainly Anthony's singing style and voice lends itself to being unique, and nobody sounds like him. The cool thing about it is we can play any style of music whether it's hard and fast, or loud or quiet, slow or medium, whatever it is; rock or funk, and it still sounds like us. I'm proud of that because sometimes bands don't have that strong personality where you go, 'Oh, that's boom, right away.'"
The Chili Peppers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame In April 2012. The induction lineup was Kiedis, Flea, Smith, Klinghoffer, Frusciante, Slovak (represented by his brother James), Irons and Martinez; Frusciante was invited, but did not attend. Navarro and Sherman were not inducted; Sherman said he felt "dishonored". The band performed "By the Way", "Give It Away" and "Higher Ground", which included Irons and Martinez on drums. It was the first time Kiedis and Flea had performed with Irons in more than 20 years.
In 2003, Rolling Stone released their first list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", with Blood Sugar Sex Magik at 310 and Californication at 399. In 2012, a revised list was released, with Californication at 401. In 2020, Rolling Stone released another version of the list, with Blood Sugar Sex Magik at 186 and Californication at 286.
The band received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 31, 2022. George Clinton, Woody Harrelson and Bob Forrest unveiled the star at the ceremony.
21st Century
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Making waves in a motion picture
Won't you keep this in between us?
Search and seizure, wake up Venus
The dollar bill will mentally ill bill
Mom and dad, take your don't be sad pill
Turn the screw and twist my language
Don't forsake me, I'm contagious
There's a reason for the 21st century
Not too sure but I know that it's meant to be
And that it's meant to be
Come on, ooh
It's my favorite combination
Coming down with the favored nations
Deep rotation, mutilation
Learn to give and take dictation
Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
Like Cain and Abel
Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
Time to run this table
There's a reason for the 21st century
Not too sure but I know that it's meant to be
And that it's meant to be
Read me your scripture and
Read me your scripture
Read me your scripture and I will twist it
Show me your wrist and I
Show me your wrist and
Show me your wrist and I'll kiss it, kiss it
Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
Like a Cain and Abel
Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
It's time to run this table
Simple soldier, hand it over
Stop and read what you just wrote her
Strangulation, altercation
Oral sex and bird migration
There's a reason for the 21st century
Not too sure but I know that it's meant to be
And that it's meant to be, come on
There's a reason for the 21st century
Not too sure but I know that it's meant to be
And that it's meant to be
The lyrics of Red Hot Chili Peppers's song 21st Century can be divided into two parts: the first part deals with the world, where beach creatures are making waves in a motion picture, and the dollar bill is making people mentally ill, and parents are taking pills to suppress their sadness. The words "search and seizure" and "wake up Venus" signify that our society has lost control and we need to wake up to what's happening around us. The singer sings, "Don't forsake me, I'm contagious," suggesting that his feelings are spreadable and we should all be paying attention.
The song's chorus repeats the idea that there is a reason for the twenty-first century, even though we're not sure what it is, and it's meant to be. The second part of the song deals with the individual, where the singer wants to learn how to give and take dictation, and there is a favorite combination coming down with the favored nations, deep rotation, and mutilation.
The next lyrics are about taking someone's script, twisting it, and kissing their wrist. Like a Cain and Abel signifies that there is a belief in the battle between good and evil. The final section is "simple soldier, hand it over, stop and read what you just wrote her. Strangulation, altercation, oral sex, and bird migration." These lyrics are cryptic and open to interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
All the creatures
On the beaches
Making waves in a motion picture
Won't you keep this
In between us
Search and seizure, wake up Venus
The people on the beach look like they're in a movie, let's keep this between us because the government is watching us
The dollar bill will
Mentally ill bill
Mum and dad take your 'don't be sad' pill
Turn the screw and
Twist my language
Don't forsake me I'm contagious
Money makes us crazy, our parents tell us to be happy with pills, people in power manipulate the way we speak, and nobody should reject each other because we're all connected
There's a reason for the twenty first century
Not too sure but I know that it's meant to be
And that it's meant to be
There's a purpose for the current time period that we don't fully understand but we know it's important
Come on, wooh
It's my favorite
Combination
Coming down with the favored nations
Deep rotation
Mutilation
Learn to give and take dictation
Let's join forces with other countries and work together. Our ideas need to be flexible and open to change. We should be willing to listen and speak to each other
Oh, oh oh, oh oh
Like a Cain and Abel
Oh, oh oh, oh oh
It's time to run this table
Like the biblical brothers Cain and Abel, there's conflict but it's time to resolve it and take control of our lives
Read me your scripture and
Read me your scripture
Read me your scripture and I will twist it
Show me your wrist and I
Show me your wrist and
Show me your wrist and I'll kiss it, kiss it
People can manipulate religious beliefs and symbols to fit their own agendas. Also, people may crave attention and affection
Simple soldier
Hand it over
Stop and read what you just wrote her
Strangulation
Altercation
Oral sex and bird migration
We need to surrender to a higher power and reflect on what we say and write. There's turmoil in our society and also moments of beauty and pleasure
There's a reason for the twenty first century
Not too sure but I know that it's meant to be
And that it's meant to be, come on
Again, there's a purpose to this era that we may not fully comprehend but it's time to embrace it
Lyrics © MoeBeToBlame, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Michael Balzary, John Anthony Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex Alvarez
on Californication
People who harness the power of the mind try to manipulate your emotions
Young girls aspire to Hollywood fame and fortune while reciting memorable movie quotes
If you desire superficial fame and materialistic success, California is the place to be
California represents the epitome of the quintessential Western society
Although the sun rises in the East, California remains a constant and established location in contrast to the ever-changing world
Hollywood creates and sells the illusion of the California dream
Spend a lot of money to prevent or delay the physical symptoms of aging
The superficial appearance of celebrities can be deceiving; they may be fighting a personal battle to maintain their image
The rarities and impossible things that are unique to California
The explicit and suggestive nature of the entertainment industry in California
Marry me and be my inspiration to create new things and leave a mark in the world
Young women with information and resources at their disposal may make decisions that lead them down certain paths, such as becoming pregnant at a young age
Owning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a symbol of achieving fame and fortune, representative of the Californian dream
Despite space being seen as the most uncertain and mysterious frontier, the idea of it is created by Hollywood and is not a reality
Kurt Cobain, who died before the song was written, may still be listening to music in another realm
The fictional planet Alderaan from Star Wars represents another aspect of the Californian dream or illusion created by Hollywood
People in California are often raised with the idea that control over population is important and necessary
Everyone has experienced being controlled or manipulating others in some way, which is not limited to people being on vacation
While destruction can lead to difficult times, it can also provide the opportunity for new and creative things to be born
Earthquakes, which may be seen as destructive and terrifying, can also be seen as inspiring or beneficial, similar to how a girl's guitar strings vibrate to produce beautiful music
Even in the face of disaster, the draw and allure of the Californian dream or illusion created by Hollywood remains strong
There is no way to measure someone's mental or emotional state, but perhaps you crave these superficial things that come with the Californian illusion
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