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.
Bicycle Song
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shepard's bush and a leopard's pie
She marching to the funky beat
Of James Brown and his dancing feet
Gonna set your fish on fire
Pistol whipping of desire
So please do not resist your fate
I'll pick you up, yes, it's a date
How could I forget to mention the bicycle is a good invention?
Sitting there in a silent movie
Beside the only girl who really ever moved me
Happy days but sad I'm facin'
Heaven knows that I'm on the case, oh
How could I forget to mention the bicycle?
Somebody told the world
The beauty of your verse
My girl, I heard it first
The beauty of your verse
A sticky finger and a wicked taste
Got a lot of nerve and a lyrical case
Be sure to write it in your book
I promise not to look
Wanna smell your sunny face
Funny place, but it's never a waste
I'd hop this fence to make amends
I hope this movie never ends
How could I forget to mention the bicycle is a good invention?
Make it up, makin' you my business
A funny buttercup, gotta live for forgiveness
Happy days, but sad I'm facin'
Heaven knows I'm on the case, oh
How could I forget to mention the bicycle?
Somebody told the world
The beauty of your verse
My girl, I heard it first
The beauty of your verse
Somebody told the world
The beauty of your verse
My girl, I heard it first
The beauty of your verse
The lyrics of "Bicycle Song" by Red Hot Chili Peppers are a playful and whimsical representation of the band's characteristic style. The song opens with a description of a woman in a suit and tie, dressed in leopard print and listening to the music of James Brown. The singer contemplates wooing her, promising to pick her up and take her out on a date.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "How could I forget to mention the bicycle is a good invention," which seems to be a non-sequitur until the second verse. In it, the singer remembers sitting next to a girl who had a profound impact on him while watching a silent movie. He reflects on the happy and sad moments of their relationship, mentioning that he is "on the case" to figure out how to win her back. The line "How could I forget to mention the bicycle?" seems to refer to the bike as a symbol of freedom and possibility, a means of escape from the tedium of everyday life.
The final verse brings the focus back to the present moment. The singer sings of his desire for the female subject, describing himself as having a "sticky finger and a wicked taste." He tries to resist the urge to look at her personal writings, fearing that it would violate her privacy. He ends the song by expressing his hope that their relationship will continue to blossom, suggesting that they could be like characters in a never-ending movie.
Overall, "Bicycle Song" captures the lighthearted spirit and sense of adventure that Red Hot Chili Peppers are known for. The lyrics are filled with clever wordplay and unexpected turns of phrase, making it a favorite among fans of the band.
Line by Line Meaning
Here she comes in a suit and tie
A woman is walking in wearing masculine clothing
Shepard's bush and a leopard's pie
She is wearing clothing made of different animal prints
She marching to the funky beat of James Brown and his dancing feet
She is walking to music created by James Brown
Gonna set your fish on fire
She will create excitement and thrill in your life
Pistol whipping of desire
There will be a strong attraction between you and her
So please do not resist your fate
Don't fight the connection between you and her
I'll pick you up yes it's a date
She has arranged a date with you
How could I forget to mention the bicycle is a good invention
The bicycle is a great device that shouldn't be overlooked
Sitting there in a silent movie
Both characters are being quiet and not speaking
Beside the only girl who really ever moved me
The woman next to the singer is the only one who has ever touched him emotionally
Happy days but sad I'm facin
Although times are good, there is a sad aspect to the situation
Heaven knows that I'm on the case
The singer is actively trying to solve the issue
Somebody told the world the beauty of your verse
Someone has shared how wonderful the woman's poetry is
My girl I heard it first the beauty of your verse
The singer has heard about the woman's writing ability directly from her
A sticky finger and a wicked taste
The singer has a mischievous side and enjoys indulging in pleasures
Gotta a lot of love and a lyrical case
The singer has strong emotions and a poetic mind
Be sure to write it in your book I promise not to look
The singer encourages the woman to record her thoughts and feelings
Wanna smell your sunny face
The singer wants to be close to her and experience her essence
Funny place but it's never a waste
The situation may be unusual, but it's still worth experiencing
I'd hop this fence to make amends
The singer is willing to do whatever it takes to make things right
I hope this movie never ends
The singer is enjoying their time together and wants it to last forever
Make it up makin you my business
The singer is committed to pursuing a relationship with her
A funny buttercup but I let her forgiveness
The woman may have made a mistake, but the singer forgives her
Somebody told the world the beauty of your verse
Someone has shared how wonderful the woman's poetry is
My girl I heard it first the beauty of your verse
The singer has heard about the woman's writing ability directly from her
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Michael Peter Balzary, John Anthony Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Gaylord 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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