"Black Summer" quickly became a number-one single for the band on Alternative Airplay, giving them their 14th number-one single, a record for any artist on that chart, and 26th top ten single, second most for any artist on the Alternative Songs chart trailing only the Foo Fighters who have 28 top ten singles; it also gave the band a number-one single in four different decades on the Alternative Songs chart, tying them with Green Day for the most ever by an artist.[4][5] "Black Summer" won the 2022 MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video.[6]
Reception
The song received positive reviews from critics, although Kiedis' vocals drew confusion from critics, with some likening it to an Irish accent[7] or pirate accent.[8] Kiedis explained that the accent was a tribute to Welsh singer-songwriter Cate Le Bon,[9] whom the band's former guitarist Josh Klinghoffer had recorded with on her fifth studio album, Reward, and performed with in the experimental musical collective Banana. Vulture praised the song, saying that it has "everything you'd want with a Chilis joint — ethereal riffs noodling along, wonderfully nonsensical lyrics, and a music video that has Anthony Kiedis disrobing at the midway point".[8]
Frusciante's guitar work was particularly praised, and was likened to his work on the band's 2006 album Stadium Arcadium.[10] Consequence lauded Frusciante's "signature guitar sound", noting that it "links perfectly with Flea’s energetic bass work and steps out for multiple solos. And not only that, Frusciante's anthemic backup vocals have returned, amplifying the song's chorus to create a wide screen, stadium worthy effect."[11]
Producer Rick Rubin's return was also highlighted by Clash, who compared the single to the band's earlier work, with its "funky melodies and heavy rock weaved throughout".[12]
Music video
A music video was released simultaneously with the single, directed by Deborah Chow.[13]
The music video for "Black Summer" is nominated for a 2022 MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video. It marked the band's 29th nomination at the MTV Video Music Awards since 1990 and their first nomination since 2006 when they were nominated for "Dani California".[14]
Live performances
The song made its live debut on April 1, 2022 on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and has been played at every show on the band's Global Stadium Tour.
Personnel
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
Flea – bass guitar
Chad Smith – drums, tambourine
John Frusciante – guitar, backing vocals
Additional musicians
Matt Rollings – piano
Charts
Chart performance for "Black Summer"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Argentina (Argentina Hot 100)[15] 85
Australia (ARIA)[16] 82
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[17] 60
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[18] 38
Canada Rock (Billboard)[19] 1
Croatia (Billboard)[20] 20
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[21] 4
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[22] 83
France (SNEP)[23] 133
Germany (Official German Charts)[24] 67
Global 200 (Billboard)[25] 51
Hungary (Single Top 40)[26] 17
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[27] 40
Ireland (IRMA)[28] 31
Israel (Media Forest)[29] 3
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[30] 3
Lithuania (AGATA)[31] 61
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 67
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[33] 2
Portugal (AFP)[34] 110
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[35] 99
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[37] 40
UK Singles (OCC)[38] 43
US Billboard Hot 100[39] 78
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[40] 10
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[41] 1
Release history
Release history for "Black Summer"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various February 4, 2022
Digital downloadstreaming
Warner [42]
Italy Radio airplay [43]
United States February 8, 2022 Alternative radio [44]
Rock radio [45]
References
Strauss, Matthew (February 4, 2022). "Red Hot Chili Peppers Announce New Album Unlimited Love, Share Video for New Song "Black Summer"". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
Astley-Brown, Michael (March 13, 2022). "Red Hot Chili Peppers return to laid-back, wah-driven funk with new single, Poster Child". Guitar World. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
Legaspi, Althea (February 4, 2022). "Red Hot Chili Peppers Release First Song With John Frusciante in 16 Years". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
News, ABC (February 10, 2022). "Red Hot Chili Peppers make career-best debut on 'Billboard' Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with "Black Summer"". kshe95.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022. {{cite magazine}}: |last= has generic name (help)
Rutherford, Kevin (February 16, 2022). "Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Black Summer' Crowns Rock & Alternative Airplay Chart". billboard.com. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
"Best Rock Video". mtv.com. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
Ivie, Devon. "Anthony Kiedis Debuts Hot and Confusing Irish Accent".
"Red Hot Chili Peppers Fans React to Anthony Kiedis's Weird Pirate Singing on "Black Summer" | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca.
"How the Red Hot Chili Peppers rediscovered the best version of themselves". Los Angeles Times. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
Rob Laing (February 4, 2022). "Hear the new Red Hot Chili Peppers song Black Summer". MusicRadar. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
"Song of the Week: Red Hot Chili Peppers Welcome Us To a "Black Summer"". Consequence. February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
"Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Black Summer' Locates Their Harmonious Best". Clash Magazine. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
"RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS Release Music Video For New Single 'Black Summer'". Blabbermouth.net. February 4, 2022.
"Best Rock Video". mtv.com. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
"Red Hot Chili Peppers – Chart History (Argentina Hot 100)" Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Singles for Red Hot Chili Peppers. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
"The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 14 February 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1667. Australian Recording Industry Association. February 14, 2022. p. 4.
"Red Hot Chili Peppers – Black Summer" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
"Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
"Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
"Croatia Songs (Week of February 19, 2022)". Billboard. 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202229 into search. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 20226 into search. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
"Top Singles (Week 6, 2022)". SNEP. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
"Red Hot Chili Peppers – Black Summer" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
"Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
"Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
"Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
"Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
"Media Forest charts". 9. Media Forest. 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
"Billboard Japan Hot Overseas 2022/02/16". Billboard Japan. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
"2022 6-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
"Red Hot Chili Peppers – Black Summer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
"NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
"Red Hot Chili Peppers – Black Summer". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
"ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202206 into search. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
"Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 6". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
"Red Hot Chili Peppers – Black Summer". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
"Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
"Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
"Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
"Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
"Spotify – Black Summer". Retrieved February 12, 2022 – via Spotify .
"Red Hot Chili Peppers "Black Summer" | (Radio Date: 04/02/2022)". radiodate.it (in Italian). Retrieved February 12, 2022.
"Alternative Radio Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
"Rock Radio Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
Black Summer
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The skies refuse to cry
Cremation takes its piece of your supply
The night is dressed like noon
A sailor spoke too soon
And China's on the dark side of the moon
(Hit me now)
Platypus are a few
The secret life of roo
A personality I never knew (get it on)
My Greta weighs a ton
The archers on the run
And no one stands alone behind the sun
It's been a long time since I made a new friend
Waitin' on another black summer to end
It's been a long time and you never know when
Waitin' on another black summer to end
Crack the flaming whip
A-sailing on a censorship
Riding on a headless horse to make the trip
Been a long time since I made a new friend
Waitin' on another black summer to end
It's been a long time and you never know when
Waitin' on another black summer to end
I been waitin'
I been waitin'
Waitin' on another black summer to end
I been waitin'
I been waitin'
Waitin' on another black summer to end
I been waitin'
I been waitin'
Waitin' on another black summer to end
The lyrics to Red Hot Chili Peppers' song "Black Summer" are full of obscure and abstract references to animals, countries, and events. At first glance, the song seems like a collection of disconnected phrases, but when examined more closely, the lyrics hint at a sense of longing and waiting for change. The opening lines "a lazy rain am I, the skies refuse to cry" create a mood of stagnation and lassitude. The rain in the imagery is not doing anything- not helping plants grow nor washing away impurities- just like the singer seems to be stuck in a rut.
The following line, "Cremation takes its piece of your supply" adds a macabre tone to the lyrics; that death is also taking away from the limited resources available to you. The curious line "And China's on the dark side of the moon" refers to the fact that China has plans to explore the far side of the moon. The chorus, "been a long time since I made a new friend, waiting on another black summer to end" indicates a sense of fatigue and boredom with life, waiting for the next season or change to happen to renew the vitality and bring new opportunities.
As the lyrics progress, they continue to be full of bizarre references, such as "Platypus are a few, the secret life of roo." These references to animals in Australia may be an intentional mention of the continent's diverse fauna or act as a metaphor for the strange and unknown aspects of life that we encounter. "My Greta weighs a ton" is an allusion to Greta Garbo, a famous actress from the '30s who was known for her reclusiveness, and could refer to the weight of living up to societal expectations or internal pressure. The line "the archers on the run and no one stands alone behind the sun" is the most enigmatic line in the song, but its meaning could refer to the idea that even people who seem powerful and on top are still running from their own issues, and ultimately no one is truly alone.
Overall, "Black Summer" is a song about waiting for change and renewal, despite feeling stuck in a repetitive cycle. The singer is tired of the same old life and is longing for something new and exciting to come along.
Line by Line Meaning
A lazy rain am I
I am a drizzle that lacks energy or enthusiasm.
The skies refuse to cry
Despite my presence, the clouds are not willing to release their tears.
Cremation takes its piece of your supply
Even after death, your remains will be burned and contribute to the supply of ash in this world.
The night is dressed like noon
It is so bright during this night that it looks like daytime.
A sailor spoke too soon
The sailor revealed information prematurely, before it was meant to be shared.
And China's on the dark side of the moon
A metaphorical reference to unexplored or unknown territory, comparing it to the dark side of the moon, and specifically mentioning China for added effect.
Platypus are a few
The platypus, with its unique features and behaviors, are a rare sight in nature.
The secret life of roo
The private or unknown details behind the life of a kangaroo.
A personality I never knew (get it on)
Someone is revealing a newfound appreciation or understanding of another's personality, expressed with enthusiasm.
My Greta weighs a ton
A reference to something or someone being a great burden, using the name Greta as an example.
The archers on the run
The archers are running away, suggesting defeat or retreat in battle.
And no one stands alone behind the sun
An encouraging message that even though someone may feel isolated or alone, they are never truly alone and can always find support.
It's been a long time since I made a new friend
The singer has not connected with anyone new in a significant amount of time.
Waiting on another black summer to end
A metaphorical reference to a dark or difficult period of time that the singer is hoping will come to an end.
Crack the flaming whip
An aggressive expression suggesting a need for action or a desire to take control.
Sailing on a censorship
Navigating through restrictions or limitations, particularly in the realm of speech or expression.
Riding on a headless horse to make the trip
Conveying a sense of recklessness or danger, emphasizing the extreme measures being taken to achieve a goal.
I been waiting
I been waiting
Waiting on another black summer to end
Repeating a sense of longing or anticipation for the end of a difficult period, with an emphasis on the length of time that has passed.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Anthony Kiedis, Chad Gaylord Smith, John Anthony Frusciante, Michael Peter Balzary
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Andryux
LYRICS
A lazy rain am I
The skies refuse to cry
Cremation takes its piece of your supply
The night is dressed like noon
A sailor spoke too soon
And China's on the dark side of the moon
Platypus are a few
The secret life of roo
A personality I never knew (get it on)
My Greta weighs a ton
The archers on the run
And no one stands alone behind the sun
It's been a long time since I made a new friend
Waitin' on another black summer to end
It's been a long time and you never know when
Waitin' on another black summer to end
Crack the flaming whip
A-sailing on a censorship
Riding on a headless horse to make the trip
Been a long time since I made a new friend
Waitin' on another black summer to end
It's been a long time and you never know when
Waitin' on another black summer to end
I been waitin'
I been waitin'
Waitin' on another black summer to end
I been waitin'
I been waitin'
Waitin' on another black summer to end
I been waitin'
I been waitin'
Waitin' on another black summer to end
@aribayuardiyanto9258
"Black Summer"
A lazy rain am I
The skies refuse to cry
Cremation takes its piece of your supply
The night is dressed like noon
A sailor spoke too soon
And China's on the dark side of the moon
(Hit me now)
Platypus are a few
The secret life of roo
A personality I never knew
(Get it on)
My Greta weighs a ton
The archers on the run
And no one stands alone behind the sun
It's been a long time since I made a new friend
Waiting on another black summer to end
It's been a long time and you never know when
Waiting on another black summer to end
Crack the flaming whip
A-sailing on a censorship
Riding on a headless horse to make the trip
Been a long time since I made a new friend
Waiting on another black summer to end
It's been a long time and you never know when
Waiting on another black summer to end
I been waiting
I been waiting
Waiting on another black summer to end
I been waiting
I been waiting
Waiting on another black summer to end
I been waiting
I been waiting
Waiting on another black summer to end
@kingstupidp9136
[Verse 1]
A lazy rain am I
The skies refuse to cry
Cremation takes its piece of your supply
The night is dressed like noon
A sailor spoke too soon
And China's on the dark side of the moon
(Hear me now)
[Verse 2]
Platypus are a few
The secret life of Roo
A personality I never knew
(Get it on)
My crater weighs a ton
The archer's on the run
And no one stands alone behind the sun
[Chorus]
It's been a long time since I made a new friеnd
Waitin' on another black summer to end
It's been a long timе and you never know when
Waitin' on another black summer to end
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
Crack the flaming whip
A-sailin' on a censorship
Riding on a headless horse to make the trip
[Chorus]
Been a long time since I made a new friend
Waitin' on another black summer to end
It's been a long time and you never know when
Waitin' on another black summer to end
[Outro]
I've been waitin', I've been waitin'
Waitin' on another black summer to end
I've been waitin', I've been waitin'
Waitin' on another black summer to end
I've been waitin', I've been waitin'
Waitin' on another black summer to end
@leokimvideo
My God, this is like being in a timewarp to much happier times. RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS ARE BACK
@cil8225
https://youtu.be/9yvSa9i2ih8
@noodles6390
THIS is what I've been waiting for since Stadium Arcadium ... and now finally the waiting was worth it <3
@iggmeister4137
apart from the solo the song really sucks tho...
@-in-the-meantime...
@@noodles6390 yassss!! Those lil SA sounds in the transitions, so good. So ******* good!
@richardwellend3806
@@iggmeister4137 true
@JonSandman
THE BOYS ARE BACK!!!!
@scartissue121
Hey Jon!
@oliverA4936
Hey Jon!
@spuu7881
Didn’t expect you here.