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.
On Mercury
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why don't you let go?
Shake it off just to redirect my flow
Come on, let's go
Sit up straight, I'm on a double date
I've got to find my way into the light, heavy, middleweight
We don't stop, rock around the clock
Motor-mouthing off in front of every other road block
Come again and tell me what you're going through
Like a girl who only knew her child was due
Memories of everything of lemon trees on Mercury and
Come to me with remedies from five or six of seven seas and
You always took me with a smile when I was down
Memories of everything that blew through
Looking up into a reverse vertigo
What an undertow
Give it up, another stubborn Scorpio
Come on, let's go
Sit up straight, I'm on a double date
I've got to find my way into the light, heavy, middleweight
We don't stop, rock around the clock
Motor-mouthing off in front of every other road block
Come again and tell me what you're going through
Like a girl who only knew her child was due
To the moon, she gave another good review
Turn around and look at me, it's really, really you
Memories of everything, of lemon trees on Mercury and
Come to me with remedies from five or six of seven seas and
You always took me with a smile when I was down
Memories of everything that blew through
Sit up straight, I'm on a double date
I've got to find my way into the light, heavy, middleweight
We don't stop, rock around the clock
Motor-mouthing off in front of every other road block
Memories of everything, of lemon trees on Mercury and
Come to me with remedies from five or six of seven seas and
You always took me with a smile when I was down
Memories of everything that blew through
Memories of everything, of lemon trees on Mercury and
Come to me with remedies from five or six of seven seas and
You always took me with a smile when I was down
Memories of everything that blew through
The lyrics to Red Hot Chili Peppers' song "On Mercury" are infused with a sense of restlessness and a yearning for change. The opening lines paint a picture of the singer being trapped in a "masochistic hold," suggesting a self-destructive mindset. The chorus, "Memories of everything / Of lemon trees on mercury / And come to me with remedies / From five or six of seven seas," evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for simpler times, but also a sense of dissatisfaction with the present. Amidst all this, there is a repeated call to action to "sit up straight," to find a way forward and to "rock around the clock."
The singer seems to be struggling to find their place in the world, as they talk of needing to find their way "into the light, heavy, middle weight." The references to a "double date" and "motor mouthing off in front of every other road block" suggest a desire to make a mark, to be seen and heard in a world that can be hostile and competitive. Throughout the song, there is a sense of urgency, a desire to shake off the old ways and start anew. The final lines of the song seem to suggest a moment of clarity and connection, as the singer turns to someone and sees "it's really, really you," perhaps finding a sense of purpose and belonging in that moment.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got myself
I am in a difficult situation.
In a masochistic hold
I am enjoying the pain and discomfort of my current situation.
Why don't you let go
I cannot get out of this situation on my own, so I need help from someone else.
Shake it off
I need to get over this situation and move on.
Just to redirect my flow
I need to change my focus and direction to get out of this situation.
Come on let's go
Let's take action and get out of this situation together.
Sit up straight
I need to focus and be alert to find a way out of this situation.
I'm on a double date
I am dealing with two difficult situations at the same time.
I've got to find my way
I need to figure out how to solve these problems and move forward.
Into the light, heavy, middle weight
I need to find a balance between different kinds of situations and problems.
We don't stop rock around the clock
We keep going and trying to solve problems all the time.
Motor mouthing off
I am speaking in a confident and authoritative way to gain control of my situation.
In front of every other road block
Even when I encounter obstacles, I keep moving forward and finding solutions.
Come again and tell me
Please explain your situation again so that I can understand it better.
What you're going through
How you are dealing with your current situation.
Like a girl who only knew
Someone who is inexperienced and naive in a situation.
Her child was due
A situation that requires careful attention and preparation.
Memories of everything
Reflecting on the past and learning from it.
Of lemon trees on mercury
Recollection of a specific memory that is surreal and hard to explain.
And come to me with remedies
Provide me with solutions to my current problems.
From five or six of seven seas
Getting help and support from many different sources and places around the world.
And you always took me with a smile
You were always there for me and provided me with emotional support and care.
When I was down
During difficult times when I was struggling and needed support.
Looking up into
Feeling overwhelmed and helpless in a situation.
A reverse vertigo
Feeling disoriented and unbalanced in a situation.
What an undertow
Feeling like I am being dragged down and consumed by my situation.
Give it up
Stop trying to control the situation and let go.
Another stubborn scorpio
Dealing with someone who is strong-willed and difficult to work with.
To the moon she gave
She gave her best effort and worked hard to overcome her challenges.
Another good review
Receiving positive feedback and recognition for one's efforts.
Turn around and look at me
Pay attention to me and my situation, and offer support and help.
It's really, really you
You are the one who can provide me with the help and support that I need.
That blew through
Reflecting on past events and experiences that have impacted me.
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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