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.
The Longest Wave
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a boomerang sky
Whatever you do
Don't tell me why
Poppies grow tall
Then say bye bye
The wave is here
And then we tanked
I guess we're not so sacrosanct
The tip of my tongue
But then we blanked
The wave is here
Waiting on the wind
To tell my side
Ready set jet
But she never gets far
Listen to your skin
From the seat of my car
Two centipedes stuck
In one glass jar
The longest wave
Waiting on the wind
To tell my side
Whatcha want
Whatcha need
Do you love
Maybe I'm the right one
Maybe I'm the wrong
Just another play, the pirate, and the papillon
Time to call it a day
Maybe you're my last love
Maybe you're my first
Just another way to play inside the universe
Now I know why we came
Sterile as the barrel
Of an old twelve gauge
Under my skin
And half my age
Hotter than the wax
On a saxifrage
The longest wave
Waiting on the wind
To turn my page
Steady your sails
For the butterfly flap
Whatever you do
Don't close that gap
I'm dreaming of a woman
But she's just my nap
Your ship is in
Waiting on the tide so I can swim
Whatcha want
Whatcha need
Do you love
Maybe I'm the right one
Maybe I'm the wrong
Just another play, the pirate, and the papillon
Time to call it a day
Maybe you're my last love
Maybe you're my first
Just another way to play inside the universe
Now I know why we came
Now I know why we came
Now I know
The lyrics to Red Hot Chili Peppers' song "The Longest Wave" appear to describe a turbulent relationship that is unfolding like a wave. The first verse speaks to chaos and confusion, with the image of being thrown "all around like a boomerang sky." The singer pleads with their partner not to explain what is happening, even as the poppies grow tall and then wither away. The wave is here, indicating that the tumultuous experience may have been anticipated.
The second verse suggests that the two people may have been working together as a team but didn't succeed, indicating that the relationship has failed. The wave is still present, and the singer is waiting for the wind to tell their side of the story. The third verse employs a variety of surreal images that suggest a feeling of being stuck or trapped, but also an awareness of beauty in the world. The singer is waiting for the wind to turn the page and bring clarity.
Overall, the song appears to be about a relationship that is breaking down or has already met its end. The wave is a metaphor for the tumultuous emotions that come with letting go of love. The singer is waiting for the wind to bring clarity and bring a new understanding of why the relationship was meaningful or important. They are struggling to move on and are hoping for a sign of what they should do next.
Line by Line Meaning
Throw me all around
Like a boomerang sky
Whatever you do
Don't tell me why
Poppies grow tall
Then say bye bye
The wave is here
I am ready for anything, just like a boomerang flying across the sky. Don't bother explaining anything to me. Things may seem beautiful and tall, but eventually they wither away. Change is inevitable.
A seamless little team
And then we tanked
I guess we're not so sacrosanct
The tip of my tongue
But then we blanked
The wave is here
We were so compatible, but suddenly everything fell apart. We are not as invincible as we thought. I almost had the answer, but then I lost my train of thought. Change is upon us again.
Waiting on the wind
To tell my side
Ready set jet
But she never gets far
Listen to your skin
From the seat of my car
Two centipedes stuck
In one glass jar
The longest wave
Waiting on the wind
To tell my side
I am awaiting nature to take its course and reveal the truth. We tried to escape, but we didn't get very far. Listen to your intuition, even if it's from a mundane perspective. Two adversaries are trapped together, vying for dominance. The forces of change are working again, and I am waiting for it to play out and tell my story.
Whatcha want
Whatcha need
Do you love
Maybe I'm the right one
Maybe I'm the wrong
Just another play, the pirate, and the papillon
Time to call it a day
Maybe you're my last love
Maybe you're my first
Just another way to play inside the universe
Now I know why we came
What do you desire? What is necessary? Do you love? Maybe I'm suitable for you, or maybe I'm not. Our lives are like a play, with a pirate and a butterfly. It's time to wrap it up. You may be my last or first love, but either way, it's just another game within the cosmos. Now I understand the reason for our existence.
Sterile as the barrel
Of an old twelve gauge
Under my skin
And half my age
Hotter than the wax
On a saxifrage
The longest wave
Waiting on the wind
To turn my page
I feel empty, like the barrel of an old gun. I am young, but I carry the weight of experience. Passion ignites within me like the wax on a plant. The longest wave is here again, and I am waiting for it to create a new chapter in my life.
Steady your sails
For the butterfly flap
Whatever you do
Don't close that gap
I'm dreaming of a woman
But she's just my nap
Your ship is in
Waiting on the tide so I can swim
Prepare yourself for the smallest changes, as they may cause a great impact. Stay open to possibilities, even if they seem small. I fantasize about a woman, but it's just a fleeting thought. Your opportunity has arrived, and I am patiently awaiting the right conditions to take action.
Now I know why we came
Now I know
Finally, after all of these experiences, I understand why we exist and what our purpose is. Everything has a reason and a purpose, and I have found mine.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Michael Peter Balzary, Josh Adam Klinghoffer, Chad Gaylord Smith, Anthony Kiedis
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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