Red Hot Chili Peppers: Top 50 Songs

Red Hot Chili Peppers Top 50 Songs left to right: Flea, Anthony Kiedes, John Frusciante, Chad Smith

Rap-styled alternative funk-rock group which formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983. Members: Anthony Kiedes (vocals: 1983-present) Michael “Flea” Balzay (bass/trumpet/piano/backing vocals: 1983-present) Chad Smith (drums, percussion: 1988-present) John Frusciante (guitar/keyboards/backing vocals: 1988-92, 1998-2009, 2019-present) Cliff Martinez (drums: 1983-86) Hillel Slovak (guitar/backing vocals: 1984-88). Died of a heroin overdose on 6/25/88 at age 26. Jack Irons (drums: 1983, 1986-88) Zander Schloss (bass: 1992) Arik Marshall (drums: 1992) Jesse Tobias (drums: 1992) Dave Navarro (guitar: 1994-97) Josh Klinghoffer (guitars/keyboards/backing vocals: 2009-2019) Click here to see other best-of lists from performers and here to see other best-of lists from songwriters and/or producers. Spotify Podcast: Check out Dave’s Music Database podcast: The Best of the Red Hot Chili Peppers based on this list. It debuts April 26, 2022 at 7pm CST. Tune in every Tuesday at 7pm for a new episode based on the lists at Dave’s Music Database.

Awards:

Top 50 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted. (Click for codes to singles charts.) DMDB Top 1%: 1. Under the Bridge (1991) #1 US, CB, AU DMDB Top 2%: 2. Dani California (2006) #1 AR, MR, AA, CN DMDB Top 5%: 3. Give It Away (1991) #1 MR 4. Californication (1999) #1 AR, MR 5. By the Way (2002) #1 AR, MR 6. Scar Tissue (1999) #1 AR, MR 7. Otherside (1999) #1 MR DMDB Top 10%: 8. Snow (Hey Oh) (2006) #1 MR 9. Soul to Squeeze (1991) #1 MR 10. My Friends (1995) #1 AR, MR 11. Can’t Stop (2002) #1 MR DMDB Top 20%: 12. Breaking the Girl (1991) 13. Tell Me Baby (2006) #1 MR 14. Aeroplane (1995) 15. The Zephyr Song (2002) #1 AA 16. Dark Necessities (2016) #1 AR, MR, AA 17. Higher Ground (1989) 18. The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie (2011) #1 MR, AA Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 19. Behind the Sun (1987) 20. Suck My Kiss (1991) 21. Around the World (1999) 22. True Men Don’t Kill Coyotes (1984) 23. Fortune Faded (2003) 24. Knock Me Down (1989) 25. Love Rollercoaster (1996) 26. Me & My Friends (1987) 27. Show Me Your Soul (1989) 28. Fight Like a Brave (1987) 29. Road Trippin’ (1999) 30. Parallel Universe (1999) 31. Black Summer (2022) #1 MR 32. Warped (1995) 33. Hump de Bump (2006) 34. Hollywood (Africa) (1985) 35. Dosed (2002) 36. Go Robot (2016) 37. Get Up and Jump (1984) 38. Look Around (2011) 39. Hard to Concentrate (2006) 40. Taste the Pain (1989) 41. If You Want Me to Stay (1985) 42. Fire (1987) 43. Universally Speaking (2002) 44. Backwoods (1987) 45. Desecration Smile (2006) 46. Monarchy of Roses (2011) 47. Catholic School Girls Rule (1985) 48. Junle Man (1985) 49. Goodbye Angels (2016) 50. Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991) Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Red Hot Chili Peppers Dave’s Music Database: “Best-of Lists for Performers” Dave’s Music Database: “Best-of Lists for Songwriters and/or Producers” First posted 3/6/2022; last updated 4/27/2022.

Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication released

Californication Red Hot Chili Peppers

Released: June 8, 1999 Peak: 3 US, 5 UK, 2 CN, 11 AU Sales (in millions): 5.35 US, 0.9 UK, 15.5 world (includes US + UK) Genre: alternative rock/funk

Tracks: Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to charts. Around the World (8/23/99, 16 AR, 7 MR, 35 UK, 30 DF) Parallel Universe (12/1/99, 37 MR) Scar Tissue (5/25/99, 9 BB, 11 GR, 10 RR, 11 A40, 2 AA, 1 AR, 1 MR, 12 DF) Otherside (1/1/00, 14 BB, 23 GR, 25 RR, 11 A40, 12 AA, 2 AR, 1 MR, 33 UK, 18 DF) Get on Top Californication (6/17/00, 69 BB, 30 GR, 31 RR, 28 A40, 17 AA, 1 AR, 1 MR, 16 UK, 12 DF) Easily Porcelain Emit Remmus I Like Dirt This Velvet Glove Savior Purple Stain Right on Time (2/3/03, --) Road Trippin’ (12/11/00, 30 UK, 26 DF) Total Running Time: 56:24 The Players: Anthony Kiedes (vocals) Michael “Flea” Balzay (bass/trumpet/piano/backing vocals) Chad Smith (drums, percussion) John Frusciante (guitar/keyboards/backing vocals)

Rating: 3.981 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: “Many figured that the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ days as undisputed alternative kings were numbered after their lackluster 1995 release One Hot Minute, but like the great phoenix rising from the ashes, this legendary and influential outfit returned back to greatness with 1999’s Californication.” GP “An obvious reason for their rebirth is the reappearance of guitarist John Frusciante (replacing Dave Navarro), who left the Peppers in 1992 and disappeared into a haze of hard drugs before cleaning up and returning to the fold in 1998. Frusciante was a main reason for such past band classics as 1989’s Mother's Milk and 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik, and proves once and for all to be the quintessential RHCP guitarist. Anthony Kiedis’ vocals have improved dramatically as well, while the rhythm section of bassist Flea and drummer Chad Smith remains one of rock’s best.” GP “The quartet’s trademark punk-funk can be sampled on such tracks as Around the World, I Like Dirt, and Parallel Universe, but the more pop-oriented material proves to be a pleasant surprise — Scar Tissue, Otherside, Easily, and Purple Stain all contain strong melodies and instantly memorable choruses. And like their 1992 introspective hit ‘Under the Bridge,’ there are even a few mellow moments – Porcelain, Road Trippin’, and the title track. With the instrumentalists’ interplay at an all-time telepathic high and Kiedis peaking as a vocalist, Californication is a bona fide Chili Peppers classic.” GP

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Red Hot Chili Peppers GP Greg Prato, All Music Guide Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/5/2011; last updated 11/16/2023.