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Everyone has something to say about the Red Hot Chili Peppers... | Opinions | LIVING LIFE FEARLESS

Everyone has something to say about the Red Hot Chili Peppers…

[dropcap size=big]I[/dropcap] love the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I just wanted to get that out in the open for everyone before we delve in any further. In my brain, RHCP (and a slew of other bands like Sublime, 311, Cake….too many to name) equals California.

I miss California every day and when I hear “Californication”, which I’ll just tell you right now is actually not my favorite Peppers song, the nostalgia hits me hard. Like right in the face. Besides that, I’ve never been able to put my finger on exactly what else makes me so fond of the band.

Phone a friend

So, like any millennial would, I posted a status on Facebook asking my friends to tell me how they feel about the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and they sure came through.

In my experiences, just mentioning RHCP is often enough to spark a full-on debate. I think this speaks to the fact that Red Hot Chili Peppers are just one of those bands that you either love or hate.

My friend Deanna, who was the first to speak her mind on the subject, is very much on my side as she said,

“Basically, if we lived in an alternate universe where RHCP was water and we needed 8 glasses of them everyday to survive, I would be the most hydrated person in said universe”

Such a great quote.

Despite this observation, the general consensus from my friends was:

The old stuff was better

Or, more specifically as my friend Chris put it,

“1984-1991 was good, everything else is just kinda really listenable pop music.”

And that’s where Chris and I diverge a little bit. While I agree that their older music is far superior to the newer tracks RHCP have been putting out, I actually enjoyed a handful of the songs from their newest album, The Getaway.

Especially “Go Robot”. That song is my s***! Nevertheless, nothing is going to top “Scar Tissue” or “The Zephyr Song”.

Slap that bass, Flea

I think it’s safe to say that Flea is one of the main reasons why people love Red Hot Chili Peppers so dearly. Or sometimes, Flea is the only reason why people will tolerate the band in the first place.

My boyfriend Nick is one of those people (which makes me kinda sad), as he had this to say:

“Flea is amazing, and (Anthony) Kiedis is a male stripper reject that thinks he can sing.”

Now, I think that’s a bit harsh, but to each their own I suppose.

Kiedis certainly isn’t anything to write home about, as I think his vocals tend to be kind of underwhelming. There’s a reason why Flea always winds up on lists of the greatest bassists of all time and Anthony Kiedis is never spotlighted when lead singers come up.

While Flea is revered mostly for his skill and funky technicality, both members have something in common: insane energy. Even if you say you only dig RHCP because Flea’s involved, there’s no denying that the energy is what sets the band as a whole apart from the rest.

Too much or not enough? Depends who you are…

You’ll never catch me complaining about hearing Red Hot Chili Peppers on the radio every hour, but that’s not to say that everyone out there feels the same way. (Refer back to previous sections for why they might think differently.) Overplay can ruin even the best of bands, and for some overplay has obliterated their love for RHCP.

Like my friend Justin said,

“I’m not saying they’re bad, I just can’t stand them anymore.”

Fair enough. Desensitization by mainstream radio is almost a given nowadays, since it seems like they only play the same five songs on a loop, so if you want to escape the sad reality of falling out of love with any band or artist, turn it off!

At the end of the day

I love Red Hot Chili Peppers, and nothing is going to change that. Others despise them, and some solely tolerate them because Flea is a bass god (which is a totally valid reason, mind you).

No matter your opinion, everyone is right at the of the day. That’s the best part.

Music is one of those subjects that each individual has a particular and passionate opinion about. And quite a few of my friends had some passionate opinions about Red Hot Chili Peppers in particular.

After all, wouldn’t life be pretty mundane without a little lively debate?

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