Around the World (Red Hot Chili Peppers song)
Encyclopedia
"Around the World" is a song by Red Hot Chili Peppers
released as the second single from their 1999 album, Californication
. The single peaked at number seven on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks
and number sixteen on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
.
In 2007, the song was also heavily edited and used as a new soundtrack for the California Screamin'
ride at the Disneyland Resort, as part of their "Rockin' Both Parks" campaign.
In 2011, the song was one of the thirty songs by thirty different artists featured on the Songs for Japan
charity album.
has stated that in the lyrics for the verses he is telling about his journeys and his experiences on them, about being the member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
and living extreme life. He also noted that Roberto Benigni
's film Life Is Beautiful
was a lyrical inspiration.
John Frusciante
came up with the music for the song while playing at his house and told the other band members they would have to hear it but he had to play it with somebody because of its deceptive downbeat. Chad Smith
kept time on the hi-hat while Frusciante played. Band members liked the outcome and Flea
came up with his bass part.
The different final chorus originates from a request from Flea's daughter. While writing the album in Flea's garage his daughter would listen to their songs. At the time of writing, Kiedis was struggling to come up with lyrics for the songs, so just filled in with scat. When a final draft of the album was made and Flea's daughter listened to the final version, she was disappointed that the scat had been removed. So, on the final version of the song in the last chorus, the original demo recording was used instead.
When recording the song John Frusciante
played a '66 Fender Jaguar
which he had borrowed from their engineer Jim Scott
. He played it through two Marshalls: a JTM 45 and a 100-watt SuperBass. Frusciante told that he liked Jaguars because of their "real cool cheap sound".
Flea played on a Modulus
Flea Bass (Silver Flake) on the song. He also uses the Modulus in the music video.
was made for the song, directed by Stéphane Sednaoui
, who had previously made videos for other Chili Peppers songs such as "Breaking the Girl
", "Scar Tissue
" and "Give It Away". The latter in particular, with its unique, chaotic visual style, is similar to "Around the World"; Sednaoui used similar visual techniques in the video for R.E.M.'s song "Lotus
". The video was featured on an episode of MTV
's Making the Video
.
He also noted that Silkeborg gym was his favourite place.
Though many people miss it, in the video, lead singer Anthony Kiedis is moving his hands in various ways through smoke. When looked at more closely, the smoke resembles that of the outline of a woman. The way Anthony interacts with the smoke can be considered to be erotic.
CD 2 (catalogue number 9362447502)
Australian single
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
released as the second single from their 1999 album, Californication
Californication (album)
Californication is the seventh studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on June 8, 1999 on Warner Bros. Records. Produced by Rick Rubin, Californication marked the return of John Frusciante, who had previously appeared on Mother's Milk and Blood Sugar Sex Magik, to replace...
. The single peaked at number seven on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
and number sixteen on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
.
In 2007, the song was also heavily edited and used as a new soundtrack for the California Screamin'
California Screamin'
California Screamin is a steel roller coaster located at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, CA.-History:This boardwalk-themed coaster was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, and was built by Intamin AG. California Screamin' is the 6th longest roller coaster in the world , at long...
ride at the Disneyland Resort, as part of their "Rockin' Both Parks" campaign.
In 2011, the song was one of the thirty songs by thirty different artists featured on the Songs for Japan
Songs for Japan
Songs for Japan is a charity compilation album created to benefit relief efforts for the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. A collaborative project between the music industry's "big four" record labels , the album was released through the iTunes Store on March 25, 2011 through Universal...
charity album.
Meaning
Anthony KiedisAnthony Kiedis
Anthony Kiedis is an American vocalist/lyricist, and occasional actor best known as the lead vocalist of the Grammy-winning American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Kiedis spent his youth in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his mother before moving, shortly before his 12th birthday, to Hollywood,...
has stated that in the lyrics for the verses he is telling about his journeys and his experiences on them, about being the member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
and living extreme life. He also noted that Roberto Benigni
Roberto Benigni
Roberto Remigio Benigni, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI is an Italian actor, comedian, screenwriter and director of film, theatre and television.- Early years :...
's film Life Is Beautiful
Life Is Beautiful
Life Is Beautiful is a 1997 Italian film which tells the story of a Jewish Italian, Guido Orefice , who must employ his fertile imagination to help his family during their internment in a Nazi concentration camp.At the 71st Academy Awards in 1999, Benigni won the Academy Award for Best Actor and...
was a lyrical inspiration.
John Frusciante
John Frusciante
John Anthony Frusciante is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, record and film producer. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, with whom he had been for a number of years and recorded five studio albums...
came up with the music for the song while playing at his house and told the other band members they would have to hear it but he had to play it with somebody because of its deceptive downbeat. Chad Smith
Chad Smith
Chad Smith is an American musician, best known as the longtime and current drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers. Smith is also the drummer of the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot which includes Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Michael Anthony, former Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes' backing band and...
kept time on the hi-hat while Frusciante played. Band members liked the outcome and Flea
Flea (musician)
Michael Peter Balzary , better known by his stage name Flea, is an Australian-American musician and occasional actor. He is best known as the bassist, co-founding member, and one of the composers of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers...
came up with his bass part.
The different final chorus originates from a request from Flea's daughter. While writing the album in Flea's garage his daughter would listen to their songs. At the time of writing, Kiedis was struggling to come up with lyrics for the songs, so just filled in with scat. When a final draft of the album was made and Flea's daughter listened to the final version, she was disappointed that the scat had been removed. So, on the final version of the song in the last chorus, the original demo recording was used instead.
When recording the song John Frusciante
John Frusciante
John Anthony Frusciante is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, record and film producer. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, with whom he had been for a number of years and recorded five studio albums...
played a '66 Fender Jaguar
Fender Jaguar
The Fender Jaguar is an electric guitar introduced in 1962. A descendant of the Jazzmaster, the Jaguar quickly caught on in the emerging Surf music scene...
which he had borrowed from their engineer Jim Scott
Jim Scott (producer)
Jim Scott is an American music producer and engineer, best known for his large body of work as an engineer, and his work as a producer with American rock band Wilco. Scott has worked as engineer with a range of other rock music artists, including Dixie Chicks, Tom Petty, Sting, The Rolling Stones,...
. He played it through two Marshalls: a JTM 45 and a 100-watt SuperBass. Frusciante told that he liked Jaguars because of their "real cool cheap sound".
Flea played on a Modulus
Modulus Guitars
Modulus Guitars is an American manufacturer of musical instruments, most notably bass guitars built with carbon fiber necks. The company, originally called Modulus Graphite, was founded in part by Geoff Gould, a bassist who also worked for an aerospace company in Palo Alto, California.The name may...
Flea Bass (Silver Flake) on the song. He also uses the Modulus in the music video.
Music video
A music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was made for the song, directed by Stéphane Sednaoui
Stéphane Sednaoui
Stéphane Sednaoui is a French-American photographer, director and producer whose work includes music videos, art projects, photographic essays, portrait photography, fashion photography and photojournalism....
, who had previously made videos for other Chili Peppers songs such as "Breaking the Girl
Breaking the Girl
"Breaking the Girl" is a song by the American funk rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers that was released in 1992 as the fourth single from their studio album Blood Sugar Sex Magik. It is a melodic ballad that refers to a turbulent relationship between frontman Anthony Kiedis and his former girlfriend,...
", "Scar Tissue
Scar Tissue
"Scar Tissue" is the first single from the American alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers' seventh studio album Californication, released in 1999...
" and "Give It Away". The latter in particular, with its unique, chaotic visual style, is similar to "Around the World"; Sednaoui used similar visual techniques in the video for R.E.M.'s song "Lotus
Lotus (song)
"Lotus" is a song by R.E.M., released as the second single from their eleventh studio album Up.The song's recurring line "I ate the lotus" appeared in an alternate form in a previous R.E.M...
". The video was featured on an episode of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Making the Video
Making the Video
Making the Video is an MTV show, consisting of half-hour episodes, which chronicles the process of filming various music videos. Usually the director outlines the concept of the video and the show often includes light-hearted and humorous moments. It always concludes with a premiere of the...
.
He also noted that Silkeborg gym was his favourite place.
Though many people miss it, in the video, lead singer Anthony Kiedis is moving his hands in various ways through smoke. When looked at more closely, the smoke resembles that of the outline of a woman. The way Anthony interacts with the smoke can be considered to be erotic.
Track list
CD 1- "Around the World" – 3:58
- "Parallel UniverseParallel Universe (song)"Parallel Universe" is a promotional single by the Red Hot Chili Peppers from their 1999 album, Californication. Although it never was released as a tangible CD single, it charted on the US Modern Rock Tracks at number 37 during the week of March 24, 2001, and appeared on Greatest Hits.It is the...
" (Demo) – 5:33 - "Teatro Jam" – 3:06
CD 2 (catalogue number 9362447502)
- "Around the World" – 3:59
- "Me and My Friends" (Live) – 3:08
- "Yertle TrilogyYertle TrilogyThe Yertle Trilogy is mix of original songs and jams that the Red Hot Chili Peppers play live. There is no studio version.- Structure :The medley starts with "Yertle The Turtle" , then goes into the Freaky Styley title track...
" (Live) – 7:10
Australian single
- "Around the World" – 3:58
- "Parallel Universe" (Demo) – 5:33
- "Teatro Jam" – 3:06
- "Me and My Friends" (Live) – 3:08
- The live tracks were recorded Södra TeaternSödra TeaternSödra Teatern is a theatre in Stockholm, Sweden. Located in the popular "Söder"-district , it's one of Stockholms most appreciated private theatres. Established in 1859, it's Stockholm's oldest private theatre...
, Stockholm 1999
Chart performance
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
49 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
69 |
| Italian Singles Chart Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
30 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
35 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
35 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 7 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 16 |