Tell Me Baby
Encyclopedia
"Tell Me Baby" is a song from the Red Hot Chili Peppers
' 2006 double album
, Stadium Arcadium
. The song was released as the follow-up to the hit single "Dani California
" on July 17, 2006. The single was not as successful as "Dani California" as far as chart success, but did reach number one on the Billboard
Modern Rock Chart and remained there for four weeks making it the band's second straight number one on that chart from Stadium Arcadium and tenth number one overall.
The song incorporates both the old funk
sound from their Blood Sugar Sex Magik
days in the verses of the song, and the chorus focuses on the more melodic sound found on more recent Chili Peppers albums.
, a directing duo that has worked on many other Chili Peppers videos. Flea said, "It's the best [video] we ever did." For the video, Dayton and Faris interviewed and auditioned people who originally came to California to achieve some sort of fame and people who play music just for the sake of playing music. During the callback for the auditioned people, their second audition was filmed and the members of the Chili Peppers surprisingly entered the room during auditions to join in playing along. The music video for "Tell Me Baby" is to represent how awkward auditions are and how hard it is to make it in the music business.
CD version 2 9362 42956-2
7" Picture Disc 5439 15973-2
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...
' 2006 double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
, Stadium Arcadium
Stadium Arcadium
Stadium Arcadium is the ninth studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. The album was released on May 9, 2006, on Warner Bros. Records. The album produced five singles: "Dani California", "Tell Me Baby", "Snow ", "Desecration Smile", and "Hump de Bump"...
. The song was released as the follow-up to the hit single "Dani California
Dani California
"Dani California" is a single from the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers's ninth studio album, Stadium Arcadium. The single was first made available at the iTunes Music Store and then was officially released on May 2, 2006...
" on July 17, 2006. The single was not as successful as "Dani California" as far as chart success, but did reach number one on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Modern Rock Chart and remained there for four weeks making it the band's second straight number one on that chart from Stadium Arcadium and tenth number one overall.
The song incorporates both the old funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
sound from their Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the fifth studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Rick Rubin, it was the band's first record released on Warner Bros. Records...
days in the verses of the song, and the chorus focuses on the more melodic sound found on more recent Chili Peppers albums.
Music Video
The music video for "Tell Me Baby" was directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie FarisJonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris are a team of American music video directors, also husband and wife, that received critical acclaim for their feature film directorial debut, Little Miss Sunshine....
, a directing duo that has worked on many other Chili Peppers videos. Flea said, "It's the best [video] we ever did." For the video, Dayton and Faris interviewed and auditioned people who originally came to California to achieve some sort of fame and people who play music just for the sake of playing music. During the callback for the auditioned people, their second audition was filmed and the members of the Chili Peppers surprisingly entered the room during auditions to join in playing along. The music video for "Tell Me Baby" is to represent how awkward auditions are and how hard it is to make it in the music business.
Formats and track listings
CD version 1 5439 15673-2- "Tell Me Baby" – 4:07
- "A Certain Someone" – 2:25
CD version 2 9362 42956-2
- "Tell Me Baby" – 4:07
- "Mercy Mercy" – 4:01
- "Lyon 06.06.06" (Live) – 03:53
7" Picture Disc 5439 15973-2
- "Tell Me Baby" – 4:07
- "Mercy Mercy" – 4:01
Chart performance
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| ARIA 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... Top 50 Singles Chart |
20 |
| Canadian BDS Airplay Chart | 17 |
| 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... |
18 |
| 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 ... |
16 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 50 |
| U.S. 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... |
1 |
| World Tracks Top 40 | 18 |