The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been able to reach a younger generation of rockers. Formed in Los Angeles in 1983 the group combines rock with funk with elements of punk rock and psychedelic rock. The band produced many great rock hits and have 3 separate albums that are in the top 500 greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone (Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Californication, and By the Way). The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2012. I am going to select my top 10 best songs by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I first heard their music around 10 years old and it has grown considerably on me, it seems that every time I hear a song by them I become hooked.
1. Under the Bridge
This song peaked at #2 on the Billboard top 100 charts which was the highest the band had reached on that chart as of 2016, it was from the album Blood Sugar Sex Magik. This was an album that helped the band really take off in terms of popularity and was crucial in terms of establishing their Rock-star status. Also if you know one or two songs by this band it is a high chance that you will be familiar with this song.
2. Dani California
This hit was off the Stadium Arcadium album and perhaps the first ever Red Hot Chili Peppers song that I heard. I really love the upbeat tempo of the song and how the drums are used when leading into the chorus. The song topped at #6 on the Billboard Top 100 and lasted on the charts for 26 weeks.
3. Otherside
This song was off the Californication album and spent 22 weeks on the Billboard Top 100 charts getting as high as number 14. This is one of my all-time favorite songs by this band to this day, I really like how the guitar is used, and the guitar solo knocks my socks off. It starts off kind of mellow but then kicks it up a notch and is a great song to rock out and sing along to.
4. Scar Tissue
Another song with over 200 million plays on Spotify landing in the top 10 and the third most played song from the "Californication" album. I love how the guitar takes and undertone in this song and keeps it relaxed, even during the guitar riffs it doesn't get too crazy with the tempo.
5. Snow (Hey Oh)
Snow is an especially fun song to sing along to, especially as a kid growing up in the 2000s. Spending a solid 20 weeks on the Billboard's Top 100 charts and peaking at number 22, guess it shows there were some people who agreed with me on this one. The song has also well over 300 million plays on Spotify.
6. Soul To Squeeze
I really like how mellow and slow this song is, definitely a great song to just chill out to and have on in the background. The drumbeat in this song doesn't really get too heavy or too overpowering like you would usually hear in most rock songs, it has a more psychedelic feel to it.
7. By The Way
This song is the title of the album that was released in 2002 which went on to become one of their 3 albums that is in Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest albums of all time, so this song deserves some credit. What is interesting though is that it doesn't even have the most spotify plays from it's own album, it has the second most behind "Can't Stop". The song still does have a lot of popularity landing in the top 10 of spotify plays out of all their songs with over 120 million.
8. Tell Me Baby
I've been listening to this song quite a bit recently, I love the lyrics and how they sing it really quick right before the chorus making it kind of tough to understand but it makes it fun to try and sing along to. The chorus really has me hooked on the song. Peaking at 50 on the Billboard's top 100 charts and spending 19 weeks on the charts in general, not too shabby.
9. Can't Stop
This song had to make the list with how nice the guitar is throughout the whole song. It starts off pretty upbeat and maintains the pace for most of the song except for a little bit towards the end that fits very well before the last mini guitar riff. It is also the fourth most listened to song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers on Spotify with over 290 million plays.
10. Califonication
Another song that is also the title of the album it was released on. This song was released in 1999 and is definitely a classic hit from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It is the band's second most popular song on spotify with over 393 million plays.
