Red Hot Chili Peppers

Released: August 16, 1989

Songwriter: Chad Smith Anthony Kiedis Flea John Frusciante

Producer: Michael Beinhorn

[Verse 1: Anthony Kiedis]
I'm a radio joe of the biz called show
I'm a rockin' pop star with a get up and go
Rubbin' elbows with the big wigs at my sold out shows
I've been on every cover, even Rolling Stone

[Chorus: John Frusciante & Flea]
Put us on MTV
All we really need
Begging on our knees
Please, please, please, please, please

[Verse 2: Anthony Kiedis]
Conformin' to the norm straight out of the mold
Compromisin' each and every ounce of soul
I'm a-doin' anything for the records of gold
I only want what I can hold

[Chorus: John Frusciante & Flea]
Put us on MTV
All we really need
Begging on our knees
Please, please, please, please, please

[Verse 3: Anthony Kiedis]
We know that we'll never be better than
Mister slick superstar David Letterman
I promise we're perfect gentlemen
Just put us on the show, you'll regret us then

[Chorus: John Frusciante & Flea]
Put us on MTV
All we really need
Begging on our knees
Please, please, please, please, please

[Verse 4: Anthony Kiedis]
Thank you very much! Be sure to label us
We wouldn't want to cause a ruckus or a fuss
Just put us in a category, if you must
AOR, CHR, Top Forty or Bust

[Chorus: John Frusciante & Flea]
Put us on MTV
All we really need
Begging on our knees
Please, please, please, please, please

[Bridge: Anthony Kiedis]
Go, Arnito!

[Instrumental]

[Verse 5]
What I am is a picture on the TV screen
Don't make waves, don't make a scene
What I say when I play isn't worth a bean
I'm a video joe in an industry

[Chorus: John Frusciante & Flea]
Put us on MTV
All we really need
Begging on our knees
Please, please, please, please, please

[Instrumental]

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are a rock band based in Los Angeles, CA that incorporates elements of rap, funk, punk, and rock into their work, mainly classified as an alternative rock band. They made it mainstream off the success of their 1991’s fifth studio album Blood Sugar Sex Magik, led by singles “Give it Away” and “Under the Bridge.” After losing guitarist John Frusciante and losing popularity following the release of the less successful One Hot Minute, the band reunited for 1999’s Californication. The title track and hit singles “Around the World,” “Scar Tissue” and “Otherside” propelled them back to the fame. After 2002’s solid release By the Way and 2006’s double-disc Stadium Arcadium, Frusciante once again left the band to further pursue his solo career. The band added Josh Klinghoffer to help fill his void, and released I’m With You in 2011.

In December 2019, the band announced via Instagram that Klinghoffer had left after 10 years, and Frusciante would be rejoining.

Their lyrical content was mostly centered around sex, drugs, and the Los Angeles lifestyle, and lead singer Anthony Kiedis mostly rapped them as he wasn’t confident as vocalist. Most members of the band also suffered from drug addiction, as Kiedis and Frusciante had to check themselves into rehab for heroin addiction at various points in their lives. But Californication marked a change in the band’s content matter and lifestyle. The band was sober for the most part, and the lyrics had shifted to songs about love and the pains of addiction, the title even criticized the city they loved so much. In addition, Kiedis had started to sing his lyrics much more often as he finally felt comfortable with his voice. That change has allowed the band to stick around for over 20 years despite multiple changes to their lineup and is part of why they remain relevant.

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