Californication

Link to Californication: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQYJRw4R4-Q

                This week I'm writing about a song by one of my favorite bands. Known by the majority of America nowadays, The Red Hot Chili Peppers have a sound unlike any other, and lyrics that range from crazy and ridiculous (like  Sir Psycho Sexy) to deep and meaningful. The band consists of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Michael "Flea" Balzary (bass), Chad Smith (drums), and John Frusciante (guitar). One such meaningful song is Californication, which is the one I chose for this week. It's from their album by the same name and was released in 1999. Freshman year, this band hooked me, and every time I think I've heard all they have to offer, I hear another song by them that I hadn't heard before, or they release a new song or album. Just like that, I'm hooked again.

                Californication  is one of their slower, less funky songs, and for the most part, the song describes the bad, dark side of Hollywood, California. Yeah, the city contributes immensely to the entertainment business, but as time passes, the people and celebrities become faker and faker, and the way aspects of life are being twisted is becoming worse and worse. Kiedis makes references to Hollywood's lies by singing "Psychic spies from China try to steal your mind's elation," and "Space may be the final frontier,
but it's made in a Hollywood basement."

                The way Kiedis spins the idea of Hollywood is the most interesting part though. Through the whole song the negatives of Hollywood are clearly stated, yet he still "dream[s] of Californication." In a way, the meaning can broaden past Hollywood to encompass everyone because people in general, including myself at times, envy fame and fortune, even if we realize its fake and shallow. The deep meanings, along with a masterful performance by the band places this song near the top of my list. Hope you like it too! check back next week!

Californication Lyrics:

Psychic spies from China
Try to steal your mind's elation
Little girls from Sweden
Dream of silver screen quotations
And if you want these kind of dreams
It's Californication

It's the edge of the world
And all of western civilization
The sun may rise in the East
At least it settles in the final location
It's understood that Hollywood
sells Californication

Pay your surgeon very well
To break the spell of aging
Celebrity skin is this your chin
Or is that war your waging

[Chorus:]
First born unicorn
Hard core soft porn
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication

Marry me girl be my fairy to the world
Be my very own constellation
A teenage bride with a baby inside
Getting high on information
And buy me a star on the boulevard
It's Californication

Space may be the final frontier
But it's made in a Hollywood basement
Cobain can you hear the spheres
Singing songs off station to station
And Alderon's not far away
It's Californication

Born and raised by those who praise
Control of population everybody's been there
and
I don't mean on vacation

[Chorus]

Destruction leads to a very rough road
But it also breeds creation
And earthquakes are to a girl's guitar
They're just another good vibration
And tidal waves couldn't save the world
From Californication

Pay your surgeon very well
To break the spell of aging
Sicker than the rest
There is no test
But this is what you're craving

[Chorus]