Can't Stop (song)
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| "Can't Stop" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Red Hot Chili Peppers | ||
| from the album By the Way | ||
| Released | February 17, 2003 | |
| Format | CD Single | |
| Genre | Rock, Alternative Rock, Funk Metal | |
| Length | 4 minutes 29 seconds | |
| Label | Warner Bros. | |
| Producer(s) | Rick Rubin | |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers singles chronology | ||
| "The Zephyr Song" (2002) |
"Can't Stop" (2003) |
"Dosed" (2003) |
"Can't Stop" is a song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers from their 2002 album By The Way. It is the seventh song on the album and a favorite amongst fans. Since its release, the song has been rarely left off of a live set. [1]
It is one of the few recordings on By the Way which preserves the proverbial Chili Peppers method of short rapped verses and entails fewer amounts of implemented texture, that much of the aforementioned album contains.
Almost always, whilst sung live, Anthony Kiedis mistakes certain idioms of the song for others. As an alternative to singing the proper version "All on a spaceship persevering, use my hands for everything but steering" he sings "All on a spaceship persevering, feel no need for any interfering" and other various mock-ups. He has even substituted entire verses with nonsensical gibberish, caused by being submersed so deeply within the lyrics. In addition, when Can't Stop is performed live, bassist Flea often adds his own dynamic backing vocals.
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[edit] Music video
The Mark Romanek-directed music video for the single features all four of the band members doing seemingly random and excessively abstract actions such as holding lots of water bottles or attempting to balance buckets on their heads. It begins with the camera swooping perilously through a yellow tube to Anthony Kiedis, wearing glasses,and is subsequently followed by the four-some running through a hall with light fixtures attached to their backs.
Things included in the video (but not limited to): wearing a giant purple hippopotamus mask, playing with rubber balls, jumping; abstract scenes with boxes, buckets, water bottles, trash cans; flying through the air, pink foam peanuts, plants, playing guitar in a room full of empty blue chairs/room with lamps turning on and off. At the conclusion stands a lone sign printed in white letters, reading: "Inspired by the one minute sculptures of Erwin Wurm".
At certain segments of the video, one can see guitarist John Frusciante playing an orange Toronado, which is unlike his style due to the fact that he only plays vintage guitars (this one being under five years of age).[2] Frusciante later affirmed that he was instructed to play the guitar by director Mark Romanek as it blended well with the colors engaged in the video.
[edit] Greatest Hits Controversy
While Can't Stop is widely regarded as one of the most noteworthy and fan-favorite song the Chili Peppers have in their long line of hits[3] , it was a no-show on their Greatest Hits compilation which was released one year following By the Way. Universally Speaking, a far more obscure and less-prevailing song, was placed in its stead for unknown reasons. The Zephyr Song and Around the World, two widely recognized tracks, as well, were also deprived of a position on the amalgamation, thus causing controversy, as Parallel Universe and Road Trippin' were both given spots while being, again, less prominent. The Chili Peppers even introduced two formerly unreleased songs: Fortune Faded and Save the Population, which leads one to believe there was logic behind their proceedings. Over 10 minutes of vacant disk space was left for the band to add as they please, however no such action was made.
On the other hand, the music industry practice often holds that a band's hits compilation should not impinge on sales of its most recent album. The By the Way album had come out only the previous year and "Can't Stop" and two other singles had been taken from the album in early 2003, only several months before the release of Greatest Hits and its single, "Fortune Faded". Thus, the band may have been pressured by the record company not to include too many recent hits from By the Way on Greatest Hits in order not to devalue the previous album's still ongoing commercial lifespan.
[edit] Lyrical Denotation
Can't Stop is a prime example of the band's occasional use of writing lyrics to a rhythm rather than rhythms to established lyrics. There is no consistent or definitive connotation evident in the song, as it more blatantly appears to be an indecisive incorporation of poetic phrases in order to achieve the rapidly sung verses. Themes are, thus, indistinguishable from a possible metaphoric meaning integrated within the track.
[edit] Reception
Can't Stop was the band's 7th number one Modern Rock Hit, and second from the album By the Way peaking at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] Even while The Zephyr Song influenced a wider selection of musical charts, Can't Stop was considerably more successful in the three it did influence, by taking a considerable lead over it's predecessor. Regardless of the moderate recognition it garnered on the Billboard Hot 100, the song is, during live performances, a staple. [5] The band has never left the song off of a live set, recently acclimating it into the beginning segment, often using intros to segue in.
[edit] Track list
Can't Stop Single CD1
- "Can't Stop" - 4:29
- "If You Have to Ask" (Live)
- "Christchurch Fireworks Music" - 5:42
Can't Stop Single CD2
- "Can't Stop" - 4:29
- "Right On Time" (Live)
- "Nothing to Lose" (Live) - 12:58
CD version 3 (2003)
- "Can't Stop" - 4:29
- "Christchurch Fireworks Music" (Live) - 5:42
7" single (2003)
- "Can't Stop" - 4:29
- "Christchurch Fireworks Music" (Live) - 5:42
1-Track European Promo CD
- "Can't Stop" - 4:29
[edit] Notes
| Preceded by "No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age |
Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number-one single March 8, 2003 |
Succeeded by "Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence |
