Scar Tissue
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Scar Tissue" | ||
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| Single by Red Hot Chili Peppers | ||
| from the album Californication | ||
| B-side(s) | "Gong Li" "Instrumental #1" |
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| Released | May 25, 1999 | |
| Format | CD, cassette, vinyl | |
| Recorded | 1999 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 3:35 | |
| Label | Warner Bros. Records | |
| Producer(s) | Rick Rubin | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Red Hot Chili Peppers singles chronology | ||
| "Love Rollercoaster" (1996) |
"Scar Tissue" (1999) |
"Around the World" (1999) |
"Scar Tissue" is the Red Hot Chili Peppers first single from their album Californication. It is one of their most successful songs spending a record 16 weeks on top of Billboard's Modern Rock Charts. It was released in late 1999, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #15 on the UK charts. It won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in the year 2000. Being a melodic ballad, it broke the trend of the Chili Peppers releasing a fast-paced, heavy rock song as the album's first single. A melodic ballad would normally have been their second single, such as "Under the Bridge" (Blood Sugar Sex Magik) and "My Friends" (One Hot Minute). It is notable for its mellow intro guitar riff and for its slide guitar solos throughout the song.
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[edit] The song
"Scar Tissue" is considered to be representative of the new, more melodic rock sound the band experimented on Californication (in contrast to the psychedelic One Hot Minute, and dry funk of Blood Sugar Sex Magik). The song's most agreed-upon interpretation is that it is a celebration of life and rebirth, especially due to the situation before Californication (guitarist John Frusciante left the band in 1992 and spent six years as a drug addict, almost dying at one point, before cleaning up and rejoining).
[edit] Music video
The metaphorically rich "Scar Tissue" music video by Stephane Sednaoui can be viewed as an unofficial sequel to Sednaoui's classic "Give It Away" video. The latter captures the Red Hot Chili Peppers as an iconic young band prancing half-naked in the desert, projecting the playful, sexual physicality of their funk-rock music.
Eight long years later we again see them in the desert once again, but the sheen is gone. The opening shot is of John Frusciante driving, a metaphor for John's return and ascension to musical leadership of the band (he does not drive in real life). But the four of them are battered, beaten, and bandaged. They are traveling in a rusty wreck and playing broken instruments on the comeback trail. The video ends after an emotional 30 second John guitar solo at the moment of sunset, with John tossing the broken guitar from the moving car in defiance.
[edit] Track list
[edit] CD single (1999)
- "Scar Tissue (Album)" – 3:37
- "Gong Li (Unreleased)" – 3:43
- "Instrumental #1 (Unreleased)" – 2:48
[edit] Cassette single (1999)
- "Scar Tissue (Album)"
- "Gong Li (Unreleased)"
[edit] Sample clip
- Scar Tissue (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- Sample of "Scar Tissue" from Californication
- Problems listening to the file? See media help.
[edit] The book
Scar Tissue is also the title of band member Anthony Kiedis' autobiography.
[edit] External links
- stephanesednaoui.com - official Stéphane Sednaoui website.
| Preceded by "My Own Worst Enemy" by Lit |
Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number-one single June 26, 1999- October 9, 1999 |
Succeeded by "Higher" by Creed |
