My Friends (Red Hot Chili Peppers song)

"My Friends" is a song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the fourth track on their 1995 album One Hot Minute. It is a melodic ballad and was released as the second single from the album. It is the only song from One Hot Minute to be included on their Greatest Hits compilation, though the music video for "Aeroplane" appears on the DVD. It became the band's third number-one single on the US Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, where it remained for four consecutive weeks, and their first number one on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.

"My Friends"
Single by Red Hot Chili Peppers
from the album One Hot Minute
B-side	"Let's Make Evil" "Stretch"
Released	September 19, 1995
Recorded	1994
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	4:02
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Dave Navarro, Chad Smith
Producer(s)	Rick Rubin
Red Hot Chili Peppers singles chronology
"Warped" (1995) "My Friends" (1995) "Aeroplane" (1996)
Music video
"My Friends" on YouTube
Music video
"My Friends (Version 2)" on YouTube

The single features two unreleased b-sides. "Stretch" (originally titled Stretch You Out) was intended for the album following the fade out of "One Big Mob". The two were planned to be one song titled "One Big Mob/Stretch You Out" however "Stretch" was not included.

Music videos

The surreal original music video depicts the band in many incarnations on a small boat, stranded in a large stretch of treacherous water. This video was directed by Anton Corbijn.[1] Anthony Kiedis admits that he thought this video was not very good, as it was not realistic. A second video was made for the song, directed by Gavin Bowden, where they were in a studio performing the song. The video was shot in late 1994 at the start of the recording sessions for One Hot Minute, hence Flea had a beard in the video. It appears on their Greatest Hits DVD.

Live performances

"My Friends" was performed regularly during the One Hot Minute Tour. However, it hasn't been performed in full since 1996, only teased.

Track list

CD single (1995)

1. "My Friends" (album)
2. "Coffee Shop" (album)
3. "Let's Make Evil" (previously unreleased)
4. "Stretch" (previously unreleased)

'CD version 2 (1995)

1. "My Friends" (album)
2. "Coffee Shop" (album)
3. "Let's Make Evil" (previously unreleased)

12" single (1995)

1. "My Friends" (album)
2. "Coffee Shop" (album)
3. "Let's Make Evil" (previously unreleased)
4. "Stretch" (previously unreleased)

Personnel

Red Hot Chili Peppers

• Anthony Kiedis – lead and backing vocals
• Flea – bass, backing vocals
• Dave Navarro – guitar
• Chad Smith – drums

Additional musicians

• Lenny Castro – percussion

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995–1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[2] 15 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[3] 11 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[4] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[5] 70 France (SNEP)[6] 40 Germany (Official German Charts)[7] 81 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[8] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] 20 Scotland (OCC)[10] 35 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 50 UK Singles (OCC)[12] 29 US Radio Songs (Billboard)[13] 27 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[14] 4 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[15] 1 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[16] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[17] 4 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[18] 99 Chart (1996) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 99 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[20] 85

References

1. "the Red Hot Chili Peppers – "My friends"". mvdbase.com. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
2. "Australian-charts.com – Red Hot Chili Peppers – My Friends". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
3. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2858." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
4. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 2821." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
5. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12 no. 43. October 28, 1995. p. 24. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
6. "Lescharts.com – Red Hot Chili Peppers – My Friends" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
7. "Offiziellecharts.de – Red Hot Chili Peppers – My Friends". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
8. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (2.12. '95 – 8.12. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). December 2, 1995. p. 58. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
9. "Charts.nz – Red Hot Chili Peppers – My Friends". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
10. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
11. "Swedishcharts.com – Red Hot Chili Peppers – My Friends". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
13. "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
14. "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
15. "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
16. "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
17. "RPM Top 50 Alternative Tracks of 1995". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
18. "Árslistinn 1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1996. p. 25. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
19. "RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
20. "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved May 30, 2020.