Dark Necessities
single
CoverDarkNecessities.jpg
ArtistRed Hot Chili Peppers
AlbumThe Getaway
ReleasedMay 5, 2016
GenreAlternative rock[1] · funk rock[2]
Length5:02
LabelWarner Bros.
Writer
ProducerDanger Mouse[3]
Prev year2012
Next year2016

"Dark Necessities" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers and is the first single from their eleventh studio album, The Getaway. The single was released on May 5, 2016.[4] The music video was released on June 16, 2016.[5] The song was released as a limited edition cassette single that was included in a deluxe package of The Getaway available only through the band's website.

"Dark Necessities" was successful on the Billboard charts, becoming the band's 13th number-one single and 25th top ten single on the Alternative Songs chart, both of which are records for any artist.[6] The song is also the fourth song ever to reach number one on the Alternative Songs chart, the Mainstream Rock chart, and the Adult Alternative Songs chart.[7]

"Dark Necessities" made its live debut on May 22, 2016, at the Rock on the Range festival in Columbus, Ohio.

A live version recorded at Canal+ Studios in Paris, is on the Live in Paris EP.

Background

In a June 7, 2016, video interview for the band's YouTube channel, Anthony Kiedis discussed the song saying that many of the songs were created on their own. However, "Dark Necessities" was one of the songs that the band had written with Brian Burton aka Danger Mouse. Kiedis said that he went to Hawaii and worked on the lyrics to the song, which "speaks to the beauty of our dark sides and how much creativity and growth and light actually comes out of those difficult struggles that we have on the inside of our heads that no one else can see." Kiedis also said that the song meant a lot to Burton and it was one of his favorites. He said that Burton fought for "Dark Necessities" to be the first single. However, the band wanted "The Getaway" to be the first single while the label and managers wanted the song "Go Robot" to be the first single.[8]

Critical reception

"Dark Necessities" was placed at number 12 on Rolling Stone’s "50 Best Songs of 2016" list, writing: “Their big comeback hit collabo with Danger Mouse, with Anthony Kiedis getting personal about his darkest, druggiest memories over a Flea bassline full of blood, sugar, sex and magic.”[9]

Music video

The video, directed by Olivia Wilde,[10] was released through the band's Facebook page on June 16, 2016. Chris Blauvelt served as the cinematographer. The music video features long boarders (Carmen Shafer, Amanda Caloia, Amanda Powell, and Noelle Mulligan) skating around a grocery store, abandoned streets, and the Los Angeles River, interspersed with the band playing the song.[11]

Personnel

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Additional musicians[12]

  • Daniele Luppi – string arrangement
  • Peter Kent – violin
  • Sharon Jackson – violin
  • Briana Bandy – viola
  • Armen Ksajikian – cello

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Dark Necessities"
Chart (2016)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13]52
Iceland (RÚV)[14]6
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[15]15
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)[16]1
Slovenia Airplay (SloTop50)[17]26
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[18]17

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Dark Necessities"
Chart (2016)Position
Argentina (Monitor Latino)[19]21
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[20]62
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[21]15
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[22]3

References

  1. ^ Roth, Madeline (May 5, 2016). "The New Red Hot Chili Peppers Single Has Exactly Zero California References". MTV. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  2. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers share video for "Dark Necessities" directed by Olivia Wilde — watch". June 16, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  3. ^ "The Red Hot Chili Peppers' new Danger Mouse-produced record is 'In the home stretch'". Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  4. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (May 2, 2016). "Red Hot Chili Peppers to release new song Thursday". Fuse. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  5. ^ Leight, Elias (June 16, 2016). "Watch SoCal Skaters in Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Dark Necessities' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Extend Alternative Songs Chart Record". Billboard
  7. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (August 2, 2016). "Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Dark Necessities' Only 4th Song to Top Mainstream Rock, Alternative & Adult Alternative Charts". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  8. ^ Red Hot Chili Peppers - Anthony On “Dark Necessities” (The Getaway Track-By-Track Commentary)
  9. ^ "50 Best Songs of 2016". Rolling Stone. November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  10. ^ Chad Smith (May 31, 2016). "....aaaannnd cut!!". No. 737792127422193664.
  11. ^ "Watch Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Dark Necessities" Video". Pitchfork. June 16, 2016.
  12. ^ Buchanan, Brett (10 June 2016). "Review: Red Hot Chili Peppers Reinvent Themselves On 'The Getaway'"
  13. ^ Ryan, Gavin (June 25, 2016). "ARIA Singles: Drake 'One Dance' Is Still No 1". Noise11. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  14. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History". RÚV. April 8, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  15. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Lebanese Chart Top 20 History". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  16. ^ "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 27, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  17. ^ "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  18. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 19, 2016" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  19. ^ "Top 100 Anual 2016". Monitor Latino. Archived August 22, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  20. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2016". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  21. ^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  22. ^ "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2022.