Black Summer (song)

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"Black Summer"
Single by Red Hot Chili Peppers
from the album Unlimited Love
ReleasedFebruary 4, 2022 (2022-02-04)[1]
StudioShangri-La (Malibu, California)
GenreAlternative rock[2]
Length3:52
LabelWarner
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rick Rubin
Red Hot Chili Peppers singles chronology
"Goodbye Angels"
(2017) 		"Black Summer"
(2022) 		"These Are the Ways"
(2022)
Music video
"Black Summer" on YouTube

"Black Summer" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers and is the first single from their twelfth studio album, Unlimited Love. The single was released on February 4, 2022, and it was their first song in 16 years to feature guitarist John Frusciante, following his return to the band in 2019.[3]

"Black Summer" quickly became a number-one single for the band on Alternative Airplay, giving them their 14th number-one single, a record for any artist on that chart, and 26th top ten single, second most for any artist on the Alternative Songs chart trailing only the Foo Fighters who have 28 top ten singles; it also gave the band a number-one single in four different decades on the Alternative Songs chart, tying them with Green Day for the most ever by an artist.[4][5] "Black Summer" won the 2022 MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video.[6]

Reception[edit]

The song received positive reviews from critics, although Anthony Kiedis' vocals drew confusion from critics, with some likening it to an Irish accent[7] or pirate accent.[8] Kiedis explained that the accent was a tribute to Welsh singer-songwriter Cate Le Bon,[9] whom the band's former guitarist Josh Klinghoffer had recorded with on her fifth studio album, Reward, and performed with in the experimental musical collective Banana. Vulture praised the song, saying that it has "everything you'd want with a Chilis joint — ethereal riffs noodling along, wonderfully nonsensical lyrics, and a music video that has Anthony Kiedis disrobing at the midway point".[8]

Frusciante's guitar work was particularly praised, and was likened to his work on the band's 2006 album Stadium Arcadium.[10] Consequence lauded Frusciante's "signature guitar sound", noting that it "links perfectly with Flea’s energetic bass work and steps out for multiple solos. And not only that, Frusciante's anthemic backup vocals have returned, amplifying the song's chorus to create a wide screen, stadium worthy effect."[11]

Producer Rick Rubin's return was also highlighted by Clash, who compared the single to the band's earlier work, with its "funky melodies and heavy rock weaved throughout".[12]

Music video[edit]

A music video was released simultaneously with the single, directed by Deborah Chow.[13]

The music video for "Black Summer" is nominated for a 2022 MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video. It marked the band's 29th nomination at the MTV Video Music Awards since 1990 and their first nomination since 2006 when they were nominated for "Dani California".[6]

Live performances[edit]

The song made its live debut on April 1, 2022, on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and has been played at every show on the band's 2022-2023 Global Stadium Tour. It has been performed over 85 times making it the most performed song from Unlimited Love.

Personnel[edit]

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Additional musicians

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for "Black Summer"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[45] Gold 100,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Release history for "Black Summer"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various February 4, 2022
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Warner [46]
Italy Radio airplay [47]
United States February 8, 2022 Alternative radio [48]
Rock radio [49]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Strauss, Matthew (February 4, 2022). "Red Hot Chili Peppers Announce New Album Unlimited Love, Share Video for New Song "Black Summer"". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  2. ^ Astley-Brown, Michael (March 13, 2022). "Red Hot Chili Peppers return to laid-back, wah-driven funk with new single, Poster Child". Guitar World. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  3. ^ Legaspi, Althea (February 4, 2022). "Red Hot Chili Peppers Release First Song With John Frusciante in 16 Years". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  4. ^ Johnson, Josh (February 10, 2022). "Red Hot Chili Peppers make career-best debut on 'Billboard' Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with "Black Summer"". digital.abcaudio.com. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  5. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (February 16, 2022). "Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Black Summer' Crowns Rock & Alternative Airplay Chart". billboard.com. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Best Rock Video". mtv.com. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  7. ^ Ivie, Devon (4 February 2022). "Anthony Kiedis Debuts Hot and Confusing Irish Accent".
  8. ^ a b "Red Hot Chili Peppers Fans React to Anthony Kiedis's Weird Pirate Singing on "Black Summer" | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca.
  9. ^ "How the Red Hot Chili Peppers rediscovered the best version of themselves". Los Angeles Times. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  10. ^ Rob Laing (February 4, 2022). "Hear the new Red Hot Chili Peppers song Black Summer". MusicRadar. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  11. ^ "Song of the Week: Red Hot Chili Peppers Welcome Us To a "Black Summer"". Consequence. February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  12. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Black Summer' Locates Their Harmonious Best". Clash Magazine. 4 February 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS Release Music Video For New Single 'Black Summer'". Blabbermouth.net. February 4, 2022.
  14. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Chart History (Argentina Hot 100)" Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Singles for Red Hot Chili Peppers. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  15. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 14 February 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1667. Australian Recording Industry Association. February 14, 2022. p. 4.
  16. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Black Summer" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  17. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  18. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  19. ^ "Croatia Songs (Week of February 19, 2022)". Billboard. 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  20. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202229 into search. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  21. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 20226 into search. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  22. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers: Black Summer" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  23. ^ "Top Singles (Week 6, 2022)". SNEP. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  24. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Black Summer" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  25. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  26. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  27. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  28. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  29. ^ "Media Forest charts". 9. Media Forest. 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  30. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas 2022/02/16". Billboard Japan. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  31. ^ "2022 6-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  32. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Black Summer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  33. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  34. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Black Summer". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  35. ^ "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202206 into search. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  36. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 6". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  37. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Black Summer". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  38. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  39. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  40. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  41. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  42. ^ "Year-End Charts: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2022)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  43. ^ "Year-End Charts: Rock & Alternative Airplay (2022)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  44. ^ "Rock & Alternative Airplay Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  45. ^ "French single certifications – Red Hot Chili Peppers – Black Summer" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  46. ^ "Spotify – Black Summer". Retrieved February 12, 2022 – via Spotify .
  47. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers "Black Summer" | (Radio Date: 04/02/2022)". radiodate.it (in Italian). Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  48. ^ "Alternative Radio Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  49. ^ "Rock Radio Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
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