Perhaps (song)

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"Perhaps"
Single by Guns N' Roses
A-side"The General"[1]
ReleasedAugust 18, 2023 (2023-08-18)
Recorded1999–2001, 2020-2023
Length3:48
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Axl Rose
  • Caram Costanzo
Guns N' Roses singles chronology
"Hard Skool"
(2021) 		"Perhaps"
(2023) 		"The General"
(2023)
Audio
"Perhaps" on YouTube
Music video
"Perhaps" on YouTube

"Perhaps" is a song by the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, released as a single on August 18, 2023.[2][3] A limited edition 7-inch vinyl, with "The General" as its "R-side", was originally scheduled to be released on October 27, 2023 but the release was postponed to December 8, 2023.[4][1] Like the band's previous two singles, "Absurd" and "Hard Skool", the origins of this song date back to the writing and recording process of Chinese Democracy from the late 1990s.[5]

Background[edit]

"Perhaps" was originally recorded during the Chinese Democracy sessions in 2000, and was leaked online in 2019 alongside other tracks from the same era.[5]

The song was rehearsed at the soundcheck for the Tel Aviv concert on June 5, 2023, and again before the band's Glasgow concert on June 27, 2023.[6][7] Prior to the release, the song was leaked through digital jukeboxes in bars across the United States.[8] The song features drumming from former band member Brain.[9]

"Perhaps" was first played live on August 18, 2023, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[10]

The music video for the song shows footage of the band live and backstage during the European leg of the 2023 Tour.[11]

The single's "R-side" "The General", which was also originally conceived during the Chinese Democracy sessions, was performed live for the first time at The Hollywood Bowl on November 2, 2023.[12] It was released on streaming platforms on December 8, 2023.[13] The song features former Guns N’ Roses members Brain and Chris Pitman as well as composer Marco Beltrami and guitarist Marc Haggard.[14] A partially AI-generated music video for the track was released on January 24, 2024.[15]

Reception[edit]

Rolling Stone called the piano-driven track good and described it as being "mid-tempo rocker in the vein of Use Your Illusion II's more mellow "Yesterdays" or Chinese Democracy’s standout "Catcher in the Rye"".[16] In its positive review, Billboard described the song as "a twisty, turgid ballad" featuring "a piano-pounding riff", "Rose's signature howl" and "one of Slash's classic hurricane solos".[17]

Track listing[edit]

7-inch vinyl

'G' side
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Perhaps"Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Paul Tobias[18]3:48
'R' side
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
2."The General"Rose, Slash, McKagan, Brain, Steve Freeman, Marc Haggard[19]4:22

Personnel[edit]

Guns N' Roses[9]

Additional credits[9][20]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "Perhaps"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Croatia (HRT)[21] 93
Japan (Oricon)[22] 21
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[23] 40
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[24] 36
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[25] 24
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[26] 48

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Perhaps 7" Vinyl". Guns N' Roses. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Guns N' Roses finally release new song 'Perhaps'". NME. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  3. ^ "New Guns 'N' Roses single 'Perhaps' reportedly coming next week". NME. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  4. ^ "New Guns N' Roses Merch Confirms Title of Next Single". Loudwire. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Listen to Guns N' Roses' New Song 'Perhaps'". Ultimate Classic Rock. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Guns N' Roses Surprise Fans in Tel Aviv with Unreleased Song". CDJ. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  7. ^ GUNS N' ROSES – PERHAPS [FULL SONG 2023 SOUNDCHECK GLASGOW], retrieved 2023-08-21
  8. ^ "New Guns N' Roses song leaked via digital jukeboxes". NME. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "GUNS N' ROSESがニュー・シングル "Perhaps" のMVをアップ". BURRN! ONLINE. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  10. ^ "See Guns N' Roses Debut New Song 'Perhaps' Live in Pittsburgh". NME. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Guns N' Roses - Perhaps (Official Music Video)". YouTube.
  12. ^ "Watch: GUNS N' ROSES Perform 'The General' Live For First Time". Blabbermouth. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  13. ^ the general debuts digital
  14. ^ Lewrypublished, Fraser (December 8, 2023). "Guns N' Roses release anguished yet epic new recording of The General". louder.
  15. ^ The General MV
  16. ^ Hudak, Joseph (18 August 2023). "Axl Rose Empathizes, Apologizes in New Guns N' Roses Song 'Perhaps'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  17. ^ Kaufman, Gil (18 August 2023). "Guns N' Roses Released Florid Piano Rocker 'Perhaps' a Week After it Leaked to Digital Jukeboxes". Billboard. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Perhaps". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  19. ^ "The General". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  20. ^ "Perhaps (auto-generated video)". YouTube. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  21. ^ "ARC 100 - date: 4. September 2023" (PDF). HRT. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  22. ^ Perhaps – Oricon Oricon News. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  23. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  24. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  25. ^ "Guns N Roses Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  26. ^ "Guns N Roses Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2023.

External links[edit]

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