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--> ''I'm a meth lab, first rehab\\
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--> ''This is my time, this is my tear\\
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--> ''Don't be late I hear it's\\
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--> ''Devil may cry, devil may care\\
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--> ''Throw away your television\\
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--> ''I am a misfit, I'm born with all of it\\
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--> ''You've got your bit part, Mozart\\
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** The video for "Can't Stop" also qualifies, by virtue of the entire thing being inspired by Erwin Wurm's [[https://publicdelivery.org/erwin-wurm-one-minute-sculptures/ One-Minute Sculptures]]. The band members balance trash bins, pin buckets against walls and do other seemingly unrelated things.
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# "Havana Affair" (Music/TheRamones cover) (2:19)
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# "Havana Affair" (Music/TheRamones (Music/{{Ramones}} cover) (2:19)
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* BSide: "Runaway" and "The Bicycle Song" were iTunes bonus tracks. Others include "Eskimo", "Body of Water", "Out of Range", "Time", "Someone", "Rivers of Avalon", and a cover of Music/TheRamones' "Havana Affair." "Slowly, Deeply" was an instrumental outtake from the ''Music/{{Californication}}'' sessions that was released during this time as well.
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* BSide: "Runaway" and "The Bicycle Song" were iTunes bonus tracks. Others include "Eskimo", "Body of Water", "Out of Range", "Time", "Someone", "Rivers of Avalon", and a cover of Music/TheRamones' the Music/{{Ramones}}' "Havana Affair." "Slowly, Deeply" was an instrumental outtake from the ''Music/{{Californication}}'' sessions that was released during this time as well.
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* CoverVersion: The band recorded a far slower version of "Havana Affair" by Music/TheRamones (from their [[Music/{{Ramones}} debut album]]).
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* CoverVersion: The band recorded a far slower version of "Havana Affair" by Music/TheRamones the Music/{{Ramones}} (from their [[Music/{{Ramones}} [[Music/RamonesAlbum debut album]]).
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Misuse; Digital Destruction is for a remaster/reissue that significantly worsens the quality of the product.
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* IdiosyncraticCoverArt: The cover art is a [[DigitalDestruction negative-rendered]] painting of Frusciante's then-girlfriend. The cover for the "Universally Speaking" EP features the original painting, which has pink and purple hues.
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* IdiosyncraticCoverArt: The cover art is a [[DigitalDestruction negative-rendered]] color-inverted painting of Frusciante's then-girlfriend. The cover for the "Universally Speaking" EP features the original painting, which has pink and purple hues.
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''By the Way'' is the eighth studio album[[note]]Though reportedly, much of it was recorded in a hotel room.[[/note]] by Music/RedHotChiliPeppers, released in 2002. Known for its hit singles "By the Way", "Universally Speaking", "Can't Stop", and "The Zephyr Song", the album enjoyed significant success since it was a welcome follow-up to their previous hit album ''Music/{{Californication}}''. The ensuing tour for ''By the Way'' drew some of the band's largest audiences to date, and spawned the highly successful live performance [=CDs=] ''Live in Hyde Park'' and ''Live at Slane Castle''.
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''By the Way'' is the eighth studio album[[note]]Though reportedly, much of it was recorded in a hotel room.[[/note]] album by Music/RedHotChiliPeppers, released in 2002. Known for its hit singles "By the Way", "Universally Speaking", "Can't Stop", and "The Zephyr Song", the album enjoyed significant success since it was a welcome follow-up to their previous hit album ''Music/{{Californication}}''. The ensuing tour for ''By the Way'' drew some of the band's largest audiences to date, and spawned the highly successful live performance [=CDs=] ''Live in Hyde Park'' and ''Live at Slane Castle''.
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How To Create A Works Page explicitly says "No bolding is used for work titles."
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'''''By the Way''''' is the eighth studio album[[note]]Though reportedly, much of it was recorded in a hotel room.[[/note]] by Music/RedHotChiliPeppers, released in 2002. Known for its hit singles "By the Way", "Universally Speaking", "Can't Stop", and "The Zephyr Song", the album enjoyed significant success since it was a welcome follow-up to their previous hit album ''Music/{{Californication}}''. The ensuing tour for ''By the Way'' drew some of the band's largest audiences to date, and spawned the highly successful live performance [=CDs=] ''Live in Hyde Park'' and ''Live at Slane Castle''.
to:
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* TheFourChordsOfPop: "Don't Forget Me."
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* LeadBassist: The melody for "Don't Forget Me" is performed by Flea playing his bass technically wrong (i.e., strumming rather than plucking).
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'''''By the Way''''' is the eighth studio album by Music/RedHotChiliPeppers, released in 2002. Known for its hit singles "By the Way", "Universally Speaking", "Can't Stop", and "The Zephyr Song", the album enjoyed significant success since it was a welcome follow-up to their previous hit album ''Music/{{Californication}}''. The ensuing tour for ''By the Way'' drew some of the band's largest audiences to date, and spawned the highly successful live performance [=CDs=] ''Live in Hyde Park'' and ''Live at Slane Castle''.
to:
'''''By the Way''''' is the eighth studio album album[[note]]Though reportedly, much of it was recorded in a hotel room.[[/note]] by Music/RedHotChiliPeppers, released in 2002. Known for its hit singles "By the Way", "Universally Speaking", "Can't Stop", and "The Zephyr Song", the album enjoyed significant success since it was a welcome follow-up to their previous hit album ''Music/{{Californication}}''. The ensuing tour for ''By the Way'' drew some of the band's largest audiences to date, and spawned the highly successful live performance [=CDs=] ''Live in Hyde Park'' and ''Live at Slane Castle''.
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misuse
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* RecordProducer: The LongRunner, Music/RickRubin. He was instrumental in convincing the band to play down the funk in favor of more, well, instrumental tracks, which led to this NewSoundAlbum.
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* RecordProducer: The LongRunner, Music/RickRubin. He was instrumental in convincing the band to play down the funk in favor of more, well, instrumental tracks, which led to this NewSoundAlbum.
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The album remains a BaseBreaker for some fans since it was such a NewSoundAlbum, and some critics maintained that [[ItsPopularNowItSucks the album was significantly more mainstream]] than any of the band's previous work. Nevertheless, ''By the Way'' and its successor, ''Music/StadiumArcadium'', solidified the band's venture into AlternativeRock. It is seen as crucial in the band's development thanks to its [[EvolvingMusic mature lyrics]] and ambitious instrumental pieces.
to:
The album remains a BaseBreaker controversial for some fans since it was such a NewSoundAlbum, and some critics maintained that [[ItsPopularNowItSucks the album was significantly more mainstream]] than any of the band's previous work. Nevertheless, ''By the Way'' and its successor, ''Music/StadiumArcadium'', solidified the band's venture into AlternativeRock. It is seen as crucial in the band's development thanks to its [[EvolvingMusic mature lyrics]] and ambitious instrumental pieces.
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Music/JohnFrusciante was the primary creative force on the record, and he mainly added EchoingAcoustics and [[EpicInstrumentalOpener instrumentals]] on most of the tracks, creating LighterAndSofter melodies from the band's previous FunkRock jams. This created tension with Flea, whose bass playing was understated on the record, and at one point the bassist considered quitting the band. Nevertheless, Frusciante was able to compromise with his bandmates and the Chilis were able to remain intact.
The album remains a BaseBreaker for some fans since it was such a NewSoundAlbum, and some critics maintained that [[ItsPopularNowItSucks the album was significantly more mainstream]] than any of the band's previous work. Nevertheless, ''By the Way'' and its successor, ''Music/StadiumArcadium'', solidified the band's venture into AlternativeRock. It is seen as crucial in the band's development thanks to its mature lyrics and ambitious instrumental pieces.
The album remains a BaseBreaker for some fans since it was such a NewSoundAlbum, and some critics maintained that [[ItsPopularNowItSucks the album was significantly more mainstream]] than any of the band's previous work. Nevertheless, ''By the Way'' and its successor, ''Music/StadiumArcadium'', solidified the band's venture into AlternativeRock. It is seen as crucial in the band's development thanks to its mature lyrics and ambitious instrumental pieces.
to:
Music/JohnFrusciante was the primary creative force on the record, and he mainly added record. Adding EchoingAcoustics and [[EpicInstrumentalOpener instrumentals]] on most of the tracks, creating he created LighterAndSofter melodies from which emphasized the band's previous strengths as complex songwriters. FunkRock jams.jams, the band's SignatureStyle, played less of a role since Frusciante used synthesizers, overdubbed guitars, and soundscapes to compose much of the instrumentation. This created tension with Flea, whose bass playing was understated on the record, and at one point the bassist considered quitting the band. Nevertheless, Frusciante was able to compromise with his bandmates and the Chilis were able to remain intact.
The album remains a BaseBreaker for some fans since it was such a NewSoundAlbum, and some critics maintained that [[ItsPopularNowItSucks the album was significantly more mainstream]] than any of the band's previous work. Nevertheless, ''By the Way'' and its successor, ''Music/StadiumArcadium'', solidified the band's venture into AlternativeRock. It is seen as crucial in the band's development thanks to its [[EvolvingMusic maturelyrics lyrics]] and ambitious instrumental pieces.
The album remains a BaseBreaker for some fans since it was such a NewSoundAlbum, and some critics maintained that [[ItsPopularNowItSucks the album was significantly more mainstream]] than any of the band's previous work. Nevertheless, ''By the Way'' and its successor, ''Music/StadiumArcadium'', solidified the band's venture into AlternativeRock. It is seen as crucial in the band's development thanks to its [[EvolvingMusic mature
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* NewMediaIsEvil: "Throw Away Your Television", obviously.
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* NewMediaIsEvil: NewMediaAreEvil: "Throw Away Your Television", obviously.
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* AcousticVersion: The band performed these songs and more live during the Bridgefoot School Benefit Concert, organized by Music/NeilYoung. The live version of "By the Way" was even included as a BSide later to "Universally Speaking".
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/81rms0i9wl_sy355.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"''By the way, I tried to say I'd be there...''"]]
'''''By the Way''''' is the eighth studio album by Music/RedHotChiliPeppers, released in 2002. Known for its hit singles "By the Way", "Universally Speaking", "Can't Stop", and "The Zephyr Song", the album enjoyed significant success since it was a welcome follow-up to their previous hit album ''Music/{{Californication}}''. The ensuing tour for ''By the Way'' drew some of the band's largest audiences to date, and spawned the highly successful live performance [=CDs=] ''Live in Hyde Park'' and ''Live at Slane Castle''.
Music/JohnFrusciante was the primary creative force on the record, and he mainly added EchoingAcoustics and [[EpicInstrumentalOpener instrumentals]] on most of the tracks, creating LighterAndSofter melodies from the band's previous FunkRock jams. This created tension with Flea, whose bass playing was understated on the record, and at one point the bassist considered quitting the band. Nevertheless, Frusciante was able to compromise with his bandmates and the Chilis were able to remain intact.
The album remains a BaseBreaker for some fans since it was such a NewSoundAlbum, and some critics maintained that [[ItsPopularNowItSucks the album was significantly more mainstream]] than any of the band's previous work. Nevertheless, ''By the Way'' and its successor, ''Music/StadiumArcadium'', solidified the band's venture into AlternativeRock. It is seen as crucial in the band's development thanks to its mature lyrics and ambitious instrumental pieces.
----
!!Tracklist:
# "By the Way" (3:37)
# "Universally Speaking" (4:19)
# "This Is the Place" (4:17)
# "Dosed" (5:12)
# "Don't Forget Me" (4:37)
# "The Zephyr Song" (3:52)
# "Can't Stop" (4:29)
# "I Could Die for You" (3:13)
# "Midnight" (4:55)
# "Throw Away Your Television" (3:44)
# "Cabron" (3:38)
# "Tear" (5:17)
# "On Mercury" (3:28)
# "Minor Thing" (3:37)
# "Warm Tape" (4:16)
# "Venice Queen" (6:07)
[[folder:B-sides and outtakes]]
# "Havana Affair" (Music/TheRamones cover) (2:19)
# "Teenager in Love" (Dion and the Belmonts cover) (3:00)
# "The Bicycle Song" (3:23)
# "Runaway" (4:20)
# "Slowly, Deeply" (2:40)
# "Someone" (3:24)
# "Rivers of Avalon" (3:39)
# "Time" (3:47)
# "Out of Range" (3:58)
# "Body of Water" (4:41)
[[/folder]]
----
!!Principal Members:
* Michael "Flea" Balzary – bass, trumpet, harmonica and backing vocals
* Music/JohnFrusciante – guitar, backing vocals, piano, keyboards and modular synthesizer
* Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
* Chad Smith – drums, percussion
----
!!''The world I love, the tropes I hop, to be part of the wave, can't stop''
* AbstractApotheosis: "Don't Forget Me" lists various objects or personalities that are perhaps representative of a drug addict's life:
--> ''I'm a meth lab, first rehab\\
Take it all off and step inside the running cab\\
There's a love that knows the way\\
I'm the rainbow, in your jail cell\\
All the memories of everything you've ever smelled''
* AcousticVersion: The band performed these songs and more live during the Bridgefoot School Benefit Concert, organized by Music/NeilYoung. The live version of "By the Way" was even included as a BSide later to "Universally Speaking".
* TheAggressiveDrugDealer: "This Is the Place":
--> ''This is the place where all the devils plead\\
Their case to take from you what they need''
* BSide: "Runaway" and "The Bicycle Song" were iTunes bonus tracks. Others include "Eskimo", "Body of Water", "Out of Range", "Time", "Someone", "Rivers of Avalon", and a cover of Music/TheRamones' "Havana Affair." "Slowly, Deeply" was an instrumental outtake from the ''Music/{{Californication}}'' sessions that was released during this time as well.
* BilingualBonus: "Cabron" is Spanish for "motherfucker". Some international versions of the album (primarily those in Spanish-speaking countries) censor the title or [[CensoredForComedy even the song itself]].
* ConceptVideo: "Can't Stop" is an homage to "One Minute Sculptures", an idea conceived by Ervin Wurm. It features the band striking all kinds of strange poses every few seconds while performing to the song.
* CoverVersion: The band recorded a far slower version of "Havana Affair" by Music/TheRamones (from their [[Music/{{Ramones}} debut album]]).
* EpicInstrumentalOpener: "Midnight" has one.
* EpicRocking: "Venice Queen", "Midnight", "Tear", and "Dosed" are longer than most Chili Peppers tracks.
* GriefSong: "Dosed" could be a reference to Hillel Slovak, the band's first guitarist who died of a drug overdose.
* ICantDoThisByMyself: "Tear":
--> ''This is my time, this is my tear\\
I can see clearly now that this is not a place for playing solitaire\\
Tell me where you want me''
* IconicSongRequest: The band mostly tried to avoid playing their signature songs from ''Music/BloodSugarSexMagik'', "Give it Away" and "Under the Bridge", during this tour, preferring to instead play those two during encore performances. At Creator/{{MTV}}'s Vans Skate Park, the band even played their more melodic material such as "Venice Queen" and "Minor Thing".
* IdiosyncraticCoverArt: The cover art is a [[DigitalDestruction negative-rendered]] painting of Frusciante's then-girlfriend. The cover for the "Universally Speaking" EP features the original painting, which has pink and purple hues.
* ImmediateSelfContradiction: "Runaway":
--> ''Don't be late I hear it's\\
Going to be very great and\\
Out the door I'm walking like a runaway''
* IntercourseWithYou: "Warm Tape". Flea even went so far as to say something along the lines of "Play this song while making love" during a live performance. Granted, it's much more mature than the band's more… ostentatious material.
* LighterAndSofter: Played up during this period in the band's history. Notably, Johnny Ramone liked the slower, melodic cover of "Havana Affair" so much that he chose to open a Ramones tribute album with it.
* LoonyFan: A crazed cab driver in the "By the Way" music video kidnaps Anthony, takes him on a hectic ride around the city, puts on a spectacular performance for him underneath a bridge, and forces the singer to [[SuperWindowJump bail out of the taxi the old-fashioned way]]. In a ContinuityNod, the fan reappears in the "Universally Speaking" video to return the book Anthony had left in the car.
* ManOfWealthAndTaste: "Tear" seems to reference Charles Baudelaire and his views on modernity, and perhaps even the evils of society:
--> ''Devil may cry, devil may care\\
Distiller's got a scream and now I know just why\\
When she's moving air''
* NewMediaIsEvil: "Throw Away Your Television", obviously.
--> ''Throw away your television\\
Time to make this clean decision\\
Master waits for its collision, now\\
It's a repeat''
* NobodyLovesTheBassist: This album was one of the few where Flea did not have as much creative input as before, since Frusciante largely helmed this project. It was implied that "By the Way", "This Is the Place", "Can't Stop", and "Throw Away Your Television" were written as concessions to Flea since most of the others feature Frusciante's [[EchoingAcoustics melodic production]].
* NostalgiaFilter: "On Mercury" was inspired by the double dates Anthony Kiedis would have with his father when he was young. "This Is the Place", on the other hand, deconstructs this as it is about how his father drew him into a life of drug abuse at age 11.
* OdeToSobriety: "Don't Forget Me". "The Zephyr Song" could also count.
* OneWordTitle: "Dosed", "Midnight", "Cabron", and "Tear".
* PrecisionFStrike: "This Is the Place". It is the only song on the album to swear (besides "Cabron", of course, albeit in Español):
--> ''I am a misfit, I'm born with all of it\\
The'' fucking ''ultimate of love inside the atom split''
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: "Venice Queen" was a tribute to a friend of the band, and "This is the Place" and "On Mercury" both reference Anthony Kiedis's relationship with his father.
* RecordProducer: The LongRunner, Music/RickRubin. He was instrumental in convincing the band to play down the funk in favor of more, well, instrumental tracks, which led to this NewSoundAlbum.
* RecurringCharacter: The character of Dani (who also appears in ''Music/{{Californication}}'''s title track and "Dani California" from ''Music/StadiumArcadium'') is referenced in "By the Way", in the line "''Dani the girl is singing songs to me beneath the marquee''"
* RockMeAmadeus: The use of string sections on this album lend to this. The nonsensical rap verse on "Minor Thing" might reference this:
--> ''You've got your bit part, Mozart\\
Hot dart acceleration\\
Pop art, pistol chasing\\
Cat fight intimidation''
* SelfPlagiarism: Both the songs "Rivers of Avalon" and "This Is the Place" use the same bass riff, which is why only one or the other could have been featured on the album.
* SillyLoveSongs: "I Could Die for You" is probably one of the band's most mature, sincere love songs to date: something Anthony Kiedis circa 1984 would have balked at. The band has matured, after all.
* TheSomethingSong: "The Zephyr Song", and the aforementioned B-side "The Bicycle Song".
* SongStyleShift: "Can't Stop" has its verses driven by a funky bass riff, while the chorus and bridge are far more twee and poppy. However, the BSide "Time" switches tone far more abruptly, creating an interesting medley of FunkRock, RapRock, and AlternativeIndie.
* StopAndGo: "Venice Queen" switches from an atmospheric, psychedelic intro to an acoustic melody halfway through the song. John Frusciante generally has to use two separate guitars – and even wears both guitars live – in order to play the full song.
* SurrealMusicVideo: "The Zephyr Song" takes the cake. It throws together a bunch of garishly colorful and looping shots of the band members performing, flowers blooming, whorls, hip-hop dancers, kaleidoscopic shots, birds, smoke, [[MsFanservice and sexy girls]], in an attempt to mimic psychedelia. Granted, it's not true psychedelia - the video effects are too computerized - but it's still weird and beautiful.
* TitleTrack: "By the Way", of course.
* ToAbsentFriends: "Venice Queen" is about a friend of Anthony's, Gloria Scott, who died during the album's recording. He had bought a house for her in Venice Beach before her death and the song is dedicated to her.
* ToTheTuneOf: "Rivers of Avalon", a non-album BSide, features a very similar bassline to that of "This Is the Place". The band thus had to choose one the two to be on the album, and went with the latter.
* UnpluggedVersion: "Cabron" is one of the band's very few acoustic songs, and the only featuring an acoustic bass. The band even played at the Bridge School Benefit, a benefit concert organized by Music/NeilYoung featuring an acoustic-only setlist. The band played most of their singles including "By the Way" and an early version of "Desecration Smile" from ''Music/StadiumArcadium''.
* UpdatedRerelease: "Slowly, Deeply" was an instrumental done during the ''Music/{{Californication}}'' sessions, but the band delayed its release until it became a BSide to "Universally Speaking".
* WordSaladLyrics: Per Anthony Kiedis's style. There are even leaked demos of songs where Anthony sang gibberish over the master tracks in order to get a feel for the tune before adding proper lyrics.
----
[[caption-width-right:350:"''By the way, I tried to say I'd be there...''"]]
'''''By the Way''''' is the eighth studio album by Music/RedHotChiliPeppers, released in 2002. Known for its hit singles "By the Way", "Universally Speaking", "Can't Stop", and "The Zephyr Song", the album enjoyed significant success since it was a welcome follow-up to their previous hit album ''Music/{{Californication}}''. The ensuing tour for ''By the Way'' drew some of the band's largest audiences to date, and spawned the highly successful live performance [=CDs=] ''Live in Hyde Park'' and ''Live at Slane Castle''.
Music/JohnFrusciante was the primary creative force on the record, and he mainly added EchoingAcoustics and [[EpicInstrumentalOpener instrumentals]] on most of the tracks, creating LighterAndSofter melodies from the band's previous FunkRock jams. This created tension with Flea, whose bass playing was understated on the record, and at one point the bassist considered quitting the band. Nevertheless, Frusciante was able to compromise with his bandmates and the Chilis were able to remain intact.
The album remains a BaseBreaker for some fans since it was such a NewSoundAlbum, and some critics maintained that [[ItsPopularNowItSucks the album was significantly more mainstream]] than any of the band's previous work. Nevertheless, ''By the Way'' and its successor, ''Music/StadiumArcadium'', solidified the band's venture into AlternativeRock. It is seen as crucial in the band's development thanks to its mature lyrics and ambitious instrumental pieces.
----
!!Tracklist:
# "By the Way" (3:37)
# "Universally Speaking" (4:19)
# "This Is the Place" (4:17)
# "Dosed" (5:12)
# "Don't Forget Me" (4:37)
# "The Zephyr Song" (3:52)
# "Can't Stop" (4:29)
# "I Could Die for You" (3:13)
# "Midnight" (4:55)
# "Throw Away Your Television" (3:44)
# "Cabron" (3:38)
# "Tear" (5:17)
# "On Mercury" (3:28)
# "Minor Thing" (3:37)
# "Warm Tape" (4:16)
# "Venice Queen" (6:07)
[[folder:B-sides and outtakes]]
# "Havana Affair" (Music/TheRamones cover) (2:19)
# "Teenager in Love" (Dion and the Belmonts cover) (3:00)
# "The Bicycle Song" (3:23)
# "Runaway" (4:20)
# "Slowly, Deeply" (2:40)
# "Someone" (3:24)
# "Rivers of Avalon" (3:39)
# "Time" (3:47)
# "Out of Range" (3:58)
# "Body of Water" (4:41)
[[/folder]]
----
!!Principal Members:
* Michael "Flea" Balzary – bass, trumpet, harmonica and backing vocals
* Music/JohnFrusciante – guitar, backing vocals, piano, keyboards and modular synthesizer
* Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
* Chad Smith – drums, percussion
----
!!''The world I love, the tropes I hop, to be part of the wave, can't stop''
* AbstractApotheosis: "Don't Forget Me" lists various objects or personalities that are perhaps representative of a drug addict's life:
--> ''I'm a meth lab, first rehab\\
Take it all off and step inside the running cab\\
There's a love that knows the way\\
I'm the rainbow, in your jail cell\\
All the memories of everything you've ever smelled''
* AcousticVersion: The band performed these songs and more live during the Bridgefoot School Benefit Concert, organized by Music/NeilYoung. The live version of "By the Way" was even included as a BSide later to "Universally Speaking".
* TheAggressiveDrugDealer: "This Is the Place":
--> ''This is the place where all the devils plead\\
Their case to take from you what they need''
* BSide: "Runaway" and "The Bicycle Song" were iTunes bonus tracks. Others include "Eskimo", "Body of Water", "Out of Range", "Time", "Someone", "Rivers of Avalon", and a cover of Music/TheRamones' "Havana Affair." "Slowly, Deeply" was an instrumental outtake from the ''Music/{{Californication}}'' sessions that was released during this time as well.
* BilingualBonus: "Cabron" is Spanish for "motherfucker". Some international versions of the album (primarily those in Spanish-speaking countries) censor the title or [[CensoredForComedy even the song itself]].
* ConceptVideo: "Can't Stop" is an homage to "One Minute Sculptures", an idea conceived by Ervin Wurm. It features the band striking all kinds of strange poses every few seconds while performing to the song.
* CoverVersion: The band recorded a far slower version of "Havana Affair" by Music/TheRamones (from their [[Music/{{Ramones}} debut album]]).
* EpicInstrumentalOpener: "Midnight" has one.
* EpicRocking: "Venice Queen", "Midnight", "Tear", and "Dosed" are longer than most Chili Peppers tracks.
* GriefSong: "Dosed" could be a reference to Hillel Slovak, the band's first guitarist who died of a drug overdose.
* ICantDoThisByMyself: "Tear":
--> ''This is my time, this is my tear\\
I can see clearly now that this is not a place for playing solitaire\\
Tell me where you want me''
* IconicSongRequest: The band mostly tried to avoid playing their signature songs from ''Music/BloodSugarSexMagik'', "Give it Away" and "Under the Bridge", during this tour, preferring to instead play those two during encore performances. At Creator/{{MTV}}'s Vans Skate Park, the band even played their more melodic material such as "Venice Queen" and "Minor Thing".
* IdiosyncraticCoverArt: The cover art is a [[DigitalDestruction negative-rendered]] painting of Frusciante's then-girlfriend. The cover for the "Universally Speaking" EP features the original painting, which has pink and purple hues.
* ImmediateSelfContradiction: "Runaway":
--> ''Don't be late I hear it's\\
Going to be very great and\\
Out the door I'm walking like a runaway''
* IntercourseWithYou: "Warm Tape". Flea even went so far as to say something along the lines of "Play this song while making love" during a live performance. Granted, it's much more mature than the band's more… ostentatious material.
* LighterAndSofter: Played up during this period in the band's history. Notably, Johnny Ramone liked the slower, melodic cover of "Havana Affair" so much that he chose to open a Ramones tribute album with it.
* LoonyFan: A crazed cab driver in the "By the Way" music video kidnaps Anthony, takes him on a hectic ride around the city, puts on a spectacular performance for him underneath a bridge, and forces the singer to [[SuperWindowJump bail out of the taxi the old-fashioned way]]. In a ContinuityNod, the fan reappears in the "Universally Speaking" video to return the book Anthony had left in the car.
* ManOfWealthAndTaste: "Tear" seems to reference Charles Baudelaire and his views on modernity, and perhaps even the evils of society:
--> ''Devil may cry, devil may care\\
Distiller's got a scream and now I know just why\\
When she's moving air''
* NewMediaIsEvil: "Throw Away Your Television", obviously.
--> ''Throw away your television\\
Time to make this clean decision\\
Master waits for its collision, now\\
It's a repeat''
* NobodyLovesTheBassist: This album was one of the few where Flea did not have as much creative input as before, since Frusciante largely helmed this project. It was implied that "By the Way", "This Is the Place", "Can't Stop", and "Throw Away Your Television" were written as concessions to Flea since most of the others feature Frusciante's [[EchoingAcoustics melodic production]].
* NostalgiaFilter: "On Mercury" was inspired by the double dates Anthony Kiedis would have with his father when he was young. "This Is the Place", on the other hand, deconstructs this as it is about how his father drew him into a life of drug abuse at age 11.
* OdeToSobriety: "Don't Forget Me". "The Zephyr Song" could also count.
* OneWordTitle: "Dosed", "Midnight", "Cabron", and "Tear".
* PrecisionFStrike: "This Is the Place". It is the only song on the album to swear (besides "Cabron", of course, albeit in Español):
--> ''I am a misfit, I'm born with all of it\\
The'' fucking ''ultimate of love inside the atom split''
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: "Venice Queen" was a tribute to a friend of the band, and "This is the Place" and "On Mercury" both reference Anthony Kiedis's relationship with his father.
* RecordProducer: The LongRunner, Music/RickRubin. He was instrumental in convincing the band to play down the funk in favor of more, well, instrumental tracks, which led to this NewSoundAlbum.
* RecurringCharacter: The character of Dani (who also appears in ''Music/{{Californication}}'''s title track and "Dani California" from ''Music/StadiumArcadium'') is referenced in "By the Way", in the line "''Dani the girl is singing songs to me beneath the marquee''"
* RockMeAmadeus: The use of string sections on this album lend to this. The nonsensical rap verse on "Minor Thing" might reference this:
--> ''You've got your bit part, Mozart\\
Hot dart acceleration\\
Pop art, pistol chasing\\
Cat fight intimidation''
* SelfPlagiarism: Both the songs "Rivers of Avalon" and "This Is the Place" use the same bass riff, which is why only one or the other could have been featured on the album.
* SillyLoveSongs: "I Could Die for You" is probably one of the band's most mature, sincere love songs to date: something Anthony Kiedis circa 1984 would have balked at. The band has matured, after all.
* TheSomethingSong: "The Zephyr Song", and the aforementioned B-side "The Bicycle Song".
* SongStyleShift: "Can't Stop" has its verses driven by a funky bass riff, while the chorus and bridge are far more twee and poppy. However, the BSide "Time" switches tone far more abruptly, creating an interesting medley of FunkRock, RapRock, and AlternativeIndie.
* StopAndGo: "Venice Queen" switches from an atmospheric, psychedelic intro to an acoustic melody halfway through the song. John Frusciante generally has to use two separate guitars – and even wears both guitars live – in order to play the full song.
* SurrealMusicVideo: "The Zephyr Song" takes the cake. It throws together a bunch of garishly colorful and looping shots of the band members performing, flowers blooming, whorls, hip-hop dancers, kaleidoscopic shots, birds, smoke, [[MsFanservice and sexy girls]], in an attempt to mimic psychedelia. Granted, it's not true psychedelia - the video effects are too computerized - but it's still weird and beautiful.
* TitleTrack: "By the Way", of course.
* ToAbsentFriends: "Venice Queen" is about a friend of Anthony's, Gloria Scott, who died during the album's recording. He had bought a house for her in Venice Beach before her death and the song is dedicated to her.
* ToTheTuneOf: "Rivers of Avalon", a non-album BSide, features a very similar bassline to that of "This Is the Place". The band thus had to choose one the two to be on the album, and went with the latter.
* UnpluggedVersion: "Cabron" is one of the band's very few acoustic songs, and the only featuring an acoustic bass. The band even played at the Bridge School Benefit, a benefit concert organized by Music/NeilYoung featuring an acoustic-only setlist. The band played most of their singles including "By the Way" and an early version of "Desecration Smile" from ''Music/StadiumArcadium''.
* UpdatedRerelease: "Slowly, Deeply" was an instrumental done during the ''Music/{{Californication}}'' sessions, but the band delayed its release until it became a BSide to "Universally Speaking".
* WordSaladLyrics: Per Anthony Kiedis's style. There are even leaked demos of songs where Anthony sang gibberish over the master tracks in order to get a feel for the tune before adding proper lyrics.
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