Today’s theme, as set out for us by Jim in his post Defies Literal Definition, is to play some funk music. To be honest, I almost didn’t take part this week, as the little I know about this genre tells me that it isn’t for me. Just to be sure, I looked up its Wikipedia page and this confirmed my view (prejudice?) that I knew next to nothing about it, and liked even less. Their description tells us that it “originated in Black American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the mid-20th century.” You can see why I think that rather rules me out, can’t you. I looked at the very long list of funk musicians that they give, and had heard of very few of them, and didn’t really like most of those I knew, though I was a little surprised to see Ian Dury and the Blockheads there, as I played them when the SLS theme was new wave! But reading a little further I came across my saving grace: there is a subset known as funk rock, and I was now moving into more familiar territory. It is described as being a fusion of funk and rock, with many instruments incorporated into the music, though the overall sound is defined by a definitive bass or drum beat and electric guitars. One name immediately leapt out of the list of these bands, so I’m going a little off piste and playing two of their songs for you today. This is the first:

And these are its lyrics:

Scar tissue that I wish you saw
Sarcastic mister know-it-all
Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you, ’cause
With the birds I’ll share

With the birds I’ll share this lonely viewin’
With the birds I’ll share this lonely viewin’

Push me up against the wall
Young Kentucky girl in a push-up bra
Fallin’ all over myself
To lick your heart and taste your health ’cause

With the birds I’ll share this lonely viewin’
With the birds I’ll share this lonely viewin’
With the birds I’ll share this lonely view

Blood loss in a bathroom stall
A southern girl with a scarlet drawl
I wave goodbye to ma and pa 
‘Cause with the birds I’ll share

With the birds I’ll share this lonely viewin’
With the birds I’ll share this lonely viewin’

Soft spoken with a broken jaw
Step outside but not to brawl and
Autumn’s sweet, we call it fall 
I’ll make it to the moon if I have to crawl and

With the birds I’ll share this lonely viewin’
With the birds I’ll share this lonely viewin’
With the birds I’ll share this lonely view

Scar tissue that I wish you saw
Sarcastic mister know-it-all
Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you, ’cause
With the birds I’ll share

With the birds I’ll share this lonely viewin’
With the birds I’ll share this lonely viewin’
With the birds I’ll share this lonely view

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Anthony Kiedis / Chad Gaylord Smith / John Anthony Frusciante / Michael Peter Balzary

Scar Tissue lyrics © MoeBeToBlame, Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Words & Music A Div Of Big Deal Music LLC

You might have noticed the name Michael Peter Balzary among the writing credits for the song: you probably know him better as Flea, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bass player who, along with drummer Chad Smith, created the incredibly tight rhythm section which underlies all of their music and which earns them their place in the list of funk rock bands. Scar Tissue came out as a single in May 1999, just ahead of the June release of the band’s seventh album, Californication. I was surprised to find that this wasn’t a #1 album in either the UK or the US, making #5 and #3 respectively, though it did top the charts in Australia, New Zealand and several European countries and has gone on to sell more than 16m copies worldwide. The track was released as a single, making #9 in the US and #15 in the UK, no doubt helped by that video, which has over 447m views on YouTube. It also won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 2000. They have since had four #1 albums in the UK, two of which – Stadium Arcadium and Unlimited Love – were also US #1s. Californication is a great album, one of my favourites of theirs along with Blood Sugar Sex Magik, which runs it a very close second in world sales figures.

Scar Tissue is track three on the album. I thought I’d also give you a little bonus by playing track four:

Otherside was released as a single in Australia and New Zealand in December 1999, and in the rest of the world in January 2000, peaking at #14 in the US and #33 in the UK, though it did make #1 on the US Alternative Airplay chart. It is about addicts and their struggles: particularly poignant as this was the first album the band made with guitarist John Frusciante after he rejoined, having overcome his heroin addiction. The lyrics to the first two verses give you the feel of the song:

How long, how long will I slide?
Separate my side, I don’t
I don’t believe it’s bad
Slit my throat, it’s all I ever

I heard your voice through a photograph
I thought it up and brought up the past
Once you know you can never go back
I gotta take it on the other side

Fortunately I have never had any addictions but I’ve worked with people who have, and they told me that this song spoke volumes to them. You can hear why, can’t you, in Anthony Kiedis’ vocals.

That’s it for this week. If you were expecting to hear James Brown you should know me better by now: he may have a “Brand New Bag” but it isn’t mine! I’ll see you again for Tuesday Tunes, and have another piece lined up for later in the week. Enjoy the music! 🎶