"Universally Speaking" is a song by American rock band

Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock music, rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983, comprising vocalist Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea (musician), Flea, drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante. Their music incorporates element ...

from their eighth studio album, ''

By the Way ''By the Way'' is the eighth studio album by the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released July 9, 2002, on Warner Bros. Records. It sold more than 286,000 copies in its first week, and peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' 200. Si ...

'' (2002). It was the fourth and final single from the album and was released solely in Europe and Australia in mid-2003. The track was also included on their live album ''

Red Hot Chili Peppers Live in Hyde Park ''Live in Hyde Park'' is the first live album released by American band Red Hot Chili Peppers, recorded over three record-breaking nights at Hyde Park, in London on June 19, 20 and 25, 2004 during the band's Roll on the Red Tour. These three co ...

'' and their ''

Greatest Hits A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be crea ...

'' album.

Song information

XFM online said "Universally Speaking" is a "fairly upbeat rock ode" and ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' said it was "

Beatlesque "Beatlesque" () or "Beatles-esque" describes a musical resemblance to the English rock band the Beatles. The term is loosely defined and has been applied inconsistently to a wide variety of disparate artists. Definitions To better explain what t ...

psychedelia". The cover for the single is the same as the cover of the ''

'' album, except the colors are reverted to normal.

Music video

The video for the song features Dave Sheridan, who plays a deranged concertgoer who attempts to return a book to vocalist

Anthony Kiedis Anthony Kiedis ( ; born November 1, 1962) is an American singer and songwriter. He is a founding member and lead vocalist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Kiedis and his fellow band members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fa ...

, who left the book in his taxi in the video to "

". After numerous failed attempts, he successfully returns the book to the frontman by going on stage while the band performs

Suck My Kiss "Suck My Kiss" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was released as the third single from their fifth studio album, ''Blood Sugar Sex Magik''. "Suck My Kiss" was released as an airplay single in the United States in 1991 and ...

. The book he is returning to Kiedis is "Lexicon Devil: The Fast Times and Short Life of Darby Crash and the Germs", which is the biography of

Darby Crash Jan Paul Beahm (better known by his stage name Darby Crash, formerly Bobby Pyn; September 26, 1958 – December 7, 1980) was an American punk rock vocalist who, along with longtime friend Pat Smear (born Georg Ruthenberg), co-founded the punk ro ...

, the late frontman for the late-1970s punk band the Germs and was written by

Brendan Mullen Brendan Mullen (October 9, 1949 – October 12, 2009) was a Scottish nightclub owner, music promoter and writer, best known for founding the Los Angeles punk rock club The Masque. Through Mullen's support at various nightclubs in Californ ...

. The music video was directed by longtime friend

Dick Rude Dick Rude (born 1964) is a director, actor and writer known for his appearances in and contributions to many Alex Cox films including a starring role in 1986's '' Straight to Hell'', for which he also served as a writer and contributed to the sou ...

who also directed the video for "

Catholic School Girls Rule "Catholic School Girls Rule" is a song from the 1985 album ''Freaky Styley'' by The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Although never released as a proper radio single, a music video for the song was made and was directed by longtime friend, Dick Rude. The vi ...

" and the live DVD '' Off the Map''.

Live performances

"Universally Speaking" was performed regularly on the

By the Way Tour The By the Way Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the Red Hot Chili Peppers in support of their eighth studio album, ''By the Way''. A DVD of the August 23, 2003 concert in Slane Castle, titled Live at Slane Castle, was released after the tour ...

. However, it was dropped from sets after 2004 before making a comeback on the

I'm with You World Tour The I'm with You World Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American rock band, the Red Hot Chili Peppers in support of the band's tenth studio album, '' I'm with You''. It marked the band's first tour in four years and first with guitarist Josh K ...

. It has since been performed regularly.

Cover version

In July 2021, singer-songwriter Ava Maybee, who is the daughter of drummer

Chad Smith Chad Gaylord Smith (born October 25, 1961) is an American musician who has been the drummer of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers since 1988. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Smith is also the drummer of the ...

, posted a cover version of "Universally Speaking" to her

Instagram Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...

page.

Track listings

CD version 1 # "Universally Speaking" (

John Frusciante John Anthony Frusciante (; born March 5, 1970) is an American musician, best known as the guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers across three stints since 1988. He has released 11 solo albums and 7 EPs, ranging in style from acoustic guitar to e ...

single mix) – 4:18 # "

" (live acoustic) – 4:59 # "Don't Forget Me" (live) – 5:07 CD version 2 # "Universally Speaking" (

single mix) – 4:20 # "Slowly Deeply" (previously unreleased) – 2:40 # "Universally Speaking" (enhanced video)

Charts

Release history

References

{{Authority control 2002 songs 2003 singles Red Hot Chili Peppers songs Song recordings produced by Rick Rubin Songs written by Anthony Kiedis Songs written by Chad Smith Songs written by Flea (musician) Songs written by John Frusciante Warner Records singles