Customer Reviews

Dani California

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Obviously if you're going to buy this CD, you probably consider yourself a fan of the band and don't care so much about the title track as you do about the two other songs, "Whatever We Want" and "Lately".

Whatever We Want is a pretty good song that has a harder feel to it with some cool lead guitar parts. Not really a remember song, but good none-the-less.

Lately is upbeat, but still a little slower. This song could have easily made it onto either Jupiter or Mars.

All in all, I never expect much from B-sides on singles, otherwise they would have wound up on the album. Both of these songs however make this disc worth buying, but won't end up in heavy rotation in my CD player.

I'd recommend getting this to anyone who considers themselves an above average fan. You won't be disappointed.

"Dani California" is a great first single:

- catchy
- interesting lyrics that tell a story about a troubled, yet likeable character (a criminally-minded girl named Dani, also featured in "By The Way" and "Californication")
- nice drum-and-bass beat courtesy of Chad Smith and Flea, respectively
- good vocals by Anthony Kiedis
- amazing guitar solo by John Frusciante, similar to the Hendrixian classic "Purple Haze"

All in all, a good track, but nothing overly amazing. For that, you have to check out the rest of the album ("Stadium Arcadium").

Oh, and for those who are scared of buying this because they think it's a rip-off of Tom Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance," DON'T BE. The songs have similar chord progressions, yes, but that is to be expected in Southern rock songs. There's only so many chord progressions you can use. Also, Rick Rubin produced both songs - do you really think he would let the Chili Peppers, who wrote about 40 songs for this album ALONE, rip-off another one of his clients?

Apart from the intro, the songs sound nothing alike. I should know, being a huge fan of both artists. Don't let the radio station hype get to ya and purchase this great little ditty.

I don't yet have the single itself, but the song is great in my opinion. Just thought I'd mention that John Frusciante said himself (from the special edition Stadium Arcadium album DVD) that the main guitar riff is basically the main riff from Jimi Hendrix's 'Foxy Lady', just in a different key. And yes, I can see how it sounds similar to Tom Petty as well. But in the end, they're all excellent musicians who have obviously endured the test of time to be more popular and successful today than they were 15 years ago, after the release of their breakthrough 'Blood Sugar Sex Magic'. Only the best of the best bands in rock music (Tom Petty, for example) can reach out to as many people, if not more, almost a generation later. That said, can anyone really complain if one of their songs sounds kind of like another one?

"Dani California" was the leadoff single to the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Stadium Arcadium", released per standard operating procedure from Warner Bros. as a two part single.

The track itself is a great piece, with an odd lurching swing to its verses and an explosive chorus relying on a Pixie-like loud-soft formula. The song has drawn a lot of negative attention for its similarities to Tom Petty's "Last Dance With Mary Jane"-- I didn't note the similarity until it was pointed out to me, as such it really didn't do much to my opinion of the piece.

The first part of the single contains two b-sides-- "Whatever We Want" and "Lately". The former is driven by a chugging, distorted guitar riff and a pulsing, almost '70s rock rhythm. It bears little of the Chili Peppers' signature sound, with the band's trademark funk deeply recessed and Flea's bass almost invisible. Worst still is Anthony Kiedis' vocal, which sounds strained and reaching past its capabilities. The piece is redeemed somewhat by a great noisy guitar solo, but by and large is forgettable. The latter cut is driven by a pulsing acoustic guitar riff and is a decent enough piece, particularly hitting a nice stride in its chorus, but again doesn't feel like the Chili Peppers and is largely forgettable.

Bottom line-- there's not much here that anyone is going to want other than the title track unless you're a diehard, and if you're a diehard, you've already got this.

A great CD single by the Red Hot Chili Peppers...I do enjoy the video where they 'spoof' artists' from the past (such as Bootsy Collins, etc..)

I'll start by saying I haven't been a huge fan of the RHCP. Just not my favorite musical style, but I've heard enough of their work to appreciate that they are truly one of the better bands to have emerged in the last decade.

That said, Dani California is an excellent song. The 2 extra songs are not bad either, just nothing special. Clearly, Dani California was influenced by Tom Petty's Mary Jane's Last Dance. Too much coincidence here. Does anyone really believe Rick Rubin would not have noticed the similarity? But, that is the essence of Rock n Roll. Beg, steal and borrow. Much of the great rock n roll from icons like the Stones and Led Zeppelin has borrowed heavily from old blues artists and old rock n roll artists such as Chuck Berry.

Not mentioned by the other reviewers, I think some of the references to the Petty song are intentional! Call it tongue in cheek. It works, its good and that's the way T Petty himself views it. Though Dani California is much more subtle and clever it somewhat reminds me of an old Neil Young song on "Tonights the Night" where he says something about stealing this song from the Rolling Stones right in the lyric.

Bottom line RHCP fans? Don't fret. I've been listening to Rock N Roll for over 40 years. There is nothing going on here that hasn't been done hundreds of times before. Just sit back and enjoy!

I've been getting guff from people that the RHCP ripped off Tom Petty's Mary Jane's Last Dance. The RHCP are my favotite band, so I may have a personal bias, but I don't think they ripped anyone off. It's still a good tune. If it sounds good, then it is good. The Peppers have been around for close to 25 years and are still reinventing themselves which is evident on Stadium Arcadium. Petty has been around even longer and still puts out good stuff. Petty didn't sue them so therefore he doesn't think the song is a rip-off. Get over it. Jet ripped off Iggy and the Stooges with Are You Gonna Be Girl? Listen to The Stooge's Lust For Life. The opening drums are nearly identical, but they are both good songs in their own right. Get over it people.

This is the start of a great new album-masterpiece
what do you want?
interesting lyrics? you can have it
catchy drum section? you can have it
cool guitars? you can have it
a mind-blowing single? YOU CAN HAVE IT

PEPPERS ARE BACK

Yes, it is a good groove. Tom Petty did think so too when he wrote Mary Jane's Last Dance, which came out a year after Waiting For The Sun by the Jayhawks. A Petty ripoff?

Yeah, good tune...Tom Petty thought so too when HE wrote 'Mary Janes Last Dance'....RED HOT RIPOFF! Go listen folks...same groove, same melody.