Universally Speaking 1 [Single, Import]

Red Hot Chili Peppers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 15, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Single, Import
• Label: Import [Generic]
• ASIN: B00009MDDQ
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #548,493 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Universally Speaking

2. By The Way (Live Acoustic)

3. Dont Forget Me (Live)

Editorial Reviews

Taken from the 2002 album, 'By The Way'. The title track is backed with two non-LP tracks, 'By The Way' (Acoustic Live) & 'Don't Forget Me' (Live). Warner Brothers. 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two great live tracks make this a must for the true RHCP fan, March 17, 2004

By 

Ron Cronovich "Ron" (Kenosha, WI) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Universally Speaking 1 (Audio CD)

If you're reading this, chances are you already own "By the Way", which contains the same version of Universally Speaking that appears on this single. So, you're trying to decide whether to fork out your hard-earned $$$ for a mere two tracks, which you've probably never heard before (not *these* versions of the tunes). So should you do it?

If you're a fan, YES. Both tracks are GREAT!!!

The live version of "By the Way" will catch you off-guard. It is slower than the studio version, and is "unplugged" - John plays acoustic guitar. But it is soooo funky in a kind of understated way, and has more beauty and more tension than the studio version. After listening to it a couple times, you might just love it more than the studio version.

Then, there's a live version of "Don't Forget Me" recorded at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas at the beginning of their By the Way tour. Man it SMOKES! Chad's drumming really shines - he is definitely one of the most technically proficient and hardest rocking drummers on the scene. John plays a mother of a guitar solo.

Both live tracks demonstrate the amazing chemistry these four artists have with each other, and both convey to the listener the intensity and joy of the RHCP live. I also own the DVD "live at sloan castle," which is good, but in my humble view the two live tracks on the Universally Speaking single do a better job of aurally transporting you to a live performance of the Chili Peppers.

That said, the two live tracks aren't perfect. Anthony's vocals are occasionally a bit out of tune. And on "Don't forget me," he doesn't bend/slur the notes the way he does on the studio version, an effect that adds to the vibe of that tune. The EQ isn't great on "Don't forget me," and the reverb or whatever effect it is that gives the studio version a very subtle but noticable atmosphere is missing from this live version.

Nonetheless, these issues are all quite minor. The two live tracks are exceptional, and you will be glad you parted with your coin to acquire this sweet CD single, which was produced in a limited run and won't be available forever.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent live tracks., September 30, 2005

By 

Michael Stack (North Chelmsford, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Universally Speaking 1 (Audio CD)

"Universally Speaking" was the fourth single off the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "By the Way" in Europe. It saw release in two parts, this part (with the half body picture rather than the face closeup) includes two live tracks, "By the Way" and "Dont' Forget Me", both from "By the Way".

The title track is an exciting alt-pop song, not the sort of thing you'd expect from the Chili Peppers ten years ago, but still phenomenally good. With a driving rhythm and a clever arrangement soaked in vocal harmonies, strings, and organs, it shows just how far the band has come over the years.

The b-sides are pretty intriguing on this-- the acoustic take of "By the Way" slows the piece somewhat, increases the tension, in moves into largely a tribal mode on the previously funky verses. It's quite different, but it works quite nicely. "Don't Forget Me" gets a bit more of a straight reading, it's decent enough but doesn't really add much to the album version.

In all, this is a decent single, well worth digging up for the live tracks.