Released May 5, 2016 Label Warner Bros. | Length 5:02 | |
 | ||
B-side "The Getaway" (Cassette single) Format Digital download, cassette single Genre Funk rock
alternative rock | ||
"Dark Necessities" is a song from American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers and is the first single from their eleventh studio album, The Getaway. After announcing the single through their Twitter page on May 2, 2016, the single was released three days later on May 5, 2016. The music video was released on June 16, 2016.
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"Dark Necessities" was successful on the Billboard charts, becoming the band's 13th number-one single on the Alternative Songs chart, extending their record over runner-up Linkin Park (11). They have held the record since 2006. The song also became the band's 25th top ten single on the Alternative Songs chart, extending their record over runner-up U2 (23). The song became the Chili Peppers' 30th to chart inside the chart's top 20, which placed them one entry below U2, with 31. The Chili Peppers moved into a tie for the third-most songs on the Alternative chart, matching Foo Fighters' 31; U2 marks 41 entries, while Pearl Jam has charted 38. The song is also the fourth song to reach number one on the Alternative Songs chart, the Mainstream Rock chart, and the Adult Alternative Songs chart.
"Dark Necessities" made its live debut on May 22, 2016 at the Rock on the Range festival in Columbus, Ohio.
A live version recorded at Canal+ Studios in Paris, can be found on the Live in Paris EP.
Background
In a June 7, 2016 video interview for the band's YouTube channel, Anthony Kiedis discussed the song saying that many of the songs were created on their own. However, "Dark Necessities" was one of the songs that the band had written with Brian Burton aka Danger Mouse. Kiedis said that he went to Hawaii and worked on the lyrics to the song which speak to the beauty of our dark sides and how much creativity, growth and light actually comes out of those difficult struggles that we have on the inside of our heads that no one else can see. Kiedis also said that the song meant a lot to Burton and it was one of his favorites. He said that Burton fought for "Dark Necessities" to be the first single. However, the band wanted "The Getaway" to be the first single while the label and managers wanted the song "Go Robot" to be the first single.
Critical reception
"Dark Necessities" was placed at number 12 on Rolling Stone’s "50 Best Songs of 2016" list, writing: “Their big comeback hit collabo with Danger Mouse, with Anthony Kiedis getting personal about his darkest, druggiest memories over a Flea bassline full of blood, sugar, sex and magic.”
Music video
The video, directed by Olivia Wilde, was first announced by Chad Smith on May 31, 2016 and was released through the band's Facebook page on June 16, 2016. Chris Blauvelt served as the cinematographer. The music video features long boarders (Carmen Shafer, Amanda Caloia, Amanda Powell, and Noelle Mulligan) skating around a grocery store, abandoned streets, and the L.A. river, interspersed with the band playing the song.