It has been said that the Red Hot Chili Peppers produce the most faultless combination of Funk and Rock: otherwise known as ‘Fuck’. ‘Can’t Stop’ epitomizes this perfectly – the funky guitar, blended with Flea’s groovy bassline, packs punch yet gives it an uber danceable feel, making it one of the Peppers’ best.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DyziWtkfBw?rel=0&w=740&h=422]
‘Can’t Stop’, being the third single released from the album By The Way, is often be overlooked in favour of ‘By The Way’ and ‘The Zephyr Song’, but this Throwback Thursday is dedicated to it for the song’s incredible diversity. Anthony Kiedis raps the verses, but sings the chorus, and the rest of the band mirrors him as the verses have forceful funkiness and the chorus has a smoother, fuller sound from the use of chords as opposed to the repeated lick and slap bass used in the verses.
But what really makes this song is John Frusciante’s guitar solo. In those few bars, Frusciante plays with such feeling and emotion that the length or complexity of the solo is irrelevant. In fact, its the simplicity of the solo which allows him to play with such vigor, anything else would not have the same mesmerizing effect.
Words by Eve Taylor