Music Review: Red Hot Chili Peppers "Fortune Faded"
Red Hot Chili Peppers
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Fortune Faded
Album: Greatest Hits
Year: 2003
Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of Red Hot Chili Peppers, has peaked and lost influence. All he can do now is watch as others claw their way to his former rank in the pondering "Fortune Faded."
Rowdy guitar and thundering drums open the single. It segues into the bass guitar. Kiedis thinks of how one person has to destroy another in order to reach the top. But he wonders: has the person truly won? They have to sacrifice their ethics and intregrity to get there. He notes that people already in a high-ranking position fail to notice they will be toppled soon. "They say at chess you've got to kill the queen/And then you've made it/Do you?/A funny thing, a king that gets himself/Assassinated"
In the pre-chorus, Kiedis says that he has been turned down or snubbed, he gains something positive from it. "Hey now, every time I lose/Altitude."
The person that has taken Kiedis' spot is alluring and winning everyone over. The problems they made along the way are glossed over and celebrated. He wonders if the person has realized they are actually a lie. He sees the person gloating and taking advantage of others to get more power. He advises the person to stop or otherwise they will alienate everyone. "You took the town by storm/The mess you made was nominated/Do you?/Now put away your welcome/Soon you'll find you've overstayed it."
After the pre-chorus, Kiedis remarks it was an outrageous rollercoaster ride to the top. But with each loop, he was taken less seriously. The repurcussions for his reckless behavior were the price he paid. It resulted in him no longer becoming tabloid fodder and not increasing his celebrity. "So divine, hell of an elevator/All the while, my fortune faded/Never mind the consequences of my/Wildest time, my fortune faded."
Any amount of drugs won't stop the insecurity from inside. He tells person self-medicating will do nothing but bring emptiness. The person knew the end was coming. The person reacts by doing what he is expected to do. "The medicated state of mind/You'll find is overrated/Do you?/You saw it all come down and now/It's time to imitate it."
After the pre-chorus and chorus, the rowdy guitars and thundering drums return again for the bridge. He asks God as to why he's been given so much failure? He admits he's only not that strong to withstand much more of it. "Come on God, do I seem bulletproof?" The rousing drums maintain a frantic rhythm for several seconds.
The chorus is sung twice to end the single.
Kiedis wants another chance to reach the top. He observes other people who are making the same mistakes he did. If he could do it all over again, he would not have taken it for granted. Kiedis is apologetic but resentful in "Fortune Faded." He can't understand why he's irrelevant. Yet he is bitter that the people are being accepted by the public and getting away with things he couldn't years ago.
In "Fortune Faded," Kiedis discusses fame but leaves the situation ambigious. It could be about a political leader, a good friend who got a promotion, etc. The Red Hot Chili Peppers released a single familiar to the grunge era. However, it's far closer to rock than what is currently on the radio by the newer bands.
Album: Greatest Hits
Year: 2003
Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of Red Hot Chili Peppers, has peaked and lost influence. All he can do now is watch as others claw their way to his former rank in the pondering "Fortune Faded."
Rowdy guitar and thundering drums open the single. It segues into the bass guitar. Kiedis thinks of how one person has to destroy another in order to reach the top. But he wonders: has the person truly won? They have to sacrifice their ethics and intregrity to get there. He notes that people already in a high-ranking position fail to notice they will be toppled soon. "They say at chess you've got to kill the queen/And then you've made it/Do you?/A funny thing, a king that gets himself/Assassinated"
In the pre-chorus, Kiedis says that he has been turned down or snubbed, he gains something positive from it. "Hey now, every time I lose/Altitude."
The person that has taken Kiedis' spot is alluring and winning everyone over. The problems they made along the way are glossed over and celebrated. He wonders if the person has realized they are actually a lie. He sees the person gloating and taking advantage of others to get more power. He advises the person to stop or otherwise they will alienate everyone. "You took the town by storm/The mess you made was nominated/Do you?/Now put away your welcome/Soon you'll find you've overstayed it."
After the pre-chorus, Kiedis remarks it was an outrageous rollercoaster ride to the top. But with each loop, he was taken less seriously. The repurcussions for his reckless behavior were the price he paid. It resulted in him no longer becoming tabloid fodder and not increasing his celebrity. "So divine, hell of an elevator/All the while, my fortune faded/Never mind the consequences of my/Wildest time, my fortune faded."
Any amount of drugs won't stop the insecurity from inside. He tells person self-medicating will do nothing but bring emptiness. The person knew the end was coming. The person reacts by doing what he is expected to do. "The medicated state of mind/You'll find is overrated/Do you?/You saw it all come down and now/It's time to imitate it."
After the pre-chorus and chorus, the rowdy guitars and thundering drums return again for the bridge. He asks God as to why he's been given so much failure? He admits he's only not that strong to withstand much more of it. "Come on God, do I seem bulletproof?" The rousing drums maintain a frantic rhythm for several seconds.
The chorus is sung twice to end the single.
Kiedis wants another chance to reach the top. He observes other people who are making the same mistakes he did. If he could do it all over again, he would not have taken it for granted. Kiedis is apologetic but resentful in "Fortune Faded." He can't understand why he's irrelevant. Yet he is bitter that the people are being accepted by the public and getting away with things he couldn't years ago.
In "Fortune Faded," Kiedis discusses fame but leaves the situation ambigious. It could be about a political leader, a good friend who got a promotion, etc. The Red Hot Chili Peppers released a single familiar to the grunge era. However, it's far closer to rock than what is currently on the radio by the newer bands.