Breaking the Girl
{{Short description|1992 single by Red Hot Chili Peppers}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Breaking the Girl
| cover = Breakingthegirl.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Red Hot Chili Peppers
| album = Blood Sugar Sex Magik
| B-side = Fela's Cock
| released = {{start date|1992|8|3}}{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=19|date=August 1, 1992}}
| recorded =
| studio = The Mansion (Los Angeles, California)
| genre = {{hlist|Alternative rock|psychedelic rock|folk rock{{Cite web|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/red-hot-chili-peppers-record-breaking-the-girl/|title=Watch Red Hot Chili Peppers record 'Breaking the Girl'|author=Tyler Golsen|website=faroutmagazine.co.uk|date=April 14, 2022 |quote="psychedelic acoustic number"}}}}
| length =
- 4:55 (album version)
- 4:27 (single edit)
| label = Warner Bros.
| writer = {{hlist|Flea|John Frusciante|Anthony Kiedis|Chad Smith}}
| producer = Rick Rubin
| prev_title = Suck My Kiss
| prev_year = 1992
| next_title = Behind the Sun
| next_year = 1992
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|iyu04pqC8lE|"Breaking the Girl"}}}}
}}
"Breaking the Girl" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers from their fifth studio album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991). It was released as the fourth single from their studio album in August 1992 and is a melodic ballad that refers to a turbulent relationship between frontman Anthony Kiedis and his former girlfriend, Carmen Hawk.{{cite web|url=http://diffuser.fm/10-best-red-hot-chili-peppers-songs/ |title=10 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs |publisher=Diffuser.fm |date=October 25, 2012 |access-date=April 30, 2013}}
Composition
"Breaking the Girl"'s bridge is marked by a percussion break that builds through the use of increasingly complex rhythms. The percussion instruments consisted of junkyard debris found by drummer Chad Smith, guitarist John Frusciante, and bassist Flea. Frusciante's main riff was inspired by Led Zeppelin's ballads, such as "The Battle of Evermore" and "Friends".{{cite web |url=http://invisible-movement.net/articles/2002-press/guitar/2 |title=Tonal Telepathy | John Frusciante unofficial – Invisible Movement | Page 2 |publisher=Invisible-movement.net |access-date=November 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120092147/http://www.invisible-movement.net/articles/2002-press/guitar/2 |archive-date=November 20, 2008 |url-status=dead }} The song also makes use of a 12-string guitar, tuned a half step down, and a Mellotron, using the flute patch. It is in the 6/8 time signature. Chad Smith said in The Chad & Flea Show that his drumming in the song was inspired by Mitch Mitchell's work in the Jimi Hendrix Experience song "Manic Depression".{{cite web|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers Admit They Copied Jimi Hendrix on "Breaking the Girl"|url=http://www.guitarworld.com/artist-news/red-hot-chili-peppers-admit-they-copied-jimi-hendrix-breaking-girl/30083|website=www.guitarworld.com|date=October 27, 2016 |publisher=Guitar World|access-date=February 15, 2017}}
Music video
The music video was released on July 30, 1992, and was directed by Stéphane Sednaoui, who had previously made a video for the song "Give It Away".{{cite web |url=http://redhotchilipeppers.com/timeline |title=RHCP Timeline |website=Redhotchilipeppers.com |date=March 28, 2012 |access-date=February 2, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206002037/http://redhotchilipeppers.com/timeline |archive-date=February 6, 2015}} It makes heavy, experimental use of vibrant colors, with the background and costumes changing constantly. The band members adopt surreal appearances and behavior, with Kiedis for example having an overall Princess Leia-esque look, complete with robes and a "donut" hairstyle. The "Breaking the Girl" video is one of only two videos to feature Arik Marshall (who briefly acted as a replacement for guitarist John Frusciante) the other video being for "If You Have to Ask" – though he did not play on either track. The video also features a brief cameo by River Phoenix, who was good friends with members of the band. The woman in the video is model/actress Patricia Velásquez.
Live performances
The song was performed once on the Blood Sugar Sex Magik Tour opening date in 1991, and later reappeared in the band's setlist once in 2000 but not again until 2003. After an eight-year hiatus from being performed, the band added the song to a few setlists on their I'm with You Tour. Kiedis also briefly performed the song with The Roots during his appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in November 2014. The song returned after a five-year hiatus from the band's setlist in January 2017 on The Getaway World Tour.
Track listings
CD and 12-inch single (1992)
- "Breaking the Girl" (edit)
- "Fela's Cock" (previously unreleased)
- "Suck My Kiss" (live)
- "I Could Have Lied" (live)
CD single version 2 (1992)
- "Breaking the Girl" (edit)
- "Suck My Kiss" (live)
- "I Could Have Lied" (live)
7-inch single (1992)
- "Breaking the Girl" (edit)
- "Fela's Cock" (unreleased)
Cassette single (1992)
- "Breaking the Girl" (edit)
- "The Power of Equality" (album version)
Personnel
Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals, percussion
- John Frusciante – guitars, backing vocals, percussion
- Flea – bass, percussion
- Chad Smith – drums, percussion
Additional musicians
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!scope="col"|Chart (1992) !scope="col"|Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|30|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Breaking the Girl|rowheader=true|access-date=November 20, 2016}} |
| {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|45|chartid=1933|rowheader=true|access-date=November 20, 2016}} |
| scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-08-29.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=35|page=17|date=August 29, 1992|access-date=January 15, 2021}}
|94 |
|---|
| scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|first=Jake|last=Nyman|year=2005|title=Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja|edition=1st|publisher=Tammi|location=Helsinki|isbn=951-31-2503-3|language=fi}}
|20 |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|19|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Breaking the Girl|rowheader=true|access-date=November 20, 2016}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|48|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Breaking the Girl|rowheader=true|access-date=November 20, 2016}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|12|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Breaking the Girl|rowheader=true|access-date=November 20, 2016}} |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|41|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|artistid=15644|rowheader=true|access-date=January 15, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|19|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|rowheader=true|access-date=November 20, 2016}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|15|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|rowheader=true|access-date=November 20, 2016}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|title=Breaking the Girl|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1991|certyear=2021|access-date=September 23, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Red Hot Chili Peppers}}
{{Red Hot Chili Peppers singles}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Breaking The Girl}}
Category:Red Hot Chili Peppers songs
Category:Music videos directed by Stéphane Sednaoui
Category:Song recordings produced by Rick Rubin
Category:Songs written by Anthony Kiedis
Category:Songs written by Chad Smith
Category:Songs written by Flea (musician)