Desecration Smile
{{Infobox song
| name = Desecration Smile
| cover = Desecration Smile.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Red Hot Chili Peppers
| album = Stadium Arcadium
| B-side = {{ubl|"Joe"|"Save This Lady"}}
| released = {{start date|2007|2|12}} (UK)
| recorded = 2005
| studio = The Mansion, Los Angeles, California
| venue =
| genre = Alternative rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock
| length = 5:02 (album version)
4:15 (edit)
| label = Warner Bros.
| writer = Flea, Frusciante, Kiedis, Smith
| producer = Rick Rubin
| prev_title = Snow (Hey Oh)
| prev_year = 2006
| next_title = Hump de Bump
| next_year = 2007
}}
"Desecration Smile" is a song from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and was on their 2006 double album, Stadium Arcadium. The song was the fourth single released from the album.
The song was first heard by fans when it was played at the Bridge School Benefit in 2004. However, the structure and chorus of the song are different from the version released on Stadium Arcadium.
The single contained the album outtakes, "Joe" (which was a tribute to Joe Strummer) and "Save This Lady". Both songs were also on the single for "Hump de Bump".
The cover artwork is from Stefanie Schneider.
Composition
Desecration Smile is in the key of E major in the intro, E minor in the verses and D major in the refrain. It has a moderate tempo of 92 BPM.
Formats and track listings
CD single 1 5439 19997-9
- "Desecration Smile"
- "Joe" (previously unreleased) – 3:54
CD single 2 9362 49991-9
- "Desecration Smile"
- "Funky Monks" (live) – 6:29
- "Save This Lady" (previously unreleased) – 4:17
Promo Single PR016186
- "Desecration Smile" (album version)
- "Desecration Smile" (radio edit)
7" picture disc 5439 19997-6
- "Desecration Smile"
- "Funky Monks" (live) – 6:29
Personnel
- Anthony Kiedis - lead vocals
- John Frusciante - acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals, piano
- Flea - bass guitar
- Chad Smith - drums, percussion
- Emily Kokal - chorus vocals
Music video
The music video was shot and released in February 2007 and directed by "Under the Bridge" director Gus Van Sant. It was shot entirely in one take with one camera and featured the band huddled together singing all the way through. There is also an alternate version of the band singing and playing their instruments by the ocean cut together with parts of the official video. Although the first one is considered the official, it was the alternative version that was published on the official Warner Bros. YouTube account.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}
Live performances
"Desecration Smile" has been performed just 14 times with its first performance coming in 2004, two years before the release of the Stadium Arcadium album. The song has not been performed since 2007.
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2007)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{singlechart|Flanders Tip|13|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Desecration Smile}} |
| {{singlechart|Germany|67|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Desecration Smile|songid=205743|accessdate=February 18, 2019}} |
| {{singlechart|Dutch40|13|year=2007|week=12}} |
| {{singlechart|Dutch100|24|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Desecration Smile}} |
| {{singlechart|New Zealand|33|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Desecration Smile}} |
| {{singlechart|Slovakia|26|year=2007|week=14}} |
| {{singlechart|UK|27|date=2007-02-24|accessdate=26 February 2015}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2007)
! Position |
|---|
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2007|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2007|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=19 December 2019}}
|style="text-align:center"|95 |
{{col-end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Red Hot Chili Peppers}}
{{Red Hot Chili Peppers singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Red Hot Chili Peppers songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Rick Rubin
Category:Songs written by Flea (musician)
Category:Songs written by John Frusciante
Category:Songs written by Anthony Kiedis