Snow (Hey Oh)

{{Infobox song

| name = Snow (Hey Oh)

| cover = rhcpsnowheyoh.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Red Hot Chili Peppers

| album = Stadium Arcadium

| B-side = {{ubl|"Funny Face"|"I'll Be Your Domino"}}

| released = November 20, 2006

| recorded = 2005

| studio = The Mansion, Los Angeles

| genre = Stadium rock{{cite magazine|last= Rolling Stone Staff|title= The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far|magazine= Rolling Stone|date= January 10, 2025|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-21st-century-1235177256/|accessdate= January 11, 2025|quote=...Singles like “Dani California,” “Snow (Hey Oh),” and “Tell Me Baby” are pristinely produced stadium-rock classics...}}

| length = 5:35 (album version)
4:00 (radio edit)

| label = Warner Bros.

| writer = Flea, Frusciante, Kiedis, Smith

| producer = Rick Rubin

| prev_title = Tell Me Baby

| prev_year = 2006

| next_title = Desecration Smile

| next_year = 2007

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|yuFI5KSPAt4|"Snow (Hey Oh)"}}}}

}}

"Snow (Hey Oh)" (occasionally stylized as "Snow ((Hey Oh))") is a song by American band Red Hot Chili Peppers from their 2006 double album, Stadium Arcadium. The song was released as the follow-up single to "Tell Me Baby" in 2006, and became the band's third straight number one hit on the Billboard Modern Rock chart, a spot it held for five straight weeks. The single was their 11th to top that chart, setting a record they still hold, extended in 2016 to 13 number ones.

Vocalist Anthony Kiedis states that the track is "about surviving, starting fresh. I've made a mess of everything, but I have a blank slate—a canvas of snow—and I get to start over."{{cite web|url=http://www.invisible-movement.net/articles/2006-press/0601-rollingstone/|title=Tattooed Love Boys|date=June 1, 2006|publisher=invisible-movement.de|access-date=July 28, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806193110/http://invisible-movement.net/articles/2006-press/0601-rollingstone|archive-date=August 6, 2011}}

Composition

"Snow (Hey Oh)" is a characteristically soft, melodic song, much like those from the band's prior album By the Way. The song is driven by a rapid guitar riff by John Frusciante, and makes use of double stops on the bass by Flea. The song is written in the key of G♯ minor and is at a moderate tempo of 105 BPM.

Reception

Frusciante.net revealed that this was going to be the third of seven songs released as a single from Stadium Arcadium. Before even being released as a single, it climbed to #53 in the UK iTunes top 100 on May 13. Like its predecessor "Tell Me Baby", it peaked at #16 in the UK Singles Chart. On January 17, 2007, "Snow (Hey Oh)" became the band's record-breaking 11th number-one Modern Rock single in the United States and is the third consecutive chart-topping Modern Rock single from Stadium Arcadium. In Germany, it was the band's most successful song, reaching #5, making it the band's only Top-10-song there.{{cite web|url=http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/RED+HOT+CHILI+PEPPERS/?type=single|title=Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, etc.|publisher=musicline.de|access-date=July 28, 2011|archive-date=October 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021040701/http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/RED+HOT+CHILI+PEPPERS/?type=single|url-status=dead}}

Music video

In an interview, Tony Kaye, who also directed the video for "Dani California", told MTV he would be directing the video for the song. However, his footage wasn't used. Instead, Warner commissioned director Nick Wickham to shoot a new video showing the band at the October 17 and 18, 2006 shows at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, along with black and white film of fans at the parking lot and lines at the live show.

Live performances

"Snow (Hey Oh)" has been the second most performed song from Stadium Arcadium and has been performed over 250 times since 2006. On June 28, 2012, at the band's concert at Goffertpark in Nijmegen, Netherlands during the I'm with You Tour, the band performed the song for the first time since the end of the Stadium Arcadium Tour nearly five years earlier. As of 2023, the song is still featured regularly in the band's setlists.

Appearances and samples

In 2008 "Snow (Hey Oh)" was used as one of the official themes of WWE WrestleMania XXIV.{{cite web |title=WWE: TV Shows & WrestleMania XXIV |url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/ |website=WWE |access-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331213235/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/ |archive-date=March 31, 2008 |quote=The Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Snow (Hey Oh)" is one of the official theme songs for WrestleMania XXIV.}} It was also used in Scrubs in the two-part episode "My Finale" and during the end credits in Death Note: The Last Name. The song can be heard in a flashback scene in the Cold Case episode "Sabotage". It was in a scene from Brothers and Sisters season 1 episode 23.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} The song was sampled in the 2024 track "Thick of It" by British rapper and internet personality KSI.{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/a/ksi-teams-up-with-trippie-redd-for-new-song-thick-of-it|title=KSI Teams Up With Trippie Redd For New Song "Thick Of It"|first=Ken|last=Patrdige|website=Genius|date=October 4, 2024|access-date=October 11, 2024}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/people-are-praying-for-my-downfall-ksi-in-conversation/|title="People Are Praying For My Downfall" KSI In Conversation|first=Andy|last=Hill|magazine=Clash|date=October 4, 2024|accessdate=October 11, 2024}}

Track listings and formats

;CD single

"Snow (Hey Oh)" – 5:34
"Permutation" (Live) – 3:43

;Maxi single 9362 42983-2

"Snow (Hey Oh)" – 5:34
"Funny Face" – 4:46
"I'll Be Your Domino" – 3:54

;International CD single/7" picture disc 5439 15624-2

"Snow (Hey Oh)" – 5:34
"Funny Face" – 4:46

;iTunes version single

"Snow (Hey Oh)" – 5:34
"Funny Face" – 4:46
"I'll Be Your Domino" – 3:54
"Permutation" (Live) – 3:43

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/stadium-arcadium-mw0000400165/credits|title=Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=March 8, 2021|archive-date=September 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930165108/https://www.allmusic.com/album/stadium-arcadium-mw0000400165/credits|url-status=live}}

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
John Frusciante – guitars, backing vocals, mellotron
Flea – bass guitar
Chad Smith - drums, percussion

Additional musicians

Greg Kurstin - Organ on "Funny Face"

Recording personnel

Rick Rubin – production
Andrew Scheps – mixing and engineering
Ryan Hewitt – mixing and engineering
Dana Nielsen – engineering
Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman – mastering (vinyl)
Vlado Meller – mastering (CD)
Matt Taylor – design and art direction

Charts

= Weekly charts =

Chart (2006–2007) ! Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
{{single chart\|Australia\|35\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|song=Snow (Hey Oh)}}
{{single chart\|Austria\|5\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|song=Snow (Hey Oh)}}
{{single chart\|Flanders\|9\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|song=Snow (Hey Oh)}}
{{single chart\|Wallonia\|39\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|song=Snow (Hey Oh)}}
{{single chart\|Canada\|35\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|access-date=March 9, 2022}}
{{single chart\|Billboardcanadarock\|1\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|access-date=November 12, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Czech Republic\|3\|year=2007\|week=11\|access-date=December 1, 2014}}
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite web\|url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue884.pdf\|title=The ARIA Report: European Top 20 Charts – Week Commencing 12th February 2007\|publisher=ARIA\|page=26\|date=February 12, 2007\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080222222441/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20070220-0000/issue884.pdf\|archive-date=February 22, 2008\|access-date=June 23, 2022}}{{cbignore\|bot=medic}} \|align="center"\|18
{{single chart\|Germany\|5\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|song=Snow (Hey Oh)\|songid=205730\|access-date=March 20, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Hungary\|1\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|song=Snow (Hey Oh)\|year=2007\|week=09}}
{{single chart\|Ireland2\|13\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|song=Snow (Hey Oh)\|access-date=January 27, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Italy\|24\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|song=Snow (Hey Oh)}}
{{single chart\|Dutch40\|5\|year=2007\|week=2}}
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|5\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|song=Snow (Hey Oh)}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|10\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|song=Snow (Hey Oh)}}
{{single chart\|Poland\|6\|year=2007\|chartid=1299\|access-date=January 19, 2014}}
Romania (Romanian Top 100){{cite web\|url=http://www.rt100.ro/top-100-edition.html/\|title=Romanian Top 100 – Issue nr: 2/2007 (22 Ianuarie - 28 Ianuarie 2007)\|language=ro\|publisher=Romanian Top 100\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070122141520/http://www.rt100.ro/top-100-edition.html\|archive-date=January 22, 2007\|access-date=May 22, 2023}} \|align="center"\|68
{{single chart\|Slovakia\|5\|year=2007\|week=11\|access-date=December 15, 2014}}
{{single chart\|Sweden\|19\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|song=Snow (Hey Oh)}}
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|9\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|song=Snow (Hey Oh)}}
{{single chart\|UK\|16\|date=December 2, 2006\|access-date=February 26, 2015}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|22\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|access-date=December 11, 2014}}
{{single chart\|Billboardadultpopsongs\|21\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|access-date=November 12, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardalternativesongs\|1\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|access-date=November 12, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardmainstreamrock\|3\|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers\|access-date=November 12, 2021}}
Venezuela Pop Rock (Record Report){{cite web\|url=http://www.recordreport.com.ve/publico/?i=poprock\|title=Pop Rock\|language=es\|date=February 17, 2007\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061124115310/http://www.recordreport.com.ve/publico/?i=poprock\|archive-date=November 24, 2006 \|publisher=Record Report}} \|align="center"\|4

= Year-end charts =

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (2007) ! Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40){{cite web\|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=2007\|title=Jahreshitparade Singles 2007\|website=austriancharts.at\|language=de\|access-date=May 5, 2020}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|38
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web\|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2007&cat=s\|title=Jaaroverzichten 2007\|publisher=Ultratop\|language=nl\|access-date=December 18, 2019}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|53
Canada Rock (Radio & Records){{cite web\|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/00s/07/RR-2007-12-07-OCR-Page-0086.pdf\|title=Top Canada Rock Songs\|publisher=Radio & Records\|access-date=January 12, 2024}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|19
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/european_hot_singles.jsp\|title=European Hot 100 Singles\|magazine=Billboard\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023130/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/european_hot_singles.jsp\|archive-date=May 13, 2009\|access-date=January 9, 2022}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|63
Germany (Official German Charts){{cite web\|url=http://www.mtv.de/charts/Single_Jahrescharts_2007\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615213352/http://www.mtv.de/charts/Single_Jahrescharts_2007\|archive-date=June 15, 2009\|title=Singles chart 2007\|language=de\|publisher=MTV\|access-date=July 28, 2011}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|42
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40){{cite web\|url=http://slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/radios/2007\|title=Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2007\|publisher=Mahasz\|language=hu\|access-date=December 18, 2019}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|3
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=December 18, 2019}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|36
Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web\|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2007&cat=s\|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 2007\|publisher=MegaCharts\|language=nl\|access-date=December 18, 2019}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|27
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web\|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2007\|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2007\|website=hitparade.ch\|language=de\|access-date=December 18, 2019}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|30
US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/hot-100-songs\|title=Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2007\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=May 5, 2020}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|91
US Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/alternative-songs\|title=Alternative Songs – Year-End 2007\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=December 18, 2019}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|10

class="wikitable sortable"

Chart (2007)

! Position

Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40){{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=2007|title=Jahreshitparade Singles 2007|website=austriancharts.at|language=de|access-date=May 5, 2020}}

| style="text-align:center;"|38

Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2007&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten 2007|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=December 18, 2019}}

| style="text-align:center;"|53

Canada Rock (Radio & Records){{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/00s/07/RR-2007-12-07-OCR-Page-0086.pdf|title=Top Canada Rock Songs|publisher=Radio & Records|access-date=January 12, 2024}}

| style="text-align:center;"|19

Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/european_hot_singles.jsp|title=European Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023130/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/european_hot_singles.jsp|archive-date=May 13, 2009|access-date=January 9, 2022}}

| style="text-align:center;"|63

Germany (Official German Charts){{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.de/charts/Single_Jahrescharts_2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615213352/http://www.mtv.de/charts/Single_Jahrescharts_2007|archive-date=June 15, 2009|title=Singles chart 2007|language=de|publisher=MTV|access-date=July 28, 2011}}

| style="text-align:center;"|42

Hungary (Rádiós Top 40){{cite web|url=http://slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/radios/2007|title=Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2007|publisher=Mahasz|language=hu|access-date=December 18, 2019}}

| style="text-align:center;"|3

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=December 18, 2019}}

| style="text-align:center;"|36

Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2007&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 2007|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=December 18, 2019}}

| style="text-align:center;"|27

Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2007|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2007|website=hitparade.ch|language=de|access-date=December 18, 2019}}

| style="text-align:center;"|30

US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/hot-100-songs|title=Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2007|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 5, 2020}}

| style="text-align:center;"|91

US Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/alternative-songs|title=Alternative Songs – Year-End 2007|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 18, 2019}}

| style="text-align:center;"|10

class="wikitable"
Chart (2008) ! Position
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40){{cite web\|url=http://slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/radios/2008\|title=Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2008\|publisher=Mahasz\|language=hu\|access-date=October 5, 2020}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|38

class="wikitable"

Chart (2008)

! Position

Hungary (Rádiós Top 40){{cite web|url=http://slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/radios/2008|title=Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2008|publisher=Mahasz|language=hu|access-date=October 5, 2020}}

| style="text-align:center;"|38

Certifications and sales

{{Certification Table Entry|relyear=2006|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=single|title=Snow (Hey Oh)|region=Denmark|award=Platinum|certyear=2022|id=11158|accessdate=March 29, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|relyear=2006|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=single|title=Snow (Hey Oh)|region=Germany|award=Gold|certyear=2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|title=Snow (Hey OH)|type=single|region=Italy|note=(since 2009)|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2006|certyear=2024|id=12521|access-date=May 10, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|nocert=true|salesamount=20,000|access-date=January 14, 2018|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/mdonline/7267.pdf|title=Music in Italy|publisher=Federation of the Italian Music Industry|access-date=October 11, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305174048/http://musicaedischi.it/mdonline/7147.pdf|archive-date=March 5, 2016}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|relyear=2006|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=ringtone|title=Snow (Hey Oh)|region=Japan|award=Gold|certyear=2008|certmonth=5|note=Full-length ringtone|access-date=September 14, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=single|title=Snow (Hey Oh)|relyear=2006|certyear=2019|award=Platinum|number=2|id=13302-982-1|access-date=October 11, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|relyear=2006|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=single|title=Snow|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=4|certyear=2021}}

References

Category:Red Hot Chili Peppers songs

Category:Songs written by Flea (musician)

Category:Songs written by John Frusciante

Category:Songs written by Chad Smith

Category:Songs written by Anthony Kiedis

Category:2006 singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Rick Rubin

Category:2005 songs

Category:Number-one singles in Hungary

Category:Warner Records singles