Red Hot Chili Peppers’ breakthrough 1991 album Blood Sugar Sex Magik sold 7 million copies in the U.S. and doubled that worldwide. It was the commercial peak of a career that has been remarkably consistent. I was surprised to see that every one of the half-dozen albums they’ve released since this one has gone Gold or Platinum.
I’ve never been much of a Chili Peppers fan, but I gave this album a lot of attention in 1991. If you’re in the mood for the band’s brand of L.A. soulful funk, this record is a minor masterpiece.
Split between thoughtful meditations like today’s SOTD and overtly sexual braggadocio, and featuring some excellent musicianship, Blood Sugar Sex Magik is a stylish, schizoid mood piece and one of the strongest releases of a very strong year.
Sometimes I feel like I don’t have a partner
Sometimes I feel like my only friend
Is the city I live in, the city of angels
Lonely as I am, together we cry
I drive on her streets ’cause she’s my companion
I walk through her hills ’cause she knows who I am
She sees my good deeds and she kisses me windy
Well, I never worry, now that is a lie
[Chorus]
I don’t ever wanna feel like I did that day
But take me to the place I love, take me all the way
I don’t ever wanna feel like I did that day
But take me to the place I love, take me all the way, yeah, yeah, yeah
[Verse 2]
It’s hard to believe that there’s nobody out there
It’s hard to believe that I’m all alone
At least I have her love, the city, she loves me
Lonely as I am, together we cry
[Chorus]
I don’t ever wanna feel like I did that day
But take me to the place I love, take me all the way
I don’t ever wanna feel like I did that day
But take me to the place I love, take me all the way, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, no, no, no, yeah yeah
Love me, I say, yeah yeah
One time
[Verse 3]
Under the bridge downtown
Is where I drew some blood
Under the bridge downtown
I could not get enough
Under the bridge downtown
Forgot about my love
Under the bridge downtown
I gave my life away
Yeah yeah yeah
Oh, no, no, no, yeah yeah
Where I stay
I feel about the same way about the Red Hot Chile Peppers. Was really into this song but never really expanded beyond that.