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Breaking the Girl

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Wikipedia article




{{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 = July 30, 1992

| recorded = MayJune 1991

| studio = The Mansion in Los Angeles, California

| genre =

| length = 4:55 (Album Version)
4:27 (Single Edit)

| label = Warner Bros.

| writer = Flea, Frusciante, Kiedis, Smith

| producer = Rick Rubin

| prev_title = Suck My Kiss

| prev_year = 1992

| next_title = Behind the Sun

| next_year = 1992

| misc =

}}

"'Breaking the Girl'" is a song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers from their 1991 album 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik'. It was released as the fourth single from their studio album in 1992 and is a melodic ballad that refers to a turbulent relationship between frontman Anthony Kiedis and his former girlfriend, Carmen Hawk.

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". The song also makes use of a 12-string guitar and a Mellotron, using the flute patch. It is one of only six songs the group has recorded in the 6/8 time signature, the others being "Porcelain" on 'Californication', "Love of Your Life" and "Open/Close" from the 'I'm with You' sessions later released on the 'I'm Beside You' double LP compilation, "The Hunter" from 'The Getaway', and most recently Tangelo from 2022s Unlimited Love. 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".

Music video



The music video was released in 1992 and was directed by Stphane Sednaoui, who had previously made a video for the song "Give It Away". 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 Velsquez.

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 listing



;CD single/12" 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" 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'

*Brendan O'Brien mellotron

Charts



Certifications



References



Category:Red Hot Chili Peppers songs

Category:1992 singles

Category:Music videos directed by Stphane Sednaoui

Category:1991 songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Rick Rubin

Category:1990s ballads

Category:Songs written by Flea (musician)

Category:Songs written by John Frusciante

Category:Songs written by Anthony Kiedis

Category:Songs written by Chad Smith

Category:Warner Records singles

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