Aeroplane (Red Hot Chili Peppers song)

"Aeroplane" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers from their sixth studio album, One Hot Minute (1995). It was the third single released from the album and a music video accompanied its release. Although the song was left off the band's Greatest Hits album, the music video was included on the accompanying DVD.

"Aeroplane"
Single by Red Hot Chili Peppers
from the album One Hot Minute
Released	February 5, 1996 (1996-02-05)^[1]
Length	4:45 (album version) 4:10 (single edit)
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Anthony Kiedis Flea Dave Navarro Chad Smith
Producer(s)	Rick Rubin
Red Hot Chili Peppers singles chronology
"My Friends" (1995) "Aeroplane" (1996) "Shallow Be Thy Game" (1996)
Music video
"Aeroplane" on YouTube
Audio sample
file help

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "This delightful flight of fancy from the Chili Peppers shows why the act continues to succeed in spite of a frequently changing lineup and evolving musical tastes. An attractive pop tune pepped up with Flea's characteristic funk bass, "Aeroplane" may not be the Peppers' finest piece, but it is exceptionally radio friendly."^[2]

Chart performance

The single peaked at number eight on the Modern Rock Tracks chart where "My Friends" hit number one and "Warped" hit number seven. However, it outperformed "Warped"'s number 13 placing on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart (where "My Friends" was also a number one hit) by peaking at number 12. It was the only crossover hit from the album hitting number 30 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart where the other two singles failed to do. It was also the highest-charting single in the UK from the album, peaking at number 11.

Live performances

"Aeroplane" was the most performed song during the band's One Hot Minute tour. However, like all songs from the One Hot Minute album, with the exception of "Pea", it wasn't performed again following the departure of Dave Navarro until February 6, 2016, at Pier 70 in San Francisco, where the song was performed for the first time since 1997. The song was played regularly during The Getaway World Tour.

Track listing

• CD single 1

1. "Aeroplane" (clean edit)
2. "Backwoods" (live) (contains intro tease of "Come As You Are")
3. "Transcending" (live) (contains intro tease of "Hey Joe")
4. "Me and My Friends" (live)

Note: Live tracks recorded in Rotterdam, Holland on October 16, 1995, by Veronica (Kink FM)

• Limited edition CD single 2

1. "Aeroplane" (album version)
2. "Suck My Kiss" (live)
3. "Suffragette City" (David Bowie) (live)

Note: Live tracks were recorded in Rotterdam, Holland on October 16, 1995, by Veronica (Kink FM)

Personnel

Red Hot Chili Peppers

• Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
• Dave Navarro – guitar
• Flea – bass, backing vocals^[3]
• Chad Smith – drums

The "Aeroplane" Kids^[4]

• Clara Balzary – backing vocals
• Bailey Reise – backing vocals
• Askia Ndegéocello – backing vocals
• Nadia Wehbe – backing vocals
• Sarabeth Kelly – backing vocals
• Matthew Kelly – backing vocals
• Phillip Greenspan – backing vocals
• Perry Greenspan – backing vocals
• Veronica Twigg – backing vocals
• Remy Greeno – backing vocals
• C.J. Chipley – backing vocals
• Jaclyn DiMaggio – backing vocals
• Hayley Oakes – backing vocals
• Nikolai Giefer – backing vocals
• Taiana Giefer – backing vocals
• Nina Rothburg – backing vocals
• Sheera Ehrig – backing vocals
• Jade Chacon – backing vocals

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[5] 35 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[6] 48 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)^[7] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[8] 59 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[9] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100 Tipparade)^[10] 12 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[11] 26 Scotland (OCC)^[12] 12 UK Singles (OCC)^[13] 11 US Radio Songs (Billboard)^[14] 49 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[15] 8 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[16] 12 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[17] 30

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)^[18] 19 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[19] 28

References

1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. February 3, 1996. p. 31.
2. Flick, Larry (April 6, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 96. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
3. Bogosian, Dan; Caffrey, Dan; Sackllah, David; Graves, Wren; Eustice, Kyle; Cosores, Philip (June 17, 2016). "Ranking: Every Red Hot Chili Peppers Song From Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
4. "One Hot Minute". RHCP Live Archive.
5. "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Aeroplane". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
6. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2939." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
7. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 2931." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
8. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 8. February 24, 1996. p. 16. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
9. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (9.3. – 15.3. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). March 9, 1996. p. 50. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
10. "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Aeroplane" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
11. "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Aeroplane". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
12. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
14. "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
15. "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
16. "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
17. "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
18. "RPM Year End Alternative Top 50". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
19. "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1997. p. 25. Retrieved May 30, 2020.