Dark Necessities

"Dark Necessities" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers and is the first single from their eleventh studio album, The Getaway. The single was released on May 5, 2016.^[4] The music video was released on June 16, 2016.^[5] The song was released as a limited edition cassette single that was included in a deluxe package of The Getaway available only through the band's website.

"Dark Necessities"
Single by Red Hot Chili Peppers
from the album The Getaway
Released	May 5, 2016 (2016-05-05)
Genre	Alternative rock[1] funk rock[2]
Length	5:02
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Red Hot Chili Peppers Danger Mouse
Producer(s)	Danger Mouse[3]
Red Hot Chili Peppers singles chronology
"Brendan's Death Song" (2012) "Dark Necessities" (2016) "Go Robot" (2016)
Music video
"Dark Necessities" on YouTube

"Dark Necessities" was successful on the Billboard charts, becoming the band's 13th number-one single and 25th top ten single on the Alternative Songs chart, both of which are records for any artist.^[6] The song is also the fourth song ever to reach number one on the Alternative Songs chart, the Mainstream Rock chart, and the Adult Alternative Songs chart.^[7]

"Dark Necessities" made its live debut on May 22, 2016 at the Rock on the Range festival in Columbus, Ohio.

A live version recorded at Canal+ Studios in Paris, is on the Live in Paris EP.

Background

In a June 7, 2016, video interview for the band's YouTube channel, Anthony Kiedis discussed the song saying that many of the songs were created on their own. However, "Dark Necessities" was one of the songs that the band had written with Brian Burton aka Danger Mouse. Kiedis said that he went to Hawaii and worked on the lyrics to the song, which "speaks to the beauty of our dark sides and how much creativity and growth and light actually comes out of those difficult struggles that we have on the inside of our heads that no one else can see." Kiedis also said that the song meant a lot to Burton and it was one of his favorites. He said that Burton fought for "Dark Necessities" to be the first single. However, the band wanted "The Getaway" to be the first single while the label and managers wanted the song "Go Robot" to be the first single.^[8]

Critical reception

"Dark Necessities" was placed at number 12 on Rolling Stone’s "50 Best Songs of 2016" list, writing: “Their big comeback hit collabo with Danger Mouse, with Anthony Kiedis getting personal about his darkest, druggiest memories over a Flea bassline full of blood, sugar, sex and magic.”^[9]

Music video

The video, directed by Olivia Wilde,^[10] was released through the band's Facebook page on June 16, 2016. Chris Blauvelt served as the cinematographer. The music video features long boarders (Carmen Shafer, Amanda Caloia, Amanda Powell, and Noelle Mulligan) skating around a grocery store, abandoned streets, and the Los Angeles River, interspersed with the band playing the song.^[11]

Personnel

Red Hot Chili Peppers

• Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
• Flea – bass guitar, piano
• Chad Smith – drums, percussion
• Josh Klinghoffer – guitars, backing vocals

Additional musicians^[12]

• Daniele Luppi – string arrangement
• Peter Kent – violin
• Sharon Jackson – violin
• Briana Bandy – viola
• Armen Ksajikian – cello

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Dark Necessities" Chart (2016) Peak position Argentina (Monitor Latino)[13] 5 Australia (ARIA)[14] 52 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] 48 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 18 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[17] 5 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[18] 51 Canada Rock (Billboard)[19] 1 Finland Airplay (Radiosoittolista)[20] 13 France (SNEP)[21] 45 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[22] 52 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[23] 6 Germany (GfK)[24] 47 Hungary (Single Top 40)[25] 19 Iceland (RÚV)[26] 6 Ireland (IRMA)[27] 67 Israel (Media Forest)[28] 2 Italy (FIMI)[29] 54 Japan (Japan Hot 100) (Billboard)[30] 47 Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20) [31] 15 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 60 New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)[33] 1 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[34] 80 Portugal (AFP)[35] 43 Scotland (OCC)[36] 55 Slovenia (SloTop50)[37] 26 Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[38] 17 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 39 UK Singles (OCC)[40] 72 US Billboard Hot 100[41] 67 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[42] 6 US Rock & Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[43] 1

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Dark Necessities" Chart (2016) Position Argentina (Monitor Latino)[44] 21 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[45] 62 US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[46] 15 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[47] 3

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Dark Necessities"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[48]	Gold	40,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[49]	Gold	200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[50]	Platinum	50,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[51]	Platinum	50,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[52]	Gold	5,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[53]	Gold	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[54]	Gold	400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[55]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.