By the Way is the title track of the 2002 album of the same name. It marks a new, more melodic direction for the band, with John Frusciante fully back on board. The song shot up the charts and became a fixture on the radio and in the live set.
Frusciante’s return
Frusciante had rejoined the band in 1998, and you can hear his influence everywhere: in the layered guitar parts and in the vocal harmonies. The song By the Way shows what he brings: melody, emotion and a guitar sound that belongs to nobody else. The chemistry between Frusciante and Flea makes the whole bigger than its parts.
A rollercoaster
By the Way starts quietly, almost in a whisper. Then the chorus explodes, with the full band and the energy the Peppers are known for. Those switches keep the song exciting from start to finish, and make it a challenge to play.
The lyrics
The lyrics are typical Kiedis: poetic, a bit cryptic, but emotionally on target. They’re about communication, or the lack of it. About things you want to say but can’t. A song about making contact and missing it.
The music video
The video, directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, is playful and surreal. It shows a band that doesn’t take itself too seriously, while making serious music.
In the studio
Recording By the Way at SoundQuest in Veghel was a challenge. The song demands precision: the timing has to be right, the dynamics have to be right and the energy has to jump out. From the soft intro to the chorus, from the bass lines to the guitar parts, we recorded every part with care.
Why it’s timeless
By the Way is over twenty years old and still sounds fresh. It combines everything the Peppers do: funk, rock, melody and energy. For us it’s a joy to play. Turn it up and feel the groove.