Universally Speaking

"Universally Speaking"
"Universally Speaking"
Single by Red Hot Chili Peppers
from the album By the Way
B-side	"Slowly Deeply"
Released	June 16, 2003
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	4:19
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Flea; John Frusciante; Anthony Kiedis; Chad Smith;
Producer(s)	Rick Rubin
Red Hot Chili Peppers singles chronology
Music video
	"Universally Speaking" on YouTube

"Universally Speaking" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers from their eighth studio album, By the Way (2002). It was the fourth and final single from the album and was released solely in Europe and Australia in mid-2003. The track was also included on their live album Red Hot Chili Peppers Live in Hyde Park and their Greatest Hits album.

Song information

XFM online said "Universally Speaking" is a "fairly upbeat rock ode" and Rolling Stone said it was "Beatlesque psychedelia".^[1]^[2] The cover for the single is the same as the cover of the By the Way album, except the colors are reverted to normal.

Music video

The video for the song features Dave Sheridan, who plays a deranged concertgoer who attempts to return a book to vocalist Anthony Kiedis, who left the book in his taxi in the video to "By the Way". After numerous failed attempts, he successfully returns the book to the frontman by going on stage while the band performs Suck My Kiss.^[3] The book he is returning to Kiedis is "Lexicon Devil: The Fast Times and Short Life of Darby Crash and the Germs", which is the biography of Darby Crash, the late frontman for the late-1970s punk band the Germs and was written by Brendan Mullen. The music video was directed by longtime friend Dick Rude who also directed the video for "Catholic School Girls Rule" and the live DVD Off the Map.

Live performances

"Universally Speaking" was performed regularly on the By the Way Tour. However, it was dropped from sets after 2004 before making a comeback on the I'm with You World Tour. It has since been performed regularly.^[4]

Cover version

In July 2021, singer-songwriter Ava Maybee, who is the daughter of drummer Chad Smith, posted a cover version of "Universally Speaking" to her Instagram page.^[5]

Track listings

CD version 1

"Universally Speaking" (John Frusciante single mix) – 4:18
"By the Way" (live acoustic) – 4:59
"Don't Forget Me" (live) – 5:07

CD version 2

"Universally Speaking" (John Frusciante single mix) – 4:20
"Slowly Deeply" (previously unreleased) – 2:40
"Universally Speaking" (enhanced video)

Charts

Chart performance for "Universally Speaking"
Chart (2003)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[6]	80
Croatia (HRT)^[7]	6
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[8]	89
Ireland (IRMA)^[9]	42
Italy (FIMI)^[10]	43
Scotland (OCC)^[11]	23
UK Singles (OCC)^[12]	27
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)^[13]	5

Release history

Release history and formats for "Universally Speaking"
Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United Kingdom	June 16, 2003	CD	Warner Bros.	^[1]^[14]
Australia	July 7, 2003	CD	Warner Bros.	^[15]

References

^ ^a ^b "Singles Released June 16 2003". Xfm London. Archived from the original on November 18, 2007. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
^ "New CDs: Chilis". Rolling Stone. July 2002. Archived from the original on June 4, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2007.
^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers - Suck My Kiss [Live, Coachella Vally Music & Arts - USA, 2003]". April 14, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
^ "Universally Speaking by Red Hot Chili Peppers song statistics". Setlist.fm. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
^ "Chad Smith's Daughter Covers Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Universally Speaking'". Iheart.com. July 27, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
^ "Issue 699" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
^ "Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on August 10, 2003. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 28. July 5, 2003. p. 12. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Red Hot Chili Peppers". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Universally Speaking". Top Digital Download. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 16 June 2003: Singles". Music Week. June 14, 2003. p. 27.
^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 7th July 2003" (PDF). ARIA. July 7, 2003. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 6, 2003. Retrieved November 21, 2021.

[xfm-1] "Singles Released June 16 2003". Xfm London. Archived from the original on November 18, 2007. Retrieved October 30, 2020.

[2] "New CDs: Chilis". Rolling Stone. July 2002. Archived from the original on June 4, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2007.

[3] "Red Hot Chili Peppers - Suck My Kiss [Live, Coachella Vally Music & Arts - USA, 2003]". April 14, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2023.

[4] "Universally Speaking by Red Hot Chili Peppers song statistics". Setlist.fm. Retrieved November 28, 2021.

[5] "Chad Smith's Daughter Covers Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Universally Speaking'". Iheart.com. July 27, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.

[sc_Australiapandora_-6] "Issue 699" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved November 21, 2021.

[7] "Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on August 10, 2003. Retrieved April 14, 2023.

[8] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 28. July 5, 2003. p. 12. Retrieved August 4, 2020.

[sc_Ireland3_Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers-9] "Irish-charts.com – Discography Red Hot Chili Peppers". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 4, 2020.

[sc_Italy_Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers-10] "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Universally Speaking". Top Digital Download. Retrieved August 4, 2020.

[sc_Scotland_-11] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 4, 2020.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers-12] "Red Hot Chili Peppers: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 4, 2020.

[sc_UKrock_-13] "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 4, 2020.

[14] "New Releases – For Week Starting 16 June 2003: Singles". Music Week. June 14, 2003. p. 27.

[15] "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 7th July 2003" (PDF). ARIA. July 7, 2003. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 6, 2003. Retrieved November 21, 2021.

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v t e Red Hot Chili Peppers singles
The Red Hot Chili Peppers	"True Men Don't Kill Coyotes" "Get Up and Jump"
Freaky Styley	"Jungle Man" "Hollywood (Africa)"
The Uplift Mofo Party Plan	"Fight Like a Brave"
Mother's Milk	"Higher Ground" "Knock Me Down" "Taste the Pain"
Blood Sugar Sex Magik	"Give It Away" "Under the Bridge" "Suck My Kiss" "Breaking the Girl" "If You Have to Ask"
One Hot Minute	"Warped" "My Friends" "Aeroplane" "Shallow Be Thy Game" "Coffee Shop"
Californication	"Scar Tissue" "Around the World" "Otherside" "Californication" "Road Trippin'" "Parallel Universe"
By the Way	"By the Way" "The Zephyr Song" "Can't Stop" "Dosed" "Universally Speaking"
Stadium Arcadium	"Dani California" "Tell Me Baby" "Snow ((Hey Oh))" "Desecration Smile" "Hump de Bump"
I'm with You	"The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" "Monarchy of Roses" "Look Around" "Brendan's Death Song"
The Getaway	"Dark Necessities" "Go Robot" "Sick Love" "Goodbye Angels"
Unlimited Love	"Black Summer" "These Are the Ways"
Return of the Dream Canteen	"Tippa My Tongue" "The Drummer"
What Hits!?	"Behind the Sun"
Greatest Hits	"Fortune Faded"
Non-album singles	"Show Me Your Soul" "Soul to Squeeze" "Love Rollercoaster"
Other songs	"Catholic School Girls Rule" "For the Thrashers" "Good Time Boys" "Pretty Little Ditty" "Charlie" "Did I Let You Know" "Poster Child" "Eddie"