Hump De Bump

Album: Stadium Arcadium (2006)
Charted: 41
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Songfacts®:

  • A working title for this song was "Ghost Dance" because it sounded like the 1985 Chili Peppers song "American Ghost Dance." It was also known as "40 Detectives" at one point.
  • Flea plays the trumpet in this song.
  • When the Chili Peppers played this on their Stadium Arcadium tour, Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez of The Mars Volta (who were the opening act) often came on stage to play bongos during the breakdown of this song. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bert - Pueblo, NM, for all above
  • Chris Rock directed the music video, which shows a block party going on when The Peppers emerge and start playing and dancing to the song. In the music video Anthony has grills and Flea is wearing his yellow outfit he wore during the Emmy awards. Also, Chris Rock appears trying to get into his own block party and the security won't let him in. Rock made sure the band were the only white people in the video. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Matt - Salisbury, MD
  • Long before they started working on the album, Flea spontaneously came up with the groove and Kiedis recorded it on his phone so they wouldn't forget it. But when it came time to select tracks for Stadium Arcadium, Kiedis wanted to nix "Hump De Bump" because he felt more emotionally connected to other songs. Producer Rick Rubin changed his mind, which was a relief to Flea, who thought it was one of the best tracks from the Stadium Arcadium sessions.
  • This was the fifth and final single from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' ninth album. It was also the last single to feature guitarist John Frusciante, who quit the band in 2009 near the end of their hiatus. He rejoined in December 2019.

Comments: 5

  • Mark from Worcester, MiFlea said that he felt he was alone in advocating the song. Kiedis told him "you were." Fleas was a little nervous about that. Later Rick Rubin informed Kiedis during the mix of the song that Rubin now felt it was a key track on the album. Flea to Kiedis (before the song was mixed): "You still don't love it do you?" Kiedis: "I'm not mad at it...I haven't heard it mixed yet."
  • Mariah from Colorado Springs, CoI think this song can be related to love. Especialy when you realy get into some of the lyrics...
    To most people its just a fun upbeat song...which it is, and i deffinately think the band has fun with this one.
    But if you look for a deeper meaning to it...you will find its about falling in love.
  • Zac from Holtwood, Pai think this song is about Anthoney explaining to this girl about y he had a one night stand with her
  • Nikie from Stockholm, Swedenif you look closer at the lyrics you'll se it's about finding love/falling inlove, atleast to me.
    "taking a stroll down Love street"
    "when I was an all aloner
    nothing but a two beach comber
    Anybody seen the sky I'm
    I'm wide awake now"
    meaning how it feels to be in love.
  • Emily from Abingdon, VaSoooo.....Anyone know what this song is actually about? It's awesome, but what's the meaning?
see more comments

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