Emit Remmus

Album: Californication (1999)
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Songfacts®:

  • This song is about an English girl dating an American man. Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis wrote it after dating Spice Girl Mel C, who was the inspiration.
  • The song title is "Summer Time" spelled backwards, which could be a reference to how different London and California are.
  • What does Mel C think of the song? She explained to The Guardian she first heard the track while working in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin. Rubin, a longtime collaborator of the Chili Peppers and close friend of frontman Anthony Kiedis, tipped her off with what she described as a "cheeky grin."

    "Whenever Rick would finish mixing anything he'd go out and listen to it in his Rolls-Royce," she said. "He took me out to it and he played me 'Emit Remmus' and I was a little bit embarrassed because it's a bit saucy. But I was so flattered because I'm a huge Red Hot Chili Peppers fan and Anthony is such an incredible songwriter and performer."

    As for the relationship itself, she was quick to clarify that it never quite reached epic-romance status. The two went on a date and spent some time together, but, as she put it, it "wasn't a fully formed relationship."

Comments: 17

  • Eloquentracer92 from Ur MomOkay, the bridge was DEFINITELY written after Anthony and Mel broke up, the chorus was too. Verse 1 was written while they were dating, verse 2 probably was too. As for verse 3, this one is kinda hard because the last two lines “What could be wetter than / An English girl, American man” imply that they are dating while earlier in the verse Anthony sings, “Drift away from anyone you can / Nothing ever goes according to plan”. I think verse 3 was written later on in the dating part, maybe even at the end of it because Torrance said that half the song was written while they were dating, and half was after they broke up, and it would make the most sense if one half was the verses and the other half was the chorus + bridge. Sorry for the unorganized writing, I just write down what my brain was thinking and I didn’t simplify it.
  • Michel from AmsterdamI thought that is was latin for "to buy a twin" haha
  • Mr Rock from CaliforniaIts like the Mirror of the Erised. Try fuigure that out. I also don't understand why they spelt it backwards.
  • Reggev from Misgav, IsraelThere I was, my head hurting trying to understand what the hell "Remmus" means.
  • Tom from Los Angeles, CaThis song rocks!
  • Scarlet from Mb, Scthe guitar riff was recorded backwords.thats why they spelt summer time backwords.i like it muchoo
  • Handah Jane from Grafton, United Statesthe reason summer time is spelt backwards is cos of the weird backwards rift that john frusciante (wooooooo!!!!!!!! u rock john) does on his guitar
  • Steven from Dublin, IrelandAnthony introduced Mel into some tatoo parlours.
    Chilis rock!
  • C-man from Somewhere, NyI like this song, especially the bass line.
  • Allyson from In My Own Little World, TxWonderful song, in my opinion. But for some reason lots of people I know don't like it that much...hmm.
  • Amelia from Denbighshire,britain, Englandit's about MEL.C from the spice girls having a relationship with anthony kiedis in the summer time
  • Craig from Kernersville, NcIt's on CALIFORNIcation...the first line of the song mentions CALIFORNICATION...therefore, I think it has something to do with more than just London.
  • Gary from Manchester, Englandwell what do you know, i always wonered what emit remmus meant. i didnt even know mel c would be aware of the existence of RHCP. everyday is a school day
  • Louise from Durhamomg. anthony dated mel c?! hes 2 good 4 her. talk about mismatch! xx chilis rok
  • Jaimie from Indianapolis, InI think the "summer time" is refering to Grease the summer song where they dated in the summer but ended it when the summer ended...
  • Mistik from Sydney, AustraliaI read in scar tissue and Anthony said that they didn't date, they were just friends that hung out, something about um getting tattoos, that keeps comming to my mind.. interesting fact about the whole summer time spelt backwards.
  • Torrance from London, EnglandYes, it was written about Mel C, half while Anthony was with her and half afterwards. It's not a reference to how London is different to California, it's purely about being in London in the summer, because Mel lives there.
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