The Power Of Equality

Album: Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is an attack on racism and inequality. It is in the style of the rap band Public Enemy, who are mentioned in the third verse: "I got tapes, I got CDs, I got my Public Enemy."
  • "The Power Of Equality" is the first track on Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Red Hot Chili Peppers' fifth album, and their first produced by Rick Rubin. Thanks to the hit "Under The Bridge," it easily outsold their first four albums combined and made the group a mainstream act, a shocking development for anyone who remembered seeing them on stage wearing nothing but socks (not on their feet).
  • Lead singer Anthony Kiedis does the "Hey batter batter... swing!" taunt at the beginning of the song. That's something any kid who played Little League in the '80s knows all about, and Cameron does it in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off when they go to a Cubs game. RHCP are big sports fans, but most of their references are to basketball, particularly the Lakers.

Comments: 4

  • Canopyylove this song, kickass start to the album
  • Nikola from Banja Luka, Bosnia And Herzegovinathe line(s)
    "Not another
    Motherf--kin' politician
    Doin' nothin' but something
    For his own ambition"
    were taken from Politician (Mini Rap), which is a ~12 second song they wrote, it was released as a b-side to Higher Ground.
  • Grayson from Cleveland, Ohgreat song. flea's bass is unbelievable.
  • Emitremmus from Desolation Row, United Stateslisten to "Hitler day" by public enemy
    great tune very powerful lyrics
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

Gary Lewis

Gary LewisSongwriter Interviews

Gary Lewis and the Playboys had seven Top 10 hits despite competition from The Beatles. Gary talks about the hits, his famous father, and getting drafted.

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song Spoofs

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song SpoofsSong Writing

When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.