Anthony Keidis Essay Example

offer insight into his relationships with women. He was in a long-term relationship with Heather Christie, an ex-girlfriend and former model, who gave birth to their child Everly Bear. The name of their child was influenced by Anthony's favorite band, The Everly Brothers, chosen by Heather to represent Anthony's affiliation with the Bear clan. Anthony strongly identified with the bear clan and believed it was crucial for their child's name to reflect his admiration for bears. Moreover, naming their child Everly Bear symbolized his inspiration drawn from The Everly Brothers and signified his motivation to write lyrics. However, Anthony and Heather parted ways in 2008.

In his biography, Scar tissue, it is documented that Anthony had various short-term relationships with women including Ione Skye, Sofia Copolla, Jessica Stam, and others. Rumors circulated about his involvement with Madonna and Melanie Crisholm from the Spice Girls, who inspired the song Melit Remmus. His lyrics were also influenced by Nina Heagen, Heidi Klum, and Yohanna Logan. However, it was his relationship with singer Sinead O'Connor that is credited for inspiring the song I could have lied. Despite O'Connor denying the relationship and claiming indifference towards the song, its creation was deeply influenced by their connection. In Wet sand, Anthony delves into his emotions from past relationships and reflects on the loss of close friends and lovers. The line "My Shadow's side so amplified" expresses the profound loneliness he feels when he sleeps alone.

Following the end of his romantic relationships, he discusses his emotional state. The song also reflects on the memories he had in past relationships, contrasting "the best person he ever knew" with other important individuals in his

life. He acknowledges the genuine emotions experienced in certain relationships and expresses regret for mistreating them while they were alive. In his lyrics, he mentions "Benzedrine" as one of the substances abused and references lost relationships.

In "Wet Sands," he laments making poor choices by reflecting on his behavior within those relationships. He sings, "My what a good day for a walk outside, I'd like to get to know you a little better baby, God knows that I'll really try." Additionally, he conveys how seeing someone unaware with hummingbirds in their hair is reminiscent of innocence but contrasts it with Norma Jean's disrepair and complexity compared to Marilyn Monroe's downfall.

The song "I Could Have Lied" represents Anthony's emotional state following his breakup with Sinead O'Connor. Shortly after Sinead left Los Angeles and requested no contact or pursuit from him, he released this song.

In his lyrics, he reflects on how her stares cut through him, symbolizing their breakup. He confesses his love for her but acknowledges being rejected even after pouring out his feelings. This mirrors the events that unfolded after their split with Sinead; she wanted nothing to do with him. The song serves as a narrative of their relationship, which is further explained in his biography Scar tissue. In the book, Anthony mentions how Sinead used to be missed, but everything suddenly changed for the worse. This came as a shock to him, and the song captures his emotions perfectly. With its emotional and somber tone, it depicts the various stages of a breakup and portrays their clashing perspectives on their relationship. Additionally, the song Under the Bridge reflects Anthony's experiences as a drug addict.

This

song, released in 1992 from the album Blood Sugar Sex Magik, was written by Anthony as a reflection of the influence of heroin and cocaine in his life. Initially, Anthony believed the song didn't fit well with the band's contemporary style of music and was largely emotional. However, Rick Rubbin, the band's producer, encouraged Anthony to share it with his fellow band mates. The emotional song reflected Anthony's own struggles and turmoil during the time he wrote it. Despite being sober for three years, Anthony felt that his relationship with other band members deteriorated during the composition of the album. Frusciante and Flea openly smoked marijuana during this period, which often made Anthony feel left out. In April 1991, after a rehearsal, Anthony had a profound feeling of loss during his drive home, believing that his best friends, Frusciante and Flea, resented him because of his sobriety (Jeff, 2004).

Anthony had a moment of sadness that reminded him of his past struggles with addiction to heroin and cocaine while he was in a relationship with Ione Skye. This combination of feeling down, being alone, and memories of his ex-girlfriend caused him even more emotional distress. He felt disconnected from his bandmates but found comfort in the city of Los Angeles and the California hills, seeing them as his only companions.

This connection became the inspiration for lyrics in the song "Under the Bridge," where he refers to the city as his friend and mentions that "they cried together," symbolizing his time spent alone in the city. The lyrics also showed Anthony's vulnerability and depicted the challenges he faced during this period.

Despite feeling lonely, Anthony still believed that

living a drug-free life was far superior, stating in an interview with Rolling Stone that it was a million times better than being a drug addict (Jeff, 2004).

The song "Under the Bridge" was inspired by Anthony's longing to reunite with his family, friends, and band mates. He wanted to avoid repeating past experiences and the destructive effects of drugs on his life. The lyrics portray how drugs destroyed relationships and left him feeling unhappy. Specifically, the verse tells the story of Anthony's involvement with a gang of drug dealers who operated beneath a bridge. To join them, he even pretended to be engaged to one of the gang member's sisters. This was one of Anthony's lowest moments as a singer because he realized how desperate he had become to support his addiction. He also mourns losing his ex-girlfriend, Ione Skye, due to his addiction and choice to spend time with the gang instead. Although not explicitly mentioned in the song, Anthony reveals that this bridge is located in downtown Los Angeles. In another song called "Yertle the Turtle," Anthony references a cocaine dealer whom he couldn't pay.

In the song "Look at that Turtle Go Bro", Anthony chose to mention him, referring to the extent of drug abuse among the band members. The loss of fellow guitarist Hillel Slovak from a drug overdose in 1988 further highlighted the prevalence of drug abuse within the band. Anthony considered Slovak's death unreal and did not attend his funeral, as Slovak had been one of his closest partners in drug abuse. Another band member, Kack Irons, also left because he did not want to be part of a

band where members were dying from drug abuse. Similarly, Anthony fled the city in response to this situation.

A line from the song "Wet Sands" encapsulates Anthony's struggle with addiction: "Right on the verge just one more dose I'm traveling from coast to coast my theory isn't perfect but its close I'm almost there why should I care?" In this line, Anthony expresses his relentless pursuit of getting high, while also acknowledging the pressure he puts on himself with the phrase "one more dose."

Partially, the pressure that Anthony felt was a result of the death of his band mate, Slovak. His aim was to forget the pain caused by this tragic event. Scar Tissue, Anthony's biography, poignantly recounts his battle with drug abuse. Through the lyrics of the song "Otherside," he expresses his realization of the harmful nature of drugs. The line "I don't believe it's bad" best captures this sentiment. However, Anthony struggles to reconcile the detrimental effects of drugs with their potential "benefits" in his book. He finds it challenging to neutralize the strong anti-drug sentiments portrayed therein and suggests that drugs played a significant role in his songwriting while also contributing to his own self-destruction. Hence, he attempts to find a middle ground regarding the impact of drugs on his life - condemning substance abuse while simultaneously helping readers understand their influence on his creativity.

In conclusion, Anthony's depiction of drugs in his portrayal suggests that drug use played a significant role in his life as a singer. His biography acknowledges that he sees drugs as both "evil" and "cool". The lyrics of the song "Otherside" shed light on Slovak's struggles before

his death. Supporters argue that if Anthony or the band had intended otherwise, they would have separated the words "other" and "side". Through this song, Anthony narrates how drugs affected their lives and led Slovak to despair. In fact, the entire album serves as a tribute to the deceased band member by sharing the story of Slovak's battles with drugs and eventual demise. Ultimately, his addiction became an inescapable terminal illness.

Anthony gives a painful account of the impact of drugs on the life of Slovak and details the events leading up to his death. He vividly describes how heroin can dominate someone's life and ultimately trap them because they become powerless against it. His poetic storytelling essentially embodies the existence of an addict, as the lyrics make it clear that prior to a fatal drug overdose or suicide, the addict becomes confined to non-lethal doses, making it only a matter of time before an overdose or suicide occurs. Anthony illustrates these events through Slovak's life. The song provides insight into Slovak's thoughts, conveying that drug addiction had become a permanent fixture, leaving suicide as the only means of escape. Anthony further narrates Slovak's contemplation of suicide through the line, "I can't believe its sad," demonstrating how Slovak viewed suicide as the solution. In his eyes, suicide was the last resort after all other options had failed (Lyric Interpretations, 2010). This concept is best expressed by Anthony in the index at 3:59.

The line "I'll take it on the other side" reflects Slovak's intense desire for the drug, despite knowing that it was trapping him and he needed to escape (Lyric Interpretations, 2010). Regrettably, he felt powerless

against the drug and believed that his only chance at redemption was to consume it in the afterlife. "Burn me out, leave me on the otherside" is another lyric that illustrates Slovak's struggle (Lyric Interpretations, 2010). Anthony was attempting to capture Slovak's mindset here, suggesting that "burning out" meant overdosing on the drug and "leave me on the other side" referred to death by suicide. Essentially, Slovak believed that taking his own life was the optimal solution to satisfy his drug cravings and put an end to his addiction.

According to Lyric Interpretations (2010), the line "I yell and tell it [drugs] that it's not my friend; I tear it down, and then it's born again" exemplifies Slovak's struggle with drugs. This line portrays the ongoing battle he faced before ultimately choosing suicide as an escape. Slovak repeatedly experienced relapses that he had no control over, leaving him feeling powerless. Anthony expresses this sentiment in the line "once you know, you can never go back," aiming to convey the lasting impact drugs have on addicts. The song suggests that once someone starts using drugs, it becomes nearly impossible to break free from addiction. Anthony's intention was to expose the public to the inner thoughts of an addict, specifically shedding light on Slovak's mindset before his passing. These lyrics are straightforward in their message, as Anthony aimed to provide a deeper understanding of addiction and Slovak's mental state leading up to his death.

In the song "Can't Stop," Anthony reflects on his previous life before becoming a singer, discussing how he contemplated pursuing acting but ultimately chose singing. The line "choose not the life of imitation" in the

song signifies this decision. Despite initially abandoning acting, Anthony has recently engaged in various television roles following his success as a rock star. Throughout the song, he also highlights the freedom and independence that being a rock star provides. Furthermore, he boasts about the privileges accompanying his fame, including limitless purchases, mingling with other top stars, appearing in commercials and TV shows, globetrotting, residing in opulent places, and indulging in a party-filled lifestyle.

Anthony explains that he has worked hard to achieve his current position and sees no reason to stop pursuing his passion for rock music. He believes that rock music is essential in his life and defines him as a person. Therefore, Anthony's career offers insight into the world of celebrity and the life of a rock star. He expresses gratitude for choosing a singing career and acknowledges that his song represents his professional journey and the fame he has gained in Hollywood.

To fully comprehend Anthony's poetic representation of the world, it is vital to acknowledge the context in which the song was written. "Californication" demonstrates how immorality is prevalent in contemporary society. However, Anthony conveys this theme beautifully and metaphorically, effectively capturing the extent of immorality observed in California and worldwide.

The song Californication by Anthony contains a profound message about the level of promiscuity in the state. However, experts have noted that the reference to the entire city may not be entirely accurate as Anthony likely meant to portray the lifestyle of Hollywood and its celebrities. The band couldn't speak negatively about the entire state. When people think of California, they often associate it with Hollywood culture. Thus, Anthony's song can be interpreted

as a general representation of the lifestyle in Hollywood (Apter, 2004, p. 305). He alludes to the real culture of Hollywood celebrities who hold an almost god-like status and have the freedom to do whatever they please. It is common today to hear stories of celebrities engaging in foolish behavior and even filming explicit videos.

Anthony attempted to explain the situation in Hollywood. However, the reason for Carlifonication's immense popularity was not solely due to the celebrity culture in Hollywood, but rather because it resonated with everyday people. It drew comparisons between celebrities and ordinary individuals, highlighting the fact that common people could not live the same extravagant lifestyle as celebrities nor sacrifice their entire lives for the sake of indulgence. Anthony specifically addressed the younger generation who were easily enticed by these types of lifestyles. In one of the song's lines, "Psychic spies from China Try to steal your minds elation," Anthony alludes to the influence television shows have on today's youth (Lyric Interpretations, 2010). The situation from when the song was written until now remains unchanged. Children watch TV to have something to discuss with their friends, particularly if the program or movie being aired is popular. For example, if a Chinese girl watches a show depicting Chinese spies stealing American secret service information from a US database, she is not enhancing her psychological understanding nor gaining any educational value.

In essence, she watches films and shows in order to have topics to discuss with friends or to contribute to school discussions the next day. Anthony depicts the influence of media on today's society, emphasizing how many young people are being manipulated and having the

thoughts of others infiltrate their minds, hindering their own creativity. By "thoughts of other people," Anthony refers to those of movie producers, writers, directors, editors, and similar individuals involved in media creation. The line "Little girls from Sweden Dream of silver screen quotations" also reflects this situation. California symbolizes Western civilization and dominance, exemplifying its ideals. Living in luxurious homes and driving flashy cars are characteristics of the Hollywood lifestyle, which in a way is a culture seeking attention.

The text illustrates how celebrities seek attention through unnecessary accessories and extravagant acts, as exemplified by Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. This craving for attention is also reflected in the character of Anthony in Californication. Additionally, celebrities in Hollywood often resort to plastic surgeries to hide their aging features, a behavior that has unfortunately spread to the general population. Even common housewives spend their lifesavings on plastic surgeries in a quest to appear younger. The line "Pay your surgeon very well to break the spell of aging" underscores the trend of wealthy celebrities paying large sums of money for artificial enhancements like nose and breast surgeries. This behavior is poetically portrayed in the song and represents the thoughts of aging women who often attempt to mask their age and deny their humanity.

The concept is that as women grow older, they often feel unappealing and worry that their partners may be unfaithful with younger, more attractive individuals. They also have concerns about their children being ashamed to be seen with them in public. This leads to their willingness to undergo cosmetic surgery. Anthony personifies California as a construction of artificial qualities that is frequently exaggerated in today's media.

The music video for the song displays picturesque scenes that epitomize the overemphasized Californian way of life, but towards the end, the visuals become more subdued to reflect reality. The band is also depicted fleeing from the situation, symbolizing a longing to escape from the overhyped lifestyle. The impact of celebrities on society is substantial, and Anthony serves as a metaphorical representation of this fact. He suggests that civilization originates in the East and concludes in the West, with Hollywood, California representing the West. Moreover, he implies that ultimately humanity will meet its demise due to its infatuation with the celebrity lifestyle which is largely overrated.

Most people live in a "plastic" world of glamour and fame, unaware that it can lead to their demise. Anthony does not specifically mention California, but he examines the mindset of most Americans. Americans are typically fixated on celebrities, sex, and the party scene. Anthony's lyrics were mainly influenced by his own experiences. His career as a singer and rock star was marked by drug abuse, a prevalent theme in his songs. However, he also touched upon other significant events like the death of his band member, his relationships, and the celebrity lifestyle in Hollywood. He conveyed these themes poetically, drawing heavily from his life experiences. Therefore, Anthony's works provide a factual representation of society and his own life.