1. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Can’t Stop
There is not much of a connection between the lyrics and the music video. The lyrics are very cryptic
as it is usual for Anthony Kiedis (vocalist & songwriter) and quite messy. In the music video what
band does throughout the whole sequence is basically making use and playing with whatever
happened to be part of Erwin Wurm’s ‘One Minute
Sculptures’ exhibition. Therefore the basic link between
lyrics and the video could be a lack of any order.
However, it does not illustrate or even amplify the lyrics
so the music video is clearly a disjuncture according to
Andrew Goodwin’s theories on music video conventions.
The video is a good presentation of how Red Hot Chili
One of the initial scenes, the band running with light
Peppers star image works. Coming back to the lyrics, fixtures attached to their backs – not even a slight
Chilli’s usually express their lyrical message quite reference to the lyrics.
mysteriously, it takes some time and thought to actually be able to reflect upon them. Lyrics for
‘Can’t Stop’ might seem nonsense for a guy listening to their music for the first time but most of
their fans can notice that the song is kind of a guide for looking your inner, personal energy which
title and the final line ‘This life is more than just a read-through’ suggest.
In the video the whole band is reinforcing their star
image created throughout their entire career by certain
iconography and the way of acting. Anthony Kiedis is
performing either topless or wearing typical for him
short-sleeve shirt and tie, he has not also used glasses
for the first time. The way he is sort of robot dancing and
switching from singing to rapping during the
performance has developed to be his hallmarks and he
has been using them in this particular video quite
extensively. It is well known to the Chili’s fans and I can
approve it as I went to their concert, Flea (bassist) is the
one doing the craziest things, he is being sort of a joker
of the band. It is him who entertains the crowd during a
gig and for some of Chili’s audience he might be even
more established with the act than Kiedis. In the video
he does what he always does. Focuses on a most random thing (ball, marker, hippo mask), throws,
wears or holds it in some strange way and then finds
another. John Frusciante (lead guitarist) is more of a
peaceful character of the band. As for a man he has got
extremely long hair, always hugs everyone and has a
high-pitch, very warm voice tone. Most of Red Hot Chili
Peppers followers are aware of his serious problems
with drugs and alcohol in the past and now for them he
is a symbol of recovery, living a very ascetic life. In the

2. music video he is exactly reflecting those qualities. Dances in a kind of a hippie way, when he plays
guitar it seems like it is not just the guitar giving away a
sound, it is him and the guitar being an instrument as he
keeps moving accordingly to every single tone.
John Frusciante making very emotional use of
the guitar