"Perhaps" | ||||
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Single by Guns N' Roses | ||||
B-side | "The General"[1] | |||
Released | August 18, 2023 | |||
Recorded | 1999–2001, 2023 | |||
Length | 3:48 | |||
Label | Geffen | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Guns N' Roses singles chronology | ||||
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Audio | ||||
"Perhaps" on YouTube | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Perhaps" on YouTube |
"Perhaps" is a song by the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, released as a single on August 18, 2023.[2][3] A limited edition 7-inch vinyl, with "The General" as its "R-side", was originally scheduled to be released on October 27, 2023 but the release was postponed to December 8, 2023.[4][1] Like the band's previous two singles, "Absurd" and "Hard Skool", the origins of this song date back to the writing and recording process of Chinese Democracy from the late 1990s.[5]
Background
"Perhaps" was originally recorded during the Chinese Democracy sessions in 2000, and was leaked online in 2019 alongside other tracks from the same era.[5]
The song was rehearsed at the soundcheck for the Tel Aviv concert on June 5, 2023, and again before the band's Glasgow concert on June 27, 2023.[6][7] Prior to the release, the song was leaked through digital jukeboxes in bars across the United States.[8] The song features drumming from former band member Brain.[9]
"Perhaps" was first played live on August 18, 2023, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[10]
The music video for the song shows footage of the band live and backstage during the 2023 European Tour.[11]
The single's "R-side" "The General", which was also originally conceived during the Chinese Democracy sessions, was performed live for the first time at The Hollywood Bowl on November 2, 2023.[12] It was released on streaming platforms on December 8, 2023.[13] The song features former Guns N’ Roses members Brain and Chris Pitman as well as composer Marco Beltrami and guitarist Marc Haggard.[14]
Reception
Rolling Stone called the piano-driven track good and described it as being "mid-tempo rocker in the vein of Use Your Illusion II's more mellow "Yesterdays" or Chinese Democracy’s standout "Catcher in the Rye"".[15] In its positive review, Billboard described the song as "a twisty, turgid ballad" featuring "a piano-pounding riff", "Rose's signature howl" and "one of Slash's classic hurricane solos".[16]
Track listing
7-inch vinyl
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Perhaps" | Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Paul Tobias[17] | 3:48 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
2. | "The General" | Rose, Slash, McKagan, Brain, Steve Freeman, Marc Haggard[18] | 4:22 |
Personnel
Guns N' Roses[9]
- Axl Rose – vocals, piano, production
- Slash – guitar
- Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals
- Dizzy Reed – keyboards
- Richard Fortus – guitar
- Brain – drums
- Chris Pitman - keyboards ("The General")
- Marc Haggard - guitar ("The General")
- Marco Beltrami - strings ("The General")
- Caram Costanzo – keyboards, production, engineer
- Eric Caudieux, Sean Beavan – additional engineering
- Joe Barresi – mixer
- Bob Ludwig – mastering engineer
Charts
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Croatia (HRT)[20] | 93 |
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[21] | 40 |
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[22] | 36 |
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[23] | 48 |
References
- 1 2 "Perhaps 7" Vinyl". Guns N' Roses. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ↑ "Guns N' Roses finally release new song 'Perhaps'". NME. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ↑ "New Guns 'N' Roses single 'Perhaps' reportedly coming next week". NME. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ↑ "New Guns N' Roses Merch Confirms Title of Next Single". Loudwire. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- 1 2 "Listen to Guns N' Roses' New Song 'Perhaps'". Ultimate Classic Rock. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ↑ "Guns N' Roses Surprise Fans in Tel Aviv with Unreleased Song". CDJ. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ↑ GUNS N' ROSES – PERHAPS [FULL SONG 2023 SOUNDCHECK GLASGOW], retrieved 2023-08-21
- ↑ "New Guns N' Roses song leaked via digital jukeboxes". NME. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- 1 2 3 "GUNS N' ROSESがニュー・シングル "Perhaps" のMVをアップ". BURRN! ONLINE. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ↑ "See Guns N' Roses Debut New Song 'Perhaps' Live in Pittsburgh". NME. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ↑ "Guns N' Roses - Perhaps (Official Music Video)". YouTube.
- ↑ "Watch: GUNS N' ROSES Perform 'The General' Live For First Time". Blabbermouth. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ↑ the general debuts digital
- ↑ Lewrypublished, Fraser (December 8, 2023). "Guns N' Roses release anguished yet epic new recording of The General". louder.
- ↑ Hudak, Joseph (18 August 2023). "Axl Rose Empathizes, Apologizes in New Guns N' Roses Song 'Perhaps'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ↑ Kaufman, Gil (18 August 2023). "Guns N' Roses Released Florid Piano Rocker 'Perhaps' a Week After it Leaked to Digital Jukeboxes". Billboard. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ↑ "Perhaps". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- ↑ "The General". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- ↑ "Perhaps (auto-generated video)". YouTube. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ↑ "ARC 100 - date: 4. September 2023" (PDF). HRT. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ↑ "Guns N Roses Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2023.