Perhaps (song)
"Perhaps" is a song by the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, released as a single on August 18, 2023.[3][4] A limited edition 7-inch vinyl, with "The General" as its B-side, was originally scheduled to be released on October 27, 2023 but the release has been postponed to December 8, 2023.[5][1]
"Perhaps" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
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) | Guns N' Roses[2] | |||
Producer(s) | Axl Rose, Caram Costanzo | |||
Guns N' Roses singles chronology | ||||
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Audio | ||||
"Perhaps" on YouTube | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Perhaps" on YouTube |
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.[6]
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.[7][8] Prior to the release, the song was leaked through digital jukeboxes in bars across the United States.[9] The song features drumming from former band member Brain.[2]
"Perhaps" was first played live on August 18, 2023, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[10]
The music video for the song, which shows footage of the band live and backstage during the 2023 European Tour, reached a million views only a day after its release.[11]
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"".[12] 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".[13]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Perhaps" | Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Paul Tobias[14] | 3:48 |
2. | "The General" aka[15] "The General and Monsters" | Rose, Slash, McKagan, Brain, Steve Freeman, Marc Haggard[16] |
Personnel
Guns N' Roses[2]
- Axl Rose – vocals, piano, production
- Slash – guitar
- Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals
- Dizzy Reed – keyboards
- Richard Fortus – guitar
- Brain – drums
- 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)[18] | 93 |
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[19] | 40 |
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[20] | 36 |
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[21] | 48 |
References
- "Perhaps 7" Vinyl". Guns N' Roses. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- "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.
- "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.
- "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.
- "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.
- 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 and Monsters". SACEM. Retrieved October 27, 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.