Perhaps (song)

"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]

"Perhaps"
Single by Guns N' Roses
B-side	"The General"[1]
Released	August 18, 2023 (2023-08-18)
Recorded	1999–2001, 2020-2023
Length	3:48
Label	Geffen
Songwriter(s)	Axl Rose Duff McKagan Slash Paul Tobias
Producer(s)	Axl Rose Caram Costanzo
Guns N' Roses singles chronology
"Hard Skool" (2021) "Perhaps" (2023) "The General" (2023)
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.^[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 European leg of the 2023 Tour.^[11]

The single's "R-side" "The General" was announced to be the B-side to "Perhaps" and the vinyl originally set for release on October 27 but since the band was not happy with the quality, it was pushed back for December 8.

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

7-inch vinyl

'G' side

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Perhaps"	Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Paul Tobias[14]	3:48

'R' side

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
2.	"The General"	Rose, Slash, McKagan, Brain, Steve Freeman, Marc Haggard[15]	4:22

Personnel

Guns N' Roses^[9]

• Axl Rose – vocals, piano, production
• Slash – lead guitar
• Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals
• Dizzy Reed – keyboards
• Richard Fortus – rhythm guitar
• Brain – drums

Additional credits^[9][16]

• Caram Costanzo – keyboards, production, engineer
• Eric Caudieux, Sean Beavan – additional engineering
• Joe Barresi – mixer
• Bob Ludwig – mastering engineer

Charts

Chart performance for "Perhaps"

Chart (2023)	Peak position
Croatia (HRT)[17]	93
Japan (Oricon)[18]	21
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[19]	40
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[20]	36
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[21]	24
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[22]	48

References

1. "Perhaps 7" Vinyl". Guns N' Roses. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
2. "Guns N' Roses finally release new song 'Perhaps'". NME. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
3. "New Guns 'N' Roses single 'Perhaps' reportedly coming next week". NME. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
4. "New Guns N' Roses Merch Confirms Title of Next Single". Loudwire. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
5. "Listen to Guns N' Roses' New Song 'Perhaps'". Ultimate Classic Rock. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
6. "Guns N' Roses Surprise Fans in Tel Aviv with Unreleased Song". CDJ. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
7. GUNS N' ROSES – PERHAPS [FULL SONG 2023 SOUNDCHECK GLASGOW], retrieved 2023-08-21
8. "New Guns N' Roses song leaked via digital jukeboxes". NME. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
9. "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.
10. "See Guns N' Roses Debut New Song 'Perhaps' Live in Pittsburgh". NME. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
11. "Guns N' Roses - Perhaps (Official Music Video)". YouTube.
12. Hudak, Joseph (18 August 2023). "Axl Rose Empathizes, Apologizes in New Guns N' Roses Song 'Perhaps'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
13. 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.
14. "Perhaps". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
15. "The General". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
16. "Perhaps (auto-generated video)". YouTube. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
17. "ARC 100 - date: 4. September 2023" (PDF). HRT. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
18. Perhaps – Oricon Oricon News. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
19. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
20. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
21. "Guns N Roses Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
22. "Guns N Roses Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2023.

External links

• "Perhaps" at Discogs (list of releases)