I never understood the sterile anti-american rhetoric. Perhaps you'll call me naive, you'll think I want to be blind to it but, believe me, in my eyes, the United States of America is a magical place, where the blues, the jazz, the rock 'n' roll were born. Their global dominance after the Second World War logically has made them a red cloth for many, which has been passed in many of the songs written for it. Some of them, more or less known, are in the list below.
(Don McLean)
A song-torrent from the same-titled album of the American McLean since 1971, written about the death of Buddy Holly in a plane crash. The unique, poetic lyrics are susceptible to many interpretations while the author has not revealed until now what he ment to say. An allegorical story of the'60s? Tribute to dead musicians? Part of the magic is that we will probably never know.
2. Born In The U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen
(Bruce Springsteen)
Many felt that with this song the boss praised home. The exact opposite happened ofcource. A song-accusation to the American involvement in the Vietnam war and the casualties that resulted, was released in 1984 as a single from the same-titled album and went to # 9 in Billboard. It is one of the largest, commercially and artistically, successes of Springsteen.
3. Young Americans - David Bowie
(David Bowie)
Somewhere in the mid-'70s, Bowie was in a phase of obsession with soul music. One of the «fruits» of engaging in this kind was also the track from the sema-titled album of 1975. With lyrics that mention the Watergate scandal, Makarthism, the oppression of blacks and also a loan from A Day In The Life of the Beatles, the song managed to become a hit in America where the former, glam rock efforts of the Englishman had not found suitable territory.
4. Magic America - Blur
(Damon Albarn-Graham Coxon-Alex James-Dave Rowntree)
The album Parklife was released in 1994 and was a key step in the career of the group from Essex and the reference point for contemporary British scene. This song sees with cynicism the dream of an average British to travel to Magic America, with the guitars of Coxon always in the fore and the filled with irony vocals of Albarn leaves no doubt about what they want to say.
(Jeff Lynne)
The single from the album Balance Of Power in 1986 was the last of E.L.O. hit in America. Light up-tempo and melody as opposed to the more obscure lyrics, which although at first glance sound like full of love, could be interpreted allegorically ...
6. Surfin 'U.S.A. - The Beach Boys
(Brian Wilson-Chuck Berry)
Single, from the distant 1963, which was included in the same-titled second album from the Californians. The eternal light and summer part of the United States, with a melody borrowed from Chuck Berry's Sweet Little Sixteen with cherubical vocals of the group to help create an absolute hit.
7. America - Simon And Garfunkel
(Paul Simon)
A song from the album Bookends (1968). Excellent example of songmaking of Paul Simon, without rhyming lyrics seeking the true meaning of America. "All come to look for America ..."
8. The Loneliness of America - Dionissis Savvopoulos
(Dionissis Savvopoulos)
It has been 10 years since the Chronopoio , the last studio work of the «father» of Greek songmaking. There was this epic 6minute that starts with raping to become a rock ballad and back again. A harsh criticism of America of Clinton, but also a nostalgic look at the always fertile past of the sixties.
9. In America - Socrates Malamas
(Thanasis Papakonstantinou)
Thanassis Papakonstantinou included this song in concert for several years before recording it for the album Clear (2006) with the voice of his friend, Socrates Malamas. Musically, following the style of old rembetiko songs to tell stories from the era of the great migration of Greeks to America.
(Paul McCartney)
The solo debut of Macca, with the surname of the title, released in April 1970 and the promo version, accompanied by a mini-interview in which was announced his withdrawal from the Beatles. There you will find this instrumental originally titled Rock 'N' Roll Springtime by which McCartney, playing all instruments, pays tribute to American music. Included in the soundtrack of the film Jerry Maguire (1996) from Cameron Crowe.
