Young Americans (song)
"Young Americans" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by David Bowie | ||||
from the album Young Americans | ||||
B-side |
| |||
Released | 21 February 1975 | |||
Recorded | August and November 1974 | |||
Studio | Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
| |||
Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | David Bowie | |||
Producer(s) | Tony Visconti | |||
David Bowie singles chronology | ||||
|
"Young Americans" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie from his ninth studio album of the same name. It was mostly recorded in August 1974 at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia and was debuted on the Soul tour the following month. The song featured contributions from then-unknown singer Luther Vandross, who conceived the backing vocal arrangement. An embracement of R&B and Philadelphia soul, the song presents an Englishman's impressionist portrait of America at the time, featuring various characters and allusions to American totems and events.
Released by
Overview
Music and lyrics
"Young Americans" was a major musical departure for David Bowie. Following years of glam rock and hard rock releases,[1] the song represented a full embracement of the R&B and Philadelphia soul sound of the mid-1970s.[2][3][4] Bowie himself referred to the sound as "plastic soul".[1][5][6][7] Discussing the stylistic departure in his book Starman: The Definitive Biography, author Paul Trynka describes the song as a "statement of intent", wherein Bowie was "repositioning the brand".[8]
"Young Americans" compositionally stands out from Bowie's prior recordings.
[The song is] about a newly-wed couple who don't know if they really like each other. Well, they do, but they don't know if they do or don't. It's a bit of a predicament.[10]
—David Bowie, NME, 1975
According to biographer Nicholas Pegg, "Young Americans" presents a rapid lyric "sketching an Englishman's impressionist portrait of 20th century America".[11] Production team the Matrix noted "America" as "a bit like a teenager: brimming with energy and imagination, occasionally overstepping the mark, but always with a great sense of possibility".[12] The title itself does not appear in the song, only "the young American", who runs through various myths to the point that by the end, he does not know which ones to believe or follow. Author Peter Doggett interprets the song, in one way, as "the portrait of a fantasy: the global dream of how it would feel to have life laid out before you in the land of plenty".[13] The opening verse describes a frigid sexual encounter, which "took him minutes, took her nowhere".[a][11] Perone says the story informs listeners that issues related to sex and "emotional impotence" exist both outside and in mainstream society, while additional verses reveal the discriminations between race and social classes that exist in American society.[5]
Unlike the fractured imagery of Bowie's previous album
The song also makes several British allusions. The opening line, "they pulled in just behind the fridge", was a reference to the comedic English duo Peter Cook and Dudley Moore's stage revue Behind the Fridge,[c] which Bowie had attended in London in 1973.[11] The revue painted American life as a British comedy rather than, in O'Leary's words, "a standard-issue American make-out session in a car parked off the highway".[9] "Young Americans" also contains a vocal quotation of the Beatles' "A Day in the Life" (1967): "I heard the news today, oh boy",[d] which anticipated Bowie's imminent collaboration with former band member John Lennon.[e][11] Drawing further Lennon comparisons, Perone relates the song's production on saxophone to Phil Spector's work on Lennon's initial post-Beatle recordings.[5]
Recording
Recording for "Young Americans" began at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the first day of the Young Americans album sessions, on 11 or 13 August 1974.[15] Additional recording took place later on in November.[9][13] With Tony Visconti producing and Carl Paruolo engineering, the lineup consisted of Bowie, Carlos Alomar on guitar, Willie Weeks on bass, Mike Garson on piano, Andy Newmark on drums, David Sanborn on alto saxophone and Larry Washington on congas. Singer Ava Cherry, Alomar's wife Robin Clark and then-unknown singer Luther Vandross contributed backing vocals.[9][16]
Unlike other songs recorded at Sigma Sound, the song's structure was mostly already written before the sessions began. The gospel and soul backing vocal arrangements in the refrains were constructed by Vandross with help from Clark, and eagerly added by Bowie.[9][11] Bowie wrote the middle section after visiting various New York clubs in the spring of 1974 and learning DJs enjoyed singles with breakdowns, such as Eddie Kendricks' "Girl You Need a Change of Mind". For "Young Americans", this sequence initially boasted a phased guitar solo by Alomar.[9]
In September 2009, take three of the song, dated 13 August 1974 on the Sigma Sound reel tape, was leaked online. In this version, all the lyrics are the same but the saxophone and backing vocals are absent, and Bowie's vocal delivery is more conventional than the funkier, syncopated feel of the final version.[11]
Release and promotion
Bowie premiered "Young Americans" live on the opening show of his
Reaching number 18 on the
Critical reception
"Young Americans" was met with positive reviews from music critics on release, with most praising the music. Reviewing the single, a writer for
In a more unfavourable review, Melody Maker's Michael Watts referred to the song as "a reasonable, if unmemorable discotheque record".[34] According to Doggett, some contemporary reviewers were perplexed by certain lyrics, such as the notion that "your momma" was suffering from "cramps" or "crabs". The author says that one unnamed "ungracious" British newspaper suggested the latter referred to David's wife Angie Bowie.[13]
Legacy
Bowie continued performing "Young Americans", often equipped with an
The full-length album version has appeared on several compilation albums, including Changesonebowie (1976),[38] The Best of Bowie (1980),[39] Fame and Fashion (1984),[40] the Sound + Vision box set (1989),[41] Changesbowie (1990), and The Singles Collection (1993).[42][43] The US single edit has appeared on Rare (1982), The Best of David Bowie 1974/1979 (1998), the American/Canadian edition of Best of Bowie (2002),[11] and the 2-CD and vinyl editions of Bowie Legacy (2016).[44][45] In 2016, both versions were remastered and included as part of the Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976) box set.[46][47] In his review of the box set, Chris Gerard of PopMatters panned the US single as "one of the most abruptly jarring edits ever to make it onto a single".[47] A 2007 remix by Visconti, edited to match the US single, appeared on the 3-CD edition of Nothing Has Changed (2014) and on a 40th-anniversary vinyl single release (2015).[11]
Retrospective appraisal
Musically simple, lyrically fragmented, emotionally inspired, "Young Americans" presented a Bowie who had never been heard on record before, catching almost everyone who had followed him by surprise.[13]
—Peter Doggett, The Man Who Sold the World, 2012
In subsequent decades, "Young Americans" has attracted acclaim.[3] Deemed a masterpiece by AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine,[48] Rolling Stone writer Rob Sheffield hailed the song as one of Bowie's finest, with "the rhythm inspiring his most passionate (and compassionate) love letter to his fans".[49] Doggett praises Bowie's vocal performance and overall commitment to the song.[13] Terry Staunton of NME called it his best single ever in 1991.[50] Several critics commended Bowie for a successful transition to soul music and his full commandeering of the style.[5][7][51] Perone opines that Bowie effectively established a "new hybrid [soul] style" rather than being a white singer merely attempting to sing soul music.[5] The Guardian's Alexis Petridis commented, "A white British rock star adopting the breezy, sumptuous sound of Philly soul shouldn't have worked at all, but it did, to life-affirming effect."[51] The "ain't there one damn song..." vocal break was later selected by Mojo magazine as the most impressive passage in Bowie's entire catalogue,[1] and by a Rolling Stone writer as his "royal peak".[52]
Following
The song has also appeared on other best-of lists. In 2003, Blender magazine placed "Young Americans" on its list "the 1001 greatest songs to download right now!"[12] One year later, the song ranked at number 481 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,[59] and moving up to 204 in its 2021 revised list.[60] In 2016, Pitchfork ranked it number 44 on its list of the 200 best songs of the 1970s.[2]
Covers and appearances in media
Vandross frequently performed the song on stage after 1975,[11] while Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash has spoken about the song's influence on him as a musician.[56] The song has accompanied the end credits of Dogville (2003)[61] and Manderlay (2005), the first two films of Lars von Trier's trilogy USA – Land of Opportunities, and also appeared briefly in the Nicolas Cage film Lord of War (2005).[11]
Personnel
According to Chris O'Leary:[9]
- David Bowie – lead vocal
- Carlos Alomar – rhythm guitar
- Willie Weeks – bass
- Mike Garson – piano
- Andy Newmark – drums
- David Sanborn – alto saxophone
- Larry Washington – congas
- Ava Cherry – backing vocals
- Robin Clark – backing vocals
- Luther Vandross – backing vocals
Technical
- Tony Visconti – producer
- Carl Paruolo – engineer
Charts
Chart (1975) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Singles (Kent Music Report)[62] | 27 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[63] | 36 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[64] | 33 |
Ireland (IRMA)[65] | 13 |
New Zealand (Listener Chart)[66] | 1 |
18 | |
US Billboard Hot 100[21] | 28 |
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[67] | 25 |
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[68] | 20 |
Chart (2015) | Peak position |
France ( SNEP)[69]
|
133 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[70] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Notes
- ^ Pegg and Trynka believe this aligned to Bowie's "planned seduction" of America at the time.[11][8]
- ^ Bowie recorded a cover of Springsteen's "It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City" (1973) during the Young Americans sessions, during which Springsteen himself visited the studio.[14]
- ^ Pegg says Behind the Fridge was an "ironic deflation" of the duo's 1960s show Beyond the Fringe.[11]
- ^ O'Leary notes that Lennon had "read" the news in the first song, establishing "fact is now rumour".[9]
- ^ On a cover of the Beatles' "Across the Universe" and "Fame", both released on Young Americans.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d Thompson, Dave. "'Young Americans' – David Bowie". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ a b "The 200 Best Songs of the 1970s". Pitchfork. 22 August 2016. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ a b c "David Bowie: 30 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone. 11 January 2016. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ Ultimate Classic Rock. 14 January 2016. Archivedfrom the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Perone 2007, pp. 46–47.
- ^ Simon, Mashaun D. (11 January 2016). "'Plastic Soul': David Bowie's Legacy and Impact on Black Artists". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- ^ a b c Cosores, Philip (8 January 2017). "David Bowie's Top 70 Songs". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Trynka 2011, pp. 259–260.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l O'Leary 2015, chap. 9.
- ^ Anthony, O'Grady (August 1975). "David Bowie: Watch Out Mate! Hitler's On His Way Back". NME. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2022 – via The Quietus.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Pegg 2016, pp. 322–324.
- ^ a b Collis, Clark; et al. (October 2003). "The 1001 greatest songs to download right now!". Blender. No. 20. p. 98.
- ^ a b c d e Doggett 2012, pp. 259–261.
- ^ a b Giles, Jeff (7 March 2016). "Revisiting David Bowie's R&B Move, 'Young Americans'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ 11 August: Pegg 2016, pp. 322–324; Trynka 2011, pp. 259–260; 13 August: O'Leary 2015, chap. 9
- ^ Pegg 2016, pp. 373–379.
- ^ "I'm Only Dancing for Record Store Day 2020". David Bowie Official Website. 19 February 2020. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ Buckley 2005, p. 219.
- ^ Pegg 2016, p. 780.
- ^ a b "David Bowie: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ a b "David Bowie Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "David Bowie Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Young Americans album is 40 today". David Bowie Official Website. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ O'Leary 2015, Partial Discography.
- ^ Buckley 2005, p. 244.
- ^ Edwards, Gavin (5 June 2014). "Flashback: David Bowie and Cher Duet on 'Young Americans'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ "Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 22 February 1975. p. 22. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021 – via worldradiohistory.com.
- ^ Byrom, Sue (22 February 1975). "Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror. p. 25. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2022 – via worldradiohistory.com.
- ^ "Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 15 March 1975. p. 80. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2020 – via worldradiohistory.com.
- ISBN 0-89919-026-X. Archivedfrom the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
- ^ Landau, Jon (22 May 1975). "Young Americans". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- The Gazette. p. 49. Retrieved 20 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com (subscription required).
- ^ "NME's best albums and tracks of 1975". NME. 10 October 2016. Archived from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ Watts, Michael (15 March 1975). "David Bowie: Young Americans Review". Melody Maker. p. 31 – via The History of Rock 1975.
- ^ Loving the Alien (1983–1988) (Box set booklet). David Bowie. UK, Europe & US: Parlophone. 2018. 0190295693534.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Serious Moonlight (Live '83) (CD liner notes). David Bowie. Europe: Parlophone. 2019. 0190295511180.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Pegg 2016, p. 643.
- ^ Thompson, Dave. "Changesonebowie – David Bowie". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Pegg 2016, pp. 500–501.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Fame and Fashion – David Bowie". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ "Sound + Vision boxset repack press release". David Bowie Official Website. 26 July 2014. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Changesbowie – David Bowie". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Singles: 1969–1993 – David Bowie". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ Monroe, Jazz (28 September 2016). "David Bowie Singles Collection Bowie Legacy Announced". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ^ Trendell, Andrew (28 September 2016). "New David Bowie greatest hits album 'Bowie Legacy' set for release". NME. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ "Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976) details". David Bowie Official Website. 22 July 2016. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ a b Gerard, Chris (28 September 2016). "David Bowie: Who Can I Be Now? (1974/1976)". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Young Americans – David Bowie". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ Sheffield, Rob (13 June 2007). "David Bowie: Young Americans". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 16 June 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
- New Musical Express. p. 37.
- ^ a b c Petridis, Alexis (19 March 2020). "David Bowie's 50 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- ^ "The 200 Best Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. 1 January 2023. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "David Bowie's 20 greatest songs". The Telegraph. 10 January 2021. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ Barker, Emily (8 January 2018). "David Bowie's 40 greatest songs – as decided by NME and friends". NME. Archived from the original on 3 November 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
- ^ "David Bowie – The 100 Greatest Songs". Mojo (255): 81. February 2015.
- ^ a b "David Bowie's 30 best songs". Uncut (133). 19 February 2015 [March 2008]. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ Anderson, Sarah (8 January 2018). "20 best David Bowie tracks – as voted by you". NME. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ Vogelman, Nee (18 January 2016). "The 20 Greatest David Bowie Singles". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: David Bowie, 'Young Americans'". Rolling Stone. 11 December 2003. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: David Bowie, 'Young Americans'". Rolling Stone. 15 September 2021. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ Heath, Chris (11 January 2015). "7 David Bowie Songs to Play Over and Over Today". GQ. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "David Bowie – Young Americans" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3958a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Young Americans". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ "David Bowie (search)". Flavour of New Zealand.
- ^ "David Bowie Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. 10 May 1975. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022 – via worldradiohistory.com.
- Les classement single. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "British single certifications – David Bowie – Young Americans". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
Sources
- Buckley, David (2005) [1999]. Strange Fascination – David Bowie: The Definitive Story. London: ISBN 978-0-75351-002-5.
- ISBN 978-0-06-202466-4.
- O'Leary, Chris (2015). Rebel Rebel: All the Songs of David Bowie from '64 to '76. Winchester: ISBN 978-1-78099-244-0.
- ISBN 978-1-78565-365-0.
- Perone, James E. (2007). The Words and Music of David Bowie. ISBN 978-0-27599-245-3.
- ISBN 978-0-31603-225-4.