America (Neil Diamond song)
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| "America" | ||
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| Single by Neil Diamond | ||
| Released | April 25, 1981 | |
| Format | 7-inch | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Label | Capitol Records | |
| Writer(s) | Neil Diamond | |
| Producer(s) | Bob Gaudio | |
| Chart positions | ||
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For other uses, see America.
"America" (also known as "They're Coming To America" or "Coming To America") is the name of a patriotic song written and originally recorded by Neil Diamond, released in 1980 as part of the The Jazz Singer soundtrack album. It was a hit single in 1981, reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song's theme is a positive interpretation of the history of immigration to the United States, and seems to take place both during the early 1900s wave as well as in contemporaneous times. Formed of Diamond's typical combination of powerful melody, dynamic arrangement, and bombastic vocal, it ends with an interpolation of the traditional patriotic song "My Country, 'Tis of Thee". In Diamond's concerts, the song is a very popular number both home and abroad, with a large United States flag often displayed from the rafters on cue to the lyric, "Every time that flag's unfurled / They're coming to America."
The song has since been used in a number of contexts, including as a theme song for Michael Dukakis's 1988 Presidential campaign, because of its immigrant theme.
A Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Will Ferrell as Diamond explains the song as an expression of the singer's "massive" hatred of immigrants.
Shortly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Diamond modified the lyrics to "America" slightly during live performances. Instead of "They're comin' to America," towards the end, it became "Stand Up for America."
