American Life (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"American Life" | ||
---|---|---|
Single by Madonna | ||
from the album American Life | ||
B-side(s) | "Die Another Day" | |
Released | March 2003 (digital download) April 8, 2003 (US) April 14, 2003 (Europe) |
|
Format | Digital download (US) CD single (Worldwide) Vinyl single (UK) |
|
Recorded | London, England | |
Genre | Pop / Electro | |
Length | 4:57 | |
Label | Maverick Records Warner Bros. Records WEA International |
|
Writer(s) | Madonna Mirwais Ahmadzaï |
|
Producer(s) | Madonna Mirwais Ahmadzaï |
|
Chart positions | ||
|
||
Madonna singles chronology | ||
"Die Another Day" (2002) |
"American Life" (2003) |
"Hollywood" (2003) |
Audio sample | ||
Play (in browser) (help·info) | ||
"American Life" is a pop song written by American singer-songwriter Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï for Madonna's ninth studio album American Life (2003). The song's lyrics are a criticism of the American lifestyle and contains a largely critically panned rap section. It was not well received by pop-music critics, with many criticizing it for its electronic sounds, which many believed had become repetitive, and for its lack of melody. The song was released as the first single in the spring of 2003 (see 2003 in music), and although it failed to match the chart success of past Madonna singles, "American Life" is considered to be a worldwide success as it reached number one in Canada, Denmark, Italy, Japan[citation needed] and Switzerland, the top ten in Spain, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom and Australia, and the top forty in the United States. The song is also well known for its controversial original music video which denounced President George W. Bush and the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
In 2005, Q magazine included "American Life" in a list of "Ten Terrible Records by Great Artists". In addition, Blender named it number 9 on their list of "The 50 Worst Songs Ever".[1]
Contents |
[edit] Song information
The song was co-written and co-produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï.
"American Life" was first released on April 8, 2003 in the U.S. and on April 14 in Europe. The song premiered on radio worldwide on March 24, the same day that it was sent out as an official digital single by mail to American fans who purchased the MP3 on Madonna's official website. The song received remixes by some of the most known in the business, including mixes by Missy Elliott, Peter Rauhofer, Felix da Housecat and Paul Oakenfold.
The single cover that was released on April 8 was different from the original cover artwork. Initially, an image of the single was released to the media showing Madonna holding a machine gun. The doctored single cover featured the same picture, but minus Madonna holding the gun.[2]
[edit] Music video
The controversial music video was shot on February 6 and 7, 2003 in Los Angeles by Swedish director Jonas Åkerlund. While she made sexually and religiously explicit videos in the '80s and the '90s, Madonna started incorporating violent images in the '00s starting with "What It Feels Like for a Girl" and "Die Another Day". For "American Life", she took it to a new level by focusing on politics and attacking United States President George W. Bush's attack on Iraq.
The video is built around Madonna, as an army sergeant major (see image on left), with a female legion of troops at a fashion show. It ends with Madonna and the troops getting into a MINI Cooper and crashing it into the catwalk. While the audience is watching in shock, Madonna hoses down the paparazzi with a water cannon, reaching a climax with fast-moving war images until Madonna throws a hand grenade which is caught by a President Bush lookalike, who transforms the grenade into a lighter to light his cigar.
As soon as the storyline of the video leaked to the press, it was heavily criticized. It went so far that Madonna felt it necessary to issue a statement: "I feel lucky to be an American citizen for many reasons - one of which is the right to express myself freely, especially in my work. I understand that there have been reports about my upcoming video "American Life" in the media - much of which is inaccurate. I am not Anti-Bush. I am not pro-Iraq. I am pro Peace. I have written a song and created a video which expresses my feelings about our culture and values and the illusions of what many people believe is the American dream - the perfect life. As an artist, I hope that this provokes thought and dialogue. I don't expect everyone to agree with my point of view. I am grateful to have the freedom to express these feelings and that's how I honor my country".
Due to the political climate of the country at the time, most notably the backlash on the Dixie Chicks after they made some anti-war comments, Madonna later changed her mind on that "freedom of speech". On April 1, one day after the video was first shown on a few European music channels, Madonna pulled the video and released a statement explaining why. "I have decided not to release my new video. It was filmed before the war started and I do not believe it is appropriate to air it at this time. Due to the volatile state of the world and out of sensitivity and respect to the armed forces, who I support and pray for, I do not want to risk offending anyone who might misinterpret the meaning of this video".[1]
Madonna then released an edited version, which many have criticized. This version only contains the footage of Madonna as a general, but this time performing in front of flags instead of flames and images of war. A different version was shown as a backdrop to her performance of the song on the 2004 "Re-Invention Tour". The chief difference was the alteration of the final scene to display George W. Bush and Saddam Hussein together.
Warner Brothers had confirmed that the unedited 'director's cut' "American Life" video (in other words, the original pulled version) would be a bonus on the DVD of I'm Going to Tell You a Secret, which was released in June 2006, however, when the DVD was released in America, the "American Life" video was not included. This last version pursues all the content of the first one, but the ending is different and more violent. After Madonna's MINI Cooper reaches the catwalk and the singer starts to throw water on the paparazzis, legless and war-injured models start to crawl on the stage, helped by two nurses with their clothes full of blood. These images are mixed with actual war cameos, scenes of the fashion crowd laughing at it all and the sound of bombs and missiles covering the song. And when Madonna throws the grenade, it falls right on an empty part of the catwalk, and the singer's images on the big screen puts the hands on the ears.
[edit] Chart performance
Before its release "American Life" was aggressively marketed by Madonna's record label, Warner Bros. Warner offered the song as a maxi or two-track single, and also released it as a digital download. In the U.S. the song performed rather weakly, perhaps due to Madonna's criticism of the invasion of Iraq. The single sold an optimistic 4,177 copies, allowing it to debut at number ninety on the Billboard Hot 100, but only managed to peak at number thirty-seven on the Hot 100 and stayed within the top forty for just a week. On the Hot 100 Singles Sales, the single peaked at number two and it peaked at number sixty-one on the Hot 100 Airplay chart.
On the U.S. dance chart, the single performed much better, rising to number one on both the Hot Dance Singles Sales and Hot Dance Club Play charts; the number-one position on the Club Play chart marked her twenty-ninth time at the summit. Internationally, the single achieved much greater success, going to number two in the UK and top ten in Australia, and all the way to the top in Canada and Japan.
[edit] Charts (alphabetical order)
Chart (2003) | Peak position |
---|---|
Argentina | 2 |
Australia ARIA Top 50 Singles | 7 |
Austria Top 75 Singles Sales | 7 |
Belgium Ultratop Vlaanderen Top 50 | 10 |
Belgium Wallonia Top 40 | 12 |
Brazil | 6 |
Canadian Singles Chart | 1 |
Chile | 7 |
China Top Singles | 6 |
Denmark | 1 |
Eurochart (European Singles Top 100) | 2 |
Finland | 3 |
France Top 50 Singles | 10 |
Germany Media Control Top 50 | 10 |
Greece | 2 |
Ireland IRMA Top 50 Singles | 8 |
Italy | 1 |
Italy (remix version) | 7 |
Japan (ChartJapan) | 1 |
Latvia | 6 |
Netherlands | 13 |
New Zealand | 33 |
Norway Top 20 Singles | 9 |
Portugal | 1 |
Spain Los 40 Principales | 1 |
Sweden | 2 |
Switzerland Top 100 | 1 |
UK Singles Chart | 2 |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 37 |
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales | 1 |
United World Chart | 1 |
Preceded by "I Drove All Night" by Céline Dion |
Canadian number-one single April 26, 2003 (2 weeks) |
Succeeded by "In da Club" by 50 Cent |
Preceded by "In da Club" by 50 Cent |
United World Chart number one single May 24, 2003 - June 14, 2003 |
Succeeded by "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence |
[edit] Certifications
Country | Certification |
---|---|
Australia | Gold |
France | Silver |
[edit] Official versions
Original versions
- Album Version
- Radio Edit (Uncensored)
- Radio Edit (Censored)
- Radio Edit (Without Rap)
- Video Version
Remixes
- Felix DaHouseCat Devin Dazzle Club
- Felix DaHouseCat Devin Dazzle Radio Mix
- Felix DaHouseCat Devin Dazzle Radio Mix (Without Rap)
- Headcleanr Rock Mix
- Missy Elliott's American Dream Mix
- Missy Elliott's American Dream Mix (Clean Version)
- Missy Elliott American Dream Instrumental Remix
- Oakenfold Downtempo Mix/Remix
- Oakenfold Radio Edit
- Oakenfold Radio Edit (Without Rap)
- Peter Rauhofer American Anthem Part 1
- Peter Rauhofer American Anthem Part 2
- Rauhofer Radio Mix
[edit] Official versions
- US Maxi-Single
- American Life (Missy Elliott's American Dream Mix)4:49
- American Life (Oakenfold Downtempo Remix) 5:32
- American Life (Felix Da Housecat's Devin Dazzle Club Mix)6:10
- American Life (Peter Rauhofer's American Anthem) (Part 1)10:41
- American Life (Peter Rauhofer's American Anthem) (Part 2) 9:06
- Die Another Day (Richard Humpty Vission Electrofield Mix) 6:01
- European Single
- American Life (Edit With Rap)
- Die Another Day (Calderone & Quayle Afterlife Mix)
[edit] References
For charts and certifications:
- "Chart Performance of Madonna Records - A Compiled History". MLVC.ORG - Charts. link - last accessed on December 19, 2005.
- "Charts". Mad-Eyes Discography. link - last accessed on December 19, 2005.
- "American Life". Top40-Charts. link - last accessed on December 19, 2005.
For official versions:
- "Remix Index". Madonna Nation. link - last accessed on December 19, 2005.
Studio albums: Madonna (1983) · Like a Virgin (1984) · True Blue (1986) · Like a Prayer (1989)
Erotica (1992) · Bedtime Stories (1994) · Ray of Light (1998) · Music (2000)
American Life (2003) · Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
Discography · Tours · Videography · Filmography · Achievements and Awards · Bibliography · Unreleased songs · Controversies