| "America" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Neil Diamond | ||||
| from the album The Jazz Singer soundtrack | ||||
| B-side | "Songs of Life" | |||
| Released | April 25, 1981 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Recorded | 1980 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 3:27 (single version) 4:19 (album version) |
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| Label | Capitol | |||
| Writer(s) | Neil Diamond | |||
| Producer | Bob Gaudio | |||
| Neil Diamond singles chronology | ||||
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"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 Jazz Singer soundtrack album. The song was a hit single in the United States in 1981, reaching number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming Diamond's sixth number one on the Adult Contemporary chart.[1] Although the single version was a studio recording, it sounds live because of crowd overdubs in the song.
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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 been used in a number of contexts, including as a theme song for Michael Dukakis's 1988 presidential campaign. Diamond also sang it at the rededication of the Statue of Liberty on the occasion of its centennial.[2]
Shortly after the September 11, 2001 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."[3][4]
Despite the song's patriotic message, it was included on a memorandum listing songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel Communications following the September 11 attacks.[5]
New Age pianist David Lanz performed a cover of this song for his album Finding Paradise.[6]