Difference between revisions of "I'm Afraid Of Americans"

Latest revision as of 21:13, 11 February 2024

Album:Earthling

Length:4:12

Tempo:160 BPM

Versions:I'm Afraid Of Americans
I'm Afraid Of Americans (V1)
I'm Afraid Of Americans (V2)
I'm Afraid Of Americans (V3)
I'm Afraid Of Americans (V4)
I'm Afraid Of Americans (V5)
I'm Afraid Of Americans (V6)

Live:Wave Goodbye through Tension 2013 Tour
Europe + Asia 2018 through present

"I'm Afraid of Americans" is a David Bowie song that was remixed by Nine Inch Nails for its maxi-single release in 1997.

Appearances

Other

I'm Afraid Of Americans
Earthling

Versions

I'm Afraid of Americans

The original song appears on David Bowie's album Earthling, also released in 1997.

I'm Afraid of Americans (V1)

Remixed by Nine Inch Nails, this version was used as the single mix of the song, in its music video, and appears on the titular remix EP and the Best of Bowie compilation. Reznor sings backup in this mix, most notably in the choruses and the "God is an American" coda. This is the version that Nine Inch Nails plays live.

I'm Afraid of Americans (V2)

This remix resembles "Closer (Precursor)" in its laid back beat and soundscaping.

I'm Afraid of Americans (V3)

This version splices vocals by Bowie with those of Ice Cube, manipulated into phrases like "I pledge allegiance" and "a murder-merican" in addition to many others. The beat and bassline are very minimal, and eventually give way to a distant piano below Ice Cube's words "TV got your brain."

I'm Afraid of Americans (V4)

This remix is very atmospheric, created in more of an ambient style, and is predominantly instrumental, using various layers of the original beat and guitars.

I'm Afraid of Americans (V5)

Photek created this remix, a very minimal and bouncy electronic version of the song. Spliced vocals are arranged above a repetitious bassline, synth melody, and drum programming resembling that of Bowie's song "Little Wonder," the first on Earthling.

I'm Afraid of Americans (V6)

The final NIN remix of the song transitions directly from the Photek mix, and is mostly composed of very repetitious bass and drums. It is instrumental, and bears very little resemblance to any part of the original.

Music Video

The video features Reznor stalking Bowie throughout the streets of New York, with Bowie constantly trying to escape. Throughout the video, violent acts, seemingly only visible to Bowie, are "committed" with finger guns by bystanders, culminating in Reznor firing an imaginary machine gun at a taxi cab that Bowie had just exited. Reznor subsequently appears bearing a cross as part of a misfit parade passing Bowie in the street, chanting "God is an American." The video was directed by Dominic Hawley and Nick Goffey (aka Dom and Nic) and was inspired by the film Taxi Driver.

There is an uncensored version of the video where the woman in the entryway is seen sucking the latex glove-covered finger gun of the old man. The censored version just shows her bending down near him in a suggestive manner. Some broadcast versions of the video also censor the lyric "pussy".

Live

Nine Inch Nails first performed this song on May 8, 2009 during the NIN|JA 2009 Tour. It is performed with an elongated ending section. During the Tension 2013 Tour, this song featured backing vocals by Lisa Fischer and Sharlotte Gibson.

Lyrics

    Johnny's in America
    Low tech's at the wheel
    No one needs anyone
    They don't even just pretend
         
    Johnny's in America
    I'm afraid of Americans
    I'm afraid of the world
    I'm afraid I can't help it
    I'm afraid I can't
     
    I'm afraid of Americans
    I'm afraid of the world
    I'm afraid I can't help it
    I'm afraid I can't
    
    I'm afraid of Americans
    
    Johnny's in America
    
    Johnny wants a brain
    Johnny wants to suck on a Coke
    Johnny wants a woman
    Johnny wants to think of a joke
    Johnny's in America
    
    I'm afraid of Americans
    I'm afraid of the world
    I'm afraid I can't help it
    I'm afraid I can't
    
    I'm afraid of Americans
    I'm afraid of the world
    I'm afraid I can't help it
    I'm afraid I can't
    
    I'm afraid of Americans
    
    Johnny's in America
    Johnny looks up at the stars
    Johnny combs his hair
    And Johnny wants pussy in cars
    Johnny's in America
    Johnny's in America
    
    I'm afraid of Americans
    I'm afraid of the world
    I'm afraid I can't help it
    I'm afraid I can't
    
    I'm afraid of Americans
    I'm afraid of the world
    I'm afraid I can't help it
    I'm afraid I can't
    
    Yeah, I'm afraid of Americans
    I'm afraid of the words
    I'm afraid I can't help it
    I'm afraid I can't
    
    I'm afraid of Americans
    
    God is an American

The above lyrics are from the Nine Inch Nails V1 remix.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{song
-| title="I'm Afraid Of Americans"
+| title=I'm Afraid Of Americans
 | album = ''Earthling''
 | length = 4:12
+| BPM = 160
 | versions = I'm Afraid Of Americans<br>I'm Afraid Of Americans (V1)<br>I'm Afraid Of Americans (V2)<br>I'm Afraid Of Americans (V3)<br>I'm Afraid Of Americans (V4)<br>I'm Afraid Of Americans (V5)<BR>I'm Afraid Of Americans (V6)
-| live = [[Wave Goodbye Tour|Wave Goodbye]]
+| live = [[Wave Goodbye Tour|Wave Goodbye]] through [[Tension 2013 Tour]]<br>[[Europe + Asia 2018]] through present
-}}[[David Bowie]]'s song '''I'm Afraid of Americans''' was remixed by [[Trent Reznor]] for its maxi-single release in 1997.
+}}'''"I'm Afraid of Americans"''' is a [[David Bowie]] song that was remixed by [[Nine Inch Nails]] for its maxi-single release in 1997.
 ===Song Credits===
 V1-4, 6:
-*Production and additional performances by Nine Inch Nails: Trent Reznor, Charlie Clouser, Keith Hillebrandt, Dave "Rave" Ogilvie, Danny Lohner
+*Production and additional performances by Nine Inch Nails: [[Trent Reznor]], [[Charlie Clouser]], [[Keith Hillebrandt]], [[Dave Ogilvie|Dave "Rave" Ogilvie]], [[Danny Lohner]]
 *Mixed by Dave "Rave" Ogilvie
-*Engineered by Brian Pollack at Nothing Studios, New Orleans
+*Engineered by [[Brian Pollack]] at [[Nothing Studios]], New Orleans
 *Special guest on V3: Ice Cube
 V5:
@@ Line 24: / Line 25: @@
 ===I'm Afraid of Americans===
 The original song appears on David Bowie's album ''Earthling'', also released in 1997.
 ===I'm Afraid of Americans (V1)===
-Remixed by [[Nine Inch Nails]], this version was used as the single mix of the song, in its music video, and appears on the titular remix EP and the ''Best of Bowie'' compilation. Reznor sings backup in this mix, most notably in the "God is an American" coda.
+Remixed by Nine Inch Nails, this version was used as the single mix of the song, in its music video, and appears on the titular remix EP and the ''Best of Bowie'' compilation. Reznor sings backup in this mix, most notably in the choruses and the "God is an American" coda.  This is the version that Nine Inch Nails plays live.
 ===I'm Afraid of Americans (V2)===
 This remix resembles "[[Closer#Closer_.28Precursor.29|Closer (Precursor)]]" in its laid back beat and soundscaping.
@@ Line 31: / Line 34: @@
 ===I'm Afraid of Americans (V3)===
 This version splices vocals by Bowie with those of Ice Cube, manipulated into phrases like "I pledge allegiance" and "a murder-merican" in addition to many others. The beat and bassline are very minimal, and eventually give way to a distant piano below Ice Cube's words "TV got your brain."
 ===I'm Afraid of Americans (V4)===
 This remix is very atmospheric, created in more of an ambient style, and is predominantly instrumental, using various layers of the original beat and guitars.
 ===I'm Afraid of Americans (V5)===
-[[Photek]] created this remix, a very minimal and bouncy electronic version of the song. Spliced vocals are arranged above a repetitious bassline, synth melody, and drum programming resembling that of Bowie's song "Little Wonder," the first on ''Earthling.''
+Photek created this remix, a very minimal and bouncy electronic version of the song. Spliced vocals are arranged above a repetitious bassline, synth melody, and drum programming resembling that of Bowie's song "Little Wonder," the first on ''Earthling.''
 ===I'm Afraid of Americans (V6)===
 The final NIN remix of the song transitions directly from the Photek mix, and is mostly composed of very repetitious bass and drums. It is instrumental, and bears very little resemblance to any part of the original.
 ==Music Video==
-The video features Reznor stalking Bowie throughout New York, with Bowie constantly trying to escape. Throughout the video, violent acts are "commited" with guns seemingly only visible to Bowie, culminating in Reznor firing an automatic imaginary gun at a cab that Bowie is hiding behind. Reznor subsequently appears bearing a cross as part of a misfit parade passing Bowie in the streets, chanting "God is an American."
+The video features Reznor stalking Bowie throughout the streets of New York, with Bowie constantly trying to escape. Throughout the video, violent acts, seemingly only visible to Bowie, are "committed" with finger guns by bystanders, culminating in Reznor firing an imaginary machine gun at a taxi cab that Bowie had just exited. Reznor subsequently appears bearing a cross as part of a misfit parade passing Bowie in the street, chanting "God is an American." The video was directed by Dominic Hawley and Nick Goffey (aka Dom and Nic) and was inspired by the film ''Taxi Driver''.
+There is an uncensored version of the video where the woman in the entryway is seen sucking the latex glove-covered finger gun of the old man.  The censored version just shows her bending down near him in a suggestive manner.  Some broadcast versions of the video also censor the lyric "pussy".
 ==Live==
-Nine Inch Nails first performed this song live on the [[Wave Goodbye Tour|NIN|JA 2009]] Tour.
+Nine Inch Nails first performed this song on [[2009/05/08 West Palm Beach, FL|May 8, 2009]] during the [[Wave Goodbye Tour|NIN|JA 2009]] Tour. It is performed with an elongated ending section. During the [[Tension 2013 Tour]], this song featured backing vocals by [[Lisa Fischer]] and [[Sharlotte Gibson]].
 ==Lyrics==
-    Johnny's in America, no tricks at the wheel
+     Johnny's in America
-    Nobody needs anyone, they don't even just pretend
+     Low tech's at the wheel
-    Johnny's in America
+     No one needs anyone
+     They don't even just pretend
-    I'm afraid of Americans
-    I'm afraid of the world
+     Johnny's in America
-    I'm afraid I can't help it
+     I'm afraid of Americans
-    I'm afraid I can't
+     I'm afraid of the world
-    Johnny's in America
+     I'm afraid I can't help it
+     I'm afraid I can't
-    Johnny wants a plane, Johnny wants to suck on a Coke
-    Johnny wants a woman, Johnny wants to think of a joke
+     I'm afraid of Americans
-    Johnny's in America
+     I'm afraid of the world
+     I'm afraid I can't help it
-    I'm afraid of Americans
+     I'm afraid I can't
-    I'm afraid of the world
-    I'm afraid I can't help it
+     I'm afraid of Americans
-    I'm afraid I can't
-    Johnny's in America
+     Johnny's in America
-    Johnny's in America, Johnny looks up at the stars
+     Johnny wants a brain
-    Johnny combs his hair
+     Johnny wants to suck on a Coke
-    And Johnny wants pussy and cars
+     Johnny wants a woman
-    Johnny's in America
+     Johnny wants to think of a joke
+     Johnny's in America
-    I'm afraid of Americans
-    I'm afraid of the world
+     I'm afraid of Americans
-    I'm afraid I can't help it
+     I'm afraid of the world
-    I'm afraid I can't
+     I'm afraid I can't help it
-    Johnny's in America
+     I'm afraid I can't
-    God is an American
+     I'm afraid of Americans
-    God is an American
+     I'm afraid of the world
+     I'm afraid I can't help it
-    I'm afraid of Americans
+     I'm afraid I can't
-    I'm afraid of the world
-    I'm afraid I can't help it
+     I'm afraid of Americans
-    I'm afraid I can't
+     Johnny's in America
+     Johnny looks up at the stars
-    I'm afraid of Americans
+     Johnny combs his hair
-    I'm afraid of the world
+     And Johnny wants pussy in cars
-    I'm afraid I can't help it
+     Johnny's in America
-    I'm afraid I can't
+     Johnny's in America
-    Johnny's in America
+     I'm afraid of Americans
+     I'm afraid of the world
+     I'm afraid I can't help it
+     I'm afraid I can't
+     I'm afraid of Americans
+     I'm afraid of the world
+     I'm afraid I can't help it
+     I'm afraid I can't
+     Yeah, I'm afraid of Americans
+     I'm afraid of the words
+     I'm afraid I can't help it
+     I'm afraid I can't
+     I'm afraid of Americans
+     God is an American
+The above lyrics are from the Nine Inch Nails V1 remix.
+==External Links==
+*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT3cERVRoQo "I'm Afraid Of Americans" music video]
+*[http://vimeo.com/8357960 "I'm Afraid Of Americans" live from on stage in Toronto, 6.02.09]
+[[Category:Covers]]