American Life ● (2003) ● 'American Life'

 

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To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Madonna's ninth studio album American Life, Song of the Week brings you the four official singles from that era...

 

Background

Released exactly 10 years ago today, American Life was chosen as the lead single for Madonna's ninth studio album of the same name. Perhaps her most controversial song of the Noughties, Madonna speaks about her political and religious views and how the American Dream has been exploited by materialistic lifestyles. The influence for this song came from Madonna's reflection of her 20 year music career since the release of her debut album: "...looking back at everything I've accomplished...I've tried so hard to be number one, and to stay on top...I've realised that a lot of things that last and the things that matter are none of those things."

 

Madonna experiments with rap with American Life - something which wasn't originally planned before recording. Main writer and producer, Mirwais Ahmadzaï, encouraged her to put a rap over a strip of instrumental towards the end of the track, to which she improvised a rap of materialistic interests. However, this was criticised on by music critics, including Billboard magazine who saw it as "just one of the missteps sabotaging [her] new single". The video was also majorly slated - specifically the director's cut - due to its violent and graphic nature as it showed real life footage of war scenes, injured soldiers and public citizens. Madonna issued a statement about the video and following the Iraq invasion, an alternative video was released for music channels which merely showed Madonna singing in front of a backdrop of flags.

 

American Life received great initial success, peaking at #1 in Canada and Italy, Top 3 in Spain, UK and Netherlands and #7 in Australia, but the chart runs as a whole were very moderate as American Life left the charts quickly. In the US, it's peak of #37 made it Madonna's worst peaking single for a lead single since Everybody failed to make the Billboard 1000. It's total sales as of August 2008 stood at 72,000 in the UK, at the time making it her worse selling lead single (this title has since been given to MDNA's lead, Give Me All Your Luvin'). Nevertheless, it was still certified Gold in Australia and Silver in France.

 

It was performed on her Re-invention Tour where the military theme was continued and was quite reminiscent to the music video. The American Life Promo Tour also included it on the set list, along with X-Static Process, Hollywood, Mother and Father and Like a Virgin.

 

Opinion

It's hardly one of the best in her discography, but I still like it. I think the message that she's trying to put across is great, but I don't think she does it best here. Despite the criticism it got, I do quite like the rap but I do admit it's very messy and the lyrics are quite random. It's my least favourite single from this album but I still rank it reasonably high.

 

Versions

Album Version [4:57]

Edit With Rap [4:27]

Felix Da Housecat's Devin Dazzle Club Mix [6:10]

Missy Elliott's American Dream Mix [4:49]

Oakenfold Downtempo Remix [5:32]

Peter Rauhofer's American Anthem (Part 1) [10:41]

Peter Rauhofer's American Anthem (Part 2) [9:06]

 

Videos

Official Music Video:

 

Re-invention Tour performance:

 

If you have any requests for Song of the Week, feel free to PM me or SweetCandy! Also, I've added links to previous Songs of the Weeks below, so if you missed one, please do comment in them.

 

Songs of the Week

Week 1: I Know It

Week 2: Bad Girl

Week 3: Jump

Week 4: Sky Fits Heaven

Week 5: Causing a Commotion

Week 6: Die Another Day

Week 7: Dress You Up

Week 8: Frozen

Week 9: Ray of Light

Week 10: Drowned World/Substitute of Love

Week 11: The Power of Goodbye

Week 12: Nothing Really Matters

Week 13: American Life

I like the track (don't love it's certainly not one of her best) , it Had great remixes especially the headcleaners which prob shoul have been the single version! I also like missy Elliot's remix!

 

The song woul have been more successful if the original video was kept and put out!

Felix Da Housecat's remix definitely made this.

 

It's not a bad song, I like how quirky it is but I do amit I always overlook it.