Young Americans-a personal review:
Album: Young Americans-(Mar.1975)
Single:-(Feb.1975)
And some americans thinks "I'm Afraid Of Americans" is harsh, here's
the British perception of America racing towards the latter quarter
of the 20th century. A kind of soul/latin twist that was quite a new
thing from David as he dives into the wells of soul music.
It's such a great song, portraying his ambivalence to America and
Americanism, that started out carefully on ZS and had a stronger
prescence on AS. Here he takes the full step and out comes an
album that shocked most of us after DD. I must admit I wasn't very
pleased at the time, but today I love it.
Production delight:
The backing vocals.
Lyrics:
Simply great. According to N.Pegg, David said it was about a newly
wed couple who's not sure if they really like each other. Lots of
past and contemporary references, he even throws in a Nixon bashing
for measure, Nixon had resigned just a few days prior to the recording.
The resolute Beatles-quote is quite funny as Lennon is colaborating
on the album later on.
Music:
Quite straight forward with a latin feel. Not many twisted chords,
but a fine arrangement, and great backing vocals, over a melody-line
aimed at letting him "spit" out the lyrics in the verses.
Even I like to dance(sort of) to this one.
___________________________________
Chords:
(verse)
C - Dm - F - G (repeat)
(chorus)
F - G
C - Dm - F - G
(sax solo)
Am -G- F -G (rep.)
("do you remember"....bridge)
Am - Em - C - G
Am - Em - F - E
(guitar break, simplified)
D - Em - G(add5)-G - A
(last verses)
D - Em - G - A
(last choruses)
G - A
D - Em - G - A
___________________________________
Live:
Heard this one in '83, I've noticed that many of you wanted it
for the summer tour this year, didn't happen. But I think it would
have sounded very nice with the current line-up.
On a personal note:
I have played this one a few times, leaves me breathless, it's so
hard to sing as it leaves virtually no space to breathe.
A bit easier with a band singing the bakcing vocals, but it's a
tough one to do alone.
--------------get a guitar
or you won't get far--------
Joern
|