Young Americans (song)

"Young Americans" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released in 1975. It is included in the album of the same name. The song was a breakthrough in the United States, where the glam rock of Bowie's earlier career had limited popularity outside the major cities. The song reached No. 28 on the "Billboard" Hot 100, making it his second biggest success on that chart until that point, meanwhile it would go on to reach number 18 in the UK Singles Chart.
Bowie retired performing the song following his Sound+Vision Tour in 1990. "Young Americans" has since appeared on many compilation albums, and was remastered in 2016 as part of the "Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976)" box set.
In 2010, the song ranked at number 486 on "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2016, it ranked at number 44 on Pitchfork's list of the 200 best songs of the 1970s.
History.
The first studio result of Bowie's mid-1970s obsession with soul music, "Young Americans" was a breakthrough for the artist in the United States (where the single was released in an edited 3:11 version). The sound, later described by Bowie as "plastic soul", was matched by a cynical lyric, making references to McCarthyism, black repression via Rosa Parks, Richard Nixon (who resigned the US presidency two days before the recording session), and a near-direct lift from the Beatles’ "A Day in the Life" with the line "I heard the news today oh boy!" (John Lennon, who wrote that line, appeared twice on the "Young Americans" album, providing guitar and backing vocals on his own "Across the Universe" and "Fame", for which he also received a co-writing credit). The backing vocal arrangement was suggested by Luther Vandross.
"America", noted production team The Matrix, "is a bit like a teenager: brimming with energy and imagination, occasionally overstepping the mark, but always with a great sense of possibility. Bowie captured a big piece of that in 'Young Americans'."
Release and reception.
After nearly a decade of attempts, it was Bowie's first Top 40 hit in America on the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart, but would only reach number 18 in the UK Singles Chart. Dave Thompson of AllMusic calls the track "a major stylistic change. Out went the glam and hard rock trappings of his most recent releases; in came the "plastic soul" sound which—after three years of trying—would finally break the singer in America."
Following Bowie's death in 2016, "Rolling Stone" listed it as one of Bowie's 30 essential songs. In 2018, the writers of "NME", in their list of Bowie's 41 greatest songs, ranked "Young Americans" at number 4.
In 2004, the song ranked at number 481 on "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In an updated version of the same list released in 2010, it was ranked at number 486. In 2016, it ranked at number 44 on Pitchfork's list of the 200 best songs of the 1970s.
Track listing.
All songs written by David Bowie except as noted.
In other media.
The song has accompanied the end credits of "Dogville" and "Manderlay", the first two films of Lars Von Trier's trilogy "USA - Land of Opportunities". "Young Americans" was also featured on the soundtrack of John Hughes' film "Sixteen Candles".
The song was used briefly in the Nicolas Cage film "Lord of War". It was also played at the beginning of the film "Down to You", starring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Julia Stiles.
It was used in the trailer to the Ben Stiller-directed film "Reality Bites" to show how Generation X had been affected by earlier American history. It was used in the 2012 thriller "Jack Reacher" starring Tom Cruise.
The 2015 British drama series "The Enfield Haunting" featured the song during the finale and end credits of the final episode.