David Bowie - I'm Afraid Of Americans (full) - 1080p

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Uploaded by on Apr 30, 2011

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"I'm Afraid of Americans" is a song and single by David Bowie from the 1997 album Earthling. The song, co-written by Bowie and Brian Eno, originally appeared as a rough mix on the soundtrack to the film Showgirls and was subsequently remade for Earthling.

Bowie describes the feelings behind the song: It's not as truly hostile about Americans as say "Born in the U.S.A.": it's merely sardonic. I was traveling in Java when [its] first McDonald's went up: it was like, "for fuck's sake." The invasion by any homogenised culture is so depressing, the erection of another Disney World in, say, Umbria, Italy, more so. It strangles the indigenous culture and narrows expression of life.

The working title for the song was "Dummy"

"I'm Afraid of Americans" originally appeared as a rough mix on the soundtrack to the film Showgirls (in which the chorus is "I'm afraid of the animals" instead of the later "I'm afraid of Americans") and was subsequently remade for Earthling. This version and two of the Nine Inch Nails remixes were released on the bonus disc of the Digibook Expanded Edition of Earthling in 2004. The song is sampled for a remix of Company Flow's "Patriotism" when El-P performs it.

A CD single for "I'm Afraid of Americans" was released in the United States. The single did not include the album version of the song; instead, it featured remixes of the track performed by Bowie's former tourmates, Nine Inch Nails, and drum and bass artist Photek. The (V1) mix became more popular than the original version, largely in part of the accompanying video, leading to its appearance on the retrospective Best of Bowie.

Lyrics by David Bowie, music by Bowie and Brian Eno.
Reproduced by Nine Inch Nails (Trent Reznor, Charlie Clouser, Keith Hillebrandt, Dave "Rave" Ogilvie, Danny Lohner).

A Taxi Driver-influenced music video was produced for the "I'm Afraid of Americans (V1)" remix, starring David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor. Directed by Dom and Nic, it features Bowie being stalked through New York City by Jonny, a hostile American, played by Reznor. As Bowie continues to be harassed and becomes more and more paranoid, he witnesses (or imagines he witnesses) random acts of violence perpetrated by citizens on one another — but their hands are empty, as if holding invisible guns. The video ends with Bowie ducking behind a taxi while Reznor fires an imaginary assault rifle that inflicts severe damage on a vehicle. Bowie awakens later, only to witness Reznor carrying a crucifix in a parade reminiscent of Day of the Dead celebrations or the movie Something Wicked This Way Comes. The music video premiered on MTV Live, and later received a MTV Video Music Award nomination in 1998 for Best Male Video.

Jonny's in America
Low techs at the wheel
Nobody needs anyone
They don't even just pretend
Jonny'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

Jonny's in America

Jonny wants a brain
Jonny wants to suck on a Coke
Jonny wants a woman
Jonny wants to think of a joke

Jonny's in America

I'm afraid of Americans

Jonny's in America
Jonny looks up at the stars
Jonny combs his hair
And Jonny wants pussy in cars

Jonny's in America

I'm afraid of Americans

God is an American


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

Jonny's an American

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Uploader Comments (Lluminari)

  • I never understood the saying "God is an American". It comes off as being something negative, but I don't know for sure. It seems a bit foolish to label God an American because God has no nationality. He's everywhere...if you believe in his existence, that is

  • @crestfallen9982 He's saying that Americans are saying God is an American.

    I personally think that crazy dude is a scientist. Look at the platypus!

  • Had a dream that a dozen or so girls dressed in floss bikini's were washing my car, the car wasn't dirty at all.

  • @cutejoker69 This is a great dream.

  • Pretty fortuitous that I uploaded this while Osama was finding out he was deathly allergic to lead.

    'Merica!

Top Comments

  • My mum tried to compare David Bowie to Lady Gaga tonight, i called an ambulance and she was taken straight to the nearest mental hospital.

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All Comments (23)

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  • @Lluminari You know what they called the platypus before it was called the platypus? The fucked up duck looking beaver thing.

  • @Lluminari I think the song is kind of anti-American. Well, I'm not sure. But if it is, nationalism doesn't really seem fitting here. Unless you're being sarcastic or something.

  • Run Mr. Bowie....RUN!!!!

  • two most talented guys of music history. trent and david

  • @dunstin690 Either that or Karma Police by Radiohead. That was pretty cool as well.

  • The real question ... what do all the magnifying glasses at the end mean?

  • I dunno, this video is powerful but very one sided, he is talking about how Americans glorify death and violence but go to anyother third world country and you will be shocked by what you see then you will be raped...I also think it is pretty powerful having the guy carrying the cross along with the catholic priest, its like saying that Americans have claimed or called dibs on god, I agree that most of America is made up of hyporatic christians who have very unchrisitan views on the world

  • me too they are a bit funny lol

  • I LOVE THIS SONG.

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