America (Neil Diamond song)
Encyclopedia
"America" is the name of a patriotic song written and originally recorded by Neil Diamond
, released in 1980 as part of The Jazz Singer soundtrack album
. The song was a hit single in the United States in 1981, reaching number eight on the Billboard Hot 100
and becoming Diamond's sixth number one on the Adult Contemporary chart. Although the single version was a studio recording, it sounds live because of crowd overdubs in the song.
, and seems to take place both during the early 1900s wave as well as in contemporaneous times. Formed of Diamond's typical combination of powerful melody, dynamic arrangement, and bombastic vocal, it ends with an interpolation of the traditional patriotic song "My Country, 'Tis of Thee
". In Diamond's concerts, the song is a very popular number both home and abroad, with a large United States flag often displayed from the rafters on cue to the lyric, "Every time that flag's unfurled / They're coming to America."
The song has been used in a number of contexts, including as a theme song for Michael Dukakis
's 1988 presidential campaign
. Diamond also sang it at the rededication of the Statue of Liberty
on the occasion of its centennial.
Shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks
, Diamond modified the lyrics to "America" slightly during live performances. Instead of "They're comin' to America," towards the end, it became "Stand Up for America."
Despite the song's patriotic message, it was included on a memorandum listing songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel Communications
following the September 11 attacks.
pianist David Lanz
performed a cover of this song for his album Finding Paradise.
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
, released in 1980 as part of The Jazz Singer soundtrack album
The Jazz Singer (soundtrack)
The Jazz Singer is an album by Neil Diamond from 1980, which served as soundtrack album to the 1980 remake of the film The Jazz Singer. The soundtrack was released in November 1980 originally on Capitol Records. EMI Films produced the film...
. The song was a hit single in the United States in 1981, reaching number eight on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and becoming Diamond's sixth number one on the Adult Contemporary chart. Although the single version was a studio recording, it sounds live because of crowd overdubs in the song.
Background
The song's theme is a positive interpretation of the history of immigration to the United StatesHistory of immigration to the United States
The history of immigration to the United States is a continuing story of peoples from more populated continents, particularly Europe and also Africa and Asia, crossing oceans to the new land. Historians do not treat the first indigenous settlers as immigrants. Starting around 1600 British and...
, and seems to take place both during the early 1900s wave as well as in contemporaneous times. Formed of Diamond's typical combination of powerful melody, dynamic arrangement, and bombastic vocal, it ends with an interpolation of the traditional patriotic song "My Country, 'Tis of Thee
My Country, 'Tis of Thee
"My Country, 'Tis of Thee", also known as "America", is an American patriotic song, whose lyrics were written by Samuel Francis Smith. The melody derived from Muzio Clementi's Symphony No. 3, and is shared with "God Save the Queen," used by many members of the Commonwealth of Nations...
". In Diamond's concerts, the song is a very popular number both home and abroad, with a large United States flag often displayed from the rafters on cue to the lyric, "Every time that flag's unfurled / They're coming to America."
The song has been used in a number of contexts, including as a theme song for Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
's 1988 presidential campaign
United States presidential election, 1988
The United States presidential election of 1988 featured no incumbent president, as President Ronald Reagan was unable to seek re-election after serving the maximum two terms allowed by the Twenty-second Amendment. Reagan's Vice President, George H. W. Bush, won the Republican nomination, while the...
. Diamond also sang it at the rededication of the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
on the occasion of its centennial.
Shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, Diamond modified the lyrics to "America" slightly during live performances. Instead of "They're comin' to America," towards the end, it became "Stand Up for America."
Despite the song's patriotic message, it was included on a memorandum listing songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
following the September 11 attacks.
Covers
New AgeNew Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
pianist David Lanz
David Lanz
David Lanz is a Grammy-nominated New Age pianist. His most popular album, Cristofori's Dream, topped the New Age charts in 1988, which was No. 1 on Billboard's first adult alternative/New Age chart for 27 weeks and eventually sold platinum. Natural States peaked at No...
performed a cover of this song for his album Finding Paradise.