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Changes: American (song)

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|image = Image:Paradise_EP.jpg
  
|image = Image:Paradise_EP.jpg
 
|artist = Lana Del Rey
  
|artist = Lana Del Rey
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|written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>[[Emile Haynie]]<br>[[Rick Nowels]]
 +
|written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>[[Rick Nowels]]<br>[[Emile Haynie]]
 
|producer = [[Rick Nowels]]
  
|producer = [[Rick Nowels]]
  ⚫
|altproducer = Emile Haynie
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|time = 4:08
  
  +
|time = 4:08<br><small>(See [[#Official versions|official versions]])</small>
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|Source = [[File:Plogo.png|125px|link=Paradise (album)]]
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|Source = [[File:Plogo.png|125px|link=Paradise (EP)]]
 
|Singles = {{PS}}
  
|Singles = {{PS}}
 
|DS = {{PDS}}
  
|DS = {{PDS}}
−
|album = [[Paradise (album)|Paradise]]
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|album = [[Paradise (EP)|Paradise]]
 
|previous = "[[Ride (song)|Ride]]"
  
|previous = "[[Ride (song)|Ride]]"
 
|next = "[[Cola (song)|Cola]]"
  
|next = "[[Cola (song)|Cola]]"
 
}}
  
}}
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"'''American'''" is a song by [[Lana Del Rey]] released on her third EP and second major release, ''[[Paradise (EP)|Paradise]]'' The track was written by Del Rey and [[Emile Haynie]] and was produced by [[Rick Nowels]].
 +
"'''American'''" is a song by [[Lana Del Rey]]. It is featured as the second track from her third studio EP and second major-label release, [[Paradise (EP)|''Paradise'']], which was officially released worldwide on [[2012/November|November 9, 2012]]. The song was co-written with [[Rick Nowels]] and [[Emile Haynie]], with production by Nowels.
   
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==Cross references==
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== Background ==
  +
The song's official instrumental leaked on November 19, 2018.
  +
  +
==Live performances==
  +
Del Rey performed the song live for the first time on the first date of the [[Paradise Tour]] on [[2013/April#April 3|April 3, 2013]], in Amnéville, France. The song was included as part of the setlist for a majority of the remaining dates on the 2013 leg of the [[Paradise Tour]].
  +
  +
==Cross-references==
 
*Direct reference to "[[Elvis (song)|Elvis]]".
  
*Direct reference to "[[Elvis (song)|Elvis]]".
  +
*Direct reference to Bruce Springsteen.
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*Del Rey asks her lover to "spin me 'round" in "[[On Our Way (song)|On Our Way]]".
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*Del Rey tells her lover "spin me 'round" in "[[On Our Way (song)|On Our Way]]".
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*A "party dress" is referenced in "[[National Anthem (song)|National Anthem]]", "[[Dangerous Girl (song)|Dangerous Girl]]", "[[Smarty (song)|Smarty]]", "[[True Love on the Side (song)|True Love on the Side]]", "[[Cruel World (song)|Cruel World]]" and "[[Hawaiian Tropic (song)|Hawaiian Tropic]]".
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*A party dress is referenced in "[[National Anthem (song)|National Anthem]]", "[[Dangerous Girl (song)|Dangerous Girl]]", "[[Smarty (song)|Smarty]]", "[[True Love on the Side (song)|True Love on the Side]]", "[[Cruel World (song)|Cruel World]]" and "[[Hawaiian Tropic (song)|Hawaiian Tropic]]".
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*Driving fast is in "[[Burning Desire (song)|Burning Desire]]".
  
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*The phrase "tall, tan" is in "[[Cherry Blossom (song)|Cherry Blossom]]".
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*To drive fast is sung about in "[[Burning Desire (song)|Burning Desire]]".
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*The phrase "tall, tan" is also found in "[[Cherry Blossom (song)|Cherry Blossom]]".
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*The lyric "hell yes, honey, put on that party dress" is a reference to "Mary Jane's Last Dance" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.
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*The lyric "hell yes, honey, put on that party dress" may be referenced from "Mary Jane's Last Dance" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.
  +
*"Honey, put on that party dress" is also found in "[[Dangerous Girl (song)|Dangerous Girl]]".
  +
*"Come on, put on your party dress" is found in Bruce Springsteen's song "Real World" from his 1992 album ''Human Touch''.
  +
*Springsteen also uses the lyric "She slipped off her party dress" in "Loose Change", an outtake from ''Human Touch''.
  +
  +
== Official versions ==
  +
* Album version — 4:08
  +
* Instrumental version — 4:06
   
 
== Lyrics ==
  
== Lyrics ==
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Get down, get your crystal method on
  
Get down, get your crystal method on
 
You were like tall, tan, driving 'round the city
  
You were like tall, tan, driving 'round the city
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Flirtin' with the girls like, "You're so pretty."
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Flirtin' with the girls like, "You're so pretty"
 
"Springsteen is the king, don't you think?"
  
"Springsteen is the king, don't you think?"
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I was like, "Hell yeah, that guy can sing."
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I was like, "Hell yeah, that guy can sing"
   
 
Like ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
  
Like ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
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You make me crazy, you make me wild
  
You make me crazy, you make me wild
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Just like a baby, you spin me round like a child
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Just like a baby, spin me round like a child
 
Your skin so gold and brown
  
Your skin so gold and brown
 
Be young, be dope, be proud
  
Be young, be dope, be proud
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You make me crazy, you make me wild
  
You make me crazy, you make me wild
−
Just like a baby, you spin me round like a child
 +
Just like a baby, spin me round like a child
 
Your skin so gold and brown
  
Your skin so gold and brown
 
Be young, be dope, be proud
  
Be young, be dope, be proud
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==Credits==
  
==Credits==
−
'''Personnel'''
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;'''Personnel'''
  +
*Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting
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*Recording — Kieron Menzies
  
  +
*Rick Nowels — songwriting, production, keyboards, Matrix 1000
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*Additional recording — Chris Garcia, Jordan Stillwell
  
  +
*Emile Haynie — songwriting, co-production, drums
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*Keyboards & Matrix 1000 — Rick Nowels
  
  +
*Kieron Menzies — recording, mixing
⚫
*Drums — Emile Haynie
  
  +
*Chris Garcia & Jordan Stilwell — additional recording
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*Electic guitar — Patrick Warren, Tim Pierce
  
  +
*Patrick Warren — electric guitar, piano, synthesizer
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*Piano & Synthesiser — Patrick Warren
  
  +
*Dan Heath — orchestral arrangement
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*Mixing — Kieron Menzies
  
  +
*Tim Pierce — electric guitar
⚫
*Mastering — John Davis at Metropolis Mastering (London)
  
  +
*John Davis — mastering
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*Recording — Kieron Menzies at The Green Building, Santa Monica (California)
  
  +
;'''Technical'''
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*Published by EMI / Heavycrate (ASCAP) / R-Rated Music
  +
*Administered by EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)
  ⚫
*Recorded at The Green Building, Santa Monica, United States
  ⚫
*Mastered at Metropolis Mastering, London, United Kingdom
   
 
{{Navbox album Paradise}}
  
{{Navbox album Paradise}}

Revision as of 11:33, 26 April 2020

"American" is a song by Lana Del Rey. It is featured as the second track from her third studio EP and second major-label release, Paradise, which was officially released worldwide on November 9, 2012. The song was co-written with Rick Nowels and Emile Haynie, with production by Nowels.

Background

The song's official instrumental leaked on November 19, 2018.

Live performances

Del Rey performed the song live for the first time on the first date of the Paradise Tour on April 3, 2013, in Amnéville, France. The song was included as part of the setlist for a majority of the remaining dates on the 2013 leg of the Paradise Tour.

Cross-references

  • Direct reference to "Elvis".
  • Direct reference to Bruce Springsteen.
  • Del Rey tells her lover "spin me 'round" in "On Our Way".
  • A party dress is referenced in "National Anthem", "Dangerous Girl", "Smarty", "True Love on the Side", "Cruel World" and "Hawaiian Tropic".
  • To drive fast is sung about in "Burning Desire".
  • The phrase "tall, tan" is also found in "Cherry Blossom".
  • The lyric "hell yes, honey, put on that party dress" may be referenced from "Mary Jane's Last Dance" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.
  • "Honey, put on that party dress" is also found in "Dangerous Girl".
  • "Come on, put on your party dress" is found in Bruce Springsteen's song "Real World" from his 1992 album Human Touch.
  • Springsteen also uses the lyric "She slipped off her party dress" in "Loose Change", an outtake from Human Touch.

Official versions

  • Album version — 4:08
  • Instrumental version — 4:06

Lyrics

Play house, put my favorite record on
Get down, get your crystal method on
You were like tall, tan, driving 'round the city
Flirtin' with the girls like, "You're so pretty"
"Springsteen is the king, don't you think?"
I was like, "Hell yeah, that guy can sing"

Like ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-oh

You make me crazy, you make me wild
Just like a baby, spin me 'round like a child
Your skin so gold and brown
Be young, be dope, be proud
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh

Drive fast, I can almost taste it now
L.A., I don't even have to fake it now
You were like so sick, everybody said it
You were way ahead of the trend, g-get it
Elvis is the best, hell yes
Honey, put on that party dress
Like, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-oh

You make me crazy, you make me wild
Just like a baby, spin me round like a child
Your skin so gold and brown
Be young, be dope, be proud
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh

Everybody wants to go fast, but they can't compare
I don't really want the rest, only you can take me there
I don't even know what I'm saying, but I'm praying for you

You make me crazy, you make me wild
Just like a baby, spin me round like a child
Your skin so gold and brown
Be young, be dope, be proud
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American

Credits

Personnel
  • Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting
  • Rick Nowels — songwriting, production, keyboards, Matrix 1000
  • Emile Haynie — songwriting, co-production, drums
  • Kieron Menzies — recording, mixing
  • Chris Garcia & Jordan Stilwell — additional recording
  • Patrick Warren — electric guitar, piano, synthesizer
  • Dan Heath — orchestral arrangement
  • Tim Pierce — electric guitar
  • John Davis — mastering
Technical
  • Published by EMI / Heavycrate (ASCAP) / R-Rated Music
  • Administered by EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)
  • Recorded at The Green Building, Santa Monica, United States
  • Mastered at Metropolis Mastering, London, United Kingdom


Plogo 2

"Ride"
"American"
"Cola"
"Body Electric"

"Blue Velvet"
"Gods & Monsters"
"Yayo"
"Bel Air"

Bonus tracks:
"Burning Desire"

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