American Life
Madonna
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Do I have to change my name Will it get me far Should I lose some weight Am I gonna be a star I tried to be a boy I tried to be a girl I tried to be a mess I tried to be the best I guess I did it wrong That's why I wrote this song This type of modern life Is it for me This type of modern life Is it for free So I went into a bar Looking for sympathy A little company I tried to find a friend It's more easily said It's always been the same This type of modern life Is not for me This type of modern life Is not for free [Chorus:] American life [American life] I live the American dream [American dream] You are the best thing I've seen You are not just a dream [American life] I tried to stay ahead I tried to stay on top I tried to play the part But somehow I forgot Just what I did it for And why I wanted more This type of modern life Is it for me This type of modern life Is it for free Do I have to change my name Will it get me far Should I lose some weight Am I gonna be a star [Chorus:] American life I tried to be a boy Tried to be a girl Tried to be a mess Tried to be the best Tried to find a friend Tried to stay ahead I tried to stay on top Do I have to change my name Will it get me far Should I lose some weight Am I gonna be a star Uh, uh, uh, uh I'm drinkin' a soy latte I get a double shotie It goes right through my body And you know I'm satisfied I drive my mini cooper And I'm feeling super-duper Yo they tell me I'm a trooper And you know I'm satisfied I do yoga and pilates And the room is full of hotties So I'm checking out their bodies And you know I'm satisfied I'm diggin' on the isotopes This metaphysics shit is dope And if all this can give me hope You know I'm satisfied I got a lawyer and a manager An agent and a chef Three nannies, an assistant And a driver and a jet A trainer and a butler And a bodyguard or five A gardener and a stylist Do you think I'm satisfied I'd like to express my extreme point-of-view I'm not a Christian and I'm not a Jew I'm just living out the American dream And I just realized that nothing is what it seems Do I have to change my name Am I gonna be a star Do I have to change my name Am I gonna be a star Do I have to change my name
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Written by: Mirwais Ahmadzai, Madonna Louise Ciccone
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Album location"American Life" is the title track from Madonna's ninth studio album.
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Release dateThe song was released in March 2003.
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Musical style"American Life" is a pop song with elements of folk and rock music. It features Madonna singing in a quasi rap style.
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Controversial music videoThe original music video for "American Life" was very controversial. It featured violent images from war and satirical images of the American dream.
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Video withdrawalDue to the potential offensive nature of the video, especially in relation to the Iraq War, Madonna withdrew it before public release.
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Replacement videoA new, simpler video was subsequently made for the song, which just featured Madonna singing against a backdrop of the American flag.
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Lyrics InspirationMadonna stated that the lyrics of the song are about her own experience of questioning the things she had once thought were important.
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Chart PerformanceDespite the controversy, "American Life" reached number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the USA, and performed better in other countries, reaching the top spot in Canada, Denmark, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom.
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Production TeamThe song was produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï, marking their third collaboration on an album.
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Mixed ReviewsCritics had mixed responses to the song, with some praise for its boldness and others criticizing its lyrical content and Madonna's rapping.
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Live PerformancesDespite its mixed reception, "American Life" has been performed by Madonna on several tours, including the Re-Invention World Tour (2004), the MDNA Tour (2012), and Madame X Tour (2019-2020).
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"American Life Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/6063916/Madonna/American+Life>.
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