I’ve always loved this song since I heard Bowie interviewed on it. He said it was the closest thing that he had ever performed on record that was absolutely personal, but I don’t see the connections. He said it wasn’t a criticism of America, but a critique of unobtainable expectations.
I like Lazerpj’s interpretation best. Even better than what Bowie had said.
Jaggeh however retains a shallow foreigner’s view. Seeing America from afar with an uninformed view. Much like the female in “Young Americans,” if all one watches it MTV and corporate television one would come to realize that “American dream” is unobtainable.
“Where have all Papa's heroes gone”
“Well, ain't that poster love?”
”Well, it ain't that Barbie doll”
The yanks, at least in Boston, were as literate and cultured as any Brit. They are very humble, although they do exuberantly love their country. They actually view us (the Brits/Europeans) having ASC.
Being Welsh and going to college in the States gave me great insight to see that we are often the closed minded ones. They could rationally discuss the Iraq war or global warming, as opposed to the European view of just being against everything.
I believe that the culture as a whole is not shallow, but as Bowie’s characters in the song are young and haven’t escaped from the cloak of unsatisfiable want that they were marketed by mass media.
The culture that is sold by the corporations is definitely shallow. Much like us. How long was the nation hooked on the SpiceGirls, and don’t we all play the lotto thinking we will strike it big? It’s the same expectations.
Jaggeh, The Yanks are as good or as bad as us, I think it is you who is starting wake up and open his eyes to how the others on the other side of the pond think. Get off your horse and go over and meet them sometime.
-JJP
I’ve always loved this song since I heard Bowie interviewed on it. He said it was the closest thing that he had ever performed on record that was absolutely personal, but I don’t see the connections. He said it wasn’t a criticism of America, but a critique of unobtainable expectations.
I like Lazerpj’s interpretation best. Even better than what Bowie had said.
“Where have all Papa's heroes gone” “Well, ain't that poster love?” ”Well, it ain't that Barbie doll” The yanks, at least in Boston, were as literate and cultured as any Brit. They are very humble, although they do exuberantly love their country. They actually view us (the Brits/Europeans) having ASC. Being Welsh and going to college in the States gave me great insight to see that we are often the closed minded ones. They could rationally discuss the Iraq war or global warming, as opposed to the European view of just being against everything. I believe that the culture as a whole is not shallow, but as Bowie’s characters in the song are young and haven’t escaped from the cloak of unsatisfiable want that they were marketed by mass media.
The culture that is sold by the corporations is definitely shallow. Much like us. How long was the nation hooked on the SpiceGirls, and don’t we all play the lotto thinking we will strike it big? It’s the same expectations.
Jaggeh, The Yanks are as good or as bad as us, I think it is you who is starting wake up and open his eyes to how the others on the other side of the pond think. Get off your horse and go over and meet them sometime. -JJP
How can you like someone else's interpretation better over the person that....um....wrote the song?
How can you like someone else's interpretation better over the person that....um....wrote the song?