Living in America (song)
Encyclopedia
"Living in America" is a 1985 song
composed by Dan Hartman
and Charlie Midnight
, and performed by James Brown
. It was released as a single
in 1985 and reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart. The song entered the Billboard Top 40 on January 11, 1986, and remained on the chart for 11 weeks.
It also became a top five hit in the United Kingdom
, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart
; it was his only top 10 single in the UK. It was his first Top 40 hit in ten years in the US, and it would also be his last.
The song was prominently featured in the film
Rocky IV
. In the film, Brown sings the song before Apollo Creed
enters the boxing ring, in reference to the character's patriotism
. It appeared on the Rocky IV soundtrack album
. The full version of the song (nearly six minutes long) was included on Brown's 1986 album, Gravity
, and on various compilations
throughout the 1990s.
In 1986, "Living in America" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song
, and James Brown won a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
. The vocal version by co-writer Dan Hartman
is included on his Greatest Hits album "Keep The Fire Burnin'".
Towards the end of the album track, Brown yells out, "Eddie Murphy eat your heart out." Murphy is known for his impression of Brown.
7" release
parodied "Living in America" on his 1986 album Polka Party!
in a song entitled "Living with a Hernia
", describing various kinds of hernia
s where Brown originally listed several American cities.
Paul Shanklin
also parodied "Living in America" on his 1999 album Bill Clinton: The Comeback Kid Tour in a song entitled "Sneaking in America", as a reference to illegal immigration to America.
The song was also parodied in TV advertisements for the TV series Daisy Does America
, substituting the show's title for the song's.
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
composed by Dan Hartman
Dan Hartman
Daniel Earl "Dan" Hartman was an American singer, songwriter and record producer, best known for such songs as: "Free Ride", "I Can Dream About You", "Instant Replay", "Love Sensation", and "Relight My Fire", all of which had world-wide success.-Career:Born in Pennsylvania's capital, Harrisburg,...
and Charlie Midnight
Charlie Midnight
Charlie Midnight is an American songwriter and record producer who has been nominated for a Grammy Award , two Golden Globe Awards; and has been a producer and/or writer on several Grammy-winning albums, including:The Bodyguard Soundtrack Album ; Turbulent Indigo Charlie Midnight is an American...
, and performed by James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
. It was released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 1985 and reached number 4 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...
chart. The song entered the Billboard Top 40 on January 11, 1986, and remained on the chart for 11 weeks.
It also became a top five hit in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
; it was his only top 10 single in the UK. It was his first Top 40 hit in ten years in the US, and it would also be his last.
The song was prominently featured in the film
1985 in film
-Events:* 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films. He is replaced by Timothy Dalton.* The Academy Award for Best Picture was won by Out Of Africa, while the highest grossing film was Back to the Future.* Bliss wins AFI Award for best Movie...
Rocky IV
Rocky IV
Rocky IV is a 1985 American film written by, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the fourth and most financially successful entry in the Rocky franchise...
. In the film, Brown sings the song before Apollo Creed
Apollo Creed
Apollo Creed is a fictional character from the Rocky films, initially portrayed as the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World. He was played by Carl Weathers. Many believe his character was modeled after Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali while Rocky Balboa was based on relatively unknown...
enters the boxing ring, in reference to the character's patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
. It appeared on the Rocky IV soundtrack album
Rocky IV (album)
Rocky IV is the original motion picture soundtrack to the movie of the same name. It was originally released in 1985 on the Scotti Brothers label. Scotti Brothers re-released the album on compact disc on March 10, 1992...
. The full version of the song (nearly six minutes long) was included on Brown's 1986 album, Gravity
Gravity (James Brown album)
Gravity is a 1986 album by James Brown and was released on the Scotti Bros. Records label. The album featured the previously-released single "Living in America" which had reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was prominantly featured in the film Rocky IV.The album's title track ...
, and on various compilations
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
throughout the 1990s.
In 1986, "Living in America" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song
Grammy Award for Best R&B Song
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song has been awarded since 1959. From 1969 to 2000 it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Song, from 1962 to 1968 it was known as Best Rhythm & Blues Recording, and from 1959-1961 as Best Rhythm & Blues Performance...
, and James Brown won a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance was awarded between 1968 and 2011. The award has had several minor name changes:*In 1968 it was awarded as Best R&B Solo Vocal Performance, Male...
. The vocal version by co-writer Dan Hartman
Dan Hartman
Daniel Earl "Dan" Hartman was an American singer, songwriter and record producer, best known for such songs as: "Free Ride", "I Can Dream About You", "Instant Replay", "Love Sensation", and "Relight My Fire", all of which had world-wide success.-Career:Born in Pennsylvania's capital, Harrisburg,...
is included on his Greatest Hits album "Keep The Fire Burnin'".
Towards the end of the album track, Brown yells out, "Eddie Murphy eat your heart out." Murphy is known for his impression of Brown.
Music video
The plot of the music video consists of some scenes cut together. One scene features James Brown giving a concert, and in another, features photographs of the United States. The video also features scenes from Rocky IV.Track listings
12" release- A. Living In America (R & B Dance Version) - 6:30
- B1. Living In America (Instrumental) - 4:33
- B2. Living In America (LP Version) - 4:40
7" release
- A. Living In America - 4:08
- B. Farewell (Vince DiCola) - 2:58
Parody
"Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
parodied "Living in America" on his 1986 album Polka Party!
Polka Party!
Polka Party! is the fourth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1986. The album is the third of Yankovic's to be produced by former The McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer...
in a song entitled "Living with a Hernia
Living With A Hernia
"Living with a Hernia" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of "Living in America" by James Brown, from the film Rocky IV. The song mostly describes the terrible "aggravation" and "back pain" that a hernia causes. The narrator himself claims to be suffering from a hernia, and that he's...
", describing various kinds of hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
s where Brown originally listed several American cities.
Paul Shanklin
Paul Shanklin
Paul Shanklin is an American conservative political satirist, impressionist, comedian, and conservative speaker...
also parodied "Living in America" on his 1999 album Bill Clinton: The Comeback Kid Tour in a song entitled "Sneaking in America", as a reference to illegal immigration to America.
The song was also parodied in TV advertisements for the TV series Daisy Does America
Daisy Does America
Daisy Does America is a hybrid reality/comedy series that premiered on TBS on 6 December 2005. The show, similar to British actress and comedian Daisy Donovan's previous outing for British television Daisy, Daisy, was adapted for US audiences by actors Courteney Cox Arquette and David Arquette for...
, substituting the show's title for the song's.
Other appearances/versions
- WWEWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
's Lilian GarciaLilian GarciaLilian Annette García , is a Spanish-American singer. She is best known as the former ring announcer for WWE's Raw brand. During her time in WWE, she became the first Diva to remain with the promotion for ten years.-Early life and career:...
sang "Living in America" at the 75th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day ParadeMacy's Thanksgiving Day ParadeThe Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, often shortened to Macy's Day Parade, is an annual parade presented by Macy's. The tradition started in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States along with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, and four years younger than...
while on the WWE's (at the time WWF) parade float. - The song was used in the "How I Met Your MotherHow I Met Your MotherHow I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
" episode "The Slutty Pumpkin ReturnsThe Slutty Pumpkin Returns"The Slutty Pumpkin Returns" is the eighth episode of the seventh season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and the 144th episode overall...
" as "Barney StinsonBarney StinsonBarnabas "Barney" Stinson is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris. The character has been extremely well received by critics and has been credited for much of the show's success...
" makes his entrance to a "HalloweenHalloweenHallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
" party. - It was also featured in an episode of The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
aired on February 6, 2000, titled "Saddlesore GalacticaSaddlesore Galactica"Saddlesore Galactica" is the thirteenth episode of the eleventh season of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 6, 2000...
", in which the elementary school band play the song at a state fair. - The song was used as the opening sequence to the 1st hour of The Radio FactorThe Radio FactorThe Radio Factor was a nationally syndicated talk radio program, which aired from 2002–2009 and was hosted mainly by Bill O'Reilly. The program, which featured host commentary with a mix of listener call-in and guest segments was broadcast live every weekday from the Fox News Channel studios in...
with Bill O'ReillyBill O'Reilly (commentator)William James "Bill" O'Reilly, Jr. is an American television host, author, syndicated columnist and political commentator. He is the host of the political commentary program The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, which is the most watched cable news television program on American television...
. - The song was used on Soccer AMSoccer AMSoccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League...
when the fans of the weeks attempt to score into the "O" of the hollywood signHollywood SignThe Hollywood Sign is a landmark and American cultural icon in the Hollywood Hills area of Mount Lee, Santa Monica Mountains, in Los Angeles, California. The sign spells out the name of the area in and white letters. It was created as an advertisement in 1923, but garnered increasing recognition...
during season 07/08. - It is the theme song for Sports Radio WEEIWEEIWEEI is a sports radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, that broadcasts on 850 kHz from a transmitter in Needham, Massachusetts, and is owned by Entercom Communications. The station is one of the top-rated sports talk radio stations in the nation. Studios are located in Brighton, Massachusetts...
's afternoon drive-time show, The Big ShowThe Big Show (sports radio show)The Big Show is a sports talk radio program on Boston's WEEI 850 AM. Started in August 1995, the show is hosted by former Boston Celtics play-by-play announcer Glenn Ordway and former Boston Globe columnist Michael Holley...
. - On an episode of the hit American sitcom AmenAmen (TV series)Amen is an American television sitcom produced by Carson Productions that ran from September 27, 1986 to May 11, 1991 on NBC. Set in Sherman Hemsley's real-life hometown of Philadelphia, Amen starred Hemsley as the deacon of a church and was part of a wave of successful sitcoms on NBC in the 1980s...
, Deacon Ernest Frye (Sherman HemsleySherman HemsleySherman Alexander Hemsley is an American actor, most famous for his role as George Jefferson on the CBS television series All in the Family and The Jeffersons, and as Deacon Ernest Frye on the NBC series Amen. He also played Earl Sinclair's horrifying boss, a Triceratops named B.P...
) and other cast members performed their own version of "Living in America". - Former TNATotal Nonstop Action WrestlingTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
Wrestler Consequences Creed often used the song during his entrance in house shows. - An altered version of this song was the theme song for the T.V. series Daisy Does AmericaDaisy Does AmericaDaisy Does America is a hybrid reality/comedy series that premiered on TBS on 6 December 2005. The show, similar to British actress and comedian Daisy Donovan's previous outing for British television Daisy, Daisy, was adapted for US audiences by actors Courteney Cox Arquette and David Arquette for...
. - Heard in an episode of Everybody Hates ChrisEverybody Hates ChrisEverybody Hates Chris is an African American television period sitcom inspired by the teenage experiences of comedian Chris Rock , while growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York . The show is set from 1982 to 1987; however, Rock himself was a teenager during years...
, in a RockyRockyRocky is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and both written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It tells the rags to riches American Dream story of Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but kind-hearted debt collector for a loan shark in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
parody. - Paul Di'AnnoPaul Di'AnnoPaul Andrews , better known as Paul Di'Anno, is an English singer best known as the first vocalist to record with the iconic heavy metal band Iron Maiden, from 1978 to 1981....
covered this song on the 1997 album, The World's First Iron Man. - A eurodanceEurodanceEurodance is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s or early 1990s primarily in Europe. It combines many elements from House, Techno, Hi-NRG and especially Italo-Disco...
cover version of the song titled Livin' in America appeared on Dancemania Speed 8Dancemania SpeedDancemania Speed is a sub-series of Toshiba EMI's Dancemania compilation series. This series features faster, further remixed versions of recordings from previously released Dancemania albums or faster remixed covers of various famous songs...
released in 2002.
External links
- [ Review] at Allmusic