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There’s no law that\u00a0says\u00a0musicians from the United States have\u00a0a monopoly on writing songs about their native country \u2014 so let’s expand your horizons with the following list of 11 great songs about America by non-U.S.\u00a0artists.<\/p>\n
These bands and solo stars arguably had more interesting perspectives on the U.S. as outsiders. Some of these songs celebrate America, while others take jabs at the nation’s status as a political and cultural epicenter.<\/p>\n
From\u00a0Kim Wilde to Rammstein, here are 11 must-hear songs about America by non-American artists.<\/p>\n
Throw these on your Fourth of July playlist and see if anybody calls you out on them.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:\u00a0Rock + Metal Songs About U.S. History<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n “Look inside America<\/em> After taking aim at various unsavory elements of American pop culture\u00a0on “Miss\u00a0America” and “Magic America,” Britpop pioneers Blur finally reconcile their complicated relationship with the country on “Look Inside America” and concede “she’s alright<\/em>.”<\/p>\n That’s the most ringing endorsement you’re likely to get from them.<\/p>\n “All night, you want the young American”<\/em><\/p>\n The ebullient chorus\u00a0to Bowie’s “plastic soul” excursion belies a\u00a0desperate\u00a0tale of “a newlywed couple who don’t know if they really like each other,” in his own words<\/a>. The real lyrical gut punch:\u00a0“We live for just these\u00a020 years, do we have to die for the\u00a050 more?”<\/em><\/p>\n “I’m afraid of Americans<\/em> Twenty-two years after the release of\u00a0Young Americans<\/em>, Bowie addressed the nation once more in this Brian Eno co-write (which was later remixed by Trent Reznor<\/a>).<\/p>\n “It’s not as truly hostile about Americans as, say, ‘Born in the USA’: it’s merely sardonic,” Bowie said in a press release for the song. “I was traveling in Java when the first McDonalds went up: It was like, ‘For fuck’s sake.’ The invasion by any homogenized culture is so depressing, the erection of another Disney World in, say, Umbria, Italy, more so. It strangles the indigenous culture and narrows expression of life.”<\/p>\n “Yankee detectives<\/em> “I’m so bored with the U.S.A<\/em> If the Clash’s Joe Strummer<\/a> were alive to\u00a0witness Kid Rock<\/a> and RFK Jr. chugging whole milk and working out<\/a> in a sauna with their shirts off (and denim jeans on in the pool),\u00a0the British punk icon would\u00a0realize what a privilege it is to be merely\u00a0bored<\/em> with the U.S.A.<\/p>\n “What happened to the youth of the USA?<\/em> Your guess is as good as mine, my Swedish\u00a0rockers in arms. Have you tried posting this song on TikTok?<\/p>\n “American woman<\/em> The Guess Who guitarist Randy Bachman has insisted<\/a>\u00a0the Canadian rockers’ signature hit is an anti-Vietnam War protest song (see the “war machines \/ ghetto scenes<\/em>” lyrics). But lead singer Burton Cummings\u00a0countered<\/a>\u00a0that it’s about American girls who “seemed to grow up faster” than their Canadian peers.<\/p>\n Which interpretation do you think Lenny Kravitz<\/a> subscribed to when he scored a hit with “American Woman” 30 years after its initial release?<\/p>\n “Well I’m an All American Alien Boy<\/em> Shooting your shot with the titular star of\u00a0The Mary Tyler Moore Show<\/em> is crazy work, but if anybody has the swag to pull it off, it’s Ian Hunter, lead singer of British rockers Mott the Hoople<\/a>.<\/p>\n “All praise be to the new god who speaks so elegantly<\/em> Canadian prog-metallers Protest the Hero addressed various pivotal events in U.S. history \u2014 and their subsequent whitewashing \u2014 on their 2020 album\u00a0Palimpsest<\/em>. The album ends, appropriately,\u00a0with an\u00a0mocking invocation of President Donald Trump<\/a>‘s campaign slogan.<\/p>\n “The greatness that Donald Trump and all his cronies want to return to is only great for the old, white, male, rich elite,” singer Rody Walker told Loudwire<\/a>. “That is the greatness of America that the rest of the world views as its tragic flaw.”<\/p>\n “We’re all living in Amerika<\/em> “We’re all living in Amerika<\/em> These are some of the only English lyrics in the German metal\u00a0giants’ satirical anthem about American exceptionalism and political imperialism.\u00a0That’s probably for the best. And they also insist, “This is not a love song<\/em>.”<\/p>\n “Take a jumbo across the water<\/em> All these English rockers wanted was to ogle some\u00a0of those pretty California girls that Brian Wilson<\/a> sang about. Instead they got sampled<\/a> by Gym Class Heroes. Life’s a raw deal.<\/p>\n “We’re the kids in America (Whoa)<\/em> Kim Wilde’s debut single shot to No. 2 in her native England and effectively launched her career. It only reached No. 25 in the U.S., but its pop cultural ubiquity was set in stone when American girl group No Secrets covered it for the 2001 film\u00a0Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius<\/em>.<\/p>\n Check out the best hard rock album of every year since 1970 below:<\/em><\/p>\n Going year by year, looking at the best albums in hard rock since 1970.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Loudwire Staff<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBlur<\/a>, “Look Inside America”<\/h3>\n
She’s alright, she’s alright”<\/em><\/p>\nDavid Bowie<\/a>, “Young Americans”<\/h3>\n
David Bowie, “I’m Afraid of Americans”<\/h3>\n
I’m afraid of the world<\/em>
I’m afraid I can’t help it”<\/em><\/p>\nThe Clash<\/a>, “I’m So Bored With the U.S.A.”<\/h3>\n
Are always on the TV<\/em>
Because killers in America<\/em>
Work seven days a week”<\/em><\/p>\n
I’m so bored with the U.S.A<\/em>
But what can I do?”<\/em><\/p>\nCrazy Lixx, “Anthem for America”<\/h3>\n
Would you help me understand?<\/em>
You used to be the model of non-conformity<\/em>
Now it’s all the same, oh”<\/em><\/p>\nThe Guess Who<\/a>, “America Woman”<\/h3>\n
Stay away from me<\/em>
American woman<\/em>
Mama, let me be”<\/em><\/p>\nIan Hunter, “All American Alien Boy”<\/h3>\n
Look out Mary Tyler Moore”<\/em><\/p>\nProtest the Hero<\/a>, “Rivet”<\/h3>\n
Who says, ‘America is not great, but it can be'”<\/em><\/p>\nRammstein<\/a>, “Amerika”<\/h3>\n
Amerika ist wunderbar”<\/em><\/p>\n
Coca-Cola, Wonderbra”<\/em><\/p>\nSupertramp<\/a>, “Breakfast in America”<\/h3>\n
Like to see America<\/em>
See the girls in California”<\/em><\/p>\nKim Wilde, “Kids in America”<\/h3>\n
We’re the kids in America (Whoa)<\/em>
Everybody live for the music-go-round”<\/em><\/p>\nThe Best Hard Rock Album of Each Year Since 1970<\/h2>\n