I'm Afraid Of Americans

Album:Earthling

Length:4:12

Tempo:160 BPM

Versions:I'm Afraid Of Americans
I'm Afraid Of Americans (V1)
I'm Afraid Of Americans (V2)
I'm Afraid Of Americans (V3)
I'm Afraid Of Americans (V4)
I'm Afraid Of Americans (V5)
I'm Afraid Of Americans (V6)

Live:Wave Goodbye through Tension 2013 Tour
Europe + Asia 2018 through present

"I'm Afraid of Americans" is a David Bowie song that was remixed by Nine Inch Nails for its maxi-single release in 1997.

Appearances

Other

I'm Afraid Of Americans
Earthling

Versions

I'm Afraid of Americans

The original song appears on David Bowie's album Earthling, also released in 1997.

I'm Afraid of Americans (V1)

Remixed by Nine Inch Nails, this version was used as the single mix of the song, in its music video, and appears on the titular remix EP and the Best of Bowie compilation. Reznor sings backup in this mix, most notably in the choruses and the "God is an American" coda. This is the version that Nine Inch Nails plays live.

I'm Afraid of Americans (V2)

This remix resembles "Closer (Precursor)" in its laid back beat and soundscaping.

I'm Afraid of Americans (V3)

This version splices vocals by Bowie with those of Ice Cube, manipulated into phrases like "I pledge allegiance" and "a murder-merican" in addition to many others. The beat and bassline are very minimal, and eventually give way to a distant piano below Ice Cube's words "TV got your brain."

I'm Afraid of Americans (V4)

This remix is very atmospheric, created in more of an ambient style, and is predominantly instrumental, using various layers of the original beat and guitars.

I'm Afraid of Americans (V5)

Photek created this remix, a very minimal and bouncy electronic version of the song. Spliced vocals are arranged above a repetitious bassline, synth melody, and drum programming resembling that of Bowie's song "Little Wonder," the first on Earthling.

I'm Afraid of Americans (V6)

The final NIN remix of the song transitions directly from the Photek mix, and is mostly composed of very repetitious bass and drums. It is instrumental, and bears very little resemblance to any part of the original.

Music Video

The video features Reznor stalking Bowie throughout the streets of New York, with Bowie constantly trying to escape. Throughout the video, violent acts, seemingly only visible to Bowie, are "committed" with finger guns by bystanders, culminating in Reznor firing an imaginary machine gun at a taxi cab that Bowie had just exited. Reznor subsequently appears bearing a cross as part of a misfit parade passing Bowie in the street, chanting "God is an American." The video was directed by Dominic Hawley and Nick Goffey (aka Dom and Nic) and was inspired by the film Taxi Driver.

There is an uncensored version of the video where the woman in the entryway is seen sucking the latex glove-covered finger gun of the old man. The censored version just shows her bending down near him in a suggestive manner. Some broadcast versions of the video also censor the lyric "pussy".

Live

Nine Inch Nails first performed this song on May 8, 2009 during the NIN|JA 2009 Tour. It is performed with an elongated ending section. During the Tension 2013 Tour, this song featured backing vocals by Lisa Fischer and Sharlotte Gibson.

Lyrics

    Johnny's in America
    Low tech's at the wheel
    No one needs anyone
    They don't even just pretend
         
    Johnny's in America
    I'm afraid of Americans
    I'm afraid of the world
    I'm afraid I can't help it
    I'm afraid I can't
     
    I'm afraid of Americans
    I'm afraid of the world
    I'm afraid I can't help it
    I'm afraid I can't
    
    I'm afraid of Americans
    
    Johnny's in America
    
    Johnny wants a brain
    Johnny wants to suck on a Coke
    Johnny wants a woman
    Johnny wants to think of a joke
    Johnny's in America
    
    I'm afraid of Americans
    I'm afraid of the world
    I'm afraid I can't help it
    I'm afraid I can't
    
    I'm afraid of Americans
    I'm afraid of the world
    I'm afraid I can't help it
    I'm afraid I can't
    
    I'm afraid of Americans
    
    Johnny's in America
    Johnny looks up at the stars
    Johnny combs his hair
    And Johnny wants pussy in cars
    Johnny's in America
    Johnny's in America
    
    I'm afraid of Americans
    I'm afraid of the world
    I'm afraid I can't help it
    I'm afraid I can't
    
    I'm afraid of Americans
    I'm afraid of the world
    I'm afraid I can't help it
    I'm afraid I can't
    
    Yeah, I'm afraid of Americans
    I'm afraid of the words
    I'm afraid I can't help it
    I'm afraid I can't
    
    I'm afraid of Americans
    
    God is an American

The above lyrics are from the Nine Inch Nails V1 remix.