Welcome back to the eighteenth iteration of the Golden Nuggets series, where I take a look at the Billboard number one hit singles from half a centuries' past and share my thoughts, as well as hypothesize on the success and the lasting impact, if any. I'm still a little behind as I normally like it to be fifty years to the week, but this plague has me a bit preoccupied. This time, we'll be looking at the hit song 'American Woman', by the Canadian rock band, The Guess Who. If you've never heard of the song, or want a quick listen, you can check it out here.
If you did listen to the song I provided, you might notice that this is the album version, about a minute and a half longer than the single version, which starts just about where the main riff comes in. I much prefer the album version, the the little acoustic blues tune with the vocal riffing in the front. I understand why it was cut, as it takes a while to get started and might be too soft in the beginning to grab a radio listener, but on FM stations, I'm sure they played the full version. In my opinion, this is a great song, but one whose meaning seems to elude a lot of listeners. There have been multiple movies where I've seen it used positively, and it's anything but. Whether you believe the vocalist Burton Cummings' original statements that that was no allegory there, and it was an apolitical commentary on how American girls grow up faster than Canadians and are dangerous, to guitarist Randy Bachman now stating it was in fact political and railing against the Vietnam War and the draft, it still shouldn't a thing for a pretty woman to dance to in a movie montage.
Musically, the guitar riff is on point and has a dirty sound to it, and makes the song the kind of thing you'll hear in dive bars to the end of time. Burton Cumming's vocal performance is also very soulful, and he can go from lightly singing during the intro to practically screaming near the end, exercising an impressive range in the process. This is in stark contrast to Lenny Kravitz' garbage cover, which is as sterile as an operating room and has as much swing as a Baroque chamber piece. I find it amazing that a person so obviously influenced by Jimi Hendrix could produce such a soulless husk of a cover, while you're getting schooled in the blues by some dorky looking dudes from Manitoba.
I really enjoy the track, and whatever the interpretation of the lyrics that the listener believes or that the members want to provide this week, I feel like this tune has stood the test of time due to its killer riff and the use of 'American' in the title. It seems to give it a novelty that probably gets it tossed on tons of Memorial Day or Fourth of July playlists, whether the listener is aware of the irony or not, or whether there is irony at all, depending on which member you listen to. I myself am more inclined to side with Randy Bachman, as I probably would be turning down a girl based on her countries' "war machines" and "ghetto scenes", but maybe I'm just weird like that.
Check back in later for the next installment of the Golden Nuggets series, where I tear into the hypocritical garbage track 'Everything is Beautiful' by Ray Stevens. I'm making no bones about this one. I hate the song and I intend to state my case. Later.
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