Editing I'm Afraid of Americans

{{good article}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = I'm Afraid of Americans
| cover      = Bowie_I'mAfraidofAmericans.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[David Bowie]]
| album      = [[Earthling (David Bowie album)|Earthling]]
| A-side     = Versions 1–4 (12")
| B-side     = Versions 5–6 (12")
| released   = {{start date|1997|10|14|df=yes}}
| recorded   = August–October 1996
| studio     = Looking Glass (New York City)
| genre      = 
*[[Industrial music|Industrial]]
*[[techno]]
| length     = {{ubl|{{duration|m=5|s=00}} (album version)|Various (single remixes)}}
| label      = [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
| writer     = 
*David Bowie
*[[Brian Eno]]
| producer   = 
*David Bowie
*[[Reeves Gabrels]]
*[[Mark Plati]] (album version)
*[[Trent Reznor]]
*[[Photek]] (single remixes)
| prev_title = [[Pallas Athena (song)|Pallas Athena]]
| prev_year  = 1997
| next_title = [[I Can't Read]]
| next_year  = 1997
|misc={{External music video|{{YouTube|LT3cERVRoQo|"I'm Afraid of Americans"}}}}
}}

"'''I'm Afraid of Americans'''" is a song by the English musician [[David Bowie]], released as a [[Single (music)|single]] from his album ''[[Earthling (David Bowie album)|Earthling]]'' on 14&nbsp;October 1997 through [[Virgin Records]]. The song was co-written by Bowie and [[Brian Eno]] and originally recorded during the sessions for Bowie's 1995 album ''[[Outside (David Bowie album)|Outside]]''; this version was released on the [[Showgirls (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] of ''[[Showgirls]]'' (1995). The song was then remade during the sessions for ''Earthling'', featuring rewritten lyrics, [[Overdubbing|overdubs]] and transposed verses. An [[Industrial music|industrial]] and [[techno]] track, it presents a critique of America through the eyes of a stereotypical "Johnny" and is characterised by drum patterns, synthesisers, various [[Loop (music)|loops]] and vocal distortions.

The [[Maxi single|maxi-single]] release contained six different [[remix]]es mostly created by [[Trent Reznor]] and his [[Nine Inch Nails]] band members; the V3 mix featured [[Ice Cube]] while the V5 mix was created by [[Photek]].<ref name="afraidof">{{Cite AV media notes |title=I'm Afraid of Americans Credits |url=https://www.discogs.com/David-Bowie-Im-Afraid-Of-Americans/release/97226/image/SW1hZ2U6MjU2NzMyMTc= |access-date=9 August 2021 |type=liner notes |publisher=[[Virgin Records]] |id=V25H-38618 |quote=Personnel is noted as "Nine Inch Nails members" and are not given exact roles}}</ref> Reznor subsequently appeared in the [[music video]], which reflected the song's theme of a frightened European in an American city. The single was Bowie's final single to chart on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] until 2015, reaching number 66. Reznor's V1 mix has since appeared on several [[compilation album]]s.

The song has received positive responses from critics and biographers. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' named it one of the 30 most essential songs of Bowie's catalogue in 2016. Some American commentators later acknowledged the significance of the lyrics in the late 2010s. Bowie performed "I'm Afraid of Americans" frequently on his concert tours, live performances from which have been released on [[live album]]s. Reznor has performed the song live with Nine Inch Nails as well.

==Writing and recording==
"I'm Afraid of Americans" was written by Bowie and [[Brian Eno]] and originally recorded during the sessions for Bowie's 1995 album ''[[Outside (David Bowie album)|Outside]]''. According to biographer Chris O'Leary, recording took place in late 1994 at [[Mountain Studios]] in [[Montreux]], Switzerland and the early weeks of 1995 at the Hit Factory in New York City.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=chap. 10}} Titled "Dummy", it featured different lyrics, such as "I'm afraid of the ''animals''" instead of "''Americans''".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=128–129}} Eno recalled in 2016: "I remember [David] recording 'I'm Afraid of Americans' and saying, after one of the early takes, 'No, [the 'Dummy' character's] got to be more self-doubting than that.'"{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=chap. 10}} This version was intended for release on the soundtrack for the 1995 film ''[[Johnny Mnemonic (film)|Johnny Mnemonic]]'' but was instead released on the [[Showgirls (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] for the 1995 film ''[[Showgirls]]''.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=chap. 10}}{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=128–129}}

During the sessions for Bowie's next album ''[[Earthling (David Bowie album)|Earthling]]'' (1997), he decided to remake the song with his current band—guitarist [[Reeves Gabrels]], pianist [[Mike Garson]], bassist [[Gail Ann Dorsey]] and drummer [[Zack Alford]].{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=chap. 10}} Bowie stated: "That was something that Eno and I put together, and I just didn't feel it fit ''Outside'', so it didn't go on it. It just got left behind. So then we took just the embryo of it, and restructured it with this band."<ref name="Fi">{{cite magazine|title=David Bowie: The FI Interview|first=J. D.|last=Considine|magazine=Fi|date=October 1997|pages=36–41}}</ref> Recording for the remake took place between August{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=chap. 10}} and October 1996{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=430–433}} at Looking Glass Studios in New York City with engineer [[Mark Plati]], who had extensive experience there.{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=441–455}} Plati and Gabrels were credited as co-producers while Bowie himself mostly self-produced.<ref name="rollingstone review">{{Cite magazine |last=Kemp |first=Mark |title=Review: ''Earthling – David Bowie'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/earthling-194354/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=20 February 1997 |access-date=21 November 2021 |author-link=Mark Kemp |archive-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602221137/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/earthling-194354/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Regarding the remake, Plati explained: "We pulled things off several different reels to make this new composite. It was quite a clean-up job, not the most enjoyable."{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=chap. 10}} Bowie revised the lyrics, changing "Dummy" to "Johnny", and transposed verses while the band provided additional overdubs. Gabrels stated that he added [[Distortion (music)|fuzz boxes]] "until I ran out".{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=chap. 10}}

==Composition==
{{quote box|quote='I'm Afraid of Americans' was written by myself and Eno. It's not as truly hostile about Americans as say '[[Born in the U.S.A. (song)|Born in the U.S.A.]]': it's merely sardonic. I was traveling in [[Java]] when the first [[McDonald's]] went up: it was like, 'for fuck's sake.' The invasion by any homogenized culture is so depressing, the erection of another [[Walt Disney World|Disney World]] in, say, [[Umbria, Italy]], more so. It strangles the indigenous culture and narrows expression of life.<ref name="RS essentials" />|source=—David Bowie in a press release announcing ''Earthling''|width=30%|align=left|style=padding:8px;}}
In an interview with ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' magazine in 1997, Bowie described the song as "one of those stereotypical 'Johnny' songs: Johnny does this, Johnny does that".<ref name="Mojo">{{cite magazine |last=Gill |first=Andy |title=David Bowie: ''Earthling'' |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/david-bowie-earthling |magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |date=March 1997 |access-date=21 November 2021 |via=Rock's Backpages {{subscription required}} |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417204153/https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/david-bowie-earthling |url-status=live }}</ref> The absurdist lyrics present a critique of America, in line with Bowie's 1975 track "[[Young Americans (song)|Young Americans]]".{{sfn|Perone|2007|pp=118–123}}{{sfn|Spitz|2009|pp=370–371}} Commentators have seen similarities between the song's titular Johnny and the Johnny of the ''[[Lodger (album)|Lodger]]'' track "Repetition" (1979);{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=chap. 10}}{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=128–129}} while the Johnny of the former craves objects of status through self-entitlement, the Johnny of the latter emotionally abuses his wife due to his lower status.<ref name="Vice" /> The song concludes with the revelation that "God is an American",{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=128–129}} which biographer [[Marc Spitz]] considers an "ironic jingoism".{{sfn|Spitz|2009|pp=370–371}}

Musically, reviewers have categorised it as [[techno]],<ref name="Mojo" /><ref name="Rapp">{{cite web |last1=Rapp |first1=Allison |title=How David Bowie Successfully Ignored Critics on 'Earthling' |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-earthling/ |website=[[Ultimate Classic Rock]] |access-date=22 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217181220/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-earthling/ |archive-date=17 February 2022 |date=3 February 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> with author James Perone writing that it mixes various [[Industrial music|industrial]] and techno styles of the 1980s and 1990s.{{sfn|Perone|2007|pp=118–123}} ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'}}s Caroline Sullivan found the melody reminiscent of Bowie's "[[Ashes to Ashes (David Bowie song)|Ashes to Ashes]]" (1980), with a "perky [[Jungle music|jungle]] percussion loop", ultimately creating "a most singular fusion of [[Rock music|rock]] and [[drum and bass|drum & bass]]".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Sullivan |first=Caroline |title=David Bowie: ''Earthling'' (RCA) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260722209/?terms=david%20bowie%20earthling&match=1 |magazine=[[The Guardian]] |date=31 January 1997 |access-date=21 November 2021 |page=39 |via=Newspapers.com {{subscription required}} |archive-date=21 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121213333/http://www.newspapers.com/image/260722209/?terms=david%20bowie%20earthling&match=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Characterised by drum patterns, synthesisers, various [[Loop (music)|loops]] and vocal distortions, O'Leary writes that the remake retained the original's "'laughing' hook" and "synth hook pinging around an [[E♭ (musical note)|E{{flat}}]] octave". Both the original and remake are also in the [[Key (music)|key]] of [[F major]].{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=chap. 10}} Biographer [[Nicholas Pegg]] calls the remake "darker" and "[[funk]]ier" compared to the original,{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=128–129}} while Spitz compares the track's "loud/quiet/loud anthem[ic]" quality to the [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]].{{sfn|Spitz|2009|pp=370–371}} Perone considers it "richer" than other ''Earthling'' tracks.{{sfn|Perone|2007|pp=118–123}}

==Releases==
The original version of "I'm Afraid of Americans" was released on the ''[[Showgirls]]'' soundtrack on 26 September 1995.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=chap. 10}} ''Earthling'' was released on 3 February 1997{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=441–455}} on CD and [[Phonograph record|LP]] formats through [[RCA Records]] in the UK,{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=430–433}} [[Virgin Records]] in the US,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Artists & Music |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=11 October 1997 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1997/Billboard-1997-10-11.pdf |page=18 |via=worldradiohistory.com |access-date=25 November 2021 |archive-date=7 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307112141/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1997/Billboard-1997-10-11.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Arista Records]] and its parent distributor [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]] elsewhere.{{sfn|Trynka|2011|pp=494–495}} "I'm Afraid of Americans" was the eighth and penultimate track, between "The Last Thing You Should Do" and "Law (Earthlings on Fire)".{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=Partial Discography}}

[[File:Trent Reznor-FEB2008 (cropped, but higher quality) (2).jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|alt=Trent Reznor in 2008|The CD maxi-single featured various remixes by [[Trent Reznor]] ''(pictured in 2008)'', who appeared in the song's music video.]]
Virgin issued "I'm Afraid of Americans" as a [[Maxi single|maxi-single]] in North America only on 14 October 1997, where it was backed by six remixes;<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |last1=Huey |first1=Christian |title='I'm Afraid of Americans' [US] – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/im-afraid-of-americans-us-mw0000596405 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=24 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122222349/https://www.allmusic.com/album/im-afraid-of-americans-us-mw0000596405 |archive-date=22 November 2021}}</ref>{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=786}} the V3 mix featured guest vocals from rapper [[Ice Cube]] while the V5 mix was created by producer [[Photek]].{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=128–129}}<ref name="CD single" /><ref name="LP single" /> The project was instigated by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor, continuing his and Bowie's association following the [[Outside Tour]]. Reznor, who stated that he "tried to make it a bit darker",{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=128–129}} stripped the production to its roots to create what biographer David Buckley calls "an eerie, psychotic track".{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=441–455}} The ending result is an almost 40-minute project that, in Bowie's words, was "not just a remix [but] almost...an album piece in itself. I was absolutely knocked out when I heard what [Reznor] had done. It was great."{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=128–129}}  Commercially, the single reached number 66 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and remained on the chart for 16 weeks, becoming Bowie's biggest hit in the country since "[[Day-In Day-Out]]" ten years earlier.{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=441–455}} It was the final Bowie single to chart on the Hot 100 until the release of "[[Blackstar (song)|Blackstar]]" in 2015.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=chap. 10}}<ref name="Vice" /> It also stayed in the Canadian top 50 for six months.{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=441–455}}

Reznor also starred as the titular Johnny in the [[Dom and Nic]]-directed [[music video]],{{sfn|Spitz|2009|pp=370–371}} which was shot in [[New York City]] in October 1997 during the American leg of the [[Earthling Tour]]. Bowie explained that he chose the duo because they were "making very interesting, quite hard-edged British videos at the moment. I felt it was important that it retained that outsider's perspective of America".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=128–129}} The video depicts Bowie as a man who is chased around the streets of New York by a stalker portrayed by Reznor,<ref name="RS essentials" /> reflecting the song's theme of a frightened European in an American city.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=chap. 10}} Discussing his character, Reznor stated: "They wanted a kind of ''[[Taxi Driver]]'' feel to the whole thing. That's kind of what it's based on. That's why I'm in my [[Travis Bickle]] outfit!"{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=128–129}} According to Spitz, the video received heavy rotation on [[MTV]], a first for Bowie in over a decade.{{sfn|Spitz|2009|pp=370–371}} It also earned Bowie a nomination for [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video|Best Male Video]] at the [[1998 MTV Video Music Awards]].{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=441–455}}

O'Leary states that while the track has no "definitive" version, Reznor's V1 mix is the most recognisable,{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=chap. 10}} which has appeared on the [[compilation album]]s ''[[Best of Bowie]]'' (2002),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |author-link1=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=''Best of Bowie'' – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/best-of-bowie-mw0000694821 |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127175533/https://www.allmusic.com/album/best-of-bowie-mw0000694821 |archive-date=27 November 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Nothing Has Changed]]'' (2014),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18494/reviews/4148401 | title=David Bowie – ''Nothing Has Changed'' | last=Lukowski | first=Andrzej | work=[[Drowned in Sound]] | date=12 November 2014 | access-date=11 August 2017 | archive-date=12 August 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812134401/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18494/reviews/4148401 | url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Legacy (The Very Best of David Bowie)|Bowie Legacy]]'' (2016).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |title=''Legacy'' – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/legacy-mw0002986167 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508195207/https://www.allmusic.com/album/legacy-mw0002986167 |archive-date=8 May 2019}}</ref> The ''Showgirls'' version, V1 mix and Plati's "Original Edit" were included on the bonus disc of the ''Earthling'' expanded edition in 2004.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=430–433}}<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Earthling (reissue) |others=David Bowie |year=2004 |location=US |publisher=[[Columbia Records]]/ISO |type=CD booklet |id=CK 92098}}</ref>

==Reception and legacy==
Reviewing ''Earthling'' on release, ''Mojo''{{'}}s Andy Gill considered "I'm Afraid of Americans" the "most direct" track on the album.<ref name="Mojo" /> In another review for ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', [[Mark Kemp]] considered the song "a stuttering rocker" that "seems detached from the other songs".<ref name="rollingstone review" /> Upon release of the single, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' writers Larry Flick and Shawnee Smith praised Reznor's remix as an improvement on the "already deeply moody and largely sharp" original. They further opined that the Ice Cube remix could provide a successful foray into a [[hardcore hip hop]] album.<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine |last1=Flick |first1=Larry |last2=Smith |first2=Shawnee |title=Singles: Rock Tracks |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |issue=109 |date=18 October 1997 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1997/Billboard-1997-10-18.pdf |page=80 |via=worldradiohistory.com |access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref> Reviewing the maxi-single for [[AllMusic]], Christian Huey criticised it as "too derivative of ''[[The Downward Spiral|Downward Spiral]]''-era Nine Inch Nails" to please Bowie's fans. He argued that it acts better when viewed as a Reznor project rather than a Bowie one. He nevertheless praised Reznor's work on the remixes as well as Photek's contribution.<ref name="AllMusic" />

In later decades, Pegg describes the track as "terrific" while Spitz considered it Bowie's finest single since 1984's "[[Loving the Alien]]".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=128–129}}{{sfn|Spitz|2009|pp=370–371}} Following [[Death of David Bowie|Bowie's death in 2016]], ''Rolling Stone'' named "I'm Afraid of Americans" one of the 30 most essential songs of Bowie's catalogue.<ref name="RS essentials">{{cite magazine |last1=Edwards |first1=Gavin |last2=Weingarten |first2=Christopher |last3=Spanos |first3=Brittany |last4=Newman |first4=Jason |last5=Vozick-Levinson |first5=Simon |last6=Johnston |first6=Maura |author6-link=Maura Johnston |last7=Doyle |first7=Patrick |last8=Sterling |first8=Scott |last9=Greene |first9=Andy |last10=Sheffield |first10=Rob |author-link10=Rob Sheffield | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/david-bowie-best-songs-33438/im-afraid-of-americans-1997-3-151698/ | title=David Bowie: 30 Essential Songs | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=11 January 2016 | access-date=26 September 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411024605/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/david-bowie-best-songs-33438/im-afraid-of-americans-1997-3-151698/ | archive-date=11 April 2021 | url-status=live }}</ref> That same year, ''[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]'' placed "I'm Afraid of Americans" at number 23 in a list ranking every Bowie single from worst to best, calling it the best song on ''Earthling'' and Bowie's best song in over a decade, further commenting: "It would be another decade and a half before he was this good again."<ref>{{cite web |title=Every David Bowie Single Ranked |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-singles-ranked/ |website=[[Ultimate Classic Rock]] |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=14 January 2016 |archive-date=24 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724234336/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-singles-ranked/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A year later, ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'' placed "I'm Afraid of Americans" at number 66 on their list of Bowie's 70 best songs, writing:<ref name="CoS">{{cite web |last=Phillips |first=Lior |title=David Bowie's Top 70 Songs |url=https://consequence.net/2017/01/david-bowies-top-70-songs/ |website=[[Consequence of Sound]] |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=8 January 2017 |archive-date=20 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920212659/https://consequence.net/2017/01/david-bowies-top-70-songs/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{blockquote|Many aging rock stars may have been sunk by toying with industrial electronic or having a song feature in the ''Showgirls'' soundtrack, but David Bowie excels in even the most theoretically ill-fitting suits, looking sleek and charming. He’s telling tales of humans in ruin, of futility and idealism, and while the original version that appeared in the schlocky midnight movie was afraid of 'the animals,' the eventual final take changed it to 'Americans,' an electro-crunchy slab of sardonic delight.}}

In 2017, ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]''{{'}}s Jill Krajewski commented on the song's relevance during the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|presidency of Donald Trump]], stating: "'I'm Afraid of Americans' has a darker resonance today not through its chorus, but in a context that gives it unnerving prescience: a snapshot of the [era we live in today]."<ref name="Vice" /> She argued that the "working-class everyman" (Johnny) were responsible in sharpening the political divide and widespread hate on the internet, presenting a sense of unease living in America as she concludes, "I ''am'' afraid of Americans".<ref name="Vice">{{cite web |last1=Krajewski |first1=Jill |title=David Bowie's "I'm Afraid of Americans" Has Become An Unfortunate Reality in the Age of Trump |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/david-bowies-im-afraid-of-americans-has-become-an-unfortunate-reality-in-the-age-of-trump/ |website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |access-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228170059/https://www.vice.com/en/article/533bwz/david-bowies-im-afraid-of-americans-has-become-an-unfortunate-reality-in-the-age-of-trump |archive-date=28 February 2021 |date=20 January 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The same year, Lior Phillips of ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'' said "The title is a picture-perfect distillation of what it means to live in this world."<ref name="CoS" />

==Live versions==
Following its release, Bowie performed "I'm Afraid of Americans" frequently on concert tours and television appearances.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=chap. 10}}{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=128–129}} He first performed the track ahead of ''Earthling''{{'}}s release on 9 January 1997 at his fiftieth birthday concert in New York City with the band [[Sonic Youth]].{{sfn|Sandford|1998|pp=340–350}}{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=601–603}} The song then made regular appearances throughout the Earthling Tour later that year.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=603–605}} Three separate live performances of the song were released on live albums included in the box set ''[[Brilliant Live Adventures]]'' (2020–2021): A July 1997 performance (released on ''[[Earthling Tour#Look at the Moon! (Live Phoenix Festival 97)|Look at the Moon!]]''),<ref name="BLA" /><ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-bowie-brilliant-live-adventures-look-at-the-moon-1120853/ | title=David Bowie's 'Brilliant Live Adventures' Series Continues With 1997 Festival Gig |magazine=Rolling Stone | date=29 January 2021 | access-date=29 January 2021 | first=Daniel | last=Kreps | archive-date=29 January 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129161204/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-bowie-brilliant-live-adventures-look-at-the-moon-1120853/ | url-status=live }}</ref> an October 1997 version recorded in New York  (included on ''[[LiveAndWell.com]]'' (1999/2021)),{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=128–129}}<ref name="BLA" /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2020/12/11/bla-part-3-liveandwellcom | title=Brilliant Live Adventures Part 3 – ''LiveAndWell.com'' | website=David Bowie Official Website | date=11 December 2020 | access-date=14 December 2020 | archive-date=11 December 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211141832/https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2020/12/11/bla-part-3-liveandwellcom | url-status=live }}</ref> and a version from the [[Hours Tour]] in November 1999 on ''[[Hours Tour#David Bowie at the Kit Kat Klub (Live New York 99)|David Bowie At The Kit Kat Klub (Live New York 99)]]''.<ref name="BLA">{{cite web |url=https://www.rhino.com/article/david-bowie-brilliant-live-adventures-six-album-series-kicks-off-october-30 |title=David Bowie Brilliant Live Adventures Six Album Series Kicks Off October 30 |website=Rhino Entertainment |date=2 October 2020 | access-date=19 November 2021 | archive-date=16 September 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916225954/https://www.rhino.com/article/david-bowie-brilliant-live-adventures-six-album-series-kicks-off-october-30 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2021/3/17/bla-part-6-david-bowie-at-the-kit-kat-klub-live-new-york-99 | title=BLA Part 6 – ''David Bowie At The Kit Kat Klub (Live New York 99)'' |website=David Bowie Official Website | date=17 March 2021 | access-date=17 March 2021 | archive-date=17 March 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317161217/https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2021/3/17/bla-part-6-david-bowie-at-the-kit-kat-klub-live-new-york-99 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Bowie performed the song again at [[Howard Stern]]'s forty-fourth birthday concert in 1998.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=601–603}} Bowie's 25 June 2000 performance of the song at the [[Glastonbury Festival]] was released in 2018 on ''[[Glastonbury 2000]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Sean T. |title=David Bowie: ''Glastonbury 2000'' Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/david-bowie-glastonbury-2000/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=14 March 2020 |date=5 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711093411/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/david-bowie-glastonbury-2000/ |archive-date=11 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Another live version, recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre, London on 27 June 2000, was released on the bonus disc accompanying the first releases of ''[[Bowie at the Beeb]]'' in 2000.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=128–129}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |title=''Bowie at the Beeb: The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions 68–72'' – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bowie-at-the-beeb-the-best-of-the-bbc-radio-sessions-bonus-disc-mw0000619751 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=10 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702122107/https://www.allmusic.com/album/bowie-at-the-beeb-the-best-of-the-bbc-radio-sessions-bonus-disc-mw0000619751 |archive-date=2 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> A performance from his 2003 [[A Reality Tour]] was included on the ''[[A Reality Tour (film)|A Reality Tour]]'' DVD (2004), and later on the ''[[A Reality Tour (album)|A Reality Tour]]'' album (2010).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-reality-tour-mw0001401403|title=''A Reality Tour'' – Davis Bowie|publisher=AllMusic|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|access-date=11 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818165655/http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-reality-tour-mw0001401403|archive-date=18 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Reznor has performed the song live with Nine Inch Nails as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/nine-inch-nails/2009/cruzan-amphitheatre-west-palm-beach-fl-1bd6216c.html|title= May 8 2009 / Nine Inch Nails Setlist at Cruzan Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach, FL, USA |website= setlist.fm |access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nine-inch-nails-david-bowie-covers-concert-1344978/|title=See Nine Inch Nails Play Two David Bowie Classics at First Concert in Over 3 Years|access-date=26 July 2022|date=29 April 2022|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Daniel|last=Kreps}}</ref>

==Track listing==
All tracks are written by David Bowie and Brian Eno. All tracks remixed by [[Nine Inch Nails]], except V5 additionally produced and remixed by [[Photek]].<ref name="CD single" />

'''12" and CD: Virgin / 7243 8 38618 1/2 (US)'''<ref name="CD single">{{Cite AV media notes|title=''"I'm Afraid of Americans"''|others=David Bowie|year=1997|publisher=[[Virgin Records]]|location=US|type=CD single notes|id=7243 8 38618 2 8}}</ref><ref name="LP single">{{Cite AV media notes|title=''"I'm Afraid of Americans"''|others=David Bowie|year=1997|publisher=Virgin Records|location=US|type=LP single notes|id=7243 8 38618 1}}</ref>

A-side:
# "I'm Afraid of Americans" (V1)&nbsp;– 5:31
# "I'm Afraid of Americans" (V2)&nbsp;– 5:51
# "I'm Afraid of Americans" (V3) (with [[Ice Cube]]) – 6:18
# "I'm Afraid of Americans" (V4)&nbsp;– 5:25

B-side:
# "I'm Afraid of Americans" (V5)&nbsp;– 5:38
# "I'm Afraid of Americans" (V6)&nbsp;– 11:18

==Personnel==
According to biographer Chris O'Leary:{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=chap. 10}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
'''Original version'''
*[[David Bowie]]&nbsp;– lead and backing vocals, keyboards, [[Loop (music)|loops]], producer
*[[Brian Eno]]&nbsp;– keyboards, synthesisers, loops, producer
*[[Carlos Alomar]]&nbsp;– guitar
*[[David Richards (record producer)|David Richards]]&nbsp;– engineer
{{col-3}}
'''''Earthling'' version'''
*David Bowie&nbsp;– lead and backing vocals, keyboards, producer
*[[Reeves Gabrels]]&nbsp;– guitar, producer
*[[Mark Plati]]&nbsp;– keyboards, synthesisers, loops, producer, engineer
*[[Mike Garson]]&nbsp;– electric piano
*[[Gail Ann Dorsey]]&nbsp;– bass
*[[Zack Alford]]&nbsp;– drums
{{col-3}}
'''V1 version'''
*[[Trent Reznor]]
*[[Danny Lohner]]
*[[Charlie Clouser]]
*[[Dave Ogilvie]]
*Keith Hillebrandt<ref name="afraidof"/>
{{col-end}}

==Charts==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col"|Chart (1997–98)
! scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
| Canada ([[Canadian Singles Chart|Nielsen SoundScan]])<ref>{{cite magazine |title=David Bowie Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/david-bowie/chart-history/can/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref>
| align="center"|14
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|66|artist=David Bowie|rowheader=false|access-date=30 November 2021}}
|-
| US [[Alternative Airplay|Modern Rock Tracks]] (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |title=David Bowie Alternative Airplay Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/david-bowie/chart-history/mrt/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref>
| align="center"|29
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
{{Refbegin|30em}}
*{{cite book |last=Buckley |first=David |year=2005 |orig-year=1999 |title=Strange Fascination – David Bowie: The Definitive Story |location=London |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |isbn=978-0-75351-002-5}}
*{{cite book |last=O'Leary |first=Chris |year=2019 |title=Ashes to Ashes: The Songs of David Bowie 1976–2016 |location=London |publisher=Repeater |isbn=978-1-91224-830-8}}
*{{cite book |last=Pegg |first=Nicholas |author-link=Nicholas Pegg |title=The Complete David Bowie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LqFkDQAAQBAJ |publisher=[[Titan Books]] |location=London |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-78565-365-0 |edition=Revised and Updated }}
*{{cite book |last=Perone |first=James E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C6bz2BFdPawC&pg=PA57 |title=The Words and Music of David Bowie |location=[[Westport, Connecticut]] |publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]] |date=2007 |isbn=978-0-27599-245-3 |access-date=2021-09-16 |archive-date=2016-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519114057/https://books.google.com/books?id=C6bz2BFdPawC&pg=PA57 |url-status=live }}
*{{cite book |last=Sandford |first=Christopher |author-link=Christopher Sandford (biographer) |title=Bowie: Loving the Alien |location=New York City |publisher=[[Da Capo Press]] |year=1998 |orig-year=1996 |isbn=978-0-306-80854-8 |url=https://archive.org/details/bowielovingalien00sand }}
*{{cite book |last=Spitz |first=Marc |author-link1=Marc Spitz |title=[[Bowie: A Biography]] |publisher=[[Crown Publishing Group]] |location=New York City |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-307-71699-6}}
*{{cite book |last=Trynka |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Trynka |year=2011 |title=David Bowie – Starman: The Definitive Biography |location=New York City |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]] |isbn=978-0-31603-225-4}}
{{Refend|30em}}

{{David Bowie singles}}
{{Nine Inch Nails}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1995 songs]]
[[Category:1997 singles]]
[[Category:Anti-American sentiment in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:David Bowie songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by David Bowie]]
[[Category:Nine Inch Nails songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Brian Eno]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by David Bowie]]
[[Category:Songs about the United States]]
[[Category:Techno songs]]
[[Category:Industrial rock songs]]