American Dreams (song)
| "American Dreams" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Papa Roach | ||||
| from the album Crooked Teeth | ||||
| Released | April 21, 2017 | |||
| Recorded | 2016 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock[1][2] | |||
| Length | 3:23 | |||
| Label | Eleven Seven | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| Papa Roach singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "American Dreams" on YouTube | ||||
"American Dreams" is a single by American rock band Papa Roach, from their studio album Crooked Teeth. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in 2017.
Background[edit]
The song was released as a single on April 21, 2017.[3][4] A lyric video was released a week later, on April 28, featuring a static-filled television set that flashes images of war and the American flag alongside the song's lyrics.[5][6] The band released a video of a live acoustic performance of the song in July 2017.[7] In August 2017, the band released a music video for the song, consisting of the band interviewing Americans about their thoughts about the hardships of achieving the "American Dream", interviewing people in a school, barbershop, a boxing gym, and tattoo parlor.[8][9]
Composition and themes[edit]
The band teamed up with modern music producers Nicholas Furlong and Colin Brittain to create a sound for the song that melded the band's nu metal sound from their first major record label release Infest, with more modern sounding music.[10] The song starts with a simple guitar chord being played, leading to a heavier, wall of sound of guitar by Jerry Horton and vocals by band frontman Jacoby Shaddix.[11] Shaddix delivers forceful and rhythmic aggressive vocals in the verses, leading up to a large, soaring melodic chorus.[11][12] Lyrically, the song explores sentiments of doubt and detriment in the concept of "The American Dream", with the chorus containing the lines "American lies / We're trying to see through the smoke in our eyes / So give me the truth / Don't tell me your lies / Cause it's harder to breathe / When you're buried alive by American Dreams."[11][13] The lyrics were inspired by Shaddix's resentment of current state of American politics, notably the lowbrow arguments of the 2016 Presidential Debates.[14]
Reception[edit]
The song received a mixed reception from critics. Loudwire ranked it as the 19th best hard rock song of 2017.[1] Cryptic Rock praised the song for being "quasi-political" and asking some "eerily pivotal questions", concluding that it was "an interesting direction for the band, it is a truly catchy, upbeat rocker that tackles some weighty subject matter."[15] Conversely, "Metal Sucks" strongly criticized the song's vocals, calling it "terrible".[16]
Personnel[edit]
- Jacoby Shaddix – lead vocals
- Jerry Horton – guitar
- Tobin Esperance – bass
- Tony Palermo – drums
Charts[edit]
| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[17] | 16 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[18] | 3 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[19] | 40 |
| US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[20] | 17 |
References[edit]
- ^ a b "25 Best Hard Rock Songs of 2017". Loudwire.com. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ "Review: Papa Roach – Crooked Teeth". Moshville.co.uk. May 18, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ Irizarry, Katy (April 21, 2017). "Papa Roach Premiere New Song, "American Dreams"". Revolvermag.com. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ "New Song Premiere: PAPA ROACH's 'American Dreams'". Blabbermouth.net. April 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ "Papa Roach premieres "American Dreams" lyric video - Music News - ABC News Radio". Abcnewsradioonline.com. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ "PAPA ROACH Releases Lyric Video For New Song 'American Dreams'". Blabbermouth.net. April 28, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ "PAPA ROACH Performs Acoustic Version Of 'American Dreams' (Video)". Blabbermouth.net. July 27, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ "Papa Roach comment on the current state of America in new music video for "American Dreams"". Alternative Press Magazine. August 15, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ "Papa Roach goes to school in "American Dreams" video - Music News - ABC News Radio". Abcnewsradioonline.com. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ "Listen to new Papa Roach track American Dreams". Teamrock.com. April 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Papa Roach Talk Tainted 'American Dreams' in New Song". Loudwire.com. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ "Crooked Teeth - Papa Roach - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ "Papa Roach's 'American Dreams' Sound More Like Nightmares". Newrock99x.com. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Harvilla, Rob (June 7, 2017). ""It Just Seems Like Monkeys Throwin' Shit at Each Other"". The Ringer. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ "Papa Roach - Crooked Teeth (Album Review) - Cryptic Rock". Crypticrock.com. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ "Listen to the Terrible New Papa Roach Song "American Dreams"". MetalSucks.net. April 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201746 into search. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
- ^ "Papa Roach Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ "Papa Roach Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ "Papa Roach Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2017.