"America" is a song written and originally recorded by Neil Diamond, released in 1980 on the soundtrack album of Diamond's film The Jazz Singer. The song was a hit single in the United States in 1981, reaching number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, and was Diamond's sixth number one on the Adult Contemporary chart.[1]Billboard also rated it the #62 pop single overall for 1981.[2] Although the single version was a studio recording, overdubs of crowd cheering simulate the feel of a live performance.
The song's theme is a positive interpretation of the history of immigration to the United States, during both the early 1900s and the present. Combining Diamond's typically powerful melody, dynamic arrangement, and bombastic vocal, it ends with an interpolation of the traditional patriotic song "My Country, 'Tis of Thee". In Diamond's concerts, the song is a very popular number both at home and abroad, with a large United States flag often displayed from the rafters on cue to the lyric "Every time that flag's unfurled / They're coming to America."[citation needed] The song was featured at the Stone Mountain Laser Show near Atlanta, Georgia.[4]
^Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 78.
^"Pop Singles". Billboard Magazine. December 26, 1980. p. YE-9. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
^(PDF). Nielsen SoundScan. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 8, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
^Thrasher, Paula Crouch (May 25, 1991). "Waves 'N' Raves". pp. L/20–L/22. Retrieved March 26, 2017. Then, until the end of July, the lineup is Charlie Daniels' "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," Bob James "Courtship" and Neil Diamond's "Coming to America." Rounding out the summer: A Beatles medley, Alan Parsons' "Pipeline" and Ray Lynch's "Celestial Soda Pop."
^Laura Jackson. Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music, His Passion (ECW Press, 2005): p. 165.
^"Neil Diamond Denver NYE 1999/2000". 31 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 17 May 2021 – via YouTube.
^Isaac Guzman, "American Icon: Neil Diamond shows his colors at Garden concert." Daily News Feature Writer.
^Scott Holleran. "Neil Diamond Diamond Shines in Red, White and Blue 2012-03-30 at the Wayback Machine" (2001). Los Angeles Daily News.
^Strauss, Neil (2001-11-19). "The Pop Life; After the Horror, Radio Stations Pull Some Songs". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
america, neil, diamond, song, america, song, written, originally, recorded, neil, diamond, released, 1980, soundtrack, album, diamond, film, jazz, singer, song, single, united, states, 1981, reaching, number, eight, billboard, diamond, sixth, number, adult, co. America is a song written and originally recorded by Neil Diamond released in 1980 on the soundtrack album of Diamond s film The Jazz Singer The song was a hit single in the United States in 1981 reaching number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and was Diamond s sixth number one on the Adult Contemporary chart 1 Billboard also rated it the 62 pop single overall for 1981 2 Although the single version was a studio recording overdubs of crowd cheering simulate the feel of a live performance America Single by Neil Diamondfrom the album The Jazz Singer soundtrackB side Songs of Life ReleasedApril 1981Recorded1980GenrePopdiscoLength3 27 single version 4 19 album version LabelCapitolSongwriter s Neil DiamondProducer s Bob GaudioNeil Diamond singles chronology Hello Again 1981 America 1981 Yesterday s Songs 1981 As of June 2017 update the song had sold 634 440 downloads in the United States since Nielsen started tracking sales 3 Contents 1 Background 2 Chart history 2 1 Weekly charts 2 2 Year end charts 3 Cover versions 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBackground EditThe song s theme is a positive interpretation of the history of immigration to the United States during both the early 1900s and the present Combining Diamond s typically powerful melody dynamic arrangement and bombastic vocal it ends with an interpolation of the traditional patriotic song My Country Tis of Thee In Diamond s concerts the song is a very popular number both at home and abroad with a large United States flag often displayed from the rafters on cue to the lyric Every time that flag s unfurled They re coming to America citation needed The song was featured at the Stone Mountain Laser Show near Atlanta Georgia 4 The song has been used in a number of contexts including as a theme song for Michael Dukakis 1988 presidential campaign and in promotion of the 1996 Olympics Diamond also sang it at the centennial re dedication of the Statue of Liberty 5 and at the Pepsi Center in Denver on 31 December 1999 6 Shortly after the September 11 2001 attacks Diamond modified the lyrics to America slightly during live performances Instead of They re comin to America toward the end it became Stand up for America 7 8 It was included on a memorandum listing songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel Communications following the September 11 attacks 9 Chart history EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1981 PeakpositionCanada RPM Top Singles 10 45Canada RPM Adult Contemporary 11 15U S Billboard Hot 100 12 8U S Billboard Adult Contemporary 13 1U S Cash Box Top 100 14 10 Year end charts Edit Chart 1981 RankU S Billboard Hot 100 15 62U S Cash Box 16 61Cover versions EditNew age pianist David Lanz performed a cover of this song for his album Finding Paradise 17 Me First and the Gimme Gimmes covered this song in their 2008 album Have Another Ball Nell Carter covered this song on the show Gimme A Break in 1986 on the episode Second Chance See also EditList of number one adult contemporary singles of 1981 U S References Edit Whitburn Joel 2002 Top Adult Contemporary 1961 2001 Record Research p 78 Pop Singles Billboard Magazine December 26 1980 p YE 9 Retrieved 2012 08 16 Nielsen SoundScan charts Digital Songs Week Ending 7 6 2017 PDF Nielsen SoundScan Archived from the original PDF on August 8 2017 Retrieved June 17 2021 Thrasher Paula Crouch May 25 1991 Waves N Raves pp L 20 L 22 Retrieved March 26 2017 Then until the end of July the lineup is Charlie Daniels The Devil Went Down to Georgia Bob James Courtship and Neil Diamond s Coming to America Rounding out the summer A Beatles medley Alan Parsons Pipeline and Ray Lynch s Celestial Soda Pop Laura Jackson Neil Diamond His Life His Music His Passion ECW Press 2005 p 165 Neil Diamond Denver NYE 1999 2000 31 December 2015 Archived from the original on 2021 12 19 Retrieved 17 May 2021 via YouTube Isaac Guzman American Icon Neil Diamond shows his colors at Garden concert Daily News Feature Writer Scott Holleran Neil Diamond Diamond Shines in Red White and Blue Archived 2012 03 30 at the Wayback Machine 2001 Los Angeles Daily News Strauss Neil 2001 11 19 The Pop Life After the Horror Radio Stations Pull Some Songs The New York Times Retrieved 2008 08 04 Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca 1981 06 13 Retrieved 2018 04 07 Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca 1981 06 27 Retrieved 2018 04 08 Joel Whitburn s Top Pop Singles 1955 1990 ISBN 0 89820 089 X Whitburn Joel 2002 Top Adult Contemporary 1961 2001 Record Research p 78 Cash Box Top 100 Singles June 27 1981 Archived from the original on June 3 2015 Retrieved April 7 2018 Musicoutfitters com Cash Box Year End Charts Top 100 Pop Singles December 26 1981 Archived from the original on October 22 2016 Retrieved April 7 2018 Finding Paradise overview Allmusic com External links EditLyrics in Songfacts Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title America Neil Diamond song amp oldid 1101319333, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
