Americanos (song) explained

Americanos
Cover:Americanos.jpeg
Type:single
Artist:Holly Johnson
Album:Blast
Released:20 March 1989
Length:3:35
Label:MCA
Producer:Andy Richards, Steve Lovell
Prev Title:Love Train
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:Atomic City
Next Year:1989

"Americanos" is a song by English singer Holly Johnson, released in 1989 as the second single from his debut solo album, Blast (1989). It was written by Johnson, and produced by Andy Richards and Steve Lovell, with additional production from Dan Hartman.[1]

The song reached 4 in the United Kingdom and was a commercial success across Europe, topping the Austrian Singles Chart and peaking at No. 3 on the Eurochart Hot 100. A music video was filmed to promote the single. This featured an affluent American family and their somewhat poorer but good hearted neighbours each watching a televised lottery show.[2]

Critical reception

Upon release, Chris Heath of Smash Hits described the song as an 80s update of David Bowie's Young Americans in both its content and its spirit, where he acknowledges the superficiality of the American dream but isn't narrow-minded enough to simply condemn it."[3] New Musical Express noted the song's "acid irony".[4] Steve Sutherland of Melody Maker described the song as having "skirt-twirling Latinate sarcasm".[5] Music & Media described the song as a "thoroughly modern slice of blue-eyed soul" and "very commercial".[6] Eleonor Levy of Record Mirror described the song as being "more clean, lively cartoon pop from Holly" and a "chirpy littly tune that will no doubt grow and grow", although lacking the "joie de vivre" of "Love Train".[7]

Track listings

  1. "Americanos" – 3:34
  2. "Americanos" (Mambo Dub Mix) – 4:11
  1. "Americanos" (Liberty Mix) – 5:32
  2. "Americanos" (radio 7-inch mix) – 3:34
  3. "Americanos" (Mambo Dub Mix) – 4:11
  1. "Americanos" (Magimix) – 6:38
  2. "Americanos" (Magimix Dub) – 4:09
  1. "Americanos" (extended version) – 6:44
  2. "Americanos" (P.W.L. extended version) – 5:10
  1. "Americanos" (House Piano Remix) – 6:44
  2. "Americanos" (bonus piano and effects) – 5:10
  1. "Americanos (radio 7-inch mix) – 3:37
  2. "Americanos (Liberty Mix) – 5:32
  3. "Americanos (Mambo Dub Mix) – 4:14

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1989)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 77
Denmark (IFPI)[9] 2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] 3
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11] 6
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[12] 11

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[13] 9
Belgium (Ultratop)[14] 38
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] 25
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 53
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 72
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 56
West Germany (Official German Charts)[19] 13

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Holly Johnson - Americanos / Americanos (Mambo Dub Mix) - MCA - UK - MCA 1323 . 45cat . 23 May 2018.
  2. Web site: Zang Tuum Tumb and all that | Articles | Holly Johnson spielt lotto-fee . Zttaat.com . 5 June 2013.
  3. Web site: Zang Tuum Tumb and all that | Articles | Blast . Zttaat.com . 5 June 2013.
  4. Web site: Zang Tuum Tumb and all that | Articles | Holly Johnson: Blast . Zttaat.com . 22 April 1989 . 5 June 2013.
  5. Web site: Zang Tuum Tumb and all that | Articles | Rocket man . Zttaat.com . 22 April 1989 . 5 June 2013.
  6. 15 April 1989 . Previews: Singles. Music & Media.
  7. Levy . Eleonor . 45 reviewed by Eleonor Levy . . 25 March 1989 . 37 . London . Spotlight Publications Ltd.. World Radio History . 0144-5804 . 24 October 2021.
  8. Web site: Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 2015-06-05. Imgur. https://web.archive.org/web/20150605213523/http://i.imgur.com/DkGCr8v.jpg. 5 June 2015. 17 October 2015.
  9. Top 3 Singles in Europe. Music & Media. 6. 25. 15. 24 June 1989.
  10. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 6. 23. 20. 10 June 1989.
  11. Book: Nyman, Jake. 2005. Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja. 1st. Tammi. Helsinki. 951-31-2503-3. fi.
  12. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st. September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
  13. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 1989. de. 21 February 2022.
  14. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1989. Ultratop. nl. 21 February 2022.
  15. Eurochart Hot 100 1989. Music & Media. 6. 51. 6. 23 December 1989.
  16. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1989. Dutch Top 40. nl. 21 February 2022.
  17. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1989. MegaCharts. nl. 21 February 2022.
  18. Year End Singles. Record Mirror. 44. 27 January 1990.
  19. Web site: Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1989. GfK Entertainment. de. 21 February 2022.

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