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American Dreams (song)

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This article is about the Papa Roach song. For the Flobots song, see Noenemies.

"American Dreams"
Single by Papa Roach
from the album Crooked Teeth
ReleasedApril 21, 2017 (2017-04-21)
Recorded2016
GenreHard rock[1][2]
Length3:23
LabelEleven Seven
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Papa Roach singles chronology
"Help"
(2017) 		"American Dreams"
(2017) 		"Born for Greatness"
(2017)
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

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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

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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

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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

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Charts

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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

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  1. ^ a b "25 Best Hard Rock Songs of 2017". Loudwire.com. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "Review: Papa Roach – Crooked Teeth". Moshville.co.uk. May 18, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  3. ^ Irizarry, Katy (April 21, 2017). "Papa Roach Premiere New Song, "American Dreams"". Revolvermag.com. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  4. ^ "New Song Premiere: PAPA ROACH's 'American Dreams'". Blabbermouth.net. April 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  5. ^ "Papa Roach premieres "American Dreams" lyric video - Music News - ABC News Radio". Abcnewsradioonline.com. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  6. ^ "PAPA ROACH Releases Lyric Video For New Song 'American Dreams'". Blabbermouth.net. April 28, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  7. ^ "PAPA ROACH Performs Acoustic Version Of 'American Dreams' (Video)". Blabbermouth.net. July 27, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "Papa Roach goes to school in "American Dreams" video - Music News - ABC News Radio". Abcnewsradioonline.com. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  10. ^ "Listen to new Papa Roach track American Dreams". Teamrock.com. April 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  11. ^ a b c "Papa Roach Talk Tainted 'American Dreams' in New Song". Loudwire.com. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  12. ^ "Crooked Teeth - Papa Roach - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  13. ^ "Papa Roach's 'American Dreams' Sound More Like Nightmares". Newrock99x.com. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  14. ^ Harvilla, Rob (June 7, 2017). ""It Just Seems Like Monkeys Throwin' Shit at Each Other"". The Ringer. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  15. ^ "Papa Roach - Crooked Teeth (Album Review) - Cryptic Rock". Crypticrock.com. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  16. ^ "Listen to the Terrible New Papa Roach Song "American Dreams"". MetalSucks.net. April 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  17. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 46. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  18. ^ "Papa Roach Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  19. ^ "Papa Roach Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  20. ^ "Papa Roach Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
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