American Woman

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 8/20/2002, 7:43 am

I just realized how much I hate Lenny Kravitz (sp?). He took a great song, a classic rock song, and completely twisted it and ruined it.

American Woman was originally done by The Guess Who. They were (and I guess they still are) a Canadian rock band. American Woman was a political song. They were not talking about a woman at all. They were using woman as a metaphore for the US. "American woman, stay away from me. American woman, mama let me be." It was a song about Canada's independance from the States. Saying that we don't really need them there (we, of course, rely on them somewhat, but no more than any other neighbouring friendly country would...) to help us any more.

Lenny Crapits, however, took the song and fucked it up to get some easy cash. He turned it into a song with an American singing about an actual American Woman. Not only did he change the meaning, but he made it more "modern" with tons more distortion on the guitar and on his voice, in parts.

This is just a message about how much I hate Kravitz. Whether he had permission from the band to do it or not (which I'm assuming he did) makes no difference to me. He made a mockary of the political stance of a Canadian Rock Classic.

Any thoughts?

Staley · Post by **Staley** » 8/20/2002, 8:22 am

I like the Guess Who's version a lot, but if that's what it's about, then they shouldn't have released it here.

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 8/20/2002, 8:31 am

I don't think they originally intended for it to be played a lot in the US. At that time, Canadian music was played almost only in Canada. It then became a big hit here. People got the meaning wrong, using the actual woman type of theme that Lenny used. It became big in the States because people thought it was just a rock song about a woman.

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 8/20/2002, 8:34 am

(Prologue)
American woman gonna mess your mind
American woman, she gonna mess your mind
American woman gonna mess your mind
American woman gonna mess your mind
Say A,
Say M,
Say E,
Say R,
Say I,
Say C,
Say A,
Say N,
American woman gonna mess your mind
American woman gonna mess your mind
American woman gonna mess your mind

American woman, stay away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Don’t come hangin’ around my door
I don’t wanna see your face no more
I got more important things to do
Than spend my time growin’ old with you
Now woman, I said stay away,
American woman, listen what I say.

American woman, get away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Don’t come knockin’ around my door
Don’t wanna see your shadow no more
Coloured lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else’s eyes
Now woman, I said get away
American woman, listen what I say.

American woman, said get away
American woman, listen what I say
Don’t come hangin’ around my door
Don’t wanna see your face no more
I don’t need your war machines
I don’t need your ghetto scenes
Coloured lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else’s eyes
Now woman, get away from me
American woman, mama let me be.

Go, gotta get away, gotta get away
Now go go go
Gonna leave you, woman
Gonna leave you, woman
Bye-bye
Bye-bye
Bye-bye
Bye-bye
You’re no good for me
I’m no good for you
Gonna look you right in the eye.
Tell you what I’m gonna do
You know I’m gonna leave
You know I’m gonna go
You know I’m gonna leave
You know I’m gonna go, woman
I’m gonna leave, woman
Goodbye, American woman
Goodbye, American chick
Goodbye, American broad ...

the android · Post by **the android** » 8/20/2002, 8:35 am

Err, I liked Lenny's version.

Never knew the song was really political, thanks for the insight

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 8/20/2002, 9:39 am

American Woman is also a kick-ass song to play on guitar!

Woo! Lookit me go!

the android · Post by **the android** » 8/20/2002, 10:47 am

nelison · Post by **nelison** » 8/20/2002, 11:09 am

I think I love the song just because of its meaning :lol:

We need more of that in Canada

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 8/20/2002, 11:16 am

I don't know how well that would go over now adays. I'm not even sure if it went over very well in the States back when The Guess Who released it...

teelow · Post by **teelow** » 8/20/2002, 5:48 pm

I couldn't tell you how much I hate all of Lenny's music.
I hate it so much. :|

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 8/20/2002, 6:01 pm

Same here...

Power Chord, Power Chord, Trill, Power Chord

"I'm a loser. I can't write lyrics. I write in simple beats, and steal songs and twist their meanings! Woo! Once you dig in! Woo! Go me! Look at my hair! Woo!"

:roll:

Susan · Post by **Susan** » 8/20/2002, 6:02 pm

He does have some pretty mad hair. :lol:

"Dig in" is annoying. :freak:

teelow · Post by **teelow** » 8/20/2002, 6:03 pm

I like power chords Rob, but Lenny only uses(that is if he doesn't hire someone to play guitar) like 3 or 4. And they are relatively close together and are on the top 2 strings. :|

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 8/20/2002, 6:08 pm

Oh yeah, power chords can work, but he seems to ruin them. You need something else in there to split things up a little.

ClumsyMonkey.net

ClumsyMonkey.net

American Woman

American Woman