America

Several songs called “America” have been written, the most familiar of which is a patriotic song that begins “Oh beautiful, for spacious skies...” In contrast, the most famous Latin version might almost be considered anti-American - by right-wing elements, at least - even if its lyrics are more honest than “God shed his grace on thee.”

Whether or not “America” really qualifies as a Latin song is a matter of opinion. After all, it was written by Leonard Bernstein, a U.S. citizen born to Ukrainian Jewish parents, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. On the other hand, it’s one of the best known songs from the musical West Side Story, sung by Puerto Ricans (or people posing as Puerto Ricans) who lambaste the differences between Puerto Rico and the United States.

Rita Moreno lights up the screen with her fiery performance of “America.”

In the original stage version, Anita (the girlfriend of Bernardo, the leader of the Puerto Rican gang, the Sharks), sings the praises of the United States of America, while a fellow immigrant, Rosalia, defends Puerto Rico. This version disparages Puerto Rico while praising the U.S. (“I’ll drive a Buick through San Juan,” “if there’s a road you can drive on.”)

In the 1961 film version, Anita (played by Rita Moreno) still champions the U.S., while Bernardo bitterly criticizes the anti-Hispanic racism that surrounds them (“Life is all right in America,” “If you’re all white in America.”)

However, the immigrants manage to laugh at their situation. When Bernardo sings, “Terrible time in America,” Anita replies, “You forget I’M in America,” prompting the other women to howl in gleeful revenge.

Mixed Meter

America is well known for using a mixed meter, alternating between 6/8 (two groups of three eight-notes with a constant value, the last note corresponding with “A”) and 3/4 (three quarter notes, corresponding with the syllables “me,” “ri,” “ca”).

This rhythm has been called both a hemiola and a habanera, though it is actually neither; the “two” and “three” bars alternate but aren’t superposed, as in a hemiola, and they lack the distinctive characteristic underlying rhythm of the habanera form. The composer’s tempo instruction is “Tempo di Huapango.”

Versions

Herb Alpert recorded a wonderfully fun, jazzed up version of America. Alpert’s version begins with the tune “Jingle Bells” before breaking into America, with a distinctive bongo rhythm. Here’s a cool beach video.

MP3 Downloads (Amazon.com)

• Original Soundtrack
• New Broadway Cast Recording
• Chita Rivera
• Empire Brass
• Herb Alpert
• Keith Emerson

In 1968, Keith Emerson covered this song as Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s second single. Emerson later folded the melody into many jams, including a 1986 jam with Paul Schaffer on the David Letterman show.

Emerson once burned an American flag onstage during a live performance of the song in protest against the war in Vietnam, a reminder that nothing is more patriotic, more American than free speech.

Nevertheless, I prefer the more Latin versions of America, even if they’re mostly made in America.