Americanos (song)

1989 single by Holly Johnson

"Americanos"

Single by Holly Johnson
from the album  Blast
Released| 20 March 1989
Length| 3:35
Label| MCA
Songwriter(s)| Holly Johnson
Producer(s)| Andy Richards, Steve Lovell
Holly Johnson singles chronology
| "Love Train"
(1989)  | "Americanos"
(1989)  | "Atomic City"
(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 No. 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* 7-inch single

1. "Americanos" – 3:34
2. "Americanos" (Mambo Dub Mix) – 4:11

* 12-inch single

1. "Americanos" (Liberty Mix) – 5:32
2. "Americanos" (radio 7-inch mix) – 3:34
3. "Americanos" (Mambo Dub Mix) – 4:11

* 12-inch remix single ("Magimix" release)

1. "Americanos" (Magimix) – 6:38
2. "Americanos" (Magimix Dub) – 4:09

* 12-inch remix single (American/Canadian extended version release)

1. "Americanos" (extended version) – 6:44
2. "Americanos" (P.W.L. extended version) – 5:10

* 12-inch remix single ("Like an Americanos" release)

1. "Americanos" (House Piano Remix) – 6:44
2. "Americanos" (bonus piano and effects) – 5:10

* CD single

1. "Americanos (radio 7-inch mix) – 3:37
2. "Americanos (Liberty Mix) – 5:32
3. "Americanos (Mambo Dub Mix) – 4:14

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## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (1989)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (ARIA)[8] | 77
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] | 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] | 5
Denmark (IFPI)[11] | 2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] | 3
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[13] | 6
Ireland (IRMA)[14] | 6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] | 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] | 8
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] | 10
Norway (VG-lista)[18] | 6
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[19] | 11
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[20] | 7
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] | 4
UK Singles (OCC)[22] | 4
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[23] | 36
West Germany (GfK)[24] | 2

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (1989)  | Position

|

Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[25] | 9
Belgium (Ultratop)[26] | 38
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[27] | 25
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] | 53
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] | 72
UK Singles (OCC)[30] | 56
West Germany (Media Control)[31] | 13

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United Kingdom (BPI)[32] | Silver  | 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Holly Johnson - Americanos / Americanos (Mambo Dub Mix) - MCA - UK - MCA 1323". 45cat. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
2. ^ "Zang Tuum Tumb and all that | Articles | Holly Johnson spielt lotto-fee". Zttaat.com. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
3. ^ "Zang Tuum Tumb and all that | Articles | Blast". Zttaat.com. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
4. ^ "Zang Tuum Tumb and all that | Articles | Holly Johnson: Blast". Zttaat.com. 22 April 1989. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
5. ^ "Zang Tuum Tumb and all that | Articles | Rocket man". Zttaat.com. 22 April 1989. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
6. ^ "Previews: Singles". Music & Media. 15 April 1989.
7. ^ Levy, Eleonor (25 March 1989). "45 reviewed by Eleonor Levy" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 37\. ISSN 0144-5804. Retrieved 24 October 2021 - via World Radio History.
8. ^ "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 2015-06-05". Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015 - via Imgur.
9. ^ "Holly Johnson – Americanos" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
10. ^ "Holly Johnson – Americanos" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
11. ^ "Top 3 Singles in Europe". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 25\. 24 June 1989. p. 15.
12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 23\. 10 June 1989. p. 20.
13. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
14. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Americanos". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
15. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 23, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
16. ^ "Holly Johnson – Americanos" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
17. ^ "Holly Johnson – Americanos". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
18. ^ "Holly Johnson – Americanos". VG-lista. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
19. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
20. ^ "Holly Johnson – Americanos". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
21. ^ "Holly Johnson – Americanos". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
23. ^ "Holly Johnson Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
24. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Holly Johnson – Americanos" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
25. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1989" (in German). Retrieved 21 February 2022.
26. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1989" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
27. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 1989". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 51\. 23 December 1989. p. 6.
28. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
29. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1989" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
30. ^ "Year End Singles". Record Mirror. 27 January 1990. p. 44.
31. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1989" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
32. ^ "British single certifications – Holly Johnson – Americanos". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 21 February 2022.

* v
* t
* e

Holly Johnson

Studio albums|

* Blast (1989)
* Dreams That Money Can't Buy (1991)
* Soulstream (1999)
* Europa (2014)

Remix albums|

* Hollelujah (1990)

Live albums|

* Unleashed from the Pleasuredome (2014)

Singles|

* "Love Train"
* "Americanos"
* "Atomic City"
* "Heaven's Here"
* "Where Has Love Gone?"
* "Across the Universe"
* "The People Want to Dance"
* "Legendary Children"
* "Hallelujah!"
* "Disco Heaven"
* "The Power of Love"

As featured artist singles|

* "Ferrry Across the Mersey" (1989)
* "Love & Hate" (1994)

Related articles|

* Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

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