New America is a song by Marina Diamandis, released under her current stage name 'MARINA'. Appearing on her fifth studio album, Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land, it is the 6th track on the album.
The song was written and co-produced by Marina alone, with James Flannigan credited as the main producer.
Background[]
Its songwriting started approximately between late May and early June 2020, in response to the passing of George Floyd, and was finished sometime six months later.[1]
On May 30, 2021, Marina shared an 18 second snippet of the song with the caption "Fucked with the food chain / Fucked with the farming too".[2]
The song was leaked early on June 6, along with the rest of the album, due to CDs being sold early in various stores.
During the afterparty of Ancient Dreams: Live from the Desert on June 12, Marina shared a snippet of the song's songwriting demo.[3]
Trivia[]
- This song shares thematic similarities with Hollywood due to their criticism of the United States.
Meaning[]
Marina commented on the writing of the track and its meaning in an interview with Billboard:[4]
❝ A lot of social problems have been unveiled for exactly what they are in the pandemic, and that's definitely mirrored in some of the songs. 'New America' was written after the murder of George Floyd. I started it, I think, around that time, and then didn't really touch it again for six months.
I just felt like it's such a sensitive topic -- particularly being a non-American, but still commenting on racism, which is a problem everywhere still. I wanted to be sure that I was coming from a place that was hopefully not taken as preachy, but we were just as exploratory. So yeah, in short, it has affected my writing a lot. It's really hard not to -- I'm an artist who's always gained a lot of inspiration from culture and pop culture since the start. ❞
Additionally, she spoke about the song with iNews:[5]
❝ 'I still have such a fascination with it,' she insists. 'It doesn't make sense really.' She says she has noticed a shift in the country's perception of itself over the past year of political and social unrest. 'I think what's happened culturally has been healthy because all the walls feel like they've been ripped down and these really uncomfortable, dark truths have been revealed.' ❞
Official Versions[]
| Version | Released on | Date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Album | Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land | 11 Jun 2021 | 3:52 |
| Demos | ||||
| Songwriting Demo (Snippet) | N/A - Live from the Desert Afterparty | 12 Jun 2021 | 0:38 | |
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Everything that made you great only made you bad
Made the people hate all the good they had
I know that you had big dreams, that you had big plans
But abuse won't make
Won't make a free land
[Pre-Chorus 1]
You got a white picket fence and your dad's got a gun
And when you see the police, there's no reason to run
You got a job, and a car, and a good dental plan
You got health insurance, pocket money, damn
[Chorus]
America
America, America
You can't bury the truth
It's time to pay your dues
America
This is a new America
Stars are shining for you
Sparkling red and blue
[Verse 2]
Fucked with the food chain
Fucked with the farming too
And now our food don't taste
Like it's meant to do
[Pre-Chorus 2]
They've got blood on their hands
'Cause they stole all the land
And all the lives they erased made them feel like a man
Who gave you jazz, hip-hop, rock 'n' roll, and the blues?
No matter what, the story's catching up on you
[Chorus]
America
America, America
You can't bury the truth
It's time to pay your dues
America
This is a new America
Stars are shining for you
Sparkling red and blue
[Bridge]
White teeth, dark smile
You've been in pain for a while
You can't hide your secrets, we can see
[Chorus]
America
America, America
You can't bury the truth
It's time to pay your dues
Stars are shining for you
'Cause freedom's sparkling soon (Oh)
America
This is a new America
Stars are shining for you (Oh)
Sparkling red and blue (Oh)
Credits[]
Personnel[]
- Marina Diamandis - Vocals, backing vocals
- Paul Frith - Bass Guitar
- Louie Diller - Drums
- Jonathan Dreyfus - Strings
Technical[]
- Bass Guitar – Paul Frith
- Drums – Louie Diller
- Instruments, Programmed By – James Flannigan
- Mixed By – John O'Mahony
- Producer – James Flannigan, Marina Diamandis
- Strings – Jonathan Dreyfus
- Written By – Marina Diamandis
- Mastered By – Greg Calbi
- Published By – Warner/Chappell Music Publishing Ltd.
References[]
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9585629/marina-interview-ancient-dreams-in-a-modern-land-album/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CPhSIa7jP2a/
- ↑ https://dbree.org/v/0c576a
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9585629/marina-interview-ancient-dreams-in-a-modern-land-album/
- ↑ https://inews.co.uk/culture/marina-diamandis-ancient-dreams-modern-land-interview-when-i-walked-away-from-music-my-sense-of-purpose-evaporated-1044722
 | |
|---|---|
| Tour • Merch • Photography • Collaborators | |
| Discography | |
| Releases | Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land |
| Tracklist | Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land • Venus Fly Trap • Man's World • Purge The Poison • Highly Emotional People • New America • Pandora's Box • I Love You But I Love Me More • Flowers • Goodbye • Happy Loner • Pink Convertible • Free Woman |
| Non-Album | Cause I'm A Woman • The Painter |
| Misc | Sway With Me • Stay All Night |
| Other Eras | |
| Mermaid vs. Sailor • The Family Jewels • Electra Heart • FROOT • LOVE + FEAR • Ancient Dreams | |