American Skin (41 Shots)

"American Skin (41 Shots)" is a song written by Bruce Springsteen, inspired by the police shooting death of Amadou Diallo.[1] It premiered during the band's 1999–2000 reunion tour in concert in Atlanta on June 4, 2000, the final concert before the tour's final ten-show run at New York City's Madison Square Garden, where it was featured again. The performance led to some controversy in New York City, where the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association called for a boycott of Springsteen's shows.[2]

"American Skin (41 Shots)"
Single by Bruce Springsteen
from the album Live in New York City
ReleasedApril 24, 2001 (original live version)
January 14, 2014 (new studio version)
RecordedMarch 2, 2001 (original live version)
March 2013 (new studio version)
GenreRock
Length7:45/5:14 (original live version/short version)
7:22 (new studio version)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Bruce Springsteen
Producer(s)
Bruce Springsteen singles chronology
"Sad Eyes"
(1999)		 "American Skin (41 Shots)"
(2001)		 "The Rising"
(2002)
Music video
"American Skin (41 Shots)" on YouTube

Composition and release

The song was first released as a live version on the Live in New York City album. The same version appeared a few years later on The Essential Bruce Springsteen. In April 2001, a studio version of the song was released as a very rare U.S.-only one-track radio promotional single on CD-R. A music video featuring the performance from the New York City show was released in 2001 and directed by Jonathan Demme. A studio version appears on Springsteen's 2014 album High Hopes.

Live performances

"American Skin (41 Shots)" was played at several concerts in April 2012 on the Wrecking Ball Tour in response to the killing of Trayvon Martin.[3][4][5] Springsteen performed the song on July 16, 2013, a few days following George Zimmerman's controversial not guilty verdict. It was again dedicated to Martin at the Limerick, Ireland, concert with Springsteen saying before the song "I want to send this one out as a letter back home. For justice for Trayvon Martin".[6]

Springsteen was recognized by the NAACP with the Humanitarian Award on December 3, 2000.[7]

Springsteen played "American Skin (41 Shots)" at selected shows during The River Tour in 2016.[8]

Covers

Rock band Living Colour performed a cover of "American Skin (41 Shots)" at the Auditorium Stravinski in Montreaux, Switzerland on, July 20, 2001.

In 2016, singer-songwriter Jackson Browne performed a cover of "American Skin (41 Shots)" at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.[9]

In 2016 Mary J. Blige sang a portion of the song to Hillary Clinton in an interview on Apple Music. The studio version of Blige's cover featured American rapper Kendrick Lamar.[10][11]

In June 2020, the American band Black Veil Brides released a cover of "American Skin (41 Shots)" in support of Black Lives Matter.[12]

References
  1. "American Skin (41 Shots)". Songfacts. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  2. Barnes, Julian E. (June 13, 2000). "Springsteen Song About Diallo Prompts Anger From Police". New York Times. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  3. Daly, Sean. "Bruce Springsteen leads an anthemic celebration, honors 'the Big Man' at Tampa Bay Times Forum". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  4. Remnick, David. "Bruce and Trayvon: American Skin". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  5. The Official Bruce Springsteen Website (July 17, 2013). "Notes from the road: Limerick - The Official Bruce Springsteen Website". Brucespringsteen.net. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  6. "Celebrity gossip, news, photos and more on MSN Entertainment". T.entertainment.msn.com. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  7. Schumacher-Rasmussen, Eric. "NAACP Honors Bruce Springsteen". MTV. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  8. "American Skin (41 Shots) by Bruce Springsteen Song Statistics". setlist.fm. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  9. nowiknowuryder (October 2, 2016), Jackson Browne w/ Shawn Colvin, 41 Shots, Hardly Strictly, Golden Gate Park 2016, archived from the original on December 13, 2021, retrieved October 4, 2016 – via YouTube
  10. Platon, Adelle (September 27, 2016). "Here's the Song Mary J. Blige Sings in Her Hillary Clinton Interview". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  11. Zo. "Kendrick Lamar Joins Mary J. Blige On Cover Of Bruce Springsteen's "American Skin"". okayplayer. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  12. "BVB -American Skin". Bvbamericanskin.com. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
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