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"I Like America & America Likes Me" is a song by English band The 1975 from their fourth studio album "A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships". The song was written by band members George Daniel, Matthew Healy, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald, while Daniel and Healy handled the production. No Rome provides the background vocals. The song was created as a homage to cloud rap, while the title is a reference to an art performance by Joseph Beuys, titled I Like America and America Likes Me.
An experimental power ballad, "I Like America & America Likes Me" is composed of genres of electronic and alternative R&B. The production combines atmospheric synths, hi-hats and a dense trap and hip hop beat. The song also incorporates elements of hip hop, SoundCloud rap, trap and ambient music. Healy delivers the lyrics, which dissect his relationship with fame and plead for a world without gun violence, in a heavily-autotuned stream of consciousness style. Thematically, the song deals with social issues such as consumerism, mass shootings and gun control, among others.
Upon release, "I Like America & America Likes Me" received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics. Praise was directed toward the song's sonic experimentation and sharp lyricism, comparing it to the work of Bon Iver. The song reached number 29 in New Zealand and number 44 on the US Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. To promote the song, The 1975 performed it at several music festivals and on The Late Late Show with James Corden. An accompanying lyric video was released on 18 January 2019. It features the song's lyrics superimposed over footage of cityscapes, social media messages and weather apps, among others.
Speaking to Sam Sodomsky of Pitchfork, Healy said that "I Like America & America Likes Me" was originally written as a tribute to SoundCloud rap. Describing the genre as the current sound of the US to him "at the moment", the singer had originally planned to release the song composed entirely of mumble lyrics, hoping to find "how far could take it". Regarding the song's use of Auto-Tune, Healy said he enjoyed how the tool stops, compresses and punctuates his voice, turning it into an instrument. When asked by Sodomsky if touring has affected his perception of the US, the singer said he found similarities in every country the 1975 visits, saying: "Every night looks, smells, sounds, reacts, and operates exactly the same way." He told the interviewer that despite differences in personality and appearance, most people were united by their fear of dying.
To promote "I Like America & America Likes Me", an accompanying lyric video was released on 18 January 2019. The video features glitchy footage of cityscapes, social media messages and weather apps, among others, while the lyrics scroll across the screen. In April 2019, the 1975 performed the song as part of their setlist at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The track was also included as part of their setlist at Rock Werchter on 29 June 2019. The band played an early afternoon slot on the main stage, while the production was stripped back to a lone light up box. Ali Shutler of Dork praised the performance's energy, saying: "It feels dangerous but still makes perfect sense on giant stages." The 1975 performed the song again at Mad Cool in July 2019, accompanied by disquieting lyrics that flashed up behind them. Stubbs called the performance a "stunning, stark and serious moment".
On 22 July 2019, The 1975 appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden to perform "I Like America & America Likes Me". The performance began with Healy wearing an electric blue jumpsuit and red Converse highs, accompanied by two female backup dancers, synchronized flashing lights and echoing synths. The singer began the performance on the stage with the other band members before taking a seat in James Corden's chair. As he sang the opening lines, the backup dancers began to perform. Healy put his feet on the desk and gave a thumbs up before jumping onto the desk. The singer looked down into the camera as he danced and sang, pouting before pushing the lens to highlight the other members. After rejoining The 1975, he climbed onto the kick drum for a few lines, ending the performance with a hug from Corden. Marissa Matozzo of Paste praised the "impassioned" performance, commending Healy for using his platform to bring awareness to gun-related trauma. Gil Kaufman of Billboard labelled the performance "intense". Katrina Nattress of iHeartRadio called it a spirited performance and noted the band broke the show's conventional stage layout. Similarly, Winston Cook-Wilson of Spin called the performance spirited and theatrical, while saying that Healy "tapped into his seemingly endless of energy".
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