American Skin (41 Shots)
| "American Skin (41 Shots)" | ||||||||
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| Single by Bruce Springsteen | ||||||||
| from the album Live in New York City | ||||||||
| Released | April 24, 2001 (original version) January 14, 2014 (new version) |
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| Format | CD-R, CD | |||||||
| Recorded | March 2, 2001 (original version) March 2013 (new version) |
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| Genre | Rock | |||||||
| Length | 5:14 (original version) 7:22 (new version) |
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| Label | Columbia | |||||||
| Writer(s) | Bruce Springsteen | |||||||
| Producer(s) | Bruce Springsteen, Chuck Plotkin, Toby Scott | |||||||
| Bruce Springsteen singles chronology | ||||||||
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"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.
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.[2] A music video featuring the performance from the New York City show was released in 2001 and directed by Jonathan Demme.
It was played at several concerts in April 2012 on the Wrecking Ball Tour in response to the shooting 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 released a studio version of the song, recorded in 2013, on his 2014 album, High Hopes.
References
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External links
- American Skin (41 Shots) - Lyrics on Bruce Springsteen's site
- American Skin (41 Shots) - Lyrics (several versions) and detailed info
- "American Skin (41 Shots)" Live in Tampa, FL 03/23/12
