I think the crowd is not only symbolizing shallow, superficial fashionistas but also the super rich and powerful who can afford to observe the horrors of war, get wealthy off of weapons trading, and remain unaffected by it.
The original had the grenade land with George Bush and Sadam Hussein, who then used the grenade to light a cigar. Support for the war was super high at the time so this critical look at American atrocities and war culture was really dangerous at the time, but it has aged super well. Once again spot on.
I live for Madonna's experimental era. Her pop standards are great but for me she was at her best creatively on the Ray of Light, Music, and American Life albums. People did not appreciate how great this was 20 years ago.
@@saqssaqs5840 It was creative and I enjoyed it, but not so much her overproduced vocals. I loved her use of autotune and filters on the Music and American LIfe albums but her vocals on most of the Madame X tracks came across lazy and lackluster in comparison. Come Alive sounds like she just read the lyrics lazily and someone tuned her voice into a basic melody, like she wasn't even trying.
Madonnas music ages so damn well. Somehow everything she talks about and is concerned about comes back again to haunt us. I feel like people really still do not appreciate this song. And damn did she look fine. Brunette Madonna is my favorite Madonna and always will be.
American Life is her best album. Idc what the critics say. Her vocals, song writing skills,intimate acoustic live performances, everything was top-notch.
It’s a great album. It slid under the radar a bit perhaps due to the backlash for this video, perhaps due to how busy she was or perhaps due to terrible single choices after this. Hollywood is one of my least favorite Madonna songs of all time. Nobody Knows Me would have been a better follow up single.
American life the song and album are both amazing. She was getting death threats for her kids and was being called un American and non patriotic so she changed the video. And I absolutely love the rap part! Lol
Her career was never the same after this song in the USA…I love the whole album and I hope she officially releases the original music video on her UA-cam for the 20th anniversary. Besides her Erotica era…American Life is another era that the public should be reintroduced to…amazing album. Possibly her best album. For all the people that criticize her for not acting her age…this was a time when she was criticized for behaving he age. I remember very well. People are hypocrites and Madonna always gets the last laugh.
@@jritsoncandler I am so excited!!!! Now…all fans must share the link to the video all over social media…I’d love to see the official music video achieve a high amount of views. It’s her best video! 😃
Madonna has always been good at bringing to the surface subjects that people try to sweep under the rug that in reality are affecting real people. She had just married and Englishman and was living in the UK, the US had just gotten involved in a war and were pressing American ideals of democracy into countries abroad. She wanted to show how desensitized Americans are to the whole concept of the war, even after 9/11. At the same time, she had a new perspective, being outside the country and seeing the American dream for what it really is and had become.
@@bridgethegapreactions He also directed the Confessions Tour concert dvd that you reacted to on Patreon, among several other Madonna videos. Some of the fav collaborations were for the videos Ghosttown and God Control.
I love how all of your reactions are thoughtful & in depth and not just a simple “nice song.” Btw, American Life was such an under-appreciated album/era. Im sure the political undertones had alot to do with it.
Great song and video. A lot of people diss the rap in the song and swear Madonna was trying to be a serious rapper lol She was clearly mocking ‘American life’ and the absurd amount of rap that this country listens to. It’s hilarious, tongue in cheek and so Madonna.
In 2003 only the Dixie Chicks and Madonna were speaking out against the looming Iraq invasion. The chicks were backlisted from country radio and Madonna faced alot of push back but it wasn't until she got creditable death threats against her children did she pull the video. She said she's gotten death threats before and it didn't phase her but the children were a red line. She also faced some blacklisting but starting in the 90s us pop radio stopped playing acts over 40 so it's unclear if this controversy or ageism is the root of her lack radio airplay. The video was her saying wars just turn into entertainment for us and only the other nation we invaded and the small percentage of people in the us in the military pay the price. But silver lining in 2004 on the Reinvention Tour a reaction of the video was done and didn't cause any issues. Madonna is a political performance artist no her songs aren't but her videos and stage shows are
Bridge The Gap Reactions,You are so intelligent and on point you understand her very well. Do you get now why she is the Queen?Madonna is so different then any other artists that's why i love her so much!Keep on going!!!
Amazing, so underrated, so misunderstood, American Life is art, you get it, most of the people didn’t and still don’t, one of her best songs and albums
You're so spot on with the influences of this video in today's pop culture so good of you to take note of that. She did it first among many firsts in her career.
There are several versions of this video, but in the original version, it had the grenade landing in George Bush's lap. I also love that you appreciate the rap - most people think she was actually pretending/trying to be a rapper - that rap was her making a mockery of/shining light on 'American Life' - like because she's a pop star she has to do a rap, because that's what everyone does.
You know I think that version with George Bush picking up the grenade has been taken off by UA-cam I can't see that anymore. Someone please upload it..
And, in that version, Bush kisses Saddam Hussein! That version was actually aired, I remember watching it several times on MTV. It really disappeared. That's sad! It adds so much to the video. If I'm not mistaken, Madonna got threatend because of the video's entire concept and, for the first time in her entire carrer, she backed down and recorded other versions of it.
Yeah, she’d made headlines before changing her image and style like most people change their clothes, but this American life era was probably the closest we got inside and into her state of mind. Madonna at midlife is what she sings about in the album American Life. She cowrote every song and there are some of the most personal of her two decade musical career. there are intimate lyrics about the love she said she’s found with husband Guy Ritchie, as well as the title track in which she not only raps, but takes an honest and harsh look at her life in the material world, and the Madonna image making machine. Well, who better to say that fame and fortune in popularity aren’t really what they seem once you have them then somebody who’s had all of those experiences. When she’s dead, this will be remembered as an album that was one of the stellar parts of her career.
By the way American life the record - I think was the most adventurous album she has EVER released - both lyrically and musically - she stepped out of her comfort zone and it was wonderful.
The rap part was intended to be there through and through. The executives thought it would be a bad idea to do so, but production (and Madonna) persisted to have the rap part included in the released version. Madonna is by no means a rapper, which is exactly the reason why it matters. Someone who is out of their depth in an area they are trying to mess around with, but knowing they still have a voice in having something to say. It's a form of self-mockery to prove her point that she could just be living her best life and pay no mind to what's going on around her, but still chose to speak up because she can. Once you realize the significance on why the "rap" part is deliberately included, it becomes a high art form of social commentary. People can choose not to like it as most people do, but she did say in the song that "nothing is what it seems" and that is exactly why effort had to be put when we try reading between the lines.
Great reaction.... Always enjoy your points of view, congrats from Chile! By the way, she sing AMERICAN LIE (the video and the song was a BIG deal at that time, i remember watching MTV and waiting till midnight to record the video in my videocassette, but suddenly the video was taking down... And the controversy began)
I love that you reacted to this (and the reaction!) and that you chose the director's cut. When the video dropped I believe she dropped this video in the middle of the night and then the shorter was played during the day. So this was on MTV from Midnight to 2 AM or something, the way they used to do it with controversial videos. She really hit hard and it's amazing. Being critical is not always welcome, but it really is necessary. War is truly horrible and not a parade of strapping men and women in uniform. They tried to ruin her over this, but she's strong AF.
"Then Madonna and her vigilantes burst in" We usually just refer to ourselves as fans 😂 Seriously though as soon as I saw this I knew I had to watch it before you get forced to edit it down or remove it. Great reaction! I think hearing the song with the original video is definitely the best way to watch it.
It's been flagged as 18+ now, which is fine by me - I would have done that myself if I knew how. What's weird is that I haven't had to shrink the video at all. I normally upload video reactions with the video this big, then when it gets flagged I add a smaller video over the big one. Strange that of all the videos i react to, this one is ok!
@@bridgethegapreactions ahh I thought you did that. I had to click a link saying I was 18+ . It's an interesting development. Hopefully a positive for future videos which are considered controversial.
This song/album were heavily criticised at the time as she was seen as anti US/war against weapons of mass destruction, bush & blair etc the irony is, it's such a beautiful, overlooked album which in my opinion sounds just as good now, 20 years later. Intervention, X static process are the standouts for me. Great analysis from you. Enjoying them
This was such a event untill it was pulled off from MTV. A magnificent and clever video the goes pretty well with the lyrics. One of her best songs off American Life album and people takes the rap way too seriously. It’s a satire.
this one is little bit censored too, end sequence is missing, you can see in the public saddam hussein with president bush. And did you noticed that she never pronunce the F of life ?
patreon.com/bridgethegapreactions currently posted: CONFESSIONS TOUR PT 1 + 2 CONFESSIONS ON A DANCEFLOOR (full album) EROTICA (full album) Plus: Has To Be, Love Tried To Welcome Me, Falling Free, Impressive Instant, Intervention, Sanctuary / Bedtime Story, Vogue (MTV VMAs), Bad Girl (David Fincher music video), Bedtime Story BRITS 95, Bedtime Story Video Coming up in January: Bedtime Stories - full album reaction
Madonna and Mirwais are killing it. I think everything about this song fell bad in America. The social comment on romanticising war/voilence/weapons was explained as anti American. The rap was dissed because how could a white woman rap about yoga and pilates? The music/production is raw, experimental and European sounding. Because of the video the album didn’t get much of a chance, very simular to what happened with Erotica.
I'm remembering that the video was published during the Iraq invasion. I think Madonna took the explicit versión cause It was a coincidence that the video premiere happened at the same time of the invasion. Maybe she didn't wanted to be disrespectful with the víctims. At least that's what i remember, i could be wrong
This video is a political statement. Most americans do not realise the gravity of their government foreign policy. "Nothing it's what it seems". The fashion show displayed here it's just an example of how the big money works around the globe, not only in America. Behing all the glamour that embodies the show, you see several look alike celebrities in the audience, like Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Sophia Loren, etc... she criticizes imperialism, sexual exploitation, far right and left extremists, capitalism, greedy and senseless wars. Madonna is a great artist, she knows how to use her voice (platform) and to explore and expose herself as well. Nobody here is inocent, she knows that. Can we do something to change that? Well, they have been trying to shut her up for 40 years. It's so easy to forget that the vast majority of people around the world is poor.
As a fan, this is my least liked album, though I’ll always applaud her social awareness and balls for doing this. I was curious, as I believe this video, may not be the Original cut as I’m pretty sure, in the Original it had a George Bush JR. look alike catch the grenade at the end. Maybe, I had that wrong. Great reaction as always though.
I couldn't find an uncut version that had that ending, but it's hard to search as I didn't want to see any of it and ruin the reaction. I've now seen a shorter version that has Bush at the end but to be honest, I think this one is better!
@@bridgethegapreactions ok, maybe I imagined it, quite likely. Lol If you haven’t, I hope you react to her erotica and Bedtime Stories videos, they’re amazing.
@kristianberg4264 I've just checked and you're right, the Bush version is also uncensored. The reason this is longer is that it is listed as a Director's Cut. Anyway, I've seen them all now!
@@bridgethegapreactions - cool, glad I’m not losing my mind ( lol) I think that small clip was maybe the only difference, but after the Dixie chicks, you see why it was left out. Thanks for letting me know. I love how thoughtful and intelligent your commentary is on her body of work. ;)
I bought this CD. I think I loved every song including this one. However, at the time this video was not fit for television. Many had sons, relatives, and other loved ones fighting the Taliban and other radical Muslim factions. It was proper to sensor this. It was a different time. A horrible time in history. I never saw this video until a couple of years ago. I didn't care for the violence, the children, blown off limbs on the catwalk. It's all a bit much for a music video. A short film may have been the best way for her to go and just put the edited video on television.
I think the crowd is not only symbolizing shallow, superficial fashionistas but also the super rich and powerful who can afford to observe the horrors of war, get wealthy off of weapons trading, and remain unaffected by it.
The original had the grenade land with George Bush and Sadam Hussein, who then used the grenade to light a cigar. Support for the war was super high at the time so this critical look at American atrocities and war culture was really dangerous at the time, but it has aged super well. Once again spot on.
I live for Madonna's experimental era. Her pop standards are great but for me she was at her best creatively on the Ray of Light, Music, and American Life albums. People did not appreciate how great this was 20 years ago.
my favourite era was exactly the same 1998 - 2004
Madame x is just as creative . You chose to ignore it
@@saqssaqs5840 It was creative and I enjoyed it, but not so much her overproduced vocals. I loved her use of autotune and filters on the Music and American LIfe albums but her vocals on most of the Madame X tracks came across lazy and lackluster in comparison. Come Alive sounds like she just read the lyrics lazily and someone tuned her voice into a basic melody, like she wasn't even trying.
Madonnas music ages so damn well. Somehow everything she talks about and is concerned about comes back again to haunt us. I feel like people really still do not appreciate this song. And damn did she look fine. Brunette Madonna is my favorite Madonna and always will be.
American Life is her best album. Idc what the critics say. Her vocals, song writing skills,intimate acoustic live performances, everything was top-notch.
It’s a great album. It slid under the radar a bit perhaps due to the backlash for this video, perhaps due to how busy she was or perhaps due to terrible single choices after this. Hollywood is one of my least favorite Madonna songs of all time. Nobody Knows Me would have been a better follow up single.
Brave statement. Most fans say confession or Ray of light.
@@j.c6204 one of her best i should say. atleast in my top 5
Totally agree!!!❤
American life the song and album are both amazing. She was getting death threats for her kids and was being called un American and non patriotic so she changed the video. And I absolutely love the rap part! Lol
Fair enough, got to prioritise the family over everything
Her career was never the same after this song in the USA…I love the whole album and I hope she officially releases the original music video on her UA-cam for the 20th anniversary. Besides her Erotica era…American Life is another era that the public should be reintroduced to…amazing album. Possibly her best album. For all the people that criticize her for not acting her age…this was a time when she was criticized for behaving he age. I remember very well. People are hypocrites and Madonna always gets the last laugh.
You read the runes right! Uncensored video is coming 😊
@@jritsoncandler I am so excited!!!! Now…all fans must share the link to the video all over social media…I’d love to see the official music video achieve a high amount of views. It’s her best video! 😃
I was 9 when this came out. The audience sitting along is just how I felt watching the USA invade Iraq in 2003. Live!!
Madonna has always been good at bringing to the surface subjects that people try to sweep under the rug that in reality are affecting real people. She had just married and Englishman and was living in the UK, the US had just gotten involved in a war and were pressing American ideals of democracy into countries abroad. She wanted to show how desensitized Americans are to the whole concept of the war, even after 9/11. At the same time, she had a new perspective, being outside the country and seeing the American dream for what it really is and had become.
I should also shout out Jonas Åkerlund, who directed the video and seems to have done loads of stuff with Madonna
Looks like he did Smack My B*tch Up, Ray Of Light and My Favourite Game in a row - three all-time classics!
@@bridgethegapreactions He also directed the Confessions Tour concert dvd that you reacted to on Patreon, among several other Madonna videos. Some of the fav collaborations were for the videos Ghosttown and God Control.
I love how all of your reactions are thoughtful & in depth and not just a simple “nice song.” Btw, American Life was such an under-appreciated album/era. Im sure the political undertones had alot to do with it.
Hate her or Love Her The Queen never care what people say about her.
Great song and video.
A lot of people diss the rap in the song and swear Madonna was trying to be a serious rapper lol
She was clearly mocking ‘American life’ and the absurd amount of rap that this country listens to.
It’s hilarious, tongue in cheek and so Madonna.
''Nobody knows me'' is my most memorable and impactful song from the album
👍🏻👍🏻
Love that. For me its mother and father.
Nobody Knows Me is a bore. Only the live Re-invention Tour version made it enjoyable.
In 2003 only the Dixie Chicks and Madonna were speaking out against the looming Iraq invasion. The chicks were backlisted from country radio and Madonna faced alot of push back but it wasn't until she got creditable death threats against her children did she pull the video. She said she's gotten death threats before and it didn't phase her but the children were a red line. She also faced some blacklisting but starting in the 90s us pop radio stopped playing acts over 40 so it's unclear if this controversy or ageism is the root of her lack radio airplay. The video was her saying wars just turn into entertainment for us and only the other nation we invaded and the small percentage of people in the us in the military pay the price. But silver lining in 2004 on the Reinvention Tour a reaction of the video was done and didn't cause any issues. Madonna is a political performance artist no her songs aren't but her videos and stage shows are
This song is very underrated.. she got way unnecessary backlash because of this video 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
In The UK her fans loved the American Life Album it as genius, Right Album, Right Time. Its A Wake Up Call,
Sometimes she sings American life, but sometimes American LIE
"X-static process" is my favorite from the album
I’ve never noticed that. I’m going to have to Re listen now. I love X-Static Process as well. Also LOVE Mother and Father.
Never noticed that. Will have to re-listen and verify this.
Underrated album. Nobody knows me great trac!
Bridge The Gap Reactions,You are so intelligent and on point you understand her very well. Do you get now why she is the Queen?Madonna is so different then any other artists that's why i love her so much!Keep on going!!!
Love American Life, always been one of my favorites, love her looks too during this era
Amazing, so underrated, so misunderstood, American Life is art, you get it, most of the people didn’t and still don’t, one of her best songs and albums
You're so spot on with the influences of this video in today's pop culture so good of you to take note of that. She did it first among many firsts in her career.
There are several versions of this video, but in the original version, it had the grenade landing in George Bush's lap. I also love that you appreciate the rap - most people think she was actually pretending/trying to be a rapper - that rap was her making a mockery of/shining light on 'American Life' - like because she's a pop star she has to do a rap, because that's what everyone does.
Oh yeah, it was obviously tongue-in-cheek - people will find any way to try to put her down!
💯 agree with your rap comment. ✌🏻
You know I think that version with George Bush picking up the grenade has been taken off by UA-cam I can't see that anymore. Someone please upload it..
Didn’t the grenade turn out to be a lighter, and Sadam Hussain used it to light George Bush’s cigar??
And, in that version, Bush kisses Saddam Hussein! That version was actually aired, I remember watching it several times on MTV. It really disappeared. That's sad! It adds so much to the video. If I'm not mistaken, Madonna got threatend because of the video's entire concept and, for the first time in her entire carrer, she backed down and recorded other versions of it.
One of her best videos
Yeah, she’d made headlines before changing her image and style like most people change their clothes, but this American life era was probably the closest we got inside and into her state of mind. Madonna at midlife is what she sings about in the album American Life. She cowrote every song and there are some of the most personal of her two decade musical career. there are intimate lyrics about the love she said she’s found with husband Guy Ritchie, as well as the title track in which she not only raps, but takes an honest and harsh look at her life in the material world, and the Madonna image making machine. Well, who better to say that fame and fortune in popularity aren’t really what they seem once you have them then somebody who’s had all of those experiences. When she’s dead, this will be remembered as an album that was one of the stellar parts of her career.
The dance at 4:22 gives me extra life!
My Queen ❤️❤️❤️👑👑👑👑👑👑👑
Amazing reaction 💯👌
Thank you🌟
The album is a MASTERPIECE
Miwais was the one who encouraged her to rap in part due to her rap verse on Vogue with the golden Hollywood stars.
One of my favorite videos, wish it had been released
Good reaction. She still performs this song too.
By the way American life the record - I think was the most adventurous album she has EVER released - both lyrically and musically - she stepped out of her comfort zone and it was wonderful.
Cant wait to hear it.
This was while she was married to Guy Ritchie, was living in London, and did own (and sometimes even drove) a mini. That's the mini cooper reference.
There's another version with George Bush and Saddam which is also thought provoking. Such an underrated album too
The rap part was intended to be there through and through. The executives thought it would be a bad idea to do so, but production (and Madonna) persisted to have the rap part included in the released version.
Madonna is by no means a rapper, which is exactly the reason why it matters. Someone who is out of their depth in an area they are trying to mess around with, but knowing they still have a voice in having something to say. It's a form of self-mockery to prove her point that she could just be living her best life and pay no mind to what's going on around her, but still chose to speak up because she can. Once you realize the significance on why the "rap" part is deliberately included, it becomes a high art form of social commentary.
People can choose not to like it as most people do, but she did say in the song that "nothing is what it seems" and that is exactly why effort had to be put when we try reading between the lines.
She was riding the Mini Cooper around London in 2003 so she put it in the video
Great reaction.... Always enjoy your points of view, congrats from Chile!
By the way, she sing AMERICAN LIE
(the video and the song was a BIG deal at that time, i remember watching MTV and waiting till midnight to record the video in my videocassette, but suddenly the video was taking down... And the controversy began)
Thank you, i totally didnt spot that. In my defence, there was a lot happening on screen!
I love that you reacted to this (and the reaction!) and that you chose the director's cut. When the video dropped I believe she dropped this video in the middle of the night and then the shorter was played during the day. So this was on MTV from Midnight to 2 AM or something, the way they used to do it with controversial videos. She really hit hard and it's amazing. Being critical is not always welcome, but it really is necessary. War is truly horrible and not a parade of strapping men and women in uniform. They tried to ruin her over this, but she's strong AF.
"Then Madonna and her vigilantes burst in" We usually just refer to ourselves as fans 😂 Seriously though as soon as I saw this I knew I had to watch it before you get forced to edit it down or remove it. Great reaction! I think hearing the song with the original video is definitely the best way to watch it.
It's been flagged as 18+ now, which is fine by me - I would have done that myself if I knew how. What's weird is that I haven't had to shrink the video at all. I normally upload video reactions with the video this big, then when it gets flagged I add a smaller video over the big one. Strange that of all the videos i react to, this one is ok!
@@bridgethegapreactions ahh I thought you did that. I had to click a link saying I was 18+ . It's an interesting development. Hopefully a positive for future videos which are considered controversial.
Madonna - American Life (Censored/Bush Version)There's also this alternate ending version which is my favorite
ZELENSKYY in Vogue magazine. Madonna ahead of her time again
My number 1 madonna album. It's her closest thing to a 1960s singer-songwriter protest album. Full of depth, anger, intimacy and self-reflection.
I was lucky enough to get the original promo video with the George Bush ending. It’s in a picture slipcase too.
Her best Album
Love this clip and song
love your reaction to lana and madonna 2000s
Thank you 💙👏
Perfect ..
Loved your reaction subscribing for more!
The audience is the 1%, the war is not death and dustruction, its just something out there... To get the profit....
This song/album were heavily criticised at the time as she was seen as anti US/war against weapons of mass destruction, bush & blair etc the irony is, it's such a beautiful, overlooked album which in my opinion sounds just as good now, 20 years later. Intervention, X static process are the standouts for me. Great analysis from you. Enjoying them
This was such a event untill it was pulled off from MTV. A magnificent and clever video the goes pretty well with the lyrics. One of her best songs off American Life album and people takes the rap way too seriously. It’s a satire.
American Life is a great album to react to, just saying… Protect Me.
Also the promo performances where she’s singing and playing guitar.
this one is little bit censored too, end sequence is missing, you can see in the public saddam hussein with president bush. And did you noticed that she never pronunce the F of life ?
patreon.com/bridgethegapreactions
currently posted: CONFESSIONS TOUR PT 1 + 2
CONFESSIONS ON A DANCEFLOOR (full album)
EROTICA (full album)
Plus: Has To Be, Love Tried To Welcome Me, Falling Free, Impressive Instant, Intervention, Sanctuary / Bedtime Story, Vogue (MTV VMAs), Bad Girl (David Fincher music video), Bedtime Story BRITS 95, Bedtime Story Video
Coming up in January:
Bedtime Stories - full album reaction
Madonna and Mirwais are killing it. I think everything about this song fell bad in America. The social comment on romanticising war/voilence/weapons was explained as anti American. The rap was dissed because how could a white woman rap about yoga and pilates? The music/production is raw, experimental and European sounding. Because of the video the album didn’t get much of a chance, very simular to what happened with Erotica.
I never realized Jeremy Scott was in this video.
The best version of this is when at the end George Bush kisses Sadam Hussein on the lips! Brilliant!
AAA F*CK IT 💥
She was blacklisted by clear Chanel radio in the USA . She didn’t have a radio hit in the USA after this
This Album Was Banned in some states in USA,
It's hard to digest that THIS is the woman people have been ridiculing lately on social media because she's not "young and hot" anymore...
Some American M fans, til this day feel uncomfortable with this video, saying she went a little to far. Unessecary whatever. 😂 lol
I'm remembering that the video was published during the Iraq invasion. I think Madonna took the explicit versión cause It was a coincidence that the video premiere happened at the same time of the invasion. Maybe she didn't wanted to be disrespectful with the víctims. At least that's what i remember, i could be wrong
Yes, I think it was basically an anti war protest. Once the war started, everything was different. I think it was the timing.
She was getting real violent threats aimed not just at her but also her children at the time
How relevant today. I think she pulled this herself.
This video is a political statement. Most americans do not realise the gravity of their government foreign policy. "Nothing it's what it seems". The fashion show displayed here it's just an example of how the big money works around the globe, not only in America. Behing all the glamour that embodies the show, you see several look alike celebrities in the audience, like Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Sophia Loren, etc... she criticizes imperialism, sexual exploitation, far right and left extremists, capitalism, greedy and senseless wars. Madonna is a great artist, she knows how to use her voice (platform) and to explore and expose herself as well. Nobody here is inocent, she knows that. Can we do something to change that? Well, they have been trying to shut her up for 40 years. It's so easy to forget that the vast majority of people around the world is poor.
is that Meryl Streep?
Nothing is what it seems.
She never says the “f” of life either throughout the whole track. It should have been called American Lie.
This absolutely passed me by when I was doing the reaction, but I love that little detail now!
As a fan, this is my least liked album, though I’ll always applaud her social awareness and balls for doing this. I was curious, as I believe this video, may not be the Original cut as I’m pretty sure, in the Original it had a George Bush JR. look alike catch the grenade at the end. Maybe, I had that wrong. Great reaction as always though.
I couldn't find an uncut version that had that ending, but it's hard to search as I didn't want to see any of it and ruin the reaction. I've now seen a shorter version that has Bush at the end but to be honest, I think this one is better!
@@bridgethegapreactions ok, maybe I imagined it, quite likely. Lol
If you haven’t, I hope you react to her erotica and Bedtime Stories videos, they’re amazing.
@kristianberg4264 I've just checked and you're right, the Bush version is also uncensored. The reason this is longer is that it is listed as a Director's Cut. Anyway, I've seen them all now!
@@bridgethegapreactions - cool, glad I’m not losing my mind ( lol) I think that small clip was maybe the only difference, but after the Dixie chicks, you see why it was left out. Thanks for letting me know. I love how thoughtful and intelligent your commentary is on her body of work. ;)
I bought this CD. I think I loved every song including this one. However, at the time this video was not fit for television. Many had sons, relatives, and other loved ones fighting the Taliban and other radical Muslim factions. It was proper to sensor this. It was a different time. A horrible time in history. I never saw this video until a couple of years ago. I didn't care for the violence, the children, blown off limbs on the catwalk. It's all a bit much for a music video. A short film may have been the best way for her to go and just put the edited video on television.
Personal view, not only her best MV, but one of the best of all time… and… it’s… banned and not officially available!!! Ugh!!