Rocky Balboa fans know this incredible song after the lavish introduction of Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) before his fight against Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in
"Rocky IV". While Creed was highly confident in his game showing the apparent U. S. superiority over the Soviet Union at the height of Cold War we all know how that turned
out very badly for him. Since it's part of the movie soundtrack, obvious that legendary James Brown music video for "Living in America" had to include some clips from it,
along with his own performance of the song.
It's a great tune, filled with excitment and energy, and to present such feelings and ideas along with the godfather of soul electrifying stage performance and the movie, we have interspersed with those, many images of American cities, highways, working places all presented through a fast and furious time-lapse editing which creates a delirious vision of things. It's nothing new since everybody makes those time and again but back in the day, there was documentaries like "Koyaanisqatsi" using it, which had some of its shots used in Grace Jones music video "Pull Up to the Bumper", it was almost like a novelty, quite experiemental. And as the song such ideas of a giant nation, proud of its values and always on a constant hurry. The combination of music and images works with excellent precision.
Outside of this department, the song is also memorable thanks to an 1988 interview of Brown on CNN, after the assault incident on his wife when he was released on bail and was about to make a tour in Brazil. Drunk or high on something we'll never know exactly, but the very first response he gave to the anchor was a slurred "Living in Ameeericaaa!". Priceless and you check that out. 10/10.
It's a great tune, filled with excitment and energy, and to present such feelings and ideas along with the godfather of soul electrifying stage performance and the movie, we have interspersed with those, many images of American cities, highways, working places all presented through a fast and furious time-lapse editing which creates a delirious vision of things. It's nothing new since everybody makes those time and again but back in the day, there was documentaries like "Koyaanisqatsi" using it, which had some of its shots used in Grace Jones music video "Pull Up to the Bumper", it was almost like a novelty, quite experiemental. And as the song such ideas of a giant nation, proud of its values and always on a constant hurry. The combination of music and images works with excellent precision.
Outside of this department, the song is also memorable thanks to an 1988 interview of Brown on CNN, after the assault incident on his wife when he was released on bail and was about to make a tour in Brazil. Drunk or high on something we'll never know exactly, but the very first response he gave to the anchor was a slurred "Living in Ameeericaaa!". Priceless and you check that out. 10/10.
