The video for the song ‘American Life’ caused a sensation because the artist threw a grenade at a look-alike of then US President George W. Bush
In 2003, Madonna launched American life, their ninth studio album. The lead single was the title track for the album, which began selling in March 2003, achieving success on music charts around the world. In the same year, the singer will launch the music clipwhich was censored shortly after and has now, twenty years later, been posted on the singer’s YouTube account, in 4K.
In 2002 the censored version of the video was thought to be a propaganda against fashion and against war. The clip begins with a fashion show where the models are dressed in camouflage clothing. Another moment shows the singer and other women preparing to crash the event. Then we see Middle Eastern children being bullied by soldiers on the catwalk.
Towards the end, the audience enjoys themselves as the injured and disabled pass the catwalk. The singer invades the space with a car, uses a water cannon against whoever is watching and concludes the clip by throwing a grenade at a man who looks like the then US president, George W. Bush.
The release of the clip coincided with the moment when the whole world was watching the US invasion of Iraq. At the time Madonna justified the deletion of the version for not having found it “appropriate”. “I have decided not to release my new video. It was filmed before the invasion of Iraq began and I believe it is not appropriate for this moment. Due to the unstable state of the world, and out of sensitivity and respect for the forces armies, who I support and pray for them, I don’t want to take the risk of offending anyone who might misinterpret the meaning of this video,” the singer explained.
“I’m not anti-Bush. I’m not pro-Iraq. I’m pro-peace. I wrote a song and created a video expressing my feelings about our culture, values and delusions that many people believe is the American dream: the perfect life,” he told MTV upon its release.
A MTV Brazil played the original clip for 12 hours. Then a more subdued version that sees the singer sing while the flags of various countries have been released and presented as official for the past 20 years. The first clip is called the “director’s cut” on behalf of the singer.
False justification for war
The invasion of Iraq took place on March 20, 2003 with intense bombing. Before long they overthrew the government of Saddam Hussein and set up a provisional government. The conflict was authorized by the United Nations Security Council, countries such as Brazil and France were against it.
A major justification for the invasion was the imminent danger to Saddam with his chemical weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. The dictator was captured in December 2003. In the following months, the truth about the weapons came out. George Bush and Tony Blair assumed there was no danger, but blamed the work of the Secret Service.
Watch the clip of American life – Extra scenes:
Source: Terra

Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.