There are three epic music albums, released in the seventies and the eighties, produced by musicians from the other side of the Atlantic (Irish and British), that describe the United States much better (and even in a prophetic way) than what the Americans ever could (or wanted).
The three albums are, in order of release:
- “The Tumbleweed Connection” by Elton John (1970) (also available on YouTube)
- “Breakfast in America” by Supertramp (1979) (also available on YouTube)
- “The Joshua Tree” by U2 (1987) (again, also available on YouTube)
The three of them convey various degrees of sadness, pity, and admiration for a nation that has collectively chosen to represent the best and the worst of the human race, at the same time, with the same fake smile in their face, and pretending that everything is all right.
The “American Fatigue Syndrome” is real.
We are the privileged witnesses of the downfall of the great empire of the 20th century, in real time. The three artists above, in between notes and chords and arpeggios, were already aware of the mess, 50 years ago, and we didn’t pay attention. That’s what great artists do; they can distill the essence, what the French call “L’Air du Temps”, and bottle it for future generations to understand.
We are those future generations, so I have nothing else to say to you than this: just click “play” on the three of these albums, and listen to the sound made by the inexorable decay of Western civilization.