"American Kids" is a song by Poppy, released under the name That Poppy. It is the fourth and final track on her debut extended play Bubblebath. The audio currently has over 1 million views on YouTube.
Theme
The song is about Poppy's confusion towards the new normality in the current day and age. The lyrics are very critical towards what teenagers do during this century, which is what the entire song is based around. It reflects on themes of privilege and entitlement, as well as feeling unable to fit in. "American Kids" also describes the story of how Poppy became brainwashed, since Poppy (the character) started her career when she was 15 and "selling her soul to the man with a handshake" (presumably Them) and how she hasn't seen her mother nor father since she started her career.
"American Kids" is a song that is slower and more personal, comparable to the feel of "Pop Music" from Poppy.Computer.
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I live under a rock with a blacklight
I'm a dumb pop star in my own right
Started life at age 15, got ahead with fake IDs
If you're with me
Sold my soul to the man with a handshake
Lost control but I don't think it's too late
We're dying young on broadcast news
Forever 21 is cool if I make it
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Girls, let's put on all of our clothes
[Chorus]
I don't wanna be like American kids
I am not on drugs and I've never been
I don't care about your party, I belong to nobody
I don't wanna be like American kids
Drugs don't work like they did for my parents
I'm not down with the new hit
'Cause today I just don't get American kids
[Verse 2]
Last time I told mom that "I love you"
Was the last time I ate food from a drive-thru
It never happened like they say
I think my father may be gay but I don't know
So I burned all my shit in a bonfire
All my teen regrets were a trip wire
I should be everything you hate
I should be higher now than space but I'm static
[Pre-Chorus 2]
Boys aren't even boys anymore (Huh)
[Chorus]
I don't wanna be like American kids
I am not on drugs and I've never been
I don't care about your party, I belong to nobody
I don't wanna be like American kids
Drugs don't work like they did for my parents
I'm not down with the new hit
'Cause today I just don't get American kids
[Outro]
Liberty isn't cheap and it ain't free
I'm a millennial, blame it all on me
American kids
American kids
American kids
Audio
Reception
Little individual reviews followed the release of "American Kids", as it was mostly overshadowed by the previous Bubblebath hits "Lowlife" and "Money". However, Tyler Peterson of UQMUSIC stated in a review that "American Kids" in particular was a "millennial masterpiece".[1] PopularTV went on to making comparisons with the song to Halsey's "New Americana", stating that it is the song's antithesis, but "just as anthemic".[2]
Trivia
- This is one of only three Poppy songs to be marked explicit on most music streaming services such as Apple Music and Spotify, the others being "Lowlife" and "Chic Chick".
- Though "Immature Couture", "Scary Mask" and "All the Things She Said" contain profanity, they are not marked explicit on music streaming services.
- Much like "Altar", it is speculated that there are allusions to Titanic Sinclair's previous project, Mars Argo. The lyric "I'm a dumb pop star in my own right" is similar to the "Runaway Runaway" lyric "I wish I was a dumb pop star so the words wouldn't matter to you".
- This is the longest song on Bubblebath, being 3:31 long.
References
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