"America" is a well-known song from the musical West Side Story. Leonard Bernstein composed the music; Stephen Sondheim wrote the song's lyrics. The Fantasticks was the longest-running musical in history. ... For The Games song, see Westside Story (song). ... Leonard Bernstein in 1971 Leonard Bernstein (pronounced Bern-styne)[1] (August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American composer, pianist and conductor. ... Stephen Joshua Sondheim (b. ...

In the original stage version of the musical, Anita (a female member of the Sharks, and the musical's most important female character besides Maria) literally sings the praises of America, while a fellow Shark, Rosalia, sings in favor of Puerto Rico. This version of the song arguably provides an unfavorable caricature of the island, while only highlighting positive qualities of the United States ("I'll drive a Buick through San Juan," "if there's a road you can drive on"). Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized...

In the 1961 film version of the musical, Anita still sings in favor of the United States, while Bernardo responds to her praises with corresponding criticisms satirizing latent racism in American society, especially towards Puerto Ricans ("Life is all right in America," "If you're all white in America"). Most of the song's original disparaging elements towards Puerto Rico have been removed. West Side Story is a 1961 film directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. ...

From a technical standpoint, the song is also noteworthy for its use of hemiola meter, which the composer self-referentially highlights during the song's bridge. In modern musical parlance, a hemiola is a metrical pattern in which two bars in triple time (3/2 or 3/4 for example) are articulated as if they were three bars in duple time (2/2 or 2/4). ... In popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section. ...

See also

West Side Story
West Side Story (film)
Hemiola For The Games song, see Westside Story (song). ... West Side Story is a 1961 film directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. ... In modern musical parlance, a hemiola is a metrical pattern in which two bars in triple time (3/2 or 3/4 for example) are articulated as if they were three bars in duple time (2/2 or 2/4). ...

External link

• Song lyric (stage version)
• Song lyric (film version)