[Susan Foreman]

The second disc of 'Paranormal' contains a collection of live classics and two new studio songs. The first of these new songs is called 'Genuine American Girl', and it is very interesting. The original idea was the call the song '(I Wanna Be) An American Girl', but this was changed to the current title. Musically, it's another good one, with a 1950's 'sho-wop' vibe.

Lyrically, however, it is fascinating. Many people have read it as being another one of Alice's transgender songs, but this is questionable. Where other tracks in this sub-genre ('King Of The Silver Screen' from the 1977 album 'Lace And Whiskey'; 'Prettiest Cop On The Block' from the 1981 album 'Special Forces'; 'The Ballad Of Jesse Jane' from the 2005 album 'Dirty Diamonds') have been told from a male point of view, there is nothing here to suggest that it is a mans fantasy. Other than the fact that Alice is singing, this song could very easily have been the thoughts of a teenage girl, and I can very easy see someone like Britney Spears or Ariana Grande or whoever the teenage diva of today performing it without raising any eyebrows

The song is loosely based on an old song from 1979, recorded by Neal Smith's Flying Tigers, where it was called 'Red Blooded American Girl', but try as I might, I have been unable to find the original for a comparison

Like 'Rats' on the first album, this track features the original band

References? Just the inclusion of the song title 'No Man's Land' from the 1983 album 'Dada'

The line up on the song consists of:
Alice Cooper - Vocals
Michael Bruce - Guitar
Tommy Denander - Guitar
Steve Hunter - Guitar
Dennis Dunaway - Bass
Neal Smith - Drums
Bob Ezrin - Keyboards

Would it fit into the live set? Yes, but as with 'Rats', I think it would only be included as part of the original band mini-set. Other than that, I can't see it making the main Alice solo part of the show

11/12 - Genuine American Girl (Cooper, Smith, Ezrin)



"I do my hair, I paint my nails
It pours outside, it never fails
So the make up runs down my pretty face
I'm a muddy mess, a Mac disgrace
But when I leave this room tonight
I'm gonna look and feel alright
Cause my mamma says the world's an oyster and I'm the pearl

I'm a genuine American girl
A bona fide beauty in a ugly world
A vision of pure femininity
Yeah I'm a genuine American girl
From my ruby red lips to my bleach blonde curls
I'm everything I hoped to be

I look in the mirror and what do I see
An immodest little goddess looking back at me
The boys all whistle when I walk by
So I toss my hair and wink my eye
And when I hit the floor tonight
I'm gonna look and feel alright
Cause my mamma says the world's an oyster and I'm the pearl

I'm a genuine American girl
I'm a rock 'n' roll queen in a hip hop world
A vision of pure femininity
Yeah I'm a genuine American girl
From my ruby red lips to my bleach blonde curls
I'm everything I hoped to be

You think it's vanity, or some insanity
But this is No Man's Land and I live here every day
So come and dance with me
Come take a chance with me
I'm only thirty outta fifty shades of grey
What do ya say?

"Hey there big boy, why don't you come up and see me sometime"

And when I hit the floor tonight
We're gonna look and feel alright
Cause my mamma says the world's an oyster and I'm the pearl

I'm a genuine American girl
A bona fide beauty in a ugly world
A vision of pure femininity
Yeah I'm a genuine American girl
From my ruby red lips to my bleach blonde curls
I'm every he-mans fantasy
A feminine fatality
You're gonna know that I am everything I want to be
Oh yeah
I'm everything I wanna be
Uhh huh
Oh yeah"