Is Lady Gaga’s "Americano" a genuine political statement or cultural appropriation?

Lady Gaga performed her newest single, ‘Americano,’ a few days ago at a concert in Mexico. You can see the video here (it’s poor quality but the best I could find).

There hasn’t yet been much media coverage of her new single yet, but whatever articles are out there tout the song as a political statement against SB1070, Arizona’s strict and racially charged immigration law.

I think it’s great that high profile figures and celebrities are expressing their discontent with SB1070. Allies to a cause can be very powerful.

However,  after listening to the lyrics, I wonder if this just another example of (white) celebrities appropriating other people’s cultures for marketing and branding means, and quite simply, for profit. Even if it is a legitimate political statement that Lady Gaga is making, should Latinos even embrace it (as I’m sure some have)?

I think there’s a strong case to make that ‘Americano’ presents a problematic representation of Latinos, and I’m not fully convinced her song is solely about making a genuine political statement.

Take some of the lyrics, for example.

First, why ‘Americano’ anyway? What is she trying to achieve with this title?

“If you love me/ We can marry on the West Coast/ On a Wednesday/ En el verano o en agosto (in the summer or in August).”

The chorus repeats the phrase: “I don’t speak your language, oh no.”

It also mentions Jesus Christ (“Jesus Cristo”) which I could see as being offensive as most Latinos practice Christianity (mostly Catholicism). Needless to say, it is offensive to Muslims as well, since we believe that God and His prophets are respected figures who should not be mocked or visually represented (out of respect).

At the end of the video, Lady Gaga says, “Don’t you try to catch me/ No, no, no/ I’m living on the edge of/ Living on the edge of the law, law, law,” obviously referring to Latinos who avoid deportation.

My problem with the song is that it perpetuates the stereotype that Latinos are here illegally, that they are foreign and don’t belong in this country, that they’re always trying to evade the law. Also, the implicit suggestion that Latinos don’t speak the same language (aka, can’t speak English) perpetuates that stereotype as well.

Consider also that this isn’t the first time Latino Americans have been upset with Lady Gaga’s choice of lyrics. She has already been accused of racism when she used the term “chola,” according to this article, and although it hasn’t received much media attention, she has enraged Latinos in Phoenix with her “Americano.”

We’ll wait and see if media outlets pick this up, but I think Latinos should hold Lady Gaga accountable to her lyrics and music. Racism or not, ‘Americano’ is pretty offensive.

Lolla Mohammed Nur

Lolla Mohammed Nur (lolla@tcdailyplanet.net) is a journalism and political science student at the University of Minnesota.