This Is Not America
Song DNA
A commentary on the disillusionment of the American dream.
Cultural Context
Critiques American culture in the mid-80s.
Listening Prompt
Reflect on societal expectations.
What to Expect
Maintains a steady pace with a strong message.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: contemplative, melancholy
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 7/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.
Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
Texture: complex.
Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.
Vocal style: dynamic vocals.
Where this sits in David Bowie's catalog
We have 50 songs from David Bowie in the library. Of those, 5 are rated Safe, 28 Moderate, and 17 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 7/10 sits at the artist average of 7.0, making it the #33 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
1985 context
Released in 1985. We have 186 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.4/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 1980s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-05. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "This Is Not America"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "This Is Not America" by David Bowie?
"This Is Not America" by David Bowie rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 7/10, mild sudden changes, complex texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "This Is Not America" — what is its dynamic range?
"This Is Not America" has a dynamic range of 7/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.
Does "This Is Not America" have sudden or surprising changes?
"This Is Not America" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
What is "This Is Not America" best for?
In our library "This Is Not America" is recommended for: anxiety relief, deep listening. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "This Is Not America" released?
"This Is Not America" is from 1985, on the album "The Falcon and the Snowman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". It appears in our 1980s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "This Is Not America"?
We tag "This Is Not America" as contemplative, melancholy. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "This Is Not America"?
The vocal style is dynamic vocals.
Should I listen to "This Is Not America"?
"This Is Not America" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.
Songs with the same DNA
complex texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
Safer alternatives with a similar feel
These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.
What this song means to people
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