How a song released 15 years ago became the viral anthem of Bosnia's World Cup hopes: 'Fans gave it new meaning'
The opening lyrics couldn't be clearer: “I'm from Bosnia; take me to America.” However, by reinterpreting their classic song “USA”, the Bosnian band Dubioza Kolektiv turned a song about disillusionment with the American Dream into a viral anthem that fuels Bosnia's World Cup dreams, AP reports, according to News.ro.
Ahead of the game between Bosnia and Canada, the multi-genre band members met with Associated Press reporters in the Sarajevo neighborhood where they shot the new music video for the catchy, accordion-heavy song, now titled “I Am From Bosnia, Take Me to America.”
In less than three weeks, the video celebrating soccer's working-class roots has racked up nearly 2 million views on YouTube — on top of the 26 million views that the original “USA,” released in 2011, has racked up over the years.
“It's an interesting story how this song reached its second, third and fourth interpretation in these 15 years,” comments Vedran Mujagić, the band's bassist who integrated political and social causes into his identity. “It evolved from a satirical take on immigration and the American Dream to a football dream for the entire nation.”
Bosnia-Herzegovina is participating in a World Cup for the second time, a goal that once seemed improbable.
“When people take control, they give it a new meaning and then it becomes theirs. It's no longer ours.”
At the end of April, however, Bosnia's extra-time goal against Wales propelled the team to a penalty shootout victory, a feat he would repeat a few days later against Italy. The band members were surprised when fans unfurled a banner with their lyrics printed on them, singing them as a battle cry.
“In the beginning, it was just a joke, but what I like the most is that the fans gave a whole new meaning to the old song, and that's the best thing for the band or the song: when people take control, they give it a new meaning and then it becomes theirs,” says Brano Jakubović. “It's not ours anymore.”
The original track “USA” is just as fast-paced and catchy — it's hard not to walk the streets humming, “I can't wait, take me to the United States / Take me to the Golden Gate, I'll fit in” — but the protagonist's burning desire to escape quickly turns to disillusionment with life outside the Balkans.
The band decided to release an updated version of what Jakubović describes as a “typical immigrant song”, composing new lyrics suitable for a football anthem. While “USA” is in English, this version is mostly in Bosnian — “so people can understand.”
Jakubović's new favorite line is an opportunity to remove something that has haunted the country since the 2014 World Cup: “And that goal against Nigeria, that was never offside.”
“Football right now is much more than just a game, it's a hope and it's essentially a political issue because it brought together all the people of Bosnia, which usually doesn't happen,” says Jakubović.
