After Hours

Zhanna Friske. Amerikanets

A guy walks into a bar, orders an "Americano," a lot of singing and dancing ensue with Zhanna Friske doing a lot of both, then when it's all over, he orders a cup of tea. (Hold for laughter and applause.) OK, so maybe it's not so funny. If you're thinking that this might be a Russian translation of "Tu' vuo' fa' l'americano" by Renato Carosone, you'd be thinking right. The song is basically about what you have to do to be an American - like drive a Cadillac and drink Coke and chew bubblegum. You know, the essentials. Was I the only one to think that when she sings "I wanna be American," she was - due to accent and emphasis - really singing "I wanna be a merry can?" That's how I heard it! Anyhow, Zhanna made this video for the big-huge 2009 Russian New Year's special that every good Russian who hasn't already passed out watches. So please accept my sincerest regards for 2009 and enjoy!

If you're really hankering to see the original, here it is:

Yeah, pretty terrible in a weird, cornball way - except if you love blistering mandolin solos. Notice that Renato never actually plays piano; his hands merely get close to the keys and move away. And yes, the thing they repeat over and over again at the end is actually in English. It's "whiskey and soda, rock 'n' roll." I wanna be a merry can.