ROCK MOMENT – Lenny Kravitz “American Woman”
When Lenny Kravitz recorded “American Woman” in the late 1990s, he faced a difficult assignment: how do you cover one of classic rock’s most recognizable songs without simply copying it? His answer was to strip it down, slow it down and make it unmistakably Lenny Kravitz.
“American Woman” was originally recorded by Canadian rockers The Guess Who and released in 1970. Written by band members Randy Bachman, Burton Cummings, Jim Kale and Garry Peterson, the original became a massive success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Nearly three decades later, Kravitz was approached about recording the song for the 1999 movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. He later explained that he initially thought the request was a little unusual, but saw it as an interesting challenge. His goal was to change the song enough to make it his own while still respecting what The Guess Who had created.
And change it he did.
Instead of trying to duplicate Randy Bachman’s famous guitar sound, Kravitz created a heavier, slower and more sensual arrangement. His version is built around a thick, distorted guitar riff and pounding groove, with Kravitz delivering the vocal with plenty of swagger.
One especially interesting difference is the absence of the prominent lead-guitar work associated with the original. Kravitz later told Bachman that he had tried but couldn’t capture the right guitar tone, so rather than force an imitation, he went in another direction. Kravitz also produced his version himself.
Released as a single in May 1999, Kravitz’s “American Woman” reached No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became an international hit as well. It was subsequently added to a reissue of his hugely successful 1998 album 5.
The music video gave the song even more exposure. Directed by Paul Hunter, it featured Heather Graham, who played Felicity Shagwell in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. With Kravitz’s retro-rock image, psychedelic visuals and Graham’s connection to the movie, the video fit perfectly into the late-’90s MTV era.
There was also a great full-circle moment in 1999 when members of The Guess Who joined Kravitz for a performance of “American Woman” at the MuchMusic Video Awards. It was essentially the original generation and the new generation sharing the song together.
Kravitz’s version received the ultimate industry recognition at the 2000 Grammy Awards, winning Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. It was actually his second consecutive win in that category, following his Grammy for “Fly Away” the year before. He would continue the streak with “Again” in 2001 and “Dig In” in 2002—four consecutive wins in the category.
What makes Lenny Kravitz’s “American Woman” such a successful cover is that he never tried to replace The Guess Who’s version. He treated the original as raw material and rebuilt it around his own musical personality.
The Guess Who’s “American Woman” remains a cornerstone of early-’70s classic rock. But almost 30 years later, Lenny Kravitz proved that a great riff could be reinvented for another generation—and in the process, he turned someone else’s classic into one of the most recognizable recordings of his own career.
