Madonna finally releases notorious American Life video

Madonna ditched the most controversial music video of her career at the last minute. Now 20 years on, she’s finally released it. WARNING: Graphic.

Madonna’s censored American Life video.

WARNING: Graphic.

Pop superstar Madonna has finally, officially released what stands as perhaps her most notorious music video: The controversial original clip for her 2003 single American Life.

The original cut of the video stands as one of the few times in her career Madonna’s backed down from controversy, nixing it days before it was due to be released amid negative press.

While the song itself was a wry look at Madonna’s own experiences of fame and success – complete with a divisive rap that listed all the members of her staff – the original video was instead a graphic commentary on the then-imminent American invasion of Iraq.

Madonna’s dancers get ready …

… while a gruesome fashion show plays out.

Shot weeks before the war began, the confronting Jonas Akerlund-directed video shows Madonna and her dancers in army fatigues, prepping backstage at a fashion show as out on the runway, soldiers walk the catwalk alongside victims of war.

An audience full of glamorous-looking fashion types watch on disinterestedly as the violence on the runway ramps up, blood and guts spilling everywhere. Soon, those images of pretend violence are intercut with vision of real victims of war until in the song’s climax, Madonna burst forth from backstage atop a camo-painted car, throwing a live grenade into the crowd as she mows down everyone in her path.

Madonna and dancers burst on to the runway.

Had it been released, the video would surely have been banned or at least heavily censored by TV networks – there are numerous graphic depictions of violence, with dismembered and disembowelled victims laying on the runway.

But, in a rare capitulation to the outrage brewing from people who hadn’t even viewed the video yet, Madonna announced on April 1, 2003 that she’d decided it would never see the light of day.

“I have decided not to release my new video. It was filmed before the war started and I do not believe it is appropriate to air it at this time. Due to the volatile state of the world and out of sensitivity and respect to the armed forces, who I support and pray for, I do not want to risk offending anyone who might misinterpret the meaning of this video,” she said.

She later gave more context to her decision, explaining that, while she’d courted controversy before with music videos for hits like Justify My Love and Like A Prayer, she was now a mother and wanted to avoid the threats to her family that came with releasing such a video.

The replacement clip was very ‘Vanessa Amorosi’s original Absolutely Everybody video’.

Instead, a bland replacement video was hastily cut together, showing Madonna singing in front of a green screen which showed the flags of various countries. It was the worst thing a Madonna video can be: Boring.

A commercial flop by Madonna’s standards upon its release, time has been kind to the song’s parent album, also called American Life. Its blend of folk and electronica is arguably the peak of her collaborations with Mirwais Ahmadzaï, and the album is regarded by many as among her very best.

Now, two decades later, Madonna’s finally officially released the original music video on her official YouTube channel to mark the album’s 20th anniversary. Until now, fans had only been able to watch it via unofficial uploads after it had leaked online. Check out the video as Madonna intended it to be seen, in all its 4k remastered glory, below - and a warning, it includes swearing and scenes of graphic violence:

But even this official recognition of the video omits one of its most controversial moments: In the closing seconds of one version of the clip, Madonna’s grenade is caught by a George W. Bush lookalike. The actor playing the president who would send the US to war with Iraq flips the top of the grenade – and lights a cigar with it, smiling.

A George W. Bush lookalike lights up.

The version officially released to Madonna’s YouTube channel omits the George Bush lookalike, instead ending as the grenade flies through the air.

Usually not one to look back at her career too much, Madonna’s very much in retrospective mode at the moment as she marks 40 years since the release of her first album.

Her upcoming world tour, Celebration, is billed as the first true greatest hits tour in her career, and kicks off in Canada on July 15.

The 83-date tour will continue through to January 2024 – but there are at present no Australian dates on the horizon. Madonna has famously toured here only twice across her 40-year career.