“American”

I chose this song to be Happy’s theme during the conversation in the bedroom in Act 1. The title of the song was also perfect for the book overall, as Death of a Salesman focuses upon the American Dream. “American” from Lana’s second album, Paradise, has both positive and negative undertones to it. “You make me crazy, you make me wild, Just like a baby, spin me ’round like a child. Your skin so golden brown. Be young, be dope be proud; Like an American.” Lana talks about how happy the man she is in love with makes her, just as Willy is pleased with how Happy has turned out compared to Biff. However, the song insinuates that the average American youth is proud, but stupid and careless at the same time. As Happy is blindly following his father’s footsteps, he fits the “Like an American” phrase oh so well, much like his father did. I imagine the song playing during a different, later pause in the conversation, but before the second piece of “Change” plays for Biff. This would not be a representation of his thoughts like how “Change” was for Biff, but a description of Happy as a person while he is occupied playing with objects around his room until the conversation picks back up. Happy’s pride also ties into the song as he plans to become an executive at his job, but he also sleeps with other men’s fiancés and takes bribes to rise up the corporate ladder. He also doesn’t really regret most of it, and acts like it’s just part of who he is. His arc fits into the American Dream concept as an example of the worse and more unrestricted form of the dream.