Listen to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers ‘American Girl’ from The Handmaid’s Tale

Listen to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers ‘American Girl‘ from The Handmaid’s Tale

The classic 1970s Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ ‘American Girl’ was featured on the latest episode of the Hulu seriesĀ The Handmaid’s Tale this week. It was played over the end credits.

The track is from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ 1977 self-titled debut album.

And what always struck me as strange about this song is, when it was released, it charted in the UK (at number 40) but not in America. (Guess we Brits must like Americans, eh?).

It did, however, chart in the U.S. eventually — when the song was re-released in 1994. Then it became an ‘American classic’.

The song was also ranked as being one of the greatest guitar songs by Rolling Stone magazine.

And when you heard ‘American Girl‘ on The Handmaid’s Tale this week, you may remember also hearing it on the soundtrack of movies and other TV shows.

That is because it has shown up on The Silence of the Lambs, Fast Times At Ridgemont High and a slew of other places.

No wonder, it is a rocking song, and that guitar riff……

Listen to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ ‘American Girl’ from The Handmaid’s Tale in the video below.

 

About Michelle Topham

I'm a Brit-American journalist, former radio DJ at 97X WOXY, and Founder/CEO of Leo Sigh. I'm also obsessed with music, anime, manga, and K-dramas. Help!

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