In December 2025, acclaimed singer-songwriter St. Vincent (Annie Clark) kicked off a new musical segment on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert called “Under the Covers.” The premise is simple: invite artists to perform beloved songs by musicians who have influenced them. For the very first installment, Colbert brought out St. Vincent to perform a rendition of David Bowie’s iconic 1975 hit “Young Americans.”
“Young Americans” is one of David Bowie’s most celebrated songs — a sharp pivot from his glam-rock roots into soul and funk territory, coining the term “plastic soul.” The original track, from Bowie’s Young Americans album, blended social commentary with a groove-laden arrangement that marked a stylistic transformation in his career.
St. Vincent chose the song not only for its musical depth, but also because she first performed it live at the Love Rocks NYC charity concert in 2023, where her band delivered the song with a full horn section and backing vocals reminiscent of the original vibe.
The Performance on Colbert
Her Late Show performance stayed close to Bowie’s structure — preserving the song’s groove and instrumental character — but also reflected her artistic identity. One subtle tweak was updating the lyric “Do you remember President Nixon?” to “President Biden,” grounding the performance in a contemporary political moment while tipping her hat to Bowie’s original social critique.
Critics and fans alike praised the performance for its energy and respect for the source material. Many described it as a fitting tribute to Bowie’s legacy and a strong kickoff for the Under the Covers segment, with some online commentary highlighting how goosebumps and emotional resonance emerged from Clark’s delivery.
St. Vincent & Bowie: Influence and Acknowledgment
St. Vincent has long cited David Bowie as an influence, and her choice to perform “Young Americans” underscores that artistic lineage. Bowie’s chameleonic persona — constantly reinventing his sound across genres — is something Clark has often embraced in her own genre-bending career.
This isn’t the first time she’s paid homage: her live cover at Love Rocks NYC featured saxophones, backing singers, and Bowie-esque stage moves that delighted audiences and drew direct parallels between her performance style and Bowie’s showmanship.
Originally released during a turbulent period in American culture, Bowie’s “Young Americans” mixes social commentary with soulful melodies and a groove influenced by Philadelphia soul and R&B. The song lyrically references political and social shifts in the U.S., often seen as a reflection — and subtle critique — of the country’s identity in the mid-1970s.
Bowie’s move into soul music was initially controversial among purists but ultimately helped widen his musical palette and influence. The song remains one of his most influential tracks, inspiring artists across genres.
