Posted on 01/29/2022 10:00:41 PM PST by Beave Meister
As a tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of his iconic 'American Pie' gets underway, singer-songwriter Don McLean reveals the deep 'yearning for something American' that he feels he's captured.
New York-born Don McLean, the one-man cultural force behind "American Pie," "Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)," "And I Love You So," "Castles in the Air," and many other songs, albums, tours, and projects, told Fox News Digital in a revealing in-depth interview that he "was the right guy at the right time" for "American Pie."
That song attained No. 1 on the Billboard charts after its release more than 50 years ago, on Jan. 15, 1972. To this day it remains a classic of American folk rock music. It's been featured in numerous films and other venues and helped McLean become a Grammy-award honoree, a Songwriter Hall of Fame member, and a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
"American Pie" is also in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry and was named a top-5 song of the 20th century by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA).
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I think Lenny Kravitz version was better.
I’ve loved the song “Vincent” since I had the 45 record as a kid.
I so hate that song, American Pie.
Even my kids know the lyrics to ‘American Pie’ … classic song !
There are YouTube videos of McLean performing American Pie and Vincent with just his guitar before a live audience in the 70s. Fantastic, even better than the records.
That’s “American Woman.”
Never was a big fan. but it was a gigantic song. I think I preferred “Alice’s Restaurant,” and “Layla.”
Very talented song writer/singer. I will sing along with any one to American Pie. Vincent was one of my Karoke favorites.
The song “Killing me softly” was written about him.
Killing Me Softly with His Song
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“Killing Me Softly with His Song” is a song composed by Charles Fox with lyrics by Norman Gimbel. The lyrics were written in collaboration with Lori Lieberman after she was inspired by a Don McLean performance in late 1971. Lieberman released her version of the song in 1972, but it did not chart. In 1973 it became a number-one hit in the United States, Australia and Canada for Roberta Flack, also reaching number six in the UK Singles Chart. In 1996, Fugees recorded the song with Lauryn Hill on lead vocals, their version became a number-one hit in twenty countries. The version by Flack won the 1974 Grammy for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and the version by Fugees won the 1997 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. The song has been covered by many other artists. The versions by the Fugees and Roberta Flack were both placed on the 2021 revised list of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[1]
I wish he’d finally explain all the symbolisms in his 7 minute song.
People have been asking him about it for nearly 50 years and he still refuses to explain.
It’s like HOTEL CALIFORNIA, you can put in any meaning you want in the song.
“American Woman.”
That is one song I despise and will not listen to.
Why, it‘s a tribute to Jethro Tull’s “We Used to Know “ of course. 😏
Somewhere Glenn Beck explained the fascinating meaning of the song, as explained by Don himself once, I believe. It’s beyond brilliant.
The first time I heard this was on CKLW Detroit/Windsor with a high fever from the flu when I was 12. Half asleep, each phrase seared into my feverish brain especially the devil related lyrics. I still have those images.
Great song
Freddy Fender did a fantastic cover.
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