American Pie (4:06)
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“American Pie” is a folk rock song by singer-songwriter Don McLean.
Recorded and released on the American Pie album in 1971, the single was a number-one U.S. hit for four weeks in 1972. A re-release in 1991 did not chart in the U.S., but reached number 12 in the UK. The song is an abstract story surrounding “The Day the Music Died” — the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper (Giles Perry Richardson, Jr.). The importance of “American Pie” to America’s musical and cultural heritage was recognized by the Songs of the Century education project which listed the song as the number five song of the twentieth century. Some Top 40 stations initially played only side two of the single, but the song’s popularity eventually forced stations to play the entire piece.
Background and interpretation: The song’s lyrics are the subject of much curiosity. Although McLean dedicated the American Pie album to Buddy Holly, none of the musicians in the plane crash are identified by name in the song itself. When asked what “American Pie” meant, McLean replied, “It means I never have to work again Later, he more seriously stated “You will find many interpretations of my lyrics but none of them by me… sorry to leave you all on your own like this but long ago I realized that songwriters should make their statements and move on, maintaining a dignified silence.”[2] McLean has generally avoided responding to direct questions about the song lyrics (“They’re beyond analysis.
Recorded and released on the American Pie album in 1971, the single was a number-one U.S. hit for four weeks in 1972. A re-release in 1991 did not chart in the U.S., but reached number 12 in the UK. The song is an abstract story surrounding “The Day the Music Died” — the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper (Giles Perry Richardson, Jr.). The importance of “American Pie” to America’s musical and cultural heritage was recognized by the Songs of the Century education project which listed the song as the number five song of the twentieth century. Some Top 40 stations initially played only side two of the single, but the song’s popularity eventually forced stations to play the entire piece.
Background and interpretation: The song’s lyrics are the subject of much curiosity. Although McLean dedicated the American Pie album to Buddy Holly, none of the musicians in the plane crash are identified by name in the song itself. When asked what “American Pie” meant, McLean replied, “It means I never have to work again Later, he more seriously stated “You will find many interpretations of my lyrics but none of them by me… sorry to leave you all on your own like this but long ago I realized that songwriters should make their statements and move on, maintaining a dignified silence.”[2] McLean has generally avoided responding to direct questions about the song lyrics (“They’re beyond analysis.
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Added by josephj2o
From BBC Top of the Pops October 31st 1991
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Shouts
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thefirstobrien wrote:
I loved it before that.
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manonadune wrote:
I have loved this song since the first time I heard it.
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kuntwat wrote:
:( :( :(
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Inufasha wrote:
Well, the music is supposedly dead... so what are we left with now? I wonder if this means Hana Banana or what ever he name is & her peers are evil..
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adventureba wrote:
absolut guter song...
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lorettaebare wrote:
still rockin' to this one
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Schokomoloko wrote:
super song! :)
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evanisreallyok wrote:
RIP HOLLY,BOPPER,VALENS.
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OldHippie1971 wrote:
Great song with a nice message...
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Elijeddah wrote:
What a classic!
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OLDCHAVYCAR2RED wrote:
a very good tune
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stlthbmr wrote:
I don't know anyone who doesn't love this song.
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alex0275 wrote:
Possibly the greatest song ever recorded in American history
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Dora117 wrote:
This will be the day whenI die........... did you write the book of love.....do you believe in rock&roll.......
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buckaroo69 wrote:
I'm 40, grew up singing this all the time. Now it is my 10 year old daughters' favorite song.........the music never dies!
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karlkandinsky wrote:
childhood classic
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kevlarner81 wrote:
when i listen to this song i always want to listen to buddy holly straight after love it great tribute to buddy holly
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weegerald wrote:
Hey Cisco, your looking good.................
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tesqueda wrote:
Great tune from my high school days.
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canbfrisky wrote:
well crafted...so cool...
Don McLean
American Pie
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Recent Activity
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CO2farenheit tagged American Pie with ‘singer-songwriter’. 36 minutes ago
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