American Pie (song)

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"American Pie"
Song
B-side"Empty Chairs" (promo)
"American Pie part 2" (first release)

"American Pie" is a song by American singer and songwriter Don McLean. Recorded and released on the American Pie album in 1971, the single was a number-one US hit for four weeks in 1972 and also topped the charts in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. In the UK, the single reached No. 2 on its original 1972 release while a reissue in 1991 reached No. 12.[1] The song was listed as the No. 5 song on the RIAA project Songs of the Century. A truncated version of the song was covered by Madonna in 2000 and reached No. 1 in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

The repeatedly mentioned "day the music died" refers to the plane crash in 1959 which killed early rock and roll performers Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens. (The crash was not known by that name until after McLean's song became a hit.) The meaning of the other lyrics has long been debated, and for decades, McLean declined to explain the symbolism behind the many characters and events mentioned. However, the overall theme of the song is the loss of innocence of the early rock and roll generation as symbolized by the plane crash which claimed the lives of three of its heroes.[2]

In 2017, McLean's original recording was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant".[3]

Background

While it has been claimed that Don McLean began writing the song in upstate Saratoga Springs, New York, at Caffe Lena,[4] a 2011 New York Times article quotes Don McLean as disputing this claim.[5] Some employees at Caffe Lena claim that he started writing the song there, and then continued to write the song in both Cold Spring, New York,[6] and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[7] McLean claims that the song was only written in Cold Spring and Philadelphia.[5] Tin & Lint, a bar on Caroline Street in Saratoga Springs, claims the song was written there, and a plaque marks the table. While some have said that other places, such as Saint Joseph's University, were where the song was first performed,[8] McLean insists that the song made its debut in Philadelphia at Temple University[5] when he opened for Laura Nyro on March 14, 1971.[7]

Interpretations

Except to acknowledge that he first learned about Buddy Holly's death on February 3, 1959—McLean was age 13—when he was folding newspapers for his paper route on the morning of February 4, 1959 (the line "February made me shiver/with every paper I'd deliver"), McLean has generally avoided responding to direct questions about the song's lyrics; he has said: "They're beyond analysis. They're poetry."[4][9] He also stated in an editorial published in 2009, on the 50th anniversary of the crash that killed Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, that writing the first verse of the song exorcised his long-running grief over Holly's death and that he considers the song to be "a big song (…) that summed up the world known as America".[10] McLean dedicated the American Pie album to Holly.

It was also speculated that the song contains numerous references to post-World War II American events (such as the murders of civil rights workers Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner),[11] and elements of culture, including 1960s culture (e.g. sock hops, cruising, Bob Dylan,[12] The Beatles, Charles Manson, and much more).[13][14][15]

When asked what "American Pie" meant, McLean jokingly replied, "It means I don't ever have to work again if I don't want to."[16] Later, he 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."[17] He also commented on the popularity of his music, "I didn't write songs that were just catchy, but with a point of view, or songs about the environment."[18]

In February 2015, McLean announced he would reveal the meaning of the lyrics to the song when the original manuscript went for auction in New York City, in April 2015.[19] The lyrics and notes were auctioned on April 7, and sold for $1.2 million.[20] In the sale catalogue notes, McLean revealed the meaning in the song's lyrics: "Basically in American Pie things are heading in the wrong direction. ... It [life] is becoming less idyllic. I don't know whether you consider that wrong or right but it is a morality song in a sense."[21] The catalogue confirmed some of the better known references in the song's lyrics, including mentions of Elvis Presley ("the king") and Bob Dylan ("the jester"), and confirmed that the song culminates with a near-verbatim description of the death of Meredith Hunter at the Altamont Free Concert, ten years after the plane crash that killed Holly, Valens, and Richardson.[21]

Mike Mills of R.E.M. reflected: "American Pie just made perfect sense to me as a song and that’s what impressed me the most. I could say to people this is how to write songs. When you’ve written at least three songs that can be considered classic that is a very high batting average and if one of those songs happens to be something that a great many people think is one of the greatest songs ever written you’ve not only hit the top of the mountain but you’ve stayed high on the mountain for a long time.”[22]

In 2017, Bob Dylan was asked about how he was referenced in the song. "A jester? Sure, the jester writes songs like 'Masters of War,' 'A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall,' 'It’s Alright, Ma' – some jester. I have to think he’s talking about somebody else. Ask him."[23]

Personnel

Charts

Parodies, revisions, and uses

In 1999, "Weird Al" Yankovic wrote and recorded a parody of "American Pie".[35] Titled "The Saga Begins", the song recounts the plot of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace from Obi-Wan Kenobi's point of view. While McLean gave permission for the parody, he did not make a cameo appearance in its video, despite popular rumor. McLean himself praised the parody, even admitting to almost singing Yankovic's lyrics during his own live performances because his children played the song so often.[36][37]

The City of Grand Rapids, Michigan created a lip dub video to "American Pie" in response to a Newsweek article that stated the city was "dying".[38] The video was hailed as a fantastic performance by many including Roger Ebert, who said it was "the greatest music video ever made."[39]

On March 21, 2013, Harmonix announced that "American Pie" would be the final downloadable track made available for the Rock Band series of music video games.[40]

On March 14, 2015, the National Museum of Mathematics announced that one of two winners of its songwriting contest was "American Pi" by mathematics education professor Dr. Lawrence M. Lesser.[41] The contest was in honor of "Pi Day of the Century" because "3/14/15" would be the only day in the 21st-century showing the first five digits of π (pi).

Madonna version

"American Pie"
Song

Background

American singer Madonna released a cover version of the song in March 2000 to promote the soundtrack of her film The Next Best Thing (2000), with the song being serviced to radio on February 2.[43] Her cover is much shorter than the original (it contains only the beginning of the first verse and all of the second and sixth verses) and was recorded as a dance-pop song. It was co-produced by Madonna and William Orbit and released on the singer's Maverick label, after Rupert Everett (Madonna's co-star in The Next Best Thing) had convinced her to cover the song for the film's soundtrack.[44][45]

Reception

Released in March 2000, the song was a worldwide hit, reaching No. 1 in many countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Italy, Germany (her first since "La Isla Bonita", in 1987), Switzerland, Austria, and Finland. The song was the 19th best selling of 2000 in the UK and the 9th best selling of 2000 in Italy. The single was not released commercially in the United States, but it reached No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 due to strong radio airplay.

NME gave it a negative review, saying that it was "sub-karaoke fluff" and that "it's a blessing she didn't bother recording the whole thing."[46] Chuck Taylor from Billboard, on the other hand, was impressed by the recording and commented, "Applause to Madonna for not pandering to today's temporary trends and for challenging programmers to broaden their playlists. [...] In all, a fine preview of the forthcoming soundtrack to The Next Best Thing."[47] Don McLean himself praised the cover, saying it was "a gift from a goddess", and that her version is "mystical and sensual."[48] He also jokingly said, "It means that if I don't want to, I don't have to work again."[49] According to the Official Charts Company, the song has sold 385,000 copies in the United Kingdom and is her 16th best selling single to date in the United Kingdom.[50]

Music video

File:Madonna-american-pie-video-cap-0013.jpg
Madonna in the "American Pie" music video. In the scene Madonna, who is wearing a tiara, is standing while an American flag can be seen behind her.

The music video, filmed in the Southern USA and in London[51] and directed by Philipp Stölzl, depicts a diverse array of ordinary Americans, including scenes showing same-sex couples kissing. Throughout the music video Madonna, who is wearing a tiara on her head, dances and sings in front of a large American flag.

Two official versions of the video were produced, the first of which now appears on Madonna's greatest-hits DVD compilation, Celebration, and was released as the official video worldwide. The second version was issued along with the "Humpty Remix", a more upbeat and dance-friendly version of the song. This video was aired on MTV's dance channel in the United States to promote the film The Next Best Thing, starring Madonna and Rupert Everett; it contains totally different footage and new outtakes of the original and omits the lesbian kiss. Everett, who provides backing vocals in the song, is also featured in the video.

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from American Pie single liner notes.[52]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[88] Gold 35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[89] Gold 25,000*
France (SNEP)[90] Silver 125,000*
Sweden (GLF)[91] Platinum 30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[92] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[93] Gold 400,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  3. ^ "National Recording Registry Picks Are "Over the Rainbow"". Library of Congress. March 29, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Don McLean's 'American Pie' fetches $1.2M Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, Mass) 8 April 2015: A.2.
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  9. ^ "American Pie". Don McLean.com. p. 68.
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Further reading

External links

Preceded by US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single (Don McLean version)
January 15, 1972 (four weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Easy Listening Singles number-one single (Don McLean version)
January 15, 1972 (three weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Australian Kent Music Report number-one single (Don McLean version)
March 6, 1972 (five weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by UK Singles Chart number-one single (Madonna version)
March 5, 2000 – March 11, 2000 (one week) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by German Singles Chart number-one single (Madonna version)
March 10, 2000 (one week) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Swedish Singles Chart number-one single (Madonna version)
March 23, 2000 (one week) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single (Madonna version)
April 1, 2000 (one week) 		Succeeded by
  1. ^ archived version of McLean's website page on "American Pie"
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