Don McLean - American Pie | The Story Behind The Song

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  • čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
  • Singer-songwriter Don McLean tells about his hit 'American Pie'. A short documentary by Top 2000 a gogo from 2011 (Dutch Public Television).

Komentáře • 133

  • @Slarti
    @Slarti Před 3 lety +115

    I love how grateful he is at the end and understands how lucky he has been.

    • @TheGlobalfrog12
      @TheGlobalfrog12 Před 3 lety +1

      Precisely... a class dude for sure

    • @kasper7250
      @kasper7250 Před 3 lety +1

      @Norm Meunier I mean who cares it is about the music. Lol. The majority still will listen to Micheal Jackson, Freddy Mercury and other artists who have had issues in their life they are people too you know.

    • @kasper7250
      @kasper7250 Před 3 lety +1

      @Norm Meunier Sure but just dont think about it and enjoy the songs you listen to at that moment.

    • @commentfreely5443
      @commentfreely5443 Před 3 lety +2

      the era before the ccp took over america produced some great music

    • @davidleethompsoniii8263
      @davidleethompsoniii8263 Před 3 lety +2

      Soooo Good
      Like an American Pie

  • @OpenRoader
    @OpenRoader Před 3 lety +21

    Two years ago I was walking late at night through the German town of Dessau in what used to be east Germany. I was drunk with a friend, we had a boombox and we were blasting music and by total random coincidence, Don McLean's American Pie came up on my MP3 player that was streaming through the boombox. As we walked on, at the part of the song when he says "I read from the book of Marx, we walked up on an old Soviet era statue of Carl Marx. My friend and I looked at each other in shock and disbelief. As an American (my friend is Dutch) I was overcome with such an overwhelming feeling that is hard to describe. An American, standing at the foot of Carl Marx, in the old Soviet controlled Germany blasting American Pie at 2am, where had it been 30 years early, I would have been shot dead.
    I just bought the cassette tape American Pie a few weeks ago (used of course). Thanks for a great song.
    That statue stands right here:
    51°50'10.7"N 12°14'14.0"E
    51.836292, 12.237223

  • @Philblackmarquis
    @Philblackmarquis Před 3 lety +107

    When asked "what does American Pie mean?" in another interview, Don answered: "It means I will never have to work again!"...

    • @fredwerza3478
      @fredwerza3478 Před 3 lety +6

      One hit song literally created a comfortable life by a quaint lake

  • @richardkooloos6192
    @richardkooloos6192 Před 3 lety +20

    My 11 and 13 year old kids know this song (almost) by heart and love the story about the song. It is capturing a new generation even today.

    • @TMPreRaff
      @TMPreRaff Před 3 lety +1

      Can your kids spell 'heart'?

  • @evaristo6832
    @evaristo6832 Před 3 lety +37

    A true classic! Its so good in a time where everything is so fake, this is so true and authentic! Love it!

  • @jackstm2738
    @jackstm2738 Před 3 lety +53

    This channel should have more subscribers! These documentations have historical value.

    • @michaelinminn
      @michaelinminn Před 3 lety +1

      I agree. Great assembly interesting stuff.
      However, too much copyrighted material is being used.
      It will be taken down, eventually.

    • @katiegaming3240
      @katiegaming3240 Před 3 lety

      Super agree

    • @florimond1816
      @florimond1816 Před 3 lety +1

      @@michaelinminn i don’t think so, since they interviewed the artists they probably received the rights by them

    • @fnjesusfreak
      @fnjesusfreak Před 3 lety +3

      @@michaelinminn I think the channel is owned by a TV station, and they of anyone should know about clearing rights before distributing.

    • @fnjesusfreak
      @fnjesusfreak Před 3 lety +2

      @jari lol Netherlands, I believe.

  • @sweetcaroline2060
    @sweetcaroline2060 Před 3 lety +6

    I was in high school when this came out and boy, did it hit BIG! 😳 Everybody went nuts over this 🎵🎶🎵. It'll go down in music history as one of the best. Haunting, unique and a testimony to the times. Rock on, Mr. McLean, Rock on!

  • @DaveBeaudry
    @DaveBeaudry Před 3 lety +26

    One of my favorite songs and even today some of those lyrics can still be applied fitting todays world 😊👌

  • @jeffwarr11
    @jeffwarr11 Před 3 lety +38

    when he describes what was going on in the world when he wrote the song...well, it's all still happening today. It's just the media shapes our perception differently now

  • @pretorious700
    @pretorious700 Před 3 lety +12

    Fantastic song that goes much deeper than 99% of pop music ever did.

  • @rickshearer
    @rickshearer Před 3 lety +15

    American Pie will always be an all time classic of "American" history folk/pop music!

  • @christianrashotte1605
    @christianrashotte1605 Před 3 lety +5

    I had an assignment back in high school where I had to chose a song and analyze the lyrics. I chose this song.... Took forever to complete but I'll always be able to sing along word for word because of it.

  • @m.a.c.8366
    @m.a.c.8366 Před 3 lety +16

    this song was/is truly an enduring example of art reflecting life .. who doesn't recognize the first few bars of music? if there is someone who hasn't heard it please enlighten them to hearing this perfect gem of artistry extracted from ones life experiences... respects.. thanks for posting..

    • @TMPreRaff
      @TMPreRaff Před 3 lety +1

      That sentence was longer than the song.

    • @reuireuiop0
      @reuireuiop0 Před rokem

      ​@@TMPreRaff you only heard Madonna then ? Maclean's is one of the longest no1 songs ever

  • @williamdrijver4141
    @williamdrijver4141 Před 3 lety +33

    Big cities = stress and problems. Wise choice of Mr McLean to avoid city life. Seems a fantastic house on the waterfront!

  • @east5871
    @east5871 Před 3 lety +14

    Great song, great artist, great piece with no zero cringe factor! He sounds every bit as good today as he ever has!

    • @opticscolossalandepicvideo4879
      @opticscolossalandepicvideo4879 Před 3 lety

      Pop corn. Wrong. I cringe when I think of the beatings he gave his wife both mental and physical. Arrested for domestic violence. Is that cringeworthy for you

    • @east5871
      @east5871 Před 3 lety +5

      @@opticscolossalandepicvideo4879 Wow! You picked up on that from this video?!? You have a keen ear..

    • @reuireuiop0
      @reuireuiop0 Před rokem +2

      It's not mentioned here (obvious reasons ;) but it's true, Dons pleaded quilty on several allegations, also from his daughter Jackie. Don himself was also victim of home violence by his parents. Sad to see such behavior is copied by victims in their own household. Hope the songs may bring a bit of balance back in karma

  • @63rambler66
    @63rambler66 Před 3 lety +5

    Thank you for your many wonderful songs, Mr. McLean.

  • @anthony_barba
    @anthony_barba Před 3 lety +19

    Sounds like 2020, hope more great music comes out from all this global suffering. Don seems like a humble great guy.

    • @anthony_barba
      @anthony_barba Před 3 lety +1

      @@opticscolossalandepicvideo4879 Horrible. Can you add a Link please because people want more info.

    • @opticscolossalandepicvideo4879
      @opticscolossalandepicvideo4879 Před 3 lety +1

      @@anthony_barba www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/don-mclean-loses-lifetime-achievement-award-domestic-violence-guilty-plea-832330/

  • @gabe_s_videos
    @gabe_s_videos Před 3 lety +4

    One of my favorite songs when I was a kid, still one of my favorite songs today and a testament to how much I love '60s music.

  • @xione0825
    @xione0825 Před 3 lety +11

    It was a good day when you could find the LONG(album) version of this song playing on the radio.

  • @StellaCarey
    @StellaCarey Před 3 lety +6

    I get shivers whenever I listen to this song

  • @JohnA000
    @JohnA000 Před 3 lety +4

    Love his stuff. I used to sing it to my son when he was a baby.

  • @user-pz6ge7hf4x
    @user-pz6ge7hf4x Před 5 měsíci

    I heard this the first time in the 3rd Grade back in the early 70s.I was and still memorized by it....Thanks Don

  • @hennyverheij5969
    @hennyverheij5969 Před 3 lety +2

    I still love that song...

  • @BoiledOctopus
    @BoiledOctopus Před 3 lety +2

    Hi voice is like butter.

  • @jameson6930
    @jameson6930 Před 2 lety +1

    The whole album rocked!

  • @neok5199
    @neok5199 Před 3 lety +2

    Heel mooi om te zien

  • @someguy2135
    @someguy2135 Před 3 lety +4

    I'm glad he still likes this song after playing it so many times in concert.
    I loved it when it was first released, and still do today.

  • @biaedwards4025
    @biaedwards4025 Před 3 lety +4

    He's a poet.

  • @mergrew0110
    @mergrew0110 Před 3 lety +2

    I can remember being in the Talk of the South, a disco, in the sixties and this played several times during the evening. The whole place just sang along each time.

    • @sweetcaroline2060
      @sweetcaroline2060 Před 3 lety +1

      I'll bet everybody knows every word to this 🎵🎶🎵

  • @eduardosalas2640
    @eduardosalas2640 Před 3 lety +3

    He was really singing well at the time of the interview. It just came out naturally. I’m sure since he’s performed it hundreds of times. He sounded better than in his youth really!!!

  • @thetreblerebel
    @thetreblerebel Před 3 lety +2

    One of the greatest songs ever written, totally describing a generation. Just like White Christmas describes that feeling of being far from home during the holidays. Emotional feelings conveyed through song. Takes a person right back there!

  • @SaabAholic
    @SaabAholic Před 3 lety +2

    Thank you for this wonderful song!

  • @mikelliteras397
    @mikelliteras397 Před 3 lety +2

    This guy would never have a chance today as an artist. This song wouldn’t either, because it’s sooo long. Around 8 minutes I think. I was a toddler when this came out, almost 4 and I can remember it being played in my house and the car.

  • @darkkiss7247
    @darkkiss7247 Před 3 lety +19

    Man's an amazing songwriter. Check out his other stuff.

    • @someguy2135
      @someguy2135 Před 3 lety +1

      Absolutely! He put out some great albums with many other wonderful songs.

    • @darkkiss7247
      @darkkiss7247 Před 3 lety +2

      @Old Corps Marine Empty Chairs

    • @opticscolossalandepicvideo4879
      @opticscolossalandepicvideo4879 Před 3 lety

      He beat up his wife and was arrested for it. Bad news

    • @opticscolossalandepicvideo4879
      @opticscolossalandepicvideo4879 Před 3 lety

      Darkkiss he is also a man with uncontrollable anger who physically and mentally abused his wife for years why don’t you comment on that. Disgraceful behavior.

    • @darkkiss7247
      @darkkiss7247 Před 3 lety

      @@opticscolossalandepicvideo4879 I was referring to his song writing, not his personal life.

  • @devinpetersen2387
    @devinpetersen2387 Před 3 lety +4

    I just went to the crash site. I love Don.

  • @cynthiaahern9081
    @cynthiaahern9081 Před 3 lety +5

    I would like to see more of this interview.

    • @Top2000agogo
      @Top2000agogo  Před 3 lety +7

      We've made a segment about Vincent as well: czcams.com/video/eTGcyuEU6Wo/video.html

    • @cynthiaahern9081
      @cynthiaahern9081 Před 3 lety +2

      @@Top2000agogo Thank You! 😀

    • @drewb367
      @drewb367 Před 3 lety +2

      @@Top2000agogo never stop making videos.

  • @evaristo6832
    @evaristo6832 Před 3 lety

    I got goosebumps when he began singing…. More than “just a song” for sure,

  • @TheHManShow
    @TheHManShow Před 3 lety

    This song will forever have the greatest lyrics I have ever heard

  • @prula
    @prula Před 3 lety

    amazing singer!

  • @johnniefujita
    @johnniefujita Před 3 lety

    This song is pure modern tragedy! beautiful

  • @gabe_s_videos
    @gabe_s_videos Před 3 lety +7

    Oh my, my this here Anikin guy...

  • @reuireuiop0
    @reuireuiop0 Před rokem

    Just heard, a performance by this guy inspired Killing me Softly, with his song

  • @peterle6883
    @peterle6883 Před 2 lety

    He's such a humble fellow. People were not smarter in those days. They were just dissatisfied and had large numbers to cause a tidal wave of change. That could always be a good thing, or the opposite.

  • @Mellow722
    @Mellow722 Před 2 lety

    💗💗💗 👍👍

  • @stebopign
    @stebopign Před 3 lety +1

    He's singing about Anakin!!!!

  • @GoodMrDawes
    @GoodMrDawes Před 3 lety

    Awesome

  • @Scottlp2
    @Scottlp2 Před 3 lety

    Thanks.

  • @JeaneGenie
    @JeaneGenie Před 3 lety +1

    The news-reel commentary from the crash footage said the cause of the crash was inclement weather ... Since the accident site was 6 miles from the airport, should have said pilot error taking off into inclement weather

  • @chrismc8000
    @chrismc8000 Před 3 lety

    Although I rarely ever had an alcoholic drink in my younger days, as now, I used to go to meet friends at the B & R in Bennington, VT. (My friends were RNs from the hospital.) At times you would chat with us between sets. We drove over to Cafe Lena’s numerous times over the years, and you often performed there. Was once told that you began writing American Pie on a napkin at the B & R. Have always wondered if that was true.

  • @Tom.Livanos
    @Tom.Livanos Před 3 lety +1

    Don McLean is most at home in nature (as opposed to a city). 'American Pie' (1971) by Don McLean - from the album of the same name - is a song about "the day the music died": 3 February 1959 when singers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, 'The Big Bopper' Jiles Perry "J.P." Richardson and their pilot Roger Peterson died in an airplane crash near 'Clear Lake', in Iowa, United States of America. The song is also about the turbulence which was experienced during the 1960s. Highlights include protests against the Vietnam War (including the death of teenagers) and the transition of voices which were on the fringes into the mainstream. Don McLean's belief was/is that politics plays a role in society and that music is a reflection of what is going on in society. As such, music and politics have a connection. He is thankful that 'American Pie', a song which was derived from his lived experience and one he feels deeply about, was his biggest hit. That people continue to be interested in the song through to the present day.
    'ntr:', now one entity, is an acronym for NPS, Teleac and RVU. 'NPS' is, in turn, an acronym for Nederlandse Programma Stichting, which translates to English as 'Dutch Programme Foundation'. Teleac is an abbreviation for 'Television Academy'. RVU is an acronym for Radio Volksuniversiteit, which translates to English as 'People's University Radio'. What a shamozzle of a name. The combined entity came into existence on 1 September 2010. It's mission: "The NTR contributes to a democratic knowledge society by creating informational, cultural and educational programs for the entire audience with the following core values: independent, impartial, objective, reliable, respect for people and their values, and orientation towards a society of active, independent and curious citizens." So far as I know, ending a logo or business name (or anything else) with a colon is unique to the Netherlands. I find it most off-putting, as I do the hard coding of the Dutch subtitles in these videos. I welcome and have advocated for a world in which there are multiple languages but if the songs being revisited have English lyrics then surely subtitles in other languages ought to be optional.
    Time: 9:32pm Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time
    Day and date: Sunday 22 November 2020
    Views: 9,741
    Likes and dislikes: 369 and 2
    Comments (inclusive): 41

  • @retro1937
    @retro1937 Před 2 lety

    The Day the Music Died

  • @Dai_joy
    @Dai_joy Před 3 lety +2

    Would be amazing if he told us about the song Castle in the Air. ❤️

  • @annerowan3647
    @annerowan3647 Před 3 lety

    Wow. A humble and talented man. Has he heard the version Weird Al Jankovic did? I also loved "Vincent " poignant, it is.

  • @snotneus8093
    @snotneus8093 Před 3 lety +1

    ik zou wel graag een keer het verhaal een nummer van normaal willen horen, de origens van oerend hard bijv.

  • @steveblack255
    @steveblack255 Před 3 lety +2

    Still playing the same guitar

  • @Whatisthisstupidfinghandle

    The fact that it became at hit was amazing as it was deemed too long for air play and needed 2 plays on a juke box so was expensive to listen to

  • @MarkAnthonyGiven
    @MarkAnthonyGiven Před 3 lety +1

    POLITICS is downstream of culture. -Andrew Breitbart

  • @keithpennington8259
    @keithpennington8259 Před 3 lety +1

    I still like Vincent even better!

  • @garymaidman625
    @garymaidman625 Před 11 dny

    It's funny how Buddy Holly was old news in 1959 when he had only been a recording artist for about 2 years.

  • @williamwilson6499
    @williamwilson6499 Před 3 lety +1

    And who do we have to compose songs in these turbulent times?

  • @JustSomeOldGuy
    @JustSomeOldGuy Před 2 lety

    This interview was shorter than the length of the song being mentioned in it.

  • @basketballspinner
    @basketballspinner Před 3 lety +1

    bye, bye Miss American pie, drove my chevy to the levee but the levee was dry. I got this one Don. This was a prediction of hurricane katrina that hit the gulf coast in 2005. Most certainly the Mississippi River was dry. I don't know how you predicted it 32 years in advance but you did. There are also other predictions you made here and i will get to them later

  • @michaelkeymont501
    @michaelkeymont501 Před 3 lety +1

    Wait, who thinks this is his best song???? Dreidel. Go, give it a listen. Right now.
    “I’m watching the future it’s black....”

  • @rollingtroll
    @rollingtroll Před 3 lety +1

    Well deserved, it's a good song and not a bad record for the most part. Sort of a one hit wonder, but a rather strong one.

    • @someguy2135
      @someguy2135 Před 3 lety +1

      He might not have had many other hits (Vincent, for example) but all the songs on his early albums were excellent!

  • @PervertedPodcast
    @PervertedPodcast Před rokem

    Don't feel bad Don I wasn't even born when Buddy died and I'm still sad about it. I just feel like he was about to break out with his new direction like so many bands did moving from the poppy sound into their real sh**. I dream of going back in time and running out to the plane in fuzzy bear costume and breaking the propeller of that little plane with a sledge hammer just before they got on it and started it up. They'd have a crazy story to tell and a lot more great songs!

  • @arekpocicki5681
    @arekpocicki5681 Před 3 lety

    hooly bud

  • @Pincer88
    @Pincer88 Před 3 lety +1

    Don McClean says it's his greatest song. I beg to differ. Vincent is.

    • @cliostronk2667
      @cliostronk2667 Před 2 lety

      They have interviewed him about Vincent too: czcams.com/video/eTGcyuEU6Wo/video.html

  • @1234Pipo
    @1234Pipo Před 2 lety

    He aged very well...

  • @BadMrFrosty999
    @BadMrFrosty999 Před 2 lety +1

    I wonder how he feels about what is happening in America now.

  • @Mr.Monta77
    @Mr.Monta77 Před 3 lety

    Nice house.

  • @gailsuzannemason7776
    @gailsuzannemason7776 Před 3 lety

    We do care~

  • @MegaTubescreamer
    @MegaTubescreamer Před 3 lety

    walking on eggshells and avoiding references to whoever may be implicated
    in his lyrics, jesters kings or queens, i liked `vincent` more really!

  • @raynic1173
    @raynic1173 Před 2 lety

    FFS, he still ain't going to explain the lyrics thru. Damn it Don, millions of us have grooved to this song, assuming...adlibbing the meaning, it be nice to know what you intended. Come on Don, please, pretty please?

  • @nepsens6193
    @nepsens6193 Před 3 lety

    So now everybody wants to live the life of a 70 year old who has done it all.....

  • @franspan9872
    @franspan9872 Před 3 lety +1

    One thing is changed, nobody sings protest songs any more.

  • @matsfrommusic
    @matsfrommusic Před rokem

    Great song and I like Madonnas cover of it as well. She made a very nice version.

  • @jimmydroid7838
    @jimmydroid7838 Před 3 lety +1

    Well at least it ain't Cherry Pie.

    • @cjkoegl
      @cjkoegl Před 3 lety

      Ha ha ha, couldn't have picked a better song to contrast.

  • @dabetwarner2361
    @dabetwarner2361 Před 3 lety

    The efficacious staircase essentially walk because epoxy cephalometrically educate along a super grass. short, deep jelly

  • @TheIsemgrim
    @TheIsemgrim Před 3 lety

    amerikaanse taart

  • @Liverpoolboy01
    @Liverpoolboy01 Před 2 lety

    Enjoy the wages at the NRA!!!

  • @phatato
    @phatato Před 3 lety +1

    I love his music but he alway seems crabby and part pooper-ish