His song "Vincent" is in my top 5 songs of all time. Glad to see you doing this song as well. I enjoy watching you experience these classics of my lifetime.
The repeated phrase "the day the music died" refers to a plane crash in 1959 that killed early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens, ending the era of early rock and roll; this became the popular nickname for that crash. The theme of the song goes beyond mourning McLean's childhood music heroes, reflecting the deep cultural changes and profound disillusion and loss of innocence of his generationThe repeated phrase "the day the music died" refers to a plane crash in 1959 that killed early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens, ending the era of early rock and roll; this became the popular nickname for that crash. The theme of the song goes beyond mourning McLean's childhood music heroes, reflecting the deep cultural changes and profound disillusion and loss of innocence of his generation
Back in the day thousands of church bells were destroyed because church bells were tuned to healing frequencies. I saw a photo the other day of a church bell graveyard - intentionally cracked, giant church bells as far as the eye could see.
There's a video on RUclips where a man is given permission by the property owner of the farm to go to the spot of the crash. The ghastly indentation from impact is still there.
For those of us who had this record (on a 45), because it was so long, we'd have to turn the record over to hear the second half of the song. We know the words by heart too!
So right, I actually bought the album, not the single, took a while to learn the words off by heart though, no means of checking lyrics back in the day,
That was me. I was five years old when the song was released and I would play it on my little portable record player all day long. Memorized the lyrics as a five year old and know it still 54 years later.
This song would play on the radio and people would just stop what they were doing and turn it up to listen. It always gives me goosebumps when I hear it. I love this song and how it pays tribute to Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Richie Valens. It was a sad day to lose three greats in a single plane crash.
Yup. If you were driving, you just kept driving. Hell even when you had just pulled into the driveway if this came on you just threw the car into reverse. lol
"Killing Me Softly" was written by Lori Lieberman after going to see Don in concert. She recorded it in 1971, released in 1972. Roberta Flack covered it in 1973 and made it popular. 🤙🏼
You definitely want to react to his song, “Vincent” (sometimes referred to by music listeners as “Starry Starry Nights”, which was one of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings).
McLean received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 16, 2021, in the Music Category . He asked Home Free to be there as they covered this song with Don. Now, 50 years later, 2021, the song “American Pie” has been re-recorded with McLean and vocal group Home Free. This version is the first studio collaboration ever done by McLean with any other artist, his only other known recording is with Garth Brooks on Brook’s LIVE album, which was recorded at Central Park in New York City. "What happened in the studio was great, but what happened when they put it all together was magic! I am honored to have worked with these guys and to win, not just one, but three national Telly awards for the music video is just great!!!”
I think, even to this day, that if you're singing this aloud while driving on the roads, at the red lights, people in the other cars will know it and sing along too. It doesn't grow old in the annuls of rock
THE Big Bopper name is not Popper, it's pronounced Bobber Buddy Holly's wife found out about his death while watching TV and suffered a miscarriage the next day due to "psychological trauma"; his mother heard the news on the radio and collapsed. Soon after, authorities adopted a policy of notifying a victim's family before their name was released. His wife could not attend his funeral. Elvis felt deeply saddened by the news and understood that rock and roll had lost a great friend and three budding inspirations. Elvis had Col. Parker send beautiful floral wreaths to the four separate funerals. Elvis couldn't attend because he was in the Army.
Remember when I was at school American Pie was not just a record, it was a whole album. The cool kids all wanted to learn acoustic guitar. So we could have singalongs on the bus, to Don Mclean and Simon & Garfunkel songs.
"This'll be the day that I die" is a twist off the song "That'll Be the Day" by Buddy Holly. This is roughly about the loss of innocence and faith through the history of rockand roll from the 50s through the 60s. He starts out as a teenager who's just about sock hops and having fun, when songs were like The Book of Love, and A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation. There are song and social references through the whole thing - references to the Beatles, Elvis, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, The Byrds, Hells Angels, assassinations, Charles Manson, etc. Janis Joplin is seen as the "girl who sang the blues." "The half-time air was sweet perfume" may have been the influence of drugs on rock lyrics. Discussions about this song can go on for hours, honestly.
For the 50th anniversary of the song, Don sought out Home Free and he joined them to record this song as an acapella version. He also then asked them to join him when he got his star on the Walk of Fame and they performed a bit of this song acapella. It is well worth watching their video.
"American Pie" is one of the greatest classic songs of our times. Don McLean is a great songwriter & storyteller. I remember this song growing up. "American Pie" pays tribute to the loss of 3 legends who died so young (Buddy Holly, Richie Valens & The Big Bopper). A lot of references in the song are made to many artists from the early days of music including Elvis, Janis Joplin, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Byrds & others. Don McLean did an awesome version with Home Free to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this song. Please check it out.
I’m surprised it’s only 5 million times played? I have been hearing this song continuously since 1971. It always makes you sing along, (even when I didn’t know what it meant). Don teamed up with Home Free to do a fiftieth anniversary version of this song. It’s fantastic and Don sounds fabulous with the boys from Home Free.
"The Day the Music Died": This phrase refers to the tragic plane crash on February 3, 1959, that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. It symbolizes not just their loss but a perceived loss of innocence and the end of a golden era in rock 'n' roll. "Drove my Chevy to the levee": The Chevrolet is an icon of American culture, representing the freedom and optimism of post-war America. The levee, being dry, might symbolize the disillusionment and the drying up of the American dream during the time the song was written. "This'll be the day that I die": This line is a direct reference to Buddy Holly's song "That'll Be the Day." In the context of "American Pie," it suggests a sense of foreboding and the end of an era. "The Jester": This character is commonly interpreted as Bob Dylan, symbolizing the shift in rock music from its innocent beginnings to more introspective and socially conscious lyrics. The jester stealing the king's crown could refer to Dylan's substantial influence over the music scene, overshadowing traditional rock 'n' roll (the king). "The Quartet In The Park": A common interpretation is that this references "The Beatles" since they were a group of four and the park it refers to is "Candlestick Park", the site of their last live concert in 1966. "The King": Elvis Presley is often associated with this figure, representing the original rock 'n' roll that was giving way to new styles and artists. "The Marching Band Refused to Yield": This could symbolize the persistence of the counterculture movement and protests against the Vietnam War, despite governmental and societal pressure to conform. "The Flames Climbed High into the Night": It could be interpreted as the unrest and upheaval during the 1960s, including the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War protests, and other significant socio-political events. "The Sacred Store": This may represent the loss of simplicity and purity in music and culture, possibly referring to the commercialization of rock music or the closing of small, independent record stores as music became a massive industry.
Many quotations from rock & roll songs that were very familiar to the audience. Many references to contemporary history, some nicely ambiguous. A brilliant evocation of an era.
There are lines in this no one ever knew the meaning as they were so personal. Example: "for ten years we've been on our own" he recently revealed was about living at home with his mother 10 years after his father died. We could have never known that.
In this song, many references to bands of the era, Rolling Stones, The Birds, Bob Dylan to name a few. The genius of the song is the ambiguity of the lyric which allows the listener to fashion the meaning to his/her own desire.
This was a unique 45 RPM record release too. The song was so long that it continued from side A to side B. I got good at waiting for the exact instant to grab the record, quickly flip it and put the stylus back on it to continue the song.
Well I'm not only a musician but a bit of a scientist as well and I can talk all day about the mysteries and the amazing phenomenon of evolution. And the word still carries weight over into our everyday lives too, with a slightly different meaning. Just meaning how we go through life and deal with things. I really like your reactions, brother.
I went this past summer to Iowa to go to The Surf Ballroom which is where they played their last concert the night the died. A legendary place full of memorabilia. Then drove to the crash site which is about a quarter mile walk just past the iconic Buddy Holly big black glasses memorial. I grew up with this music thanks to my dad as he was a huge Buddy Holly fan.
The death of music is referring to Buddy Holly, Big bopper, and Richey Valens plane crash... The band who took the field is referring to the Beatles... The King and Queen is referring to Elvis Presley and Joan Baez... The Jester is Bob Dillan... Bob Dillan was in a cast due to a motor cycle crash, broke his arm... Helter Skelter is referring to the Manson murders... Sweet Perfume is referring to Agent orange or tear gas... Jack Flash is a song by the Rolling Stones... Rolling stones had problems performing at candle stick park in the late 1960's... The Hells Angels were security at the concert... The devil he was referring to was Mick Jagger... The girl who sang the blues is referring to Janis Joplin... The three wise men are referring to John F Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King... This song has so many different meanings that trying to interoperate them is hard...
I went to a concert (Earth, Wind and Fire?) in 71. Some guy we'd never heard of opened for them. Just him and a guitar. Turns out it was Don McLean. This is the song he opened with. It would be another 3 days before it hit the radio. My point is, don't worry about the backup band and the damn piano. They are totally unnecessary. Listen to the lyrics and ask yourself what he is singing about. Who had died in February a decade before? Who was the Jester? The King?... The Rolling Stone is kind of obvious...James Dean was a effing movie star not a musician You get the drift? No, until you understand what Don was singing about, you have no clue why he is in the Songwriters' Hall of Fame.
in order to understan this song, you need to understand the era. in the first half of the 60's, there were 5 political assassinations in the US, there was an massive increase of troops in Viet Nam (this will be the day that i die) and the draft was brough in, there was a pland crash that kill several of the popular musicians of the time were killed in a plane crash, (the day the Music died) the Blues lady was Jani Joplin and her death in 1970, the confusion, disappointment, faith, loss of hope and regaining that hope are all there im the lyrics of this song. of course as with any poetry, every ear or eye gets something different.
In 2015 McClean's original lyrics for this song were auctioned off for $1.2 million dollars. American Pie is a snapshot of musical history as well as of American culture. Songs don't come any bigger.
American Pie was name of Cessna plane that crashed in a field near a levee in Iowa. Back in dancing in the gym after school were called sock hops, bc you took off your shoes so wouldn't ruin the gym's wooden floor.
Thanks for the comment about the pianist. Harlem-born Paul Griffin, a session musician who played on many of my old favorites, and apparently the key addition in the American Pie instrumentation.
I think you have to know all the societal changes that happened between 1959 through 1968. Politics. Vietnam, Assassinations, civil protests, and more.
Yea, the piano line is fantastic. As someone mentioned earlier, you just stopped whatever it was you were doing when this came on the radio. If you were driving, you just turned up the volume and kept going.
I enjoyed your reaction! 👍 The end of the early Rock and Roll era happened pretty much in a period of 2 years, 2 months and 11 days. During that time, five of the very first 10 members elected to the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame had their skyrocketing careers curtailed or ended. Oct 12, 1957-Little Richard quit Rock and Roll to become a preacher. Dec 12, 1957-Jerry Lee Lewis shot his career in both feet when he married his 13 year old cousin. March 24, 1958-Elvis goes to the Army for 2 years. Feb 3, 1959-Buddy Holly was killed In a plane crash. (along with J.P. Richardson, Ritchie Valens, and pilot Roger Peterson) Dec 23, 1959-Chuck Berry was arrested for violation of the Mann Act.(I believe it's something like, 'transporting a minor across state lines for immoral or illegal purposes') Subsequently he was tried and sent to prison for a couple of years.
Jagger is Jack Flash (from the Stones' song Jumping Jack Flash). This part refers to the Altamont concert in '69 during which several members of the Hells Angels ("no angel born in hell"), who were hired for security, beat a young man to death near the stage. Devil references were related to the Stones' album "Satanic Majesties" and the sone "Sympathy for the Devil."
@emerald1805, "The Jester, on the sidelines, in a cast," refers to Bob Dylan recovering from a motorcycle accident. Many believe that his inability to perform after that was the death of his career.
I haven't seen this video before. I like it. I haven't even finished your reaction. I've been singing this tune for 40 years. I LOVE when "old talent" gets rediscovered
You hear references to lots of popular groups and singers in the 1960s including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, etc. If you familiarize yourself to songs from the 60s and what was going on in the 60s, cincluding pop culture such as the Manson murders, you'll recognize the references.
For example, “widowed bride” was Buddy Holly’s but might have been Jackie Kennedy as well. Sweet Perfume and Marching Band might mean the Beatles smoking reefer and the Sergeant Pepper album; or tear gas and police overreaction at the riots outside the 1968 Chicago Democratic National Convention. The Jester is Bob Dylan, the King is Elvis, The Devil is Mick Jagger at Altamont in 1969; many things have double meanings.
I've loved this song since its release. I was not yet 9 years old when Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Richey Valens died in Feb 1959. I was too young to remember the actual time they died 😢 but most of my life, I've been saddened by their deaths. 💔 I do remember, though, how much the lyrics have been debated ever since 1971. 😂 However, you should really look up the music for all 3 of these guys. Buddy has a lot of songs that you would love and there are great stories about all 3 of them. Also, Buddy & Richey were sooo young which makes this story so much more tragic. All 3 of them were quite characters. Great resction again. 😅
If you want to hear a different take on rock and roll and its relation to newer music, try "It's All Rock and Roll to Me" (Billy Joel) and "The Heart of Rock and Roll is Still Beating" (Huey Lewis and the News). Both songs see the continuity between the rock and roll of the fifties and sixties and the rock and pop of the eighties.
You’ll appreciate this even more when you learn about who he is referencing. I love that you can appreciate the music an old Baby Boomer like me loved.
I've always loved this song and it"s reason re a plane crash (thank you for the reason for the song), well that's very sad, but the few words "the day the music died) has stayed with me forever, because a world without music is a world dead.
I really enjoyed your reaction. I feel the same way every time I listen to it. I think you’ll enjoy the song Vincent I heard it was Tupac favourite song.
You should check out the new version of this song that Don McLean (by his request) & Home Free did a couple of years ago during Covid lockdown. They were in different parts of the country and thru some fantastic editing it was all put together. Afterwards, Don got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame & asked Home Free to be there & sang during the presentation. Don is in his 70’s and still sounds good! Please react to the video, thanks!
Everyone who grew up with this song still remembers every single word!
Oh, yes! I am singing along as it's being played. It might be the greatest song ever.
Yes we do!! 😊
True
Yes. Every word is permanently imprinted on my memory. We sang it endlessly in the 70s.
Without a headset you can't tell but the song begins in mono representing the 1950s and slowly opens to full stereo as we move into the 1960s.
His song "Vincent" is in my top 5 songs of all time. Glad to see you doing this song as well. I enjoy watching you experience these classics of my lifetime.
Yes
Knowing the history of the 20th century and the effect rock music had on it - is a must to understanding this song.
The repeated phrase "the day the music died" refers to a plane crash in 1959 that killed early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens, ending the era of early rock and roll; this became the popular nickname for that crash. The theme of the song goes beyond mourning McLean's childhood music heroes, reflecting the deep cultural changes and profound disillusion and loss of innocence of his generationThe repeated phrase "the day the music died" refers to a plane crash in 1959 that killed early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens, ending the era of early rock and roll; this became the popular nickname for that crash. The theme of the song goes beyond mourning McLean's childhood music heroes, reflecting the deep cultural changes and profound disillusion and loss of innocence of his generation
Tell you didn’t watch the whole video before commenting without telling me.
Back in the day thousands of church bells were destroyed because church bells were tuned to healing frequencies. I saw a photo the other day of a church bell graveyard - intentionally cracked, giant church bells as far as the eye could see.
There's a video on RUclips where a man is given permission by the property owner of the farm to go to the spot of the crash. The ghastly indentation from impact is still there.
The name of the plane that crashed was America Pie.
@@angelacowens8291 ridiculous
For those of us who had this record (on a 45), because it was so long, we'd have to turn the record over to hear the second half of the song. We know the words by heart too!
So right, I actually bought the album, not the single, took a while to learn the words off by heart though, no means of checking lyrics back in the day,
That was me. I was five years old when the song was released and I would play it on my little portable record player all day long. Memorized the lyrics as a five year old and know it still 54 years later.
This song would play on the radio and people would just stop what they were doing and turn it up to listen.
It always gives me goosebumps when I hear it. I love this song and how it pays tribute to Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Richie Valens. It was a sad day to lose three greats in a single plane crash.
Yup. If you were driving, you just kept driving. Hell even when you had just pulled into the driveway if this came on you just threw the car into reverse. lol
Don McLean has an incredible talent for painting visual landscapes with words
"Killing Me Softly" was written by Lori Lieberman after going to see Don in concert. She recorded it in 1971, released in 1972. Roberta Flack covered it in 1973 and made it popular. 🤙🏼
You definitely want to react to his song, “Vincent” (sometimes referred to by music listeners as “Starry Starry Nights”, which was one of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings).
A true anthem that is almost impossible not to sing along with.
McLean received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 16, 2021, in the Music Category . He asked Home Free to be there as they covered this song with Don. Now, 50 years later, 2021, the song “American Pie” has been re-recorded with McLean and vocal group Home Free. This version is the first studio collaboration ever done by McLean with any other artist, his only other known recording is with Garth Brooks on Brook’s LIVE album, which was recorded at Central Park in New York City. "What happened in the studio was great, but what happened when they put it all together was magic! I am honored to have worked with these guys and to win, not just one, but three national Telly awards for the music video is just great!!!”
I think, even to this day, that if you're singing this aloud while driving on the roads, at the red lights, people in the other cars will know it and sing along too. It doesn't grow old in the annuls of rock
THE Big Bopper name is not Popper, it's pronounced Bobber Buddy Holly's wife found out about his death while watching TV and suffered a miscarriage the next day due to "psychological trauma"; his mother heard the news on the radio and collapsed. Soon after, authorities adopted a policy of notifying a victim's family before their name was released. His wife could not attend his funeral. Elvis felt deeply saddened by the news and understood that rock and roll had lost a great friend and three budding inspirations. Elvis had Col. Parker send beautiful floral wreaths to the four separate funerals. Elvis couldn't attend because he was in the Army.
4 funerals?
@@karenwalsh1143 Holly, Richardson, Valens and pilot
@@bella-xp7qdeveryone forgets about the pilot (Roger Peterson)
Remember when I was at school American Pie was not just a record, it was a whole album. The cool kids all wanted to learn acoustic guitar. So we could have singalongs on the bus, to Don Mclean and Simon & Garfunkel songs.
"This'll be the day that I die" is a twist off the song "That'll Be the Day" by Buddy Holly. This is roughly about the loss of innocence and faith through the history of rockand roll from the 50s through the 60s. He starts out as a teenager who's just about sock hops and having fun, when songs were like The Book of Love, and A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation. There are song and social references through the whole thing - references to the Beatles, Elvis, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, The Byrds, Hells Angels, assassinations, Charles Manson, etc. Janis Joplin is seen as the "girl who sang the blues." "The half-time air was sweet perfume" may have been the influence of drugs on rock lyrics. Discussions about this song can go on for hours, honestly.
Timeless. Undeniably a great song, a song you know many if not all of the words. It is a masterpiece. Music will never die, nor will this song
He's still singing. He recently rerecorded this with the acapella group Home Free and still sounds good.
For the 50th anniversary of the song, Don sought out Home Free and he joined them to record this song as an acapella version. He also then asked them to join him when he got his star on the Walk of Fame and they performed a bit of this song acapella. It is well worth watching their video.
as a fan of both Don Mclean and Home Free it is an absolute delight.
@@deanm375I love the Home Free cover featuring Don McLean!
This song writing is true poetry. And there can be multiple interpretations.
"American Pie" is one of the greatest classic songs of our times. Don McLean is a great songwriter & storyteller. I remember this song growing up. "American Pie" pays tribute to the loss of 3 legends who died so young (Buddy Holly, Richie Valens & The Big Bopper). A lot of references in the song are made to many artists from the early days of music including Elvis, Janis Joplin, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Byrds & others.
Don McLean did an awesome version with Home Free to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this song. Please check it out.
I’m surprised it’s only 5 million times played? I have been hearing this song continuously since 1971. It always makes you sing along, (even when I didn’t know what it meant). Don teamed up with Home Free to do a fiftieth anniversary version of this song. It’s fantastic and Don sounds fabulous with the boys from Home Free.
Played six million times in my head alone!
🤣
There are probably many different copies of Don McLean singing this on RUclips.
Please react to his tribute to Vincent VanGogh - the best poetry set to music.
And have a hankie/tissues ready.
"The Day the Music Died": This phrase refers to the tragic plane crash on February 3, 1959, that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. It symbolizes not just their loss but a perceived loss of innocence and the end of a golden era in rock 'n' roll.
"Drove my Chevy to the levee": The Chevrolet is an icon of American culture, representing the freedom and optimism of post-war America. The levee, being dry, might symbolize the disillusionment and the drying up of the American dream during the time the song was written.
"This'll be the day that I die": This line is a direct reference to Buddy Holly's song "That'll Be the Day." In the context of "American Pie," it suggests a sense of foreboding and the end of an era.
"The Jester": This character is commonly interpreted as Bob Dylan, symbolizing the shift in rock music from its innocent beginnings to more introspective and socially conscious lyrics. The jester stealing the king's crown could refer to Dylan's substantial influence over the music scene, overshadowing traditional rock 'n' roll (the king).
"The Quartet In The Park": A common interpretation is that this references "The Beatles" since they were a group of four and the park it refers to is "Candlestick Park", the site of their last live concert in 1966.
"The King": Elvis Presley is often associated with this figure, representing the original rock 'n' roll that was giving way to new styles and artists.
"The Marching Band Refused to Yield": This could symbolize the persistence of the counterculture movement and protests against the Vietnam War, despite governmental and societal pressure to conform.
"The Flames Climbed High into the Night": It could be interpreted as the unrest and upheaval during the 1960s, including the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War protests, and other significant socio-political events.
"The Sacred Store": This may represent the loss of simplicity and purity in music and culture, possibly referring to the commercialization of rock music or the closing of small, independent record stores as music became a massive industry.
If you haven’t already, check out Arlo Guthrie’s gem “Alice’s Restaurant.” Another long, unique, Vietnam protest song.
YES!!!!
"VINCENT" is a beautiful and somber song. That should be next! ❤
The 8 hours I spent sitting by my radio when they broke this down line by line I realize now was my first reaction channel. 😂
Many quotations from rock & roll songs that were very familiar to the audience. Many references to contemporary history, some nicely ambiguous. A brilliant evocation of an era.
There are lines in this no one ever knew the meaning as they were so personal. Example: "for ten years we've been on our own" he recently revealed was about living at home with his mother 10 years after his father died. We could have never known that.
In this song, many references to bands of the era, Rolling Stones, The Birds, Bob Dylan to name a few. The genius of the song is the ambiguity of the lyric which allows the listener to fashion the meaning to his/her own desire.
This was a unique 45 RPM record release too. The song was so long that it continued from side A to side B. I got good at waiting for the exact instant to grab the record, quickly flip it and put the stylus back on it to continue the song.
Well I'm not only a musician but a bit of a scientist as well and I can talk all day about the mysteries and the amazing phenomenon of evolution. And the word still carries weight over into our everyday lives too, with a slightly different meaning. Just meaning how we go through life and deal with things. I really like your reactions, brother.
I went this past summer to Iowa to go to The Surf Ballroom which is where they played their last concert the night the died. A legendary place full of memorabilia. Then drove to the crash site which is about a quarter mile walk just past the iconic Buddy Holly big black glasses memorial. I grew up with this music thanks to my dad as he was a huge Buddy Holly fan.
The day that music died, is a PLANE CRASH with three of the biggest and leaders of early rock n roll.
The death of music is referring to Buddy Holly, Big bopper, and Richey Valens plane crash...
The band who took the field is referring to the Beatles...
The King and Queen is referring to Elvis Presley and Joan Baez...
The Jester is Bob Dillan...
Bob Dillan was in a cast due to a motor cycle crash, broke his arm...
Helter Skelter is referring to the Manson murders...
Sweet Perfume is referring to Agent orange or tear gas...
Jack Flash is a song by the Rolling Stones...
Rolling stones had problems performing at candle stick park in the late 1960's...
The Hells Angels were security at the concert...
The devil he was referring to was Mick Jagger...
The girl who sang the blues is referring to Janis Joplin...
The three wise men are referring to John F Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King...
This song has so many different meanings that trying to interoperate them is hard...
You have good taste. You should listen to Vincent - try to get a version that has Van Gogh paintings in the background to illustrate the words.
Vincent is a beautiful song. Heartbreaking. And touching. And though it is about Van Gogh it could be about anyone.
I went to a concert (Earth, Wind and Fire?) in 71. Some guy we'd never heard of opened for them. Just him and a guitar. Turns out it was Don McLean. This is the song he opened with. It would be another 3 days before it hit the radio.
My point is, don't worry about the backup band and the damn piano. They are totally unnecessary. Listen to the lyrics and ask yourself what he is singing about.
Who had died in February a decade before?
Who was the Jester? The King?... The Rolling Stone is kind of obvious...James Dean was a effing movie star not a musician
You get the drift?
No, until you understand what Don was singing about, you have no clue why he is in the Songwriters' Hall of Fame.
Mc. Lean when 2 vowels go walking g the first one does the talking😅 good reaction
Brother M - you gotta follow this up with "Vincent." Poignant but powerful. Not to be missed.
in order to understan this song, you need to understand the era. in the first half of the 60's, there were 5 political assassinations in the US, there was an massive increase of troops in Viet Nam (this will be the day that i die) and the draft was brough in, there was a pland crash that kill several of the popular musicians of the time were killed in a plane crash, (the day the Music died) the Blues lady was Jani Joplin and her death in 1970, the confusion, disappointment, faith, loss of hope and regaining that hope are all there im the lyrics of this song.
of course as with any poetry, every ear or eye gets something different.
He reminds me of my childhood. Vincent is an excellent one too.
His name is Don McLean.
ok, great!!! now time for "Vincent" along with Van Gough's art.
I think the song is about what was once great about us that we are now losing
Yes - it is mourning innocence and loss I think
Other awesome songwriters are Paul Simon and Harry Chaplin. The entire catalogs are true gems.
Complex lyrics not one verse the same….. pure poetry and not one lewd word .
Vincent is Don's best, in my opinion. It's a sad, gorgeous homage to Vincent Van Gogh. Teary music.
In 2015 McClean's original lyrics for this song were auctioned off for $1.2 million dollars. American Pie is a snapshot of musical history as well as of American culture. Songs don't come any bigger.
American Pie was name of Cessna plane that crashed in a field near a levee in Iowa. Back in dancing in the gym after school were called sock hops, bc you took off your shoes so wouldn't ruin the gym's wooden floor.
whiskey IN Rye not whiskey and rye, they went to Rye, NY when the Levee was closed
Thanks for the comment about the pianist. Harlem-born Paul Griffin, a session musician who played on many of my old favorites, and apparently the key addition in the American Pie instrumentation.
Iconic song. Pronounced Mc Kleen. Another good one is his song Vincent about the artist Van Gogh and his painting “Starry, starry night.”
Depends where you are. McLane in Australia.
I think you have to know all the societal changes that happened between 1959 through 1968. Politics. Vietnam, Assassinations, civil protests, and more.
This is how my generation feels about rap.
The day the music died is when Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash.
Yea, the piano line is fantastic.
As someone mentioned earlier, you just stopped whatever it was you were doing when this came on the radio. If you were driving, you just turned up the volume and kept going.
I enjoyed your reaction! 👍
The end of the early Rock and Roll era happened pretty much in a period of 2 years, 2 months and 11 days. During that time, five of the very first 10 members elected to the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame had their skyrocketing careers curtailed or ended.
Oct 12, 1957-Little Richard quit Rock and Roll to become a preacher.
Dec 12, 1957-Jerry Lee Lewis shot his career in both feet when he married his 13 year old cousin.
March 24, 1958-Elvis goes to the Army for 2 years.
Feb 3, 1959-Buddy Holly was killed In a plane crash. (along with J.P. Richardson, Ritchie Valens, and pilot Roger Peterson)
Dec 23, 1959-Chuck Berry was arrested for violation of the Mann Act.(I believe it's something like, 'transporting a minor across state lines for immoral or illegal purposes') Subsequently he was tried and sent to prison for a couple of years.
King=Elvis. Jester=Mick Jagger
Girl sang the blues= Janis Joplin. Metaphors for
Beatles.Byrds. many more.
Jester is Bob Dylan, not Jagger,.
Jagger is Jack Flash (from the Stones' song Jumping Jack Flash). This part refers to the Altamont concert in '69 during which several members of the Hells Angels ("no angel born in hell"), who were hired for security, beat a young man to death near the stage. Devil references were related to the Stones' album "Satanic Majesties" and the sone "Sympathy for the Devil."
Bob Dylan is believed to be the Jester by most fans. You had the others right!
@emerald1805, "The Jester, on the sidelines, in a cast," refers to Bob Dylan recovering from a motorcycle accident. Many believe that his inability to perform after that was the death of his career.
@@objectiveobserver4278 I totally agree with you. That is what I said
I haven't seen this video before. I like it. I haven't even finished your reaction. I've been singing this tune for 40 years. I LOVE when "old talent" gets rediscovered
You hear references to lots of popular groups and singers in the 1960s including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, etc. If you familiarize yourself to songs from the 60s and what was going on in the 60s, cincluding pop culture such as the Manson murders, you'll recognize the references.
For example, “widowed bride” was Buddy Holly’s but might have been Jackie Kennedy as well. Sweet Perfume and Marching Band might mean the Beatles smoking reefer and the Sergeant Pepper album; or tear gas and police overreaction at the riots outside the 1968 Chicago Democratic National Convention. The Jester is Bob Dylan, the King is Elvis, The Devil is Mick Jagger at Altamont in 1969; many things have double meanings.
The widowed bride was Buddy Holly's wife. She found out he died while watching television. The next day, she had a miscarriage due to the stress.
The day the music died was also the debacle of the Rolling Stones’ Altamont concert
Any musicians mission. Making music that resonates with 300 million Americans.
Thats a direct call out.
I've loved this song since its release. I was not yet 9 years old when Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Richey Valens died in Feb 1959. I was too young to remember the actual time they died 😢 but most of my life, I've been saddened by their deaths. 💔 I do remember, though, how much the lyrics have been debated ever since 1971. 😂
However, you should really look up the music for all 3 of these guys. Buddy has a lot of songs that you would love and there are great stories about all 3 of them. Also, Buddy & Richey were sooo young which makes this story so much more tragic. All 3 of them were quite characters.
Great resction again. 😅
You would like his song vincent.
If you want to hear a different take on rock and roll and its relation to newer music, try "It's All Rock and Roll to Me" (Billy Joel) and "The Heart of Rock and Roll is Still Beating" (Huey Lewis and the News). Both songs see the continuity between the rock and roll of the fifties and sixties and the rock and pop of the eighties.
Paul Griffin was the pianist on American Pie
You’ll appreciate this even more when you learn about who he is referencing. I love that you can appreciate the music an old Baby Boomer like me loved.
Don McLean’s last name is pronounced “Mick-LAIN”.
Gets my vote for best song ever written
Radio didn't want to play songs longer than 3 minutes through most of my childhood (which was a shame).
Mc Lean sir.
Actually Mc Lane lol
You need to hear the collaboration/cover he did with, Home Free a few years ago. IT'S BRILLIANT!!! 🔥🔥🔥
I've always loved this song and it"s reason re a plane crash (thank you for the reason for the song), well that's very sad, but the few words "the day the music died) has stayed with me forever, because a world without music is a world dead.
The documentary is on Paramount + I have a feeling Don wasn't being honest about some of the lyrics.
Please please please listen to Vincent...
Timeless song
I really enjoyed your reaction. I feel the same way every time I listen to it. I think you’ll enjoy the song Vincent I heard it was Tupac favourite song.
Mc. Lean as in lean on me,Mc Lean! And it's true ba door!!
👍👍Old School Classic Gooooodnessss!!! 🖖❤
You should check out the new version of this song that Don McLean (by his request) & Home Free did a couple of years ago during Covid lockdown. They were in different parts of the country and thru some fantastic editing it was all put together. Afterwards, Don got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame & asked Home Free to be there & sang during the presentation. Don is in his 70’s and still sounds good! Please react to the video, thanks!
AN AMERICAN CLASSIC !!!!!!!!
The Clain in McClain rhymes with plane.
Still on the playlist in my car.
Girl who sang the blues....Janis Joplin
Now that you know what the song is about, you should listen to it again. It will make more sense to you.
Yes Paris Dylan is gorgeous!
You must follow up with Weird Al's parody The Saga Begins"
Glad you liked it !
Don't think you've got the meaning of the song because even when it's finished you'll wonder what you just heard
The place the plane went down is about 1 1/2 hours away from where I live. I have been there to pay my respects.
I grew up in north central Iowa. Mason City / Clear Lake were my "stomping grounds" growing up😊
CLASSIC FOR EVER😍😍
Thick as a Brick by Jethro Tull is a 45-minute song.
CHARLES HARDIN HOLLEY.
Aged only 22.
R.I.P ❤
I still have the original vinyl 🇺🇸
McLean as in lane or pain or sane or main.
Pronounced like McLane. Glad you're checking out a lot of classics. Enjoying your channel.
If you’re talking evolution of music…we think it’s a devolution.
You have to do "Vincent"