‘American Pie’ singer Don McLean talks true meaning of his 50-year song
“American Pie” singer Don McLean has been belting out the classic for over 50 years.
McLean recently spoke with Fox News Digital, and expressed his gratitude for the praise that he got from the legendary country singer Garth Brooks, who is the subject of a new documentary “The Day that the Music Died The Story of Don McLean’s American Pie.'”
The project, which debuts this week at Paramount+ Tuesday, focuses on McLean and his song “the day that music stopped. “
“He declared it to be one of the most memorable songs ever recorded,” McLean shared. “And McLean has numerous great things in the movie. And it’s an intimate expression of his affection for the song that goes back to the time he was an infant. He believes that the song in somehow is connected to his professional career and musical life that somehow has brought him to that.”
Songwriter and singer Don McLean writes the iconic song “American Pie” circa 1970 , in this photograph taken from his personal collection of photos. (Don McLean Archives Collection)
The expression McLean declared, “Well, the day that music dies, is a the metaphor for death, naturally but in the case of the death of the spirit music is the equivalent to spirituality.”
“And this is why, as you’ve probably guessed that if music dies it dies the spirit,” he added, before explaining the significance of the song. “And that’s why each line of “American Pie” adds a new dimension to the story that occurred on the day the music stopped. It’s all poetry, really. It’s not prose. know, it’s supposed to be understood as metaphors. Much of the lyrics as well as the majority of songwriting.”
‘AMERICAN PIE’ SINGER DON MCLEAN SAYS MUSIC NO LONGER EXISTS BECAUSE OF ‘NIHILISTIC SOCIETY’
“The The Day that the Music died the Story of Don McLean’s “American Pie'” is streaming exclusively on Paramount+. ( Paramount+)
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McLean then went on to discuss what went into creation of “American Pie.”
Don McLean performs “American Pie” to celebrate it’s 50th anniversary in the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper performed on February. 3 the 3rd of February, 1959. ((c) Morling Manor Music Corporation)
“You know, I believe the documentary will be entertaining, just as the song. I’ve wanted to speak about the lyrics for the past 50 years. I’m going to be able to do so in a manner that I can really tell how the whole thing came about and also the level of negativity I had to conquer,” McLean said. “The musicians were unable to perform the song, and the producer didn’t believe I was talented, so I picked the producer. The song ran 8 and half minuteslong, and it never gets played. It’s really a bunch of mountains that needed to be scaled to get this song the point where people could listen to it.”
What do you think of having among the top famous tracks ever recorded in music history?
“Well I’m very proud of myself, and I’m sure the family members are proud. My parents or my mother were very happy.” McLean declared.
“My father was unaware about what had happened to me. But I do think that it’s true that their pride can be a dangerous thing in a sense. It’s the case if I made people happy If I gave the opportunity to see two or three things such as if I turned them onto the music of rock and roll or if I turned them onto folk music, or if I introduced them to a small amount of American culture,” said McLean.
“And I’m happy, knowing this gives me a purpose in my life. I’m glad I did it. This is the beginning of an adventure. It is essential to begin by expressing an interest in something before you can seriously, you know how to start getting started. I’m not convinced that the majority of music is able to introduce anyone to something similar to this. This is what makes ‘American Pie’ so special and unique.”
