About the song
Don McLean is an American singer-songwriter who is best known for his 1971 hit song American Pie. The song is an eight-minute ballad that tells the story of the day that Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson died in a plane crash in 1959.
American Pie is a classic folk rock song that has been covered by many artists, including Madonna, Elton John, and Green Day. It has also been used in numerous films and television shows, such as “The Big Chill” (1983) and “The Sopranos” (1999).
The song’s impact
American Pie was a critical and commercial success. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and stayed there for four weeks. The song also won a Grammy Award for Best Song of the Year in 1972.
The song’s legacy
American Pie is considered one of the greatest songs of all time. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2004.
Other notable songs by Don McLean
- “Vincent”
- “Castles in the Air”
- “Crying”
- “And I Love You So”
- “If You Believe in Me”
Further information
- You can listen to Don McLean’s version of American Pie on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FygIKsnkCw
- You can learn more about Don McLean on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_McLean
Note: The song was written by Don McLean.
Here are some additional interesting facts about the song American Pie:
- The song American Pie was inspired by the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson in a plane crash in 1959.
- The song American Pie is over eight minutes long, making it one of the longest pop songs ever released.
- The song American Pie has been covered by many artists, including Madonna, Elton John, and Green Day.
- The song American Pie has been used in numerous films and television shows, such as “The Big Chill” (1983) and “The Sopranos” (1999).
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