Musical Friday American Pie
I remember Madonna ever since my early years of childhood. Her voice is rining in my ears with the sounds like "Dont cry for me Argentina" or "Like a prayer" and "Material Girl". Later on I remember even myself singing out loud "American Pie" and trying to dance like her - except the pants falling part, which I never really liked and to this day I cannot understand why girls want to show their bodyparts/arse to the whole world/in public... But let us get back to the point and let me tell you a bit more about todays #musicalfriday piece ;)
"American Pie" is a song by American folk rock singer-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. In the UK, the single reached No. 2 on its original 1972 release and a reissue in 1991 reached No. 12.
***
The song is a recounting of "The Day the Music Died" (a term taken from the song) — the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper (Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr.) — and the aftermath. The song was listed as the No. 5 song on the RIAA project Songs of the Century. "American Pie" is considered Don McLeans magnum opus and his signature song.
 |
| Backing vocals were done in the video by the adorable Rupert Everett |
American pop singer Madonna released a cover version of the song in March 2000 to promote the soundtrack to her film The Next Best Thing (2000), with the song being serviced to radio on February 2. 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, after Rupert Everett (Madonnas co-star in The Next Best Thing) had convinced her to cover the song for the films soundtrack.
***
Due to the success of the single, it was included as a bonus track on her 2000 studio album Music, making the song the first single of the new album; however it was not available on the North American version. Madonna explained in a 2001 interview on BBC Radio 1 with Jo Whiley, the reason that the song was omitted from her 2001 greatest hits compilation GHV2: "It was something a certain record company executive twisted my arm into doing, but it didnt belong on the (Music) album so now its being punished." Don McLean himself praised the cover, saying it was "a gift from a goddess", and that her version is "mystical and sensual." 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 UK.
Madonna - American Pie
A long, long time ago
I can still remember how that music used to
make me smile
And I knew that if I had my chance
I could make those people dance
And maybe theyd be happy for a while
Did you write the book of love
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so
Now do you believe in Rock n roll
And can music save your mortal soul
And can you teach me how to dance real slow
Well, I know that youre in love with him
Cos I saw you dancin in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues
I was a lonely teenage broncin buck
With a pink carnation and a pick-up truck
But I knew that I was out of luck
The day the music died
I started singing
Bye, bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And good old boys were drinkin whiskey and rye
Singing thisll be the day that I die
Thisll be the day that I die
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the sacred store
Where Id heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldnt play
Well now, in the streets the children screamed
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken
Tho church bells all were broken
And the three men I admire the most
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died
We started singin
Bye, bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And good old boys were drinkin whiskey and rye
Singing thisll be the day that I die
Thisll be the day that I die
Bye, bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And good old boys were drinkin whiskey and rye
Singing thisll be the day that I die
Thisll be the day that I die
We started singin/*4
I can still remember how that music used to
make me smile
And I knew that if I had my chance
I could make those people dance
And maybe theyd be happy for a while
Did you write the book of love
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so
Now do you believe in Rock n roll
And can music save your mortal soul
And can you teach me how to dance real slow
Well, I know that youre in love with him
Cos I saw you dancin in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues
I was a lonely teenage broncin buck
With a pink carnation and a pick-up truck
But I knew that I was out of luck
The day the music died
I started singing
Bye, bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And good old boys were drinkin whiskey and rye
Singing thisll be the day that I die
Thisll be the day that I die
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the sacred store
Where Id heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldnt play
Well now, in the streets the children screamed
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken
Tho church bells all were broken
And the three men I admire the most
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died
We started singin
Bye, bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And good old boys were drinkin whiskey and rye
Singing thisll be the day that I die
Thisll be the day that I die
Bye, bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And good old boys were drinkin whiskey and rye
Singing thisll be the day that I die
Thisll be the day that I die
We started singin/*4
Yours truly,
A LadyBug In Love With Music
alternative link download
