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BangShift Daily Tune Up: “American Pie” by Don Mclean (1971)


BangShift Daily Tune Up: “American Pie” by Don Mclean (1971)

I can’t believe we haven’t run this song as a Daily Tune Up yet! We suck, cause this song rules. I mean how can you go wrong when your song talks about driving your Chevy to the levee. Plus, this one is super fun to play on Guitar Hero. Recorded in 1971, “American Pie” sat at the top of the Billboard charts for 4 weeks in 1972, and will always be considered to be Don Mclean’s greatest musical hit. The song is said to be the poetic telling of the “Day the music died” when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and Big Bopper died in a plain crash in 1959. Don was asked many times what the lyrics specifically meant, and why he never used any of these artists names in the song, to which he replied that song writers should write their lyrics, sing their songs and move on. If you don’t get it, you don’t get it. Not his problem. We kinda like him for that. Plus, it reminds me of some of my own words that others just don’t get.

But enough writing, now it’s time for listening.

Click play to hear greatness from Don Mclean LIVE in 1972.

 


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2 thoughts on “BangShift Daily Tune Up: “American Pie” by Don Mclean (1971)

  1. Alvis

    When this classic came out I was 9 years old in small town USA, where on weekends you could watch every kind of Detroit iron cruise the main drag – Sweet Memories.

  2. Scott Liggett

    Also, of note this song was too long for a single side of a 45 record. So, it was split and on both sides.

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