American Pie

Princess Ivy · 10-20-2005, 02:05 PM

it's driving me crazy! American pie was writen as a eulogy to the deaths of some specific musicans, i can remember ritchie valenz and buddy holly, but not the other. anyone else remember?

littlemissattitude · 10-23-2005, 09:54 AM

The other musician that was on the plane with them was The Big Bopper (a DJ named J.P. Richardson), who sang "Chantilly Lace". The story as I heard it was that Waylon Jennings, who was a backup musician at the time, was supposed to be on the plane, but Richardson begged his seat on the plane because he wasn't feeling well and didn't want to ride the band bus.

Princess Ivy · 10-24-2005, 11:38 AM

thanks babe. imho one of the best songs ever

littlemissattitude · 03-20-2006, 07:51 AM

I just ran across this thread again and I thought I'd mention that Don McLean was on "Breakfast with the Arts" on A&E this morning, and sang "American Pie". The interviewer asked him later what he thought about all the time and effort people have put into analyzing the song and all the references in it. He said he thinks they have too much time on their hands. :smilie: He is probably right, but it's still a fun and interesting thing to think about.

steve12553 · 03-21-2006, 01:39 AM

That song is still facinating. I remember playing that song on my guitar with a gang of kid at a church youth group when I was about 18 or 19. THat song has to be 33 or 34 years old and it still sounds good and makes you think.

littlemissattitude · 03-23-2006, 03:55 AM

I remember sitting in gym class in high school one day, not long after the song came out, and two or three of us were trying to figure out all the references in it. Well, what else would we be doing in gym class?

I do think that it is interesting that in the Wikipedia article on the song, the possibility is raised that the line "Helter skelter in a summer swelter" is referring to Charlie Manson and the murders in the summer of 1969, and that interpretation never even occurred to us despite the fact that where we sat discussing the song that day was around ten miles from where Charlie and the gang were living when they did those murders and some of us knew people who had hung out up there on occasion. Go figure.

steve12553 · 03-23-2006, 04:08 AM

If you listen to it a thousand times you may be able to find all the hidden meanings.