Such an iconic song that I came so much to hate and still am not fond of. You either love it or hate it, IMHO. The best time I ever heard it was in Las Vegas one night on Fremont Street. The overhead light display was flowing, this song was blasted out over the street and, literally, all of us on Fremont Street at that moment in time started dancing and singing the song out loud, folks from everywhere in the world just groovin' on it. Such is the power of music to move people. Here's McLean's retake of it.

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Here's the utoob bit:

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Like the new version with the acopella group.. Sounds great.
Such an iconic song, a masterpiece really.

Tough to separate the artist from the art for me though.
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Well, I clearly remember hearing it on the radio. It made me feel something was over. Goodbye 60s, welcome the 70s! I didn`t bother about the lyrics. It was a stable song in our only (state) channel`s radio program "Etter skoletid" at 15.30 every working day.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021-02-05 18:05 by noughties.

American Pie and Brown Eyed Girl are two songs upon first listen aren't bad but man, perhaps 2 or my least favorite songs due to being almost criminaly over played. And I love Buddy Holly (so it's not the story I don't like) and really like Van Morrison's music. Just would be fine without hearing eitehr ever again.

Such a stupid song. Drove my Chevy to the levee, yeah right. Luckily you didnt have a Ford or we would be thanking the f'in Lord or something. Almost as pseudo-intellectual as starry starry night.

jb

A classic #1 Billboard hit, and as a nine year old at the time of it's release, it's one of those time capsule tunes that evokes many vivid memories of 1971/72 for me.

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Rip this joint, gonna save your soul, round and round and round we go......

Yep nine year olds were pretty much its target audience, that is to say, those without any real life experience were easily swayed. And that crap about Altamont and the music dying, save it man.

jb

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jbwelda
Yep nine year olds were pretty much its target audience, that is to say, those without any real life experience were easily swayed. And that crap about Altamont and the music dying, save it man.

jb

Hey! I was 10.
Sadly, this song was my introduction to the Stones. For a little while there I thought Mick Jagger was the devil. LOL.

In 2001, American Pie was voted #5 on the "Songs of the Century" list by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the National Endowment for the Arts, and Scholastic Inc.
Personally, I wouldn't include it in my top 100, but no doubt it made a major everlasting impression on many to be acknowledged in this way.


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Rip this joint, gonna save your soul, round and round and round we go......



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021-02-05 21:42 by Hairball.

Great song. I can remember that we discussed the lyrics extensively in an English lesson at school in the seventies (in Germany).
I was able to contribute quite a bit on the Altamont references.

Interesting list. Makes me wonder if anyone on here's favorite Stones song is Satisfaction? Certainly many people would list Satisfaction as their favorite Stone's song. But how many people who actually participate in a Stone's fan forum would consider it their favorite?

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dmay
Such an iconic song that I came so much to hate and still am not fond of.

Only an idiot would complain about going to the levee but it "was dry".

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jbwelda
Such a stupid song. Drove my Chevy to the levee, yeah right. Luckily you didnt have a Ford or we would be thanking the f'in Lord or something. Almost as pseudo-intellectual as starry starry night.

jb

Geez.......Ithought I heard it all.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021-02-06 03:52 by More Hot Rocks.

One of my Top 5 least favorite songs. And Don McLean himself has proven to be a wife beating sack of garbage.

As someone has already said, I don't need to hear that song ever again.

.not sayin' i'd swim the Amazon
in the nude ta hear it but didnt
realise there was so much dislike for AP ....



ROCKMAN

McLean should've driven to the levee on the east (left) side here - might've changed his mind.

Maybe he meant it metaphorically. The levee was "dry". No alcohol. The next line is "And them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye. ....Ok I tried

Song is cringy and annoying.

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Hairball
In 2001, American Pie was voted #5 on the "Songs of the Century" list by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the National Endowment for the Arts, and Scholastic Inc.
Personally, I wouldn't include it in my top 100, but no doubt it made a major everlasting impression on many to be acknowledged in this way.

sort of stunning that there isn't a Beatles song on the list.

It's all about opinions.

sort of stunning that there isn't a Beatles song on the list.

they have a couple in the kids category



ROCKMAN

"American Pie" is a pretty clever and cool song, although much overplayed - here's looking at you "Satisfaction", "Stairway", "Free Bird", etc.

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GasLightStreet
McLean should've driven to the levee on the east (left) side here - might've changed his mind.

17th Street Canal levee breach.

Used to ride bike across that bridge that on the bottom of the image from UNO campus and all way down to Treasure Chest Casino along the lake. Old good times. Before the storm...

The lines about Jagger in the song are pretty funny “Jack be nimble,Jack be quick,Jack Flash sat on a candle stick, because fire is the devil’s onlyfriend”.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021-02-07 01:28 by Taylor1.

Had it on 7" as a kid, I have to assume it was an edited, shortened version. But I still love it, it's always on my ipod and gets a listen every once in a while.

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LeonidP
Had it on 7" as a kid, I have to assume it was an edited, shortened version. But I still love it, it's always on my ipod and gets a listen every once in a while.

The old 7 inch had to be flipped over to hear the whole song. Annoying as hell.....

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LeonidP
Had it on 7" as a kid, I have to assume it was an edited, shortened version. But I still love it, it's always on my ipod and gets a listen every once in a while.

I had same. If I remember correctly on the one I had they split the song onto A & B side so you had to flip it over halfway through.

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crholmstrom

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LeonidP
Had it on 7" as a kid, I have to assume it was an edited, shortened version. But I still love it, it's always on my ipod and gets a listen every once in a while.

I had same. If I remember correctly on the one I had they split the song onto A & B side so you had to flip it over halfway through.

Strange, but true. Funny thing is that I'm not even sure it was necessary to release it that way. Isn't there a nine-minute Guns N' Roses song (November Rain?) that they were able to fit on one side of a 7" 45 rpm single?

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Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2021-02-07 14:32 by tatters.

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Elmo Lewis

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LeonidP
Had it on 7" as a kid, I have to assume it was an edited, shortened version. But I still love it, it's always on my ipod and gets a listen every once in a while.

The old 7 inch had to be flipped over to hear the whole song. Annoying as hell.....

Shout by The Isley Brothers was the same way

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Rockman
sort of stunning that there isn't a Beatles song on the list.

they have a couple in the kids category

lol