Don McLean - American Pie

In this 1972 appearance on the UK's BBC Don McLean sings his paean to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson, known as the Big Bopper, who died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959, in Clear Lake, Iowa.

[gerrydooley]

A really good performance of the song, you can feel the enthusiasm. This is 1972 before he became sick of singing it and talking about it.

[cecillunsford]

Buddy Ritchie and Big Bopper 3 of the best surely missed

[jackson]

Just think, 50 years later the young people here who are still alive are now grandparents, and great grandparents!!

[allanwells]

I can still remember when I first heard this as a twenty year old in 1972. I was on the Wakehurst Parkway approaching Sydney; couldn't understand a word of what he was singing about. I note that he still plays his beloved Martin guitars 50 years down the track.

[alireda]

I watched this song lively and I was sitting near the stage here in Helsinki in October 2018.

[taffysnotbet.]

Simply awesome and totally before & beautiful before his time.

[frankcarone]

a beautiful sad song GOD BLESS BUDDY HOLLY

[beakahd]

Just watched this on tv for first time and can’t believe I havnt heard this song in ages. This was one of my first favourite songs and still know every word. Really like this version. Think he got bit overwhelmed at the end with audience singing along like that.

[scottmccormick]

Timeless song. We lost 3 great entertainers 64 years ago today. They just wanted to get rest and do laundry. 😢

[andrewphilbrick]

Song with resonance about Buddy Holly and the American spirit.

[marthawelch]

Thanks, Jan! I like this one from Don, but my McLean favorite is the one about an aurally challenged landscape painter. I just wish I could remember that guy's first name...Maybe it will come to me later.

[josiespringfield]

Talked about it in my sociology class year 2008.

[peternielsen]

Girls were cute that time. Unlike today.

[nelsonlugo]

thanks, Jan... trivia: (disclaimer- this is from memory, so I don't claim accuracy)
1. he said in an interview once that it took him years to write this
2. Rolling Stone places it as #1 of all time.
3. when asked about the meaning of the song. he replied something like "it means I'll never have to work again."
4. Roberta Flack (sp. ?) said she wrote "Killing Me Softly" about this song...

hope all's good with you.

[rockinmosquito]

I think that picking that picture of Buddy Holly has meaning, although you may not have intended to do so. That was from - Oh Boy (Screencaps) - Live on Sunday Night at the London Palladium (2nd March, 1958). Where 220 miles to the Northwest, in Liverpool, two teenagers named Paul and John were watching! I wonder whatever happened to them.

Can you believe 29 years this month.

[yeetskideetpi]

So i know a perfect role for miles teller

[kathleenperry]

Love you all! We are beings of Light! That! Was Vincent's message, Don's and I've always known as mine, but was to afraid nemore to speak. We are beings of Light, with choice and 'free will', We chose to be human, to understand humans, Jehovah's greatest creation, or stay or watch. Our choice. Some stayed, to Watch, some to live here as humans. But with no memory, who, what, we once knew. Newborn. As the end times, get closer, we are being awakened or 're--awakened, to remember his message, his promise. I'm My Father's house; Are many mansions! We Are Beings of Light, a Great Cornucopia, of Light, constantly Held and enveloped in the love of of our Father. Enough, for now. They drive us towards insanity, misunderstanding, so the World won t listen. So the call us weird, crazy.