Don Mclean By. Brett Triana

Donald or “Don” McLean is an American singer and song writer. He was born on October 2,

1945 in New Rochelle, New York.

When he was a child he suffered with severe asthma and that took a toll on his love for folk

rock music.

He unfortunately missed school frequently and music lessons due to his condition.

His lack of school was made up by his talent and love for music, he often performed small

shows for friends and family.

Don didn’t waste any time in making his father proud and making

his dreams a reality by the age of sixteen he bought his first guitar and immediately started making friends

in the music business.

His first studio session was while he was still in prep school.

He graduated from the Iona Preparatory School in 1963 and

enrolled in Villanova University and ended up dropping out after only

four months.

Not long after he left he became associated with Harold Leventhal, a folk music agent, and for months he played at venues in several places

around the United States.

He decided to go back to school at night, he attended Iona College and in 1968 he received his bachelors degree in business administration.

He was offered a scholarship to graduate school but turned down the offer to continue his job as a resident singer.

After being rejected seventy two time finally in 1969 he recorded his first album, Tapestry in Berkley, California by a new label company.

This smaller label company who signed his first album was bought out but a much larger company United Artists Records where they secured a spot for his new album “American Pie”.

On this album McLean had two number one hits “American Pie” On this album McLean had two number one hits “American Pie”

and “Vincent”. and “Vincent”.

American Pie was voted number five on the list of 365 songs of American Pie was voted number five on the list of 365 songs of

the century.the century.

He was inspired to write this number one single after the death of He was inspired to write this number one single after the death of

his child hood idol his child hood idol Buddy HollyBuddy Holly, along with Ritchie Valens and J. P. , along with Ritchie Valens and J. P.

Richardson in a plane crash on February 3, 1959.Richardson in a plane crash on February 3, 1959.

He even performed this song at the Lincoln Memorial in He even performed this song at the Lincoln Memorial in

Washington D.C for President Clinton.Washington D.C for President Clinton.

On this album McLean had two number one hits “American Pie” On this album McLean had two number one hits “American Pie”

and “Vincent”. and “Vincent”.

American Pie was voted number five on the list of 365 songs of American Pie was voted number five on the list of 365 songs of

the century.the century.

He was inspired to write this number one single after the death of He was inspired to write this number one single after the death of

his child hood idol his child hood idol Buddy HollyBuddy Holly, along with Ritchie Valens and J. P. , along with Ritchie Valens and J. P.

Richardson in a plane crash on February 3, 1959.Richardson in a plane crash on February 3, 1959.

He even performed this song at the Lincoln Memorial in He even performed this song at the Lincoln Memorial in

Washington D.C for President Clinton.Washington D.C for President Clinton.

2002 “American Pie” was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame, and in 2004 he was inaugurated into the

Songwriters Hall of Fame.

No longer does he tour or do concerts but he still appears for special events and music awards.

““American pie”American pie”““American pie”American pie”American Pie was featured on Don’s hit top charts album American Pie

It was recorded at Vinyl Records. It was released on November of 1971 and re-released in November of 1991 and produced by Ed Freeman.

Known as Don’s signature song it was featured as number one on the U.S charts for four weeks in a row in 1972 and after its re-release in 91’ it reached number

12.

Many people have done a breakdown and interpretation of this song realizing it is referring to the plane crash and deaths but when Don himself was asked the

question, what does American Pie mean? He simply answered; I quote "You will find many interpretations of my lyrics but none of them by me.... Sorry to leave

you all on your own like this but long ago I realized that songwriters should make their statements and move on, maintaining a dignified silence."

American Pie was featured on Don’s hit top charts album American Pie

It was recorded at Vinyl Records. It was released on November of 1971 and re-released in November of 1991 and produced by Ed Freeman.

Known as Don’s signature song it was featured as number one on the U.S charts for four weeks in a row in 1972 and after its re-release in 91’ it reached number

12.

Many people have done a breakdown and interpretation of this song realizing it is referring to the plane crash and deaths but when Don himself was asked the

question, what does American Pie mean? He simply answered; I quote "You will find many interpretations of my lyrics but none of them by me.... Sorry to leave

you all on your own like this but long ago I realized that songwriters should make their statements and move on, maintaining a dignified silence."

This song was also released on the album “American Pie” known to be his second most world famous song, also produced by Ed Freeman.

This song written as a tribute to Vincent Van Gogh, it is known by its opening line “Starry starry night” referencing Van Gogh’s famous painting

“Starry Night”.

It was recorded May and June of 71’ and released on October 24, 1971. The song became the number one hit in the U.K and top 12 in the U.S.

This song features the accordion, vibraphone, strings, and guitar.

This song is about his admiration not only for Van Gogh’s artwork but himself as a person.

He mentions in the song a few lines about Van Gogh’s self portraits “ weathered faces lined in paint are soothed beneath the artists’ loving

hand” believing that Van Gogh found consolation in painting portraits of himself.

The songs points out someone trying to speak out and no one listening until he was gone. He also refers to Van Gogh being diagnosed with mental

disorders and suffering with sanity issues and eventually taking his own life.

“Vincent”

The music break down for the first 30 seconds you can hear the melody of Don singing and the piano as the notes go up and down on the piano. The pitch of the song starts

low and gradually goes higher. There is only two textures going on right now at this part of the song.

From 30 seconds to a minute had the same tempo hasn’t changed the tempo is still slow. The timbre can still be distinguished between the piano and Don singing.

From a minute to a minute thirty the song starts to pick up a little the tempo picks up as you can tell the song is about to become faster.

From a minute thirty to two minutes the tempo has now picked up now a guitar has been added in to the texture of the song. The pitch has become a louder. You can hear

the harmony between all the instruments and the singing.

From two minutes to two minutes thirty you can now hear in the texture of it all that a drum has been added in to the mix. The melody of the piece has now changed since

the song has picked up.

From two minute thirty to three minutes there is a little more added into the texture for a couple of seconds you can hear a few background singers and a few times you can

hear the sound of a tambourine. The rhythm of the song has been set now and you can hear it in the guitar.

From three minute to three thirty the beat picks up then slows down the harmony of the song is flowing together with the melody the dynamics of the song now has become

fast paced the notes have became louder and more powerful.

From three thirty to four minutes the song now has found how its going to be with the tempo had dynamics. The timbre gets distinguished a few times as he hits louder

notes.

From four minutes to four minutes four thirty at first the melody and the tempo has slowed back down. At about four minute ten the beat and tempo rises back up.

From four minutes thirty to five minutes you can hear that an electric guitar has been added in to the texture. The rhythm was switched up a little when you hear some new

notes on the piano.

From five minutes thirty to five minutes is when the chorus comes in the pitch of the sound during the chorus is higher now than it was. At the end of the chorus the tempo

slows down just to come right back up at the end.

From five minutes thirty to six minutes thirty the tempo goes up and down. The pitch also gets a little higher then lower with the tempo to change up the melody.

From six minutes to six minutes thirty there were a few notes that Don would sing that would make the timbre noticeable. The dynamics changed a few times with as

different notes were hit.

From six minutes thirty to seven minutes it starts out with it going back into the chorus an as the chorus comes in the tempo slows back down at the end of the chorus the

song gets really slow and everything changes.

From seven minutes to seven minutes thirty the song now has gone back to the texture of just having a piano and him singing. The melody is slow and low now the pitch is

very low on both him singing and the piano.

From seven minutes thirty to eight minutes the song has became so slow the tempo is almost non-existent there really isn’t even a melody. At about 7 minutes forty nine

there are no instruments just him saying a few words.

From eight minutes till eight forty at eight minutes its him playing the chorus and now in the texture its just him singing and the guitar playing a very slow tempo. At eight

minutes twenty it picks back up just s light bit to finish the last few seconds.

AMERICAN PIE BREAKDOWN

Vincent breakdown

The first thirty seconds of the song, the texture of the song starts out where you can hear Don singing and playing the guitar. The pitch is on the lower side. The tempo is a slower sadder

beat tempo.

From thirty minutes to one minute the song keeps switching up the dynamics of the song and the texture he keeps taking out the guitar and then bringing it back in. With the timbre you can

hear him bringing the range of the guitar in.

From one minute to one minute thirty the tempo has stayed the same the rhythm hasn’t changed the harmony between him singing and the guitar are soothing.

From one minute thirty to two minutes the songs dynamics have stayed the same just a medium to low beat slow lyrics. He added into the texture a flute to add some extra layers but only

for a few notes then took it out.

From two minute to two minutes thirty everything has stayed the same the melody the harmony of everything going on. The dynamics stayed the same.

From two minutes thirty to three minutes the dynamics are slow with a slow beat and slow tempo the harmony and melody is just a quite a slow making sure you can hear everything going

on.

From three minute to three minutes thirty he has now added a violin in the the song to add for some texture it also changed the dynamics of the song because the violin got loud and made

the timbre come up.

From three minute thirty to three minutes fifty eight the song is starting to slow down bringing the tempo down and the song comes to an end the dynamics of the whole song dwindle off.