I have been fascinated by this song since the first time I heard it. No matter how many times I hear it, for me, it is like the first time I ever heard it.
A generation lost in space...
I like this one too, but not to the same point of obsession as American Pie.
This song was very magical for me when I was a child. It's how I learned what a levee was; that much Dad could fill me in on. Why it was dry, or what that might mean, well, he was at a loss to explain. Yet even as a young boy I had some sense of it.
ReplyDeleteThen I grew to be a man. And there were more and more things Dad could not explain. I came to my own understanding of things. But who Miss American Pie was, and why Don Mclean might be bidding her goodbye, remained a mystery.
And then the internet was invented, and so now we can search for answers.
The song remains magical but the mystery is less urgent now, as I've come to realize that what sense I had of it as a young boy could not be improved upon by any exegesis, however authoritative.
As I mentioned a while back in the comments, I've been binge-watching Sons of Anarchy recently - the series just concluded this week.
ReplyDeleteI'm realizing it's probably not compelling drama for most or all of the folks here - if it ain't your thing, I'm not shocked - but precisely because I've come to know the musical tastes and proclivities of those here at the table, I'd urge you to check out the soundtracks - they're a rich vein of musical ore to mine.
Many classic gospel/folk/blues tunes; mostly covered and reinterpreted by contemporary artists. Some original stuff. There is an SoA "house band" called The Forest Rangers which did many of the songs, with various singers including cast members. (Katy Sagal is a great singer. Who knew?)
I'll post some selections at some point.
I've been watching SoA on Netflix, and I'm currently on season 3. I'm hooked! And yeah, the music is divine...whoever selected the tunes is a genius. Katy Sagal is a fine actress too. She rocks!
DeleteIt's interesting that the only real nude scenes in the series involve male derrieres. Fine, exquisite male derrieres. Rawr. :D
There are certain songs that inspire me to crank up the volume to full-blast and sing (croak, rasp, howl) at the top of my lungs. American Pie is one of them. :)
ReplyDeleteA crankit up tune from my days in Korea..any dance club in Seoul or Inchon would have it playing at ear splitting levels, repeatedly. And I had no doubt about the meaning. Strangely out in the hinterlands, like Bupyong, it would be something by Glen Miler or Benny Goodman. Strange days no doubt.
DeleteAnother note worthy thing about Korea in my day... anything American was "in", as well as European, when they loved us and hated the Japanese & North Koreans... Japanese because they had subjugated Korea for decades before WII...and the NORKS just becasue. At the time just saying the word "Yankee" (a popular term by the North Korean radio folks) could get you detained by the KNP becasue the only proper term for Americans was "Mi Guk" ... a formal name like "Han Guk" was for Koreans. My time spent with ROK Marines both in the Han Estuary and in RVN (2nd Bde Blue Dragons) re-enforced that distinction to me. I rather appreciated it.
DeleteLove both songs, Fay, thank you. When I hear "American Pie" I think of the time I was baby-sitting my niece, she must have been about 8 or 9 (she's 23 now). All my brother's kids are real performers, they loved to dress up in costumes and act, sing & dance. Anyway, she got on a pair of home-made stilts and walked all around their property while singing every verse of "American Pie". I'll never forget it!! The funny thing is...when I told her about it, she didn't recall it at all.
ReplyDeleteI like hearing about that, Aridog. My dad was stationed in Korea right after I was born and I never knew anything about his time there.
hello,how are you all my friends here.I just drop by for greetings. I miss you all.,advance Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Warrior, and to all those here.
ReplyDeleteHello Warrior, nice t see you here. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteNice to see you, Warrior, and greetings to you in the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
Thanks Fay,Florie and DWT! been busy a lot of activities..:) Merry Christmas both and God bless you,all! hugs!!! :)
ReplyDeleteWarrior, it's so good to hear from you! I'm wishing you a very Merry and Blessed Christmas my friend!
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