On February 3, 1959, the single-engine plane carrying famed musicians Buddy Holly, J. Richardson (the "Big Bopper"), and Ritchie Valens crashed on a snow covered Iowa field killing everyone on board. It was later, in 1971, that the idiom "the day the music died" was coined about that fateful night. Don McLean uses that phrase in his eight and a half minute epic song, "American Pie." This ballad tells about the tragedy that occurred on that bitter February evening and the downfall of rock music -- and the "apple pie" image of America -- that ensued. "American Pie" has numerous levels of meaning, but one of the primary motifs is that it is a tribute to Buddy Holly.
McLean has said little about the implications of the song; only hinting to it being biographical in nature. It is how he viewed America at the time, and the direction he saw it was heading. He further describes how he has not given a full line-by-line explanation of his lyrics, in part, because much of it is illogical in nature. He has stated that they lyrics are "beyond analysis; they"re poetry." With that being the closest he has ever come to satisfying public demand for the song's true meaning, it makes it difficult to give an accurate account. Don McLean's allusiveness, perhaps, adds to the mystery and intrigue that surrounds the song and what it signifies.
There are several interpretations circulating about the actual representation of "American Pie." The reason is because the song is chock-full of metaphors, symbols, allusions, and imagery. It is ambiguous in nature, thus rendering its many meanings. As a whole, this song is an example of allegory at its best, in that it tells a story that has characters, a setting, as well as other types of symbols that have both literal and figurative meanings.
The beginning point of most analyses of the song is its title: "American Pie." What does "American Pie" refer to? One thing can be said for sure is that it is not, as widely reported on many websites, the name of the airplane on which Buddy Holly was a passenger when he died.
"Music illuminates a person through and through. ... The music was different and the plot was racy and exciting as well. ... "Muddle, not Music," was the headline of the Pravda article. ... No matter how the music begins, it comes to a dead end. ... Why does this music sound so special? ...
"Music, when soft voices die, vibrates in the memory.... We can't touch music, but music touches us. ... When we sing our National Anthem, on a day of National importance, all the citizens of our nation feel connected together through our hearts and souls- and it is that music called our National Anthem that brings this feeling of togetherness within us. ... This kind of intelligence, is critical to the sort of thinking necessary for everything from solving advanced mathematics problems to being able to pack everything into one's school bag or office bag that will be needed for ...
Pag.13 Present Day .. ... So I started thinking of the power that music has over me. ... During this time, musicians reacted to what they saw and often the youth of the Sixties were living out lyrics and popular songs of the day. ... All these excesses led to examples like John Bonham (drummer of Led Zeppelin) -> died of alcohol abuse; Jimi Hendrix -> died of substance and alcohol abuse, etc So, if we were to draw a line, up until this point, music (especially Rock music) hasn't had an incredibly positive influence. ... Its concept was simply to play all day music videos (...
The Influence of Rap Music on Society Music has been an object of wonder, amazement, and even fear since the beginning of its existence. ... And not only do people influence the development of music, but music influences the development of society. ... Unfortunately, the problem is greatly more difficult to fix and much deeper than a minority talking about his day to a beat. ... One parent, in a letter to Senator Joseph Lieberman wrote, "Our children are quietly being destroyed (dying), by this man's[Marilyn Manson] music, by ones and twos in scattered isolation throughout our natio...
Music about changing the world, music that has changed the world, music that inspires a person to change the world. ... For example, the song Sail by Awolnation gets me motivated for my soccer games; it makes me feel good and puts me in that game day mode. ... Here's some examples of songs that make me upset, That September Day by Alan Jackson. ... Another song that makes me really sad is Forever and Always by Parachute, this song makes me sad because her fiancé dies in the hospital when they were supposed to have a date that night. ... I am always listening to music. ...
In fact, we hear it so much that appreciation for music is dying. ... Music is all around me and envelopes me all day and everyday. ... When I have a bad day, nothing beats jammin' on the guitar or thumping on the bass. ... All I need is a beat and a melody to have me caught up in a song all day. ... It may not be the main goal in life, but it is a very important side quest that I would like to conquer one day. ...
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It is important to note that not all Rock artists, sing about God and Jesus, they sing about every-day occurrences and tragic realities, that people can relate to, while giving a genuinely Christian answer. ... "Why did he die for me? ... Why did he die for me? He died for me To give me life and eternity He died so he could conquer death His love will never rest He died for me And he died for you Why did he die for me? ... Crucified, what a way to go He died for me, this I know He died for me And he died for you" (Copyright 1998 "Psychoma" Album: "...
She was an Italian composer born in 1587 and died about 1640. ... Although Caccini was a prominent individual at this time, none of her works were published until her father died in 1618, and to this day some of them still have not been fully recovered (Salm, 2). ... Throughout her life, she suffered through many illnesses due to a weak immune system; she ended up dying of intestinal tuberculosis only twenty-five years later (Lili, 2). ... She was born in New Hampshire in the year 1867 and died in the year 1944. ... This style of music has many of the same characteristics as the music fr...
