The Day the Music Died

You can always tell the peeps that didn't live through those times. It was more than just about the music. It was more about the emotions of that time and how the lyrics were woven into the times.

Well, first up, I admit that I LOVE Don McLean's American Pie. It's a remarkable, epic work of art that is as relevant now as it was 50 years ago. And I doubt whether there is a more widely known song, spanning generations, across the world.

This program gives us some great insight into Don's life and times and a cultural history of the period. It looks at what it's meant to so many people in so many places.

Some well-known guests talk about the impact of the song over the years, too.

All in all, it's a great tribute to a brilliant singer/songwriter and the magic he created with American Pie.

Having recently had "Vincent" playing on repeat in my brain (first while building a 1000 piece Clementoni puzzle, and then with the 'Starry Starry Night' LEGO set), it'll be an easy transition to "American Pie."

It's a beautiful story, heightened by the voices and words of those intimately involved in its creation, especially that of Don McLean.

Not only will this rekindle, and fan the flames of the much more extensive body of work that McLean undoubtedly has, but also the music of Buddy Holly and Richie Valens, who stirred that deep seated sense of loss, and in doing so, inspired the penning of this timeless classic, a modern day masterpiece.

While the hook may have been to explain some of the nuanced lyrics, or confirm / refute fan theories, the heart of the movie is in the story behind the music, from glimpses of Buddy Holly's early career, the point where his untimely death intersects with then paperboy, Don McLean, all the way to the positive impact it's had, and continues to have, on subsequent generations.

Lots of commentary from people that don't need to be talking- why?

Feels like a grab to draw people who wouldn't otherwise give it a second thought; Garth Brooks? Come on, completely unnecessary. Some girl who no one's heard of, Grand Rapids making a video, boomers opining on their desire to take over the world with 'Peace and Love!!', Peter Gallagher's reading something, Weird Al, point is, a lot of people yammering on about something they had nothing to do with trying to make this longer than it needs be.

Just some insight from McLean, HIS ORIGINAL VERSION, HIS explanations, his story, what he meant to do and what it means today. That's it. That's all you needed. Instead it's hours long and listening to people with no business singing it, singing it.

Just a complete waste of what could have been.

This documentary has some really nice parts, but, all in all, it was a bit too long and a bit too much. It was easy to go from thinking what a great song "American Pie" was to thinking it wasn't THAT great. This film makes it seem like it was the greatest song ever written about America, if not the greatest song ever written. I have half a dozen Don McLean songs on my iPod. "American Pie" is not one of them.

The best parts of the documentary are the ones focusing on the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson, and the parts about Don McLean's childhood and song writing methods. He would write lyrics out by hand, and then type them up on a little typewriter on a little school desk with rockers attached. (Don't expect anything in this film about the singer's personal life as an adult, including abuse charges by his daughter and ex-wife.)

There's lots of good looks back at the '50s-'70s, too, and the singer even discusses the meaning of some of the lyrics to the song. No, the references to the "joker" and the "girl who sang the blues" weren't about anyone famous. It's really too bad the film makers didn't realize all the praise for the song went too far and lasted too long. Nevertheless, it's a worthwhile documentary to watch, especially if you lived through those three decades.