As the Fourth of July approaches, radio stations around the country prepare to terrorize me by playing Don McLean’s “American Pie”, which is supposed to make me feel really psyched about the United States for reasons I can’t quite identify. Whether in its truncated single form or its full eight-minutes-plus of bizarrely metaphored hippie nostalgia flory, “American Pie” is easily my least favorite song of all time. Which may be why I never considered ways it could be improved… like a synchronized light show!
The Fremont Street Experience–which proved that if you put a giant LED canopy over the less glamorous part of Las Vegas, you still end up with the less glamorous part of Las Vegas, but with more people staring up at the sky–is unveiling the “Don McLean’s American Pie” Viva Vision spectacular on Thursday, and I couldn’t be more excited. I mean, look at what they did for those limeys Queen.
McLean himself worked with the producers on the presentation, providing footage of him playing the song and emotional guidance, so you know it has to be good. Don’t worry, you can still get your illuminated Queen fix, as the American Pie and Queen programs will alternate “performances” over the Fourth of July weekend, while hamburgers and other Fourth of July treats will be sold by the adjacent casinos. Match that level of excitement, Caesar’s Palace!
Fremont Street Experience Hosts a Patriotic ‘American Pie 4th of July’ Weekend [PR Newswire]
@Maura Johnston:
I had pretty much, alllllllmost forgotten about that. My god that was horrific.
Also, I think Idolator reminded me of Sheryl Crow’s “Behind Blue Eyes” cover earlier this week. Thanks.
Look, if there were no American Pie, then we wouldn’t have Weird Al’s “The Saga Begins.” Mr. Yankovic would have had to to sing about Episode I to some other, probably more annoying tune.
(Also, I think that lights show showed up in an episode of CSI. Everyone in the crowd was too busy staring at the ceiling to notice the guy running through and getting chased by cops.)
@GhostOfDuane: I agree. I don’t blame the song. I would never smack Don McLean.
It also may have had something to do with that show where they tried to reunite Motley Crue that they did on VH1. You know, after that one time that Motley Crue reunited and Nikki Sixx assaulted that security guard and they broke up. But before this Saints of Los Angeles album reunion tour thing they are doing now. It was the reunion they did where they found out Mick Mars was slowly becoming a human interpretation of the letter “C” but they got him surgery.
At some point they went to that Vegas mall and play their big surprise reunion set under that light thing. And Tommy Lee, not supringly, thinks it is astoundingly “badass”.
I’m going to slink away now.
@amandacobra: My only regret… is having bone-itis…
Hearing this song at Karaoke Night at the Grog House here in Gainesville every Saturday night for about 3 years makes me wanna smack a frat boy every time I hear it. Damn you, free Natty Light!!!
could be worse?
Don McLean, owner of the swirliest gray combover in New England.
[blog.newsok.com]
Worst song in the world? Are you sure you’re not thinking of MacArthur Park?
Also, I’m not sure the death of Buddy Holly and company qualifies as hippy nostalgia - it’s a 50s nostalgia song really. And those metaphors are really not that out there, they really couldn’t be much more obvious if you’re familiar with the likes of Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones.
I for one give Don McLean a ton of credit for writing a long ass folk song that never really drags and is memorable from start to finish. It ain’t “Ambulance Blues,” but the verses have a beautiful flow to them, even if the a capella chorus part at the end is totally hokey. Even if you don’t, some of us have attention spans that allow us to listen to tunes over 4 minutes in length.
Look, it’s fair to say the song is overplayed and has unfortunately turned into kareoke fodder for Gainesville fratboys and Japanese folks alike. But dude, worst song ever? I gave you the benefit of the doubt on that Doors nonsense. But - friendly advice - tone it down a bit. You just sound ridiculous when you deal in these silly absolutes.
This song is basically about being terrified of rock and/or roll from the Beatles onwards. It is easily the pussiest song that ever pussied sung by an art major (Hello,”Starry Starry Night!”) nerdcase.