American Pie
Ask anyone what was the defining moment in the rock history of the 1960s was and all you will get is a one word answer: Woodstock. The three day rock festival that defined an era was only one of many music festivals of the '60s. But Woodstock has come to symbolize, "an era of peaceful, free- loving, drug- taking hippie youth, carefree before harsher realities hit..." (Layman 40). The Woodstock festival ended a century filled with many metamorphoses of rock'n'roll, from the era of pop music to the rebirth of folk music to the invention of acid rock. But some cynics say that rock'n'roll died with the death of Buddy Holly before the 60s even began. One such person is Don McLean. The poet behind the haunting epic song about the death of 'danceable' music, McLean wrote the ever popular song, "American Pie" (appendix 1). The most important song in rock'n'roll history, "American Pie", is the song about the demise of rock'n'roll after Buddy Holly's death and the heathenism of rock that resulted. Although McLean himself won't reveal any symbolism in his songs, "American Pie" is one of the most analyzed pieces of literature in modern society. Although not all of its secrets have been revealed, many "scholars" of the s
Jack Flash is Mick Jagger, the lead singer of the Rolling Stones, and when he 'sat on a candle stick," the candlestick was the Beatle's Candlestick Park concert which was their last live concert (Jordan). So until there is no more music at all, not just in one genre but in all the different types, I will finally agree with McLean, and 'That'll be the day that I die'. The next verse of American Pie, McLean demonstrates what happened after Holly's death. During the mid-60s the Beatles predominantly influenced rock music the most. Many people say that if Holly hadn't died, no one would have needed the Beatles, who in their time also revolutionized rock. The underlying message that McLean was trying to convey was that drugs were ruining the music. When Satan is laughing at the flames "climbing into the night," could be symbolic of Jimi Hendrix burning his guitars on stage of the Monterey Pop Festival (Kulawiec). Proof of "American Pie's" truth lies in the allegory of the song. Holly was a 50s rock and roller who experimented greatly with chords and beats. The crown he stole is obviously from Elvis. And although folk and rock continued to blend in the 70's, like Neil Young, folk music as it was known in the early 60s became part of history rather than remaining a popular form (Layman 38).
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Acceptance Essays
