FREE ESSAY ON MADONNA'S REMAKE OF AMERICAN PIE

MADONNA'S REMAKE OF AMERICAN PIE

Bye Bye, Miss American Pie. Hello, Madonna
Bye Bye, Miss American Pie. Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry...... 
American Pie, sung by Don McLean, was originally released in 1971. The song was written
as a tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper who died tragically in a
plane crash on February 3, 1959. American Pie not only pays homage to three talented
musicians, but also serves as an allegory to the history of music.
Although the original song was written about twenty-nine years ago, people can today
still recall most of the lyrics that Don McLean created. The legacy of American Pie is
greater than words. The song took over the airwaves and the consciousness of American
popular culture in a way that few recordings have matched. The more important chords that
American Pie struck were ones of tone and mood. 
Madonna, the Material Girl, recently released her version of American Pie. Madonna's new
release will probably never attain the height of popularity of McLean's version, but it
certainly is a modern twist on a timeless song. So why would Madonna want to remake this
legendary piece? Perhaps Madonna chose to re-release the song to put closure to a
millenium of musical eminence.
Even though the base of the new American Pie has been changed, the song has been modified
in many ways. The change that stands out the most is the distinct difference in the back
beat music. Don McLean's version has more of a rock 'n' roll theme with a simple
arrangement; conversely, Madonna used an electronic dance beat. The song also has distant
background vocals sung by actor Rupert Everett. Madonna re-did the song for the
soundtrack of the movie The Next Best Thing which stars Everett and herself. 
It would be easy to assume that the back beat was changed to suit the modern tastes in
music. Life in the 1950s and 1960s was much simpler. In the 1990s, society has become
fast paced and dependent on machines. Therefore, Madonna has used synthesizers to make a
faster beat for a modern day American Pie.
Another difference between the two songs is the length. Madonna cut the original eight
and a half minute song down to five minutes. This was achieved by shortening the verses.
The trimming of the verses is a difficult change for the generations that grew up singing
along with McLean's hodgepodge of images and scenes. People would listen intently, with
their transistor radios pressed tightly against their ears. They would recite the words
and try to decipher the clues. The day the music died was an easy one; obviously a
reference to the 1959 crash that killed the three legendary musicians.
Madonna's version probably won't be able to compete with McLean's version in a popularity
contest; only the future will judge. The 1971 McLean classic was recently ranked as the
nineteenth best rock song by VH1. Even though Madonna has made a substantial name for
herself in the current pop-culture industry, the original version holds a place, not only
in music, but also in Americana. A recent review from Newsday writer Issac Guzman
described Madonna's version as an almost syrupy, slick take on McLean's original.
In any event, people loved the song, and with the new version by Madonna, its popularity
can only grow. Madonna's release will help to continue the reverberation of the chorus
line Bye Bye, Miss American Pie. Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry. And
good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing this will be the day that I die,
this will be the day that I die.