The 1972 Song That Turned Tragedy Into a No. 1 Hit
- - The 1972 Song That Turned Tragedy Into a No. 1 Hit
Lucille BarillaJanuary 18, 2026 at 3:30 AM
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David Redfern/Redferns
In 1972, a song turned one of the greatest tragedies in the music business into a No. 1 hit, capturing the essence of loss into an 8-minute masterpiece.
“American Pie” by Don McLean topped the charts beginning January 15, 1972. The song went on to hold the No. 1 spot for four consecutive weeks.
The song tells the story of a changing America, using the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper as its emotional starting point. The lyrics then expand to capture the cultural and musical upheaval of the 1960s.
McLean’s ode to the past marked a cultural milestone. It invited listeners to reflect on what had been lost as America moved into a new era.
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In a 2022 interview with Entertainment Tonight, McLean reflected on the song that he wrote in 1971 at the age of 24. He explained that he wanted the song to appear like an "impressionistic painting."
"There are specific things that I was talking about in the song and then there's stuff that I just threw in, that I made up and put in there," McLean explained. "But the idea was that it would be like an impressionistic painting, OK?"
"American Pie," which clocked in at over eight minutes, held the record for the longest-running song to hit No. 1 for 50 years. Then, Taylor Swift broke McLean's record in November 2021 with the 10-minute track, "All Too Well (Taylor's version)."
He reacted to being dethroned in a statement to Billboard. "There is something to be said for a great song that has staying power,” says McLean. “‘American Pie’ remained on top for 50 years, and now Taylor Swift has unseated such a historic piece of artistry. Let’s face it, nobody ever wants to lose that #1 spot, but if I had to lose it to somebody, I sure am glad it was another great singer/songwriter such as Taylor.”
Don McLean continues to tour and release new music.
This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
