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A 50 year record has been broken. Don McLean's "American Pie" loses top spot on Hot 100 to Swift's "All Too Well".

I don't really care who does or doesn't like her music. It doesn't matter. I can't say that I'm particularly a Swifty. But I always think you have to give credit where credit is due.

I can't imagine what it's like to have so much music living inside you, just waiting to burst free. Most people don't realize it, but the songs she performs, she has written the majority herself.

Along with that, she has also written songs for Little Big Town, Miley Cyrus, Sugarland, and Kellie Pickler. She's collaborated on songs with Andrew Lloyd Weber (that one alone is a huge compliment!), Joe Alwyn, Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner, Colbie Caillat, John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, B.o.B, Gary Lightbody, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban.

You don't get to do any of that without talent. Period. I don't care who you are.

I have to admit, I do like a lot of her lyrics, for instance the one that broke McLean's record I posted below. Her writing and style has matured and evolved since the early days. Those songs were fun, but the most recent albums are deeper, with a lot more life experience behind them.

I was impressed to read that after unseating American Pie, she sent flowers and a note to McLean, praising his work and expressing her gratitude. A class act in my opinion.

Don McLean's response:
There is something to be said for a great song that has staying power," McLean said. "'American Pie' remained on the 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."

Here's the song. Maybe you'll like it, maybe you'll hate it. Who knows. 🤷🏼‍♀

[media=https://youtu.be/sRxrwjOtIag]


I walked through the door with you
The air was cold
But something about it felt like home somehow
And my scarf there at your sister's house
And you've still got it in your drawer even now
Oh, your sweet disposition
And my wide-eyed gaze
We're singing in the car, getting lost upstate
Autumn leaves falling down like pieces into place
And I can picture it after all these days
And I know it's long gone and that magic's not here no more
And I might be okay but I'm not fine at all
'Cause there we are again on that little town street
You almost ran the red 'cause you were lookin' over at me
Wind in my hair, I was there
I remember it all too well
Photo album on the counter
Your cheeks were turning red
You used to be a little kid with glasses in a twin-sized bed
And your mother's telling stories 'bout you on the tee-ball team
You told me 'bout your past thinking your future was me
And I know it's long gone and there was nothing else I could do
And I forget about you long enough to forget why I needed to
'Cause there we are again in the middle of the night
We're dancing 'round the kitchen in the refrigerator light
Down the stairs, I was there
I remember it all too well, yeah
And maybe we got lost in translation
Maybe I asked for too much
But maybe this thing was a masterpiece 'til you tore it all up
Running scared, I was there
I remember it all too well
And you call me up again just to break me like a promise
So casually cruel in the name of being honest
I'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here
'Cause I remember it all, all, all
Too well
Time won't fly, it's like I'm paralyzed by it
I'd like to be my old self again
But I'm still trying to find it
After plaid shirt days and nights when you made me your own
Now you mail back my things and I walk home alone
But you keep my old scarf from that very first week
'Cause it reminds you of innocence
And it smells like me
You can't get rid of it
'Cause you remember it all too well, yeah
'Cause there we are again when I loved you so
Back before you lost the one real thing you've ever known
It was rare, I was there, I remember it all too well
Wind in my hair, you were there, you remember it all
Down the stairs, you were there, you remember it all
It was rare, I was there, I remember it all too well
Gibbon · 70-79, M
Meh. Sorry she is just another example of producers and media pushing popularity. That song regardless of how today's ratings work doesn't hold a candle to American Pie and the still unsolved mysteries of the lyrics.
I was a drummer in a band years ago and all of todays music plays as the musicians are an after thought. It's just like our cars. They all look the same.
@Gibbon Jack Bruce sounds familiar
Gibbon · 70-79, M
@NativePortlander1970 Listening to that drum battle I hear a lot of Ginger Baker in what they are doing.
Gibbon · 70-79, M
@NativePortlander1970 Bruce is considered a very influential bass player. Aside from Cream with Clapton and Baker he was with West Bruce and Lang and various solo work.
sylvsn59 · 61-69, M
I actually like that song alot. It was my introduction to her when she sang it on one of the awards show, i guess the grammies.
Not familiar with that list but ok.
sylvsn59 · 61-69, M
@LadyBronte i found it to be a very powerul song and exceptional performancd imop
[media=https://youtu.be/vQI67092qvI]
LadyBronte · 56-60, F
@sylvsn59 Thanks! Yes, if you have it, I'd like to see it. If not, I can look it up. ☺
LadyBronte · 56-60, F
@sylvsn59 I will watch it shortly. I'm in a restaurant. I don't think the patrons would appreciate an interruption in their meals. Lol.
wildbill83 · 36-40, M
top lists are pretty meaningless these days

It's more about promotions, endorsements, advertisements, etc. than actual talent

taylor swift, miley cyrus, lady gaga, etc. are nothing more than modern day britney spears'... how'd that work out for her? 🤔
LadyBronte · 56-60, F
@wildbill83 Taylor Swift has been around 18 years now. Not really a flash in the pan. Spears was crazy for so long, I don't recall but a couple years when she wasn't. She was a thing for roughly 10 years and didn't write her own lyrics, didnt write the accompanying music, didn't produce her own concerts, didn't write music for other talented artists, didn't collaborate with many well knowns. Spears is nowhere even close to the same arena as Swift. Like her or not, she's accomplished quite a bit on her own two feet.
Coldplay · 61-69, M
I can’t argue. I hear good things about how she treats people.
LadyBronte · 56-60, F
@Coldplay As do I. Shes not my fav, but I am amazed with her talent and her ability to pull of everything she has. I wish I had music that lived in me like that. Just wow.
Nitedoc · 51-55, M
It was good the first ten thousand times I heard it.
uncalled4 · 56-60, M
Don't forget that everything changed the way music is tracked with Soundscan in the 90s. Not to take away from TS, as I like her music, but it's not the same playing field as 1972.
LadyBronte · 56-60, F
@uncalled4 It has changed, but d9nt forget, you absolutely don't get to collaborate with the greats like Andrew Lloyd Weber or to write songs for or collaborate with the popular music personalities listed above. She has talent.
uncalled4 · 56-60, M
@LadyBronte I didn't say she wasn't good. It's just an apples to oranges comparison. And some people(not you I realize) can't accept that a popular artist can also be a great artist. I've enjoyed her last few singles. Pop is in great shape. I've been listening to Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, even Miley(come on, guys, represent here. Shawn Mendes?)
LadyBronte · 56-60, F
@uncalled4 I wasn't disagreeing with you, just pointing out her talent. There are some good artists out there, that I don't agree with or like their lifestyle, but they still have it going on professionally. Miley Cyrus, being one.
twistedrope · 26-30, M
This to me kind of reminds me of "God was never on your side" by motorhead in its lyrical prose.
LadyBronte · 56-60, F
@twistedrope I've heard it, but I need to go read the lyrics again. Do love Motorhead!
SandWitch · 26-30, F
I liked the song, though I'm not a 'Swiftie' at all. The irony of this song however, is that the song-writing style that Taylor used to make this song, is the exact same writing style that Don McLean used in the writing of American Pie.

In that regard, both songs are near identical in structure, utilizing what I'll call their mutually-shared, 'run-on' ballad-like storyline.
LadyBronte · 56-60, F
@SandWitch I feel like people should just be who they are. I welcome your creativity.
SandWitch · 26-30, F
@LadyBronte
Thank you! I'll read your posts tomorrow!
LadyBronte · 56-60, F
@SandWitch Be forwarned. Most are not Miss Mary Sunshine. Lol.
candycane · 31-35, F
I agree plus she plans all her concerts as well with the set up
This comment is hidden. Show Comment
candycane · 31-35, F
@LadyBronte jealousy is bad, she earned her way, was never given to her
LadyBronte · 56-60, F
@candycane Agree. She has done it all on her own.And good for her!!


I currently live 30 minutes away from the subject of American Pie, my older brother has been to the crash site.
LadyBronte · 56-60, F
@NativePortlander1970 A very cool in-depth song. I'm not sure most know the correlation of the plane crash and the song. Or what the sacred store, the Father Son, and the Holy Ghost refer to. It's always been a favorite song and will always continue to be.

 
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