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How well do you know the song ''American Pie?''
"My my, Mr. Quizzical guy. Take some chances, try some answers, give this here test a try."
An entire quiz devoted to one song?
Yes, that's how titanic this song's legacy is.
Don McLean's "American Pie" is one of the most evocative songs of all time. It's a blast of nostalgia, looking back at the history of rock music while also pushing it forward.
So, let's take a moment to pay tribute to this song which itself pays tribute to an entire history of music. See what you know, and see what you could learn about one of the greatest songs in American rock music.
Also, lots of the interpretation of the song is absolute conjecture. But, McLean has confirmed some theories and debunked others. These questions are posed using the "widely-held" interpretations of the lyrics, so use the song's context clues to your benefit, and don't get mad if your theories aren't reflected in the answers! Be sure to share your thoughts, feelings, and score in the comments section below!
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What event does "the day the music died" refer to?
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What year was "American Pie" released?
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McLean debuted the song in Philadelphia, where he opened for which singer-songwriter?
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It is widely speculated that when McLean sings "I met a girl who sang the blues," he is referring to which singer?
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The fourth verse, containing the lyrics "No angel born in Hell could break that Satan spell" likely refers to which event?
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The lyrics "Eight miles high and fallin' fast" refer to which band?
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Who is the "jester" in verse two, "in a coat he borrowed from James Dean?"
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How long did "American Pie" remain the lengthiest song to reach Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100?
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Who dethroned "American Pie" with a number one song that was even longer?
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McLean dedicated the American Pie album to which musician?
How well do you know the song ''American Pie?''
Your Result...
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67 Comments
0/10...
When I was in college, I chaperoned a bunch of teenagers trip on a winter camping trip. They weren’t supposed to bring any music, but one brought a record player this song, American pie. They played it over and over. Can’t believe I didn’t get all of them, correct
5 out of 10.
8/10 w a couple guesses…
6 of 10. I blew through this quiz too fast... A lot of forehead smacks on this one! I thought I'd do a lot better since I remember clearly when the song hit the airwaves!
6 of 10, Bye, Bye, Thumbs Down!
9/10 missed #3
6/10
Isn’t Bennie and the Jets by Elton John pretty long too ?
And Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues ? Just askin’
Isn’t Bennie and the Jets by Elton John pretty long too ?
And Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues ? Just askin’
American Pie is about eight and a half minutes long. I'm not sure how long Bennie And The Jets or Nights In White Satin are...somebody open YouTube Music and check!
7/10. Not too good in my opinion. I had to write a composition on "American Pie" in English class when I was senior in HS.
5/10 😵
6 out of 10 :/
Aced another music quiz.
9/10. I didn't know who he was opening for when he debuted the song.
I didn't know the girl who sang the blues was Janis Joplin. So between us, we got 'em all right!
7/10... thought, well, "for 10 years we've been on our own" so 1969... nope. Didn't know who he was opening for at the song's debut. And... sweet mother of mercy, a Taylor Swift song *longer* than American Pie? Where's the ice pick??
At 8 minutes and 42 seconds disc jockeys always kept it on stand-by in case they had to go to the bathroom.
If they had a real stomach problem, they could play In-a-gada-de-vida by Iron Butterfly.
Yep, and that song was NEVER #1! But yep, it filled a whole side in the days of vinyl!
I heard this one and Frampton’s Do you Feel Like We Do were number one in number two when it came to DJs
When it first came out the AM radio version was like maybe 3:30 long. But as it caught on radio stations dumped the short version for the 8 minute version.
5/10
5/10.
4/10
4/10…a song that you can make out all the lyrics being sung even if you don’t understand what they mean 🫤
What a concept. I can’t stand most new stuff cuz of that. Country isn’t as bad for understanding lyrics rap is the hardest to understand
8/10 Here is a link to a website about the documentary "The Day the Music Died: The Story of Don McLean's American Pie". McLean explains some of the lyrics (the "marching band" meant the military-industrial complex, and "sweet perfume" was tear gas), and talks about some misinterpretations (the king and the jester are not Elvis and Bob Dylan).
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-19/don-mclean-looks-back-masterpiece-american-pie-new-documentary/101249450
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-19/don-mclean-looks-back-masterpiece-american-pie-new-documentary/101249450