Talk:Don McLean/Archive 1

Archive 1

Mangled Article

The beginning of this article is obviously mangled, probably because of mis-editing. AmritTuladhar 18:40, 20 September 2006 (UTC)

No fooling. Is he alive? Have kids? Have cancer? Live on Mars? This article has fallen a little short of being biographic! --208.127.100.19 (talk) 13:32, 20 July 2010 (UTC)

In the section titled CONCERTS, there is a sentence that begins: "Two years later, Brooks repaid the favor by..." Apparently the references is to Garth Brooks, who is mentioned further down in the article. However, this is the initial reference, it makes no sense, particularly since whatever "favor" was rendered, and by whom, is unclear. NicholasNotabene (talk) 10:06, 19 January 2013 (UTC)

University

I'm not any kind of authority on Don McLean, but the main page (Oct 22) says he attended Iona College. On Don McLean's official web page link it says, "In this 4 year period, Don moved from a fairly idyllic childhood existence, through the shock and subsequent harsh realities of his father’s death in 1961, to his decision in 1963 to quit Villanova University to pursue his dream and become a professional singer." He might have attended both Iona and Villanova or maybe just Villanova. I hope someone can check the facts and update the main page.AdderUser 00:53, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Good grief! Following my question about McLean's college attendance, someone rewrote the main article to read: "and attended an Upstate New York University". This is fact checking?? Iona College is in New Rochelle, NY just outside of New York City which is DOWNstate, not upstate; Villanova is located near Philadelphia, PA which is NOT-EVEN-NY-state, but a completely different state.AdderUser 03:28, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

His bio clearly states he dropped out of Villanova, and graduated from Iona. "While at Villanova University in 1963 (he stayed for just four months). . . Don also found time to attend night school at Iona College and, in 1968, graduated with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration . . . " [1]. And it will always be upstate to any of us who grew up in NYC/LI - even if we spent four years in New Ro. There is no such thing as downstate. :) -Lciaccio 02:00, 11 April 2007 (UTC)

Cleanup

Fragmented, needs cleanup. Also, should include something about being the inspration for "Killing Me Softly" Omarcheeseboro 16:29, 28 June 2007 (UTC)

Singles discography

He needs a singles discography otherwise people will think hes a one hit wonder. —Preceding unsigned comment added by The Blizzard King (talk • contribs) 23:59, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

How is his name pronounced?

Is it pronounced as it's spelled (i.e., something like "McCleen") or is it pronounced as if it were spelled "McClain"? It seems like I've always heard it pronounced with a long "a" rather than the written long "e." 66.234.220.195 (talk) 03:34, 24 February 2008 (UTC)

Other songs

Is there actually a reason for the following sentence to exist in this article?

"Boney M had a number one hit in the UK with a similar song in 1978 under the title Rivers of Babylon, which was not based on this one, although using the same text from Psalm 137."

So someone else wrote, or performed, "a similar song." So what? NicholasNotabene (talk) 09:59, 19 January 2013 (UTC)

I've removed it. It relates to Psalm 137 (where it is mentioned) and not McLean.--Egghead06 (talk) 11:06, 19 January 2013 (UTC)

Somethings missing

Hi. There seems to be a gap in the concerts section.

One paragraph starts off "Two years later, Brooks repaid the favour" but there is no mention of what in the first para. The first para seems to be about the 70s while the second para talks about 2009. Can someone have a look? Gbawden (talk) 06:56, 20 May 2013 (UTC)

Longest #1

just to be clear, we're talking longest one on the EASY LISTENING charts, right? on the normal (hot 100) chart, i believe it is Oasis' "All Around The World" at 9:20 (Meat Loaf's I'd Do Anything for Love, which beats them both at 12:01, apparently doesn't qualify somehow).

also, if the page on the song itself doesn't claim this, why is it here on the singer's page? either move it over or put it on BOTH pages, no? 209.172.25.26 (talk) 09:08, 12 January 2014 (UTC)

Andy Breckman

Some people want this part in, others seem to want it out. (I don't care either way.) But it may be ripe for a discussion, so...discuss away.--TheOtherBob 21:47, 7 December 2007 (UTC)

I have edited the musical roots section and moved Andy Breckman under a new sub-heading. It's a very insignificant episode in McLean's career and therefore probably attributed undue prominence. I would like it to go particularly when more substantive information about McLean's career has been added. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.163.56.42 (talk) 14:28, 8 December 2007 (UTC)

Having found and read the two accounts, I vote strongly to remove it. Even if the two parties agreed on the basic facts, which they don't, it's a old personal disagreement of no encyclopedic significance. Imagine what WP would look like if we chronicled every feud between two celebrities. Dpiranha (talk) 03:41, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

After reading both sides of the story I agree this issue has no place in any encyclopedia. First, it's an obscure episode that few would know about if it wasn't needlessly brought to their attention; second, what Breckman's unprovoked attack amounts to is a petty screed by someone who thinks he's hilarious and that his hilarity justifies or excuses any and all small-minded prejudices or crude behavior he happens to indulge in for the sake of a laugh. One has only to watch a few episodes of "The Office" (either the British or American version) to be reminded that some people can truly believe they are funny when in fact they are only being cruel and ignorant. Should such behavior be rewarded or enabled by giving it any kind of legitimacy? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.69.178.232 (talk) 16:07, 13 August 2009 (UTC)

I yield to no one in my admiration for Don McLean, but I do think one of the most interesting things about him his what an awkward man he seems to be (try this for size: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qog65XHM-ok). One of the few great pop musicians who can really only communicate through their art. That doesn't mean Andy Breckman, who comes across as a nasty piece of work, is right, but since these wiki articles are often duller than they need to be out of some misunderstanding of what an encyclopedia needs to do, I say put it in. It's interesting. It's significant. It's even, dare I say it, fun. We can link both Breckman and McLean's rebuttal, it's not going to make "American Pie" less of a classic, but it might shed some light on the very strange notion in "Vincent" that van Gogh, only the most expensive artist of our time, is still misunderstood. ("They did not listen, they're not listening still/Perhaps they never will..." -- "listen" being a strange verb to use for a painter.)Sartoresartus (talk) 15:13, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

I suggest you google the words "celebrity assholes" and perhaps tag his name to it..not really the most loved person in the music business from what I hear...not that they are all saints but..

Deranged trivia police

There is NO need for 'citation needed' tags for uncontroversial statements like 'he was born in 1842' and 'the sun rises in the east'. This is a trivial waste of time and will eventually kill this project. ONLY IF there's a good reason to doubt the statement do you put the tag in, otherwise get a life, get yourself a girlfriend, and fuck off out of here.Sartoresartus (talk) 17:04, 25 February 2017 (UTC)

Factual Content was deleted. the deletionist said "wrong song" but it is confirmed 100%

Factual Content was deleted. the deletionist said "wrong song" but it is confirmed 100% ?????

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Don_McLean&diff=1051466002&oldid=1051464581

Jonny Mathis "And I Love You So" is a song by Johnny Mathis. It is track #3 from the album Killing Me Softly With Her Song that was released in 1973 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_Me_Softly_with_Her_Song_(album) The song was written by Don McLean

Eddy Arnold: "And I Love You So" Album: Hand Holdin' Songs 1989 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_Arnold_discography The song was written by Don McLean Lib-trans-free (talk) 22:12, 23 October 2021 (UTC)

Here's the real reason: WP:SONGCOVER sets a high bar to inclusion. It's not enough to prove a cover version exists; the cover version must also gain special notice in the media, or it must reach a national chart. Binksternet (talk) 01:58, 24 October 2021 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion

The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion:

• Don McLean + Home Free Win Three Telly Awards For Special Collaboration Of “American Pie”.jpg

Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 06:07, 3 October 2022 (UTC)