'Lyrics alone worth 1.4 billion won' America's favorite song... Yoon passionately sings 'American Pie'

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is on a state visit to the United States, made headlines by singing Don McLean's "American Pie" himself at a state dinner. The song depicts the changes in America from the vibrant 1950s to the bleak 1960s, and it has been a favorite song of President Yoon for a long time.

President Yoon Suk-yeol (right), currently visiting the United States, is holding a guitar signed by American singer-songwriter Don McLean during a state dinner held on the 26th (local time) in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, while President Joe Biden watches.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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According to foreign media including NBC on the 26th (local time), U.S. President Joe Biden presented President Yoon with an acoustic guitar signed by McLean at the state dinner held at the White House. It was a "surprise gift" inspired by the fact that President Yoon usually enjoys listening to McLean's songs.

Holding the guitar and smiling, President Yoon expressed his gratitude to President Biden. When the guests requested a song, President Yoon said, "If you, the strong supporters and stakeholders of the Korea-U.S. alliance, wish, I will sing just one verse," adding, "But I’m not sure if I remember the lyrics well."

As the piano began to play, President Yoon sang passionately for about a minute the opening lines of "American Pie": "A long long time ago, I can still remember how that music used to make me smile."

When the song ended, the guests stood up and gave a standing ovation. President Biden also showed closeness by putting his arm around President Yoon's shoulder.

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is on a state visit to the United States, and U.S. President Joe Biden are shaking hands at a joint press conference held on the 26th (local time) in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C. Photo by Yonhap News.

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Don McLean's "American Pie," sung by President Yoon, has been a favorite song of his since his days as a presidential candidate. When President Yoon launched his Facebook page in June 2021, he wrote, "My top songs are Don McLean's 'American Pie' and 'Vincent,' and Song Chang-sik's 'We Are,'" adding, "Please don’t ask if I sing well, but I sing with all my heart."

Composed and performed by McLean, "American Pie" topped the Billboard charts immediately after its release in 1971, gaining explosive popularity. The song is known to have been inspired by McLean learning about the death of legendary rock singer Buddy Holly while delivering newspapers in 1959. It is also famous for depicting the transition of America from the bright and lively 1950s to the bleak 1960s.

However, the lyrics are full of metaphors and symbolism, leading to various interpretations among music fans. When the handwritten lyrics of the song were auctioned for 1.4 billion won at Christie's in New York in 2015, McLean said, "What I tried to express in the lyrics and music was the indescribable image of America."

In particular, the chorus of the song is "Bye bye Miss American Pie," which is interpreted as emphasizing a farewell to the past. McLean said in an interview at the time, "I don’t know if people are fully understanding it, but in some sense, it’s a cautionary tale."

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