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Vincent (Don McLean song)

January 30, 2023

"Vincent" is a song by Don McLean written as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh. It is often erroneously titled after its opening refrain, "Starry, Starry Night", a reference to Van Gogh's 1889 painting The Starry Night.

"Vincent"
Cover art of UK vinyl release, also used for the US, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and New Zealand releases
Single by Don McLean
from the album American Pie
B-side"Castles in the Air"
ReleasedFebruary 1972[1]
GenreFolk
Length3:55
LabelUnited Artists Records, BGO Records
Songwriter(s)Don McLean
Producer(s)Ed Freeman
Don McLean singles chronology
"American Pie"
(1971) 		"Vincent"
(1972) 		"Dreidel"
(1973)
Music videos
Vincent on YouTube, by Don McLean. (3:58 minutes, with lyrics)
Vincent on YouTube, by Don McLean. Live performance (1972). (3:57 minutes)
Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night (1889), described in the song

McLean wrote the lyrics in 1971 after reading a book about the life of Van Gogh.[2] It was released on McLean's 1971 American Pie album; the following year, the song topped the UK Singles Chart for two weeks,[3] and peaked at No. 12 in the United States,[4] where it also hit No. 2 on the Easy Listening chart.[5] Billboard ranked it as the No. 94 song for 1972.

The song makes use mainly of the guitar, but also includes the accordion, marimba, and strings.

In July 2020, the original handwritten lyrics went up for sale for $1.5 million.[6]

Production

McLean said the following about the genesis of the song:

"In the autumn of 1970 I had a job singing in the school system, playing my guitar in classrooms. I was sitting on the veranda one morning, reading a biography of Van Gogh, and suddenly I knew I had to write a song arguing that he wasn't crazy. He had an illness and so did his brother Theo. This makes it different, in my mind, to the garden variety of 'crazy' – because he was rejected by a woman [as was commonly thought]. So I sat down with a print of Starry Night and wrote the lyrics out on a paper bag."[2]

Critical reception

The Telegraph wrote: "With its bittersweet palette of major and minor chords, "Vincent"'s soothing melody is one of high emotion recollected in tranquillity".[2] AllMusic retrospectively described the song as "McLean's paean to Van Gogh ... sympathiz[ing] with Van Gogh's suicide as a sane comment on an insane world."[7] The site also said McLean performs "a particularly poignant rendition" of "Vincent" on the 2001 live album Starry, Starry Night.[8]

The song was a particular favorite of the rapper and actor Tupac Shakur, and was played to him in the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, the hospital where Tupac was admitted just before he died of gunshot wounds from a drive-by shooting.[2]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[26] Platinum 80,000 
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Gold 400,000 

  Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notable cover versions

In 1996, a punk rock cover by NOFX was published on the compilation album Survival of the Fattest by the record label Fat Wreck Cords.[28]

Rick Astley released a cover version on his 2005 album Portrait.

Lianne La Havas recorded a cover for the soundtrack album and credits of the 2017 film Loving Vincent.

In December 2017, James Blake performed a live piano-backed cover at Conway Studios, Los Angeles.[29]

Ellie Goulding released a cover of the song on Valentine's Day 2018, apologizing to her fans about delays in her recording projects.[30] McLean tweeted to Goulding saying "'Vincent' is not an easy song to sing and you sing it very beautifully."[31] She included her cover in her 2020 Songbook for Christmas EP.

In December 2018, Jasmine Thompson and Ryan Keen performed a duet cover for their YouTube channel.[32]

References

  1. ^ "Vincent / Castles In The Air - Don McLean". 45cat. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  2. ^ a b c d Helen Brown (24 February 2010). "Don McLean interview: Why I had to write "Vincent" - Telegraph". Daily Telegraph.(subscription required)
  3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 274. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ^ Jason Ankeny (1945-10-02). "Don McLean | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 166.
  6. ^ "Handwritten lyrics of Don McLean's song 'Vincent' up for sale, expected to fetch $1.5 mn". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  7. ^ William Ruhlmann. "American Pie". AllMusic.
  8. ^ Bruce Eder. "Starry Starry Night". AllMusic.
  9. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (doc). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. ^ "Don McLean – Vincent" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  11. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - May 20, 1972" (PDF).
  12. ^ "Don McLean – Vincent". Top Digital Download.
  13. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – DON MCLEAN - VINCENT". Singles Top 100.
  14. ^ "Don McLean – Vincent" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  15. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  16. ^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  17. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (M)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  18. ^ "Don McLean: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  19. ^ "Don McLean Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Don McLean Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  21. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 5/20/72". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  22. ^ . Archived from the original on 2011-09-16. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  23. ^ "Top 100 1972 - UK Music Charts". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  24. ^ . Musicoutfitters.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  25. ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1972". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  26. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Don McLean – Vincent". Music Canada. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  27. ^ "British single certifications – Don McLean – Vincent". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  28. ^ "Cover versions of Vincent by NOFX | SecondHandSongs". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  29. ^ James Blake - Vincent (Official Video), archived from the original on 2021-12-19, retrieved 2021-10-09
  30. ^ "Ellie Goulding covers Don McLean classic "Vincent": Stream". 14 February 2018.
  31. ^ "Ellie Goulding covers Don McLean's 'Vincent'". 15 February 2018.
  32. ^ Don McLean - Vincent (Starry Starry Night) - Cover by Jasmine Thompson and Ryan Keen, archived from the original on 2021-12-19, retrieved 2021-10-09

External links

January 30, 2023
vincent, mclean, song, vincent, song, mclean, written, tribute, vincent, gogh, often, erroneously, titled, after, opening, refrain, starry, starry, night, reference, gogh, 1889, painting, starry, night, vincent, cover, vinyl, release, also, used, italian, japa. Vincent is a song by Don McLean written as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh It is often erroneously titled after its opening refrain Starry Starry Night a reference to Van Gogh s 1889 painting The Starry Night Vincent Cover art of UK vinyl release also used for the US Italian Japanese Portuguese and New Zealand releasesSingle by Don McLeanfrom the album American PieB side Castles in the Air ReleasedFebruary 1972 1 GenreFolkLength3 55LabelUnited Artists Records BGO RecordsSongwriter s Don McLeanProducer s Ed FreemanDon McLean singles chronology American Pie 1971 Vincent 1972 Dreidel 1973 Music videosVincent on YouTube by Don McLean 3 58 minutes with lyrics Vincent on YouTube by Don McLean Live performance 1972 3 57 minutes Vincent van Gogh s The Starry Night 1889 described in the song McLean wrote the lyrics in 1971 after reading a book about the life of Van Gogh 2 It was released on McLean s 1971 American Pie album the following year the song topped the UK Singles Chart for two weeks 3 and peaked at No 12 in the United States 4 where it also hit No 2 on the Easy Listening chart 5 Billboard ranked it as the No 94 song for 1972 The song makes use mainly of the guitar but also includes the accordion marimba and strings In July 2020 the original handwritten lyrics went up for sale for 1 5 million 6 Contents 1 Production 2 Critical reception 3 Charts 3 1 Weekly charts 3 2 Year end charts 4 Certifications 5 Notable cover versions 6 References 7 External linksProduction EditMcLean said the following about the genesis of the song In the autumn of 1970 I had a job singing in the school system playing my guitar in classrooms I was sitting on the veranda one morning reading a biography of Van Gogh and suddenly I knew I had to write a song arguing that he wasn t crazy He had an illness and so did his brother Theo This makes it different in my mind to the garden variety of crazy because he was rejected by a woman as was commonly thought So I sat down with a print of Starry Night and wrote the lyrics out on a paper bag 2 Critical reception EditThe Telegraph wrote With its bittersweet palette of major and minor chords Vincent s soothing melody is one of high emotion recollected in tranquillity 2 AllMusic retrospectively described the song as McLean s paean to Van Gogh sympathiz ing with Van Gogh s suicide as a sane comment on an insane world 7 The site also said McLean performs a particularly poignant rendition of Vincent on the 2001 live album Starry Starry Night 8 The song was a particular favorite of the rapper and actor Tupac Shakur and was played to him in the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada the hospital where Tupac was admitted just before he died of gunshot wounds from a drive by shooting 2 Charts EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1972 PeakpositionAustralia 9 3Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 10 30Canada Top Singles 11 3Canada Adult Contemporary 13Italy FIMI 12 1Germany Official German Charts 13 21Netherlands Single Top 100 14 16Ireland IRMA 15 1New Zealand Listener 16 7South Africa Springbok 17 6UK Singles OCC 18 1US Billboard Hot 100 19 12US Adult Contemporary Billboard 20 2US Cash Box Top 100 21 11 Year end charts Edit Chart 1972 RankAustralia 9 failed verification 31Canada 22 67UK 23 11US Billboard Hot 100 24 94US Cash Box 25 93Certifications EditRegion Certification Certified units salesCanada Music Canada 26 Platinum 80 000 United Kingdom BPI 27 Gold 400 000 Sales streaming figures based on certification alone Notable cover versions EditIn 1996 a punk rock cover by NOFX was published on the compilation album Survival of the Fattest by the record label Fat Wreck Cords 28 Rick Astley released a cover version on his 2005 album Portrait Lianne La Havas recorded a cover for the soundtrack album and credits of the 2017 film Loving Vincent In December 2017 James Blake performed a live piano backed cover at Conway Studios Los Angeles 29 Ellie Goulding released a cover of the song on Valentine s Day 2018 apologizing to her fans about delays in her recording projects 30 McLean tweeted to Goulding saying Vincent is not an easy song to sing and you sing it very beautifully 31 She included her cover in her 2020 Songbook for Christmas EP In December 2018 Jasmine Thompson and Ryan Keen performed a duet cover for their YouTube channel 32 References Edit Vincent Castles In The Air Don McLean 45cat Retrieved 2021 04 22 a b c d Helen Brown 24 February 2010 Don McLean interview Why I had to write Vincent Telegraph Daily Telegraph subscription required Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 274 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Jason Ankeny 1945 10 02 Don McLean Biography AllMusic Retrieved 2014 03 27 Whitburn Joel 2002 Top Adult Contemporary 1961 2001 Record Research p 166 Handwritten lyrics of Don McLean s song Vincent up for sale expected to fetch 1 5 mn The Economic Times Retrieved 2020 07 31 William Ruhlmann American Pie AllMusic Bruce Eder Starry Starry Night AllMusic a b Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 doc Australian Chart Book St Ives N S W ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Don McLean Vincent in Dutch Ultratop 50 RPM Top 100 Singles May 20 1972 PDF Don McLean Vincent Top Digital Download Swedishcharts com DON MCLEAN VINCENT Singles Top 100 Don McLean Vincent in Dutch Single Top 100 The Irish Charts All there is to know irishcharts ie Retrieved 4 October 2019 flavour of new zealand search listener Flavourofnz co nz Retrieved 2016 10 07 South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 1989 Acts M Rock co za Retrieved 8 September 2018 Don McLean Artist Chart History Official Charts Company Don McLean Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Don McLean Chart History Adult Contemporary Billboard Cash Box Top 100 5 20 72 Tropicalglen com Retrieved 20 January 2019 Best of 1972 songs and music on MusicAndYears com Archived from the original on 2011 09 16 Retrieved 2015 01 03 Top 100 1972 UK Music Charts Uk charts top source info Retrieved 2016 10 07 Top 100 Hits of 1972 Top 100 Songs of 1972 Musicoutfitters com Archived from the original on 2017 04 27 Retrieved 2016 10 07 Top 100 Year End Charts 1972 Cashbox Magazine Retrieved 2015 01 03 Canadian single certifications Don McLean Vincent Music Canada Retrieved January 26 2023 British single certifications Don McLean Vincent British Phonographic Industry Retrieved October 28 2022 Cover versions of Vincent by NOFX SecondHandSongs secondhandsongs com Retrieved 2021 10 09 James Blake Vincent Official Video archived from the original on 2021 12 19 retrieved 2021 10 09 Ellie Goulding covers Don McLean classic Vincent Stream 14 February 2018 Ellie Goulding covers Don McLean s Vincent 15 February 2018 Don McLean Vincent Starry Starry Night Cover by Jasmine Thompson and Ryan Keen archived from the original on 2021 12 19 retrieved 2021 10 09External links EditDon McLean Vincent on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vincent Don McLean song amp oldid 1135702723, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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