A year ago an acquaintance of mine passed away suddenly here in Northern California. He was an avid listener of all kinds of music. A good friend of his, a musician, was told of his passing as the musician was touring the immense Van Gough exhibit in Paris where you literally walk through three d renditions of VG's paintings. When we had my acquaintance's memorial gathering, the musician brought his guitar an actually played and sang this song!
Vincent was a genius way ahead of his time, he expressed himself through his art, but he was so advanced for his age he made most of those around him uncomfortable. people hate change, and they dislike different, and these are still prevalent today,. hence why Don says they were not listening there not listening still, perhaps they never will, which resounds with me as it means, that he believes that humanity will never tolerate these things which is leaves you in despair. when you also consider that the only paintings he ever sold during his life time, were those his own brother bought so he could make do, meant that when his brother passed away, that from this moment the beautiful that was Vincent was doomed, wilted and died away, so so sad and tragic.
Great reaction! I've always got teary eyed with this song. Even more once I knew the tragic life of Van Gogh. Longtime sufferer of mental illness who took his life. His artistry was pure genius, but wasn't realized until after his untimely death. Don McLean was able to capture that genius and sadness perfectly in his words & music. Loved this song as long as I can remember - so my entire life as it were. Cheers!
I love your reaction to this & your conversation about how difficult it is to help & say the right thing. You’re absolutely right. I have PTSD & have family members with other mental health problems. It is very hard to know what to say. Love your reactions x
It makes me think of Robert E Howard a pulp fiction writer, who made little money writing his stories and spending his days isolated and caring for his ailing mother. When she died he eventually took his own life. But he created Conan the Barbarian, the first sord and sorcery hero, and we have many movies of his characters today. I don't think he ever imagined how popular his stories would become.
Of course, Van Gogh is the suffering artist that we know. Countless others have come and gone and also suffered but have never become known. They passed by in the suffering without us ever noticing. They're only crime is that they didn't become famous. As much as we sing Van Gogh's praise it was never while he was alive...his tale is that of many others who die in obscurity, it is with them that his soul finds connection.
The singer painting with words, about the artist who paints with a brush. Both see and portray pain and poverty in a most beautiful way. Don sings about people not listening to Vincent and mentions his sanity. The first thing most people learned about Van Gogh is he cut off his own ear and sent it to his lover.. "Perhaps they'll listen now" "Perhaps they never will".. And about his paintings, Vincent was different in that he showed people in poverty, aging, in pain etc .. He didnt paint palaces and kings. And Mclean plays only an acoustic guitar. Don is saying he "understands" so hes saying indirectly that he too feels pain and maybe was suicidal. How else can he "understand". Its a cry out for help.. for all of us
Actually its a myth about great artists dying unrecognised. Van Gogh is the exception that proves the rule ( if you regard him as great -he wouldn't have said so himself) All the others you have heard of from Leonardo, Michaelangelo Rubens Rembrandt Velasquez through to Picasso were all very rich and famous in their own lifetimes.
McLean sings the song with such raw emotion because like Van Gogh, Don was struggling, had endured trauma and tragedy, and felt very much misunderstood. McLean felt estranged from his peers and from his family, that he was a disappointment, and that sadness peaked after his own father died of a heart attack after a confrontation with Don over Don's high school grades. Don's older sister suffered from mental illness. At the time this song was written, Don's first marriage was failing and his aspirations to be a professional musician were very much in doubt -- he was earning money teaching music in public schools (close to where I grew up) and actually wrote Vincent at a school on a cafeteria napkin.
Such a great song by Don McLean! It is his tribute to the sad life of the painter Vincent Van Gogh. He suffered from depression & committed suicide. He never saw any success during his life. But now his paintings are worth millions of dollars.
Vincent's paintings hardly sold in his short life his brother bought most of them to keep vincent afloat with canvases and oils so he could continue painting but he died penniless.but later on his paintings sold for millions and one of his paintings sold in 1995 for a record 75 million dollars.
Beautiful song about Vincent van Gogh the painter. Don Mclean was one of my favorite artists when I was young. Still listening to his whole ‘American Pie’ album❣️ Now it’s more Floor and Nightwish 😄
Mclean himself suffered mental health problems, so he felt he understood something of Vincent's struggle, he would often have tears running down his face as he sang this song.
Such a beautiful song, always makes me teary. Vincent Van Gogh's art is so incredibly beautiful and moving, and it brings me so much joy, that it actually hurts to think of how much he suffered to make it, and how he never got to see anyone appreciate it. We're so very lucky to still have it.❤
This is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. If you decide to react to American Pie, he sings it in this same BBC performance. I think you will both enjoy it as a live performance. The audience certainly did! Another singer/songwriter from this time period I think you would enjoy is Cat Stevens. His songs Peace Train, Where Do The Children Play, and Father And Son would all be good places to start if you are interested. Thanks for sharing this one! 🙂
There is an art gallery in Amsterdam totally dedicated to Van Gogh's work, and his pictures can be found in most of the World's major art galleries and collections. Thank you for another beautiful reaction.
One of my favorite songs by anybody EVER! The song, Vincent's art, and who he was as a person reach into my soul. There is a video of the studio version that features his art. There is also a great old movie that was made about him, and Kirk Douglas brought him to life perfectly. Its called Lust For Life. What I love about his art is the way he used thick paint and gave his paintings texture so that everything feels like it's alive with movement. This song and Van Gogh's story make me cry inside, in my heart
Vincent Van Gogh is considered one of the greatest artists in the Post Impressionist Era of the late 1800s. He lived a tortured life and when he committed suicide in 1890 at the age of 37, he died penniless. His most recent painting to transfer ownership was in 2022 and sold for $117,000,000. Very lovely reaction. Much love and support from America. 🎷🙏🏼🇺🇸
I want to thank you so much for this reaction to my all-time favorite song. One of the few reactions I have seen that mirrored my experience listening to this hauntingly beautiful masterpiece. Seeing a Van Gogh painting in person is one of the most memorable and somewhat shocking experiences of my life. What shocked me I guess was the sheer power and magnetism of the painting. I saw it in a large room of a museum full of masterpieces but I noticed most people lingered longest by his painting. They seemed to fall under Van Gogh’s spell and were drawn to his work like moths to flame. Love your channel.❤❤
McLean is pronounced McLANE. I love the Doctor Who episode about Vincent, it's so touching at the closing of the episode when the Doctor and Amy and Rory show him how much people love his art. The part of Vincent is played by a Scots actor, who asked Amy if she came from his part of the world,, on hearing her accent. She said Scotland and he gave her a quizzical look and said Holland. Don McLean has such a clever way with words.
We visited the sanitorium near Arles where Vincent stayed. The place is surrounded by lavendar and is beautiful, but within the walls it is full of sadness and the humble statue of the man himself outside is so moving. Such a simple man who poured everything into his work and his painting of the everyday poor people who worked the land. His legacy to many is largely of a madman who cut off his ear, but he was so so much more than that.
This song was Tupac's favourite song of all time, and what his girlfriend had playing in his hospital room before he died. Truly one of the great all-time songs, it's just magical. Great choice, and a great reaction as always - peace and love from Canada ☮
His artistry in weaving the pictures into your mind using the beautiful lyrics that not only reflect Vincent but also his skill as an artist who was sadly not recognised until after he had departed this world we all share, he left a legacy that will live and grow more!
Don McLean's performance was the inspiration for Lori Lieberman writing of the song, Killing Me Softly, that later became a smash hit for Roberta Flack...
My dad took me to see Don when I was a teenager. I had been classically trained in the clarinet since I was 8. I grew up with this kind of music and grew up to become a metalhead. This concert that I was so lucky to see, is especially special.
OH WoW Yes! been waiting ish for ya two to discover this one oh man this is one of THE most **Exceptionally Beautiful** songs EVER written & performed & another one from my childhood & always **Tears**
“Killing Me Softly with His Song" is a song composed by Charles Fox with lyrics by Norman Gimbel. The lyrics were written in collaboration with Lori Lieberman after she was inspired by a Don McLean performance in late 1971
Dear Andrei and Dominika, the first time I heard ""Vincent" I was a teenager and, although I missed some words, I cried because I knew the story of Vincent van Gogh and this was the most gentle, poetic tribute to a man who, during his lifetime, was never recognized as a Master artist, who only knew sorrow and pain. Thank you for such a beautiful song.
This song is up there in the top 10. I can’t listen to it without crying. At the end of the song, when Don McLean realizes and begins to understand van Goghs’ suffering, and mental illness, and then comments on society, in general, that we won’t ever really understand is very true today. People with mental illness suffer in silence much of the time and are incredibly misunderstood. Very poignant and meaningful song. Thank you for choosing this and for your genuine reaction. ❤️
Do you want to make this MORE SPECIAL......Then, please, listen again with the accompanying video depicting most of his most famous paintings like "Starry, Starry Night" and "Sunflowers". ENJOY!
Great reaction guys! This is one of my earliest musical memories. I fell in love with Don Mclean's voice. The song 'Killing me softly with his song' made famous by Roberta Flack was partly inspired by hearing him sing. His American Pie album is an absolute masterpiece, 'Crossroads', 'The Grave', 'Empty chairs', 'Winterwood' all fantastic songs.
"This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you" ... This made me cry, having lost my wife to suicide nearly 10 years ago ... I still feel the same way today.
Oh, that’s a tough one! I’m so sorry you and your family had to go through that. I hope you have all come to peace with it and can remember the good times and think of her fondly, without pain or anger. I pray for peace and joy for all of you.
A viewer mentioned this as one of her favorite live performances, and I agree. One more very powerful live performance is one of John Denver performing his own song, "Seasons of the Heart." This song is one that sooths your soul with beauty while ripping your heart out from your chest. I think that I identify with this song, and I just think it is beautifully done. I believe your appreciation of beautiful and well-written lyrics, along with a powerful song, will result in a good reaction from you. Take a look at this video - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LVhTM9oSPOM.html and I hope you will also enjoy it.
Best Dutch painter, Im From the Netherlands and am an artist myself, many tears rolled when listening to this song when I was young and felt so deeply what it was about. Look at his paintings, look at them, and feel the energy of the swirling sky he was going there, broke through the barrieres, still nobody saw.
Don is truly a poet with his lyrics. He asked the guys from Home Free to join him in an acapella collaboration on the 50th anniversary of American Pie and it is an amazing production. Don was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after and asked the Home Free guys to join him and they sang a little at the ceremony.
Another one of the songs my parents loved. I will always love Van Gogh's incredulous talent. He was indeed, a tormented soul. I believe that he's at peace in God's loving hands✌️✌️
Gordon Lightfoot"if you you could read my mind"...Jim croce"time in a bottle "...Peter greens Fleetwood Mac "need your love so bad " .....all lyrically beautiful and are sure to make a certain someone tear up x 😊
Achingly beautiful. The genius of this to me is that Van Gogh’s special skill was bringing out the beauty of the mundane, the juxtaposition of nature with man’s struggle. And here McLean writes a song about him that expresses pain but immense dignity and beauty within that pain. He celebrates Vincent for his struggle.
Saw him live here in UK in 80s ,TWO HOURS of just him his guitar and banjo ,he was so good got everyone singing American Pie at the end but when he sang Vincent you could hear a pin drop, a few people drying tears it was so touching.
You should watch the group called the Dave Clark 5 and listen to the songs “ Beacause” and “ Hurtin’ Inside. The DC5 were British Group w/ c were famous in the 60’s comparable to the Beatles and Rolling Stones alike.
