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McLean, 75, recalled how the almost
nine-minute-long song about the loss of innocence in the rock
generation had come to define his career and be sung at key
moments in U.S. cultural life.
"At the turn of the century, I was invited to the Clinton White
House. I sang in front of 600,000 people in front of the
reflecting pool as you look at the Washington Monument, and they
were all singing 'American Pie' the last day of that
millennium," McLean said.
"I've had some wonderful experiences," he added.
McLean's star was the 2,700th on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and
was placed strategically outside The Piehole Shop on Hollywood
Boulevard.
"American Pie" was released in October 1971 and spent weeks on
the charts in the United States, Canada, Australia and the UK.
Madonna released a cover version in 2000, the song features in
the movie "Black Widow" and "Weird Al" Yankovic recorded a
parody version in 1999 inspired by the "Star Wars" films.
"As far as pop songs go, 'American Pie' is about as sacred as it
gets," Yankovic said at Monday's ceremony. "Thankfully, Don
McLean has a fantastic sense of humor and he very graciously
gave his blessing on my parody."
"Thank you for all the incredible music you've given us over the
years," Yankovic added.
"American Pie" makes numerous cryptic cultural allusions to
1960s figures ranging from Elvis Presley to Bob Dylan.
The lyrics were sold at auction in New York in 2015 for $1.2
million and McLean wrote in notes for the auction sale catalog
that the song was about life "heading in the wrong direction"
and "becoming less idyllic."
(Reporting by Reuters Television, Editing by Mark Porter)
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