The original Don Mclean (the third) song "American Pie" topped Billboard in 1972. Don had other hits like "Crying" and "Vincent" but this song defined his music. He is one great songwriter, just listen to "If We Try", "And I Love You So", "Wonderful Baby" and "Castles In The Air". Don inspired the composition "Killing Me Softly With His Song", see him in concert and you will understand.

Madonna's (Ciccone) "American Pie" topped thirteen world charts including the U.K. and many commonwealth countries in 2000. It peaked at twenty-nine on Billboard even though it was never released as a single in the U.S. The track is from the album "The Next Best Thing (Music From The Motion Picture)". The movie despite, the star power of Madonna, Rupert Everett, Lynn Redgrave, Benjamin Bratt and Neil Patrick Harris, failed at the box office.