It Started Out Quite Simply...

Note: this was originally written for the marvellous "Fans Around The World"
page on Bob Gregg's site, where fans were invited to write why they loved DM.

It started out quite simply as complex things can do. I was walking by the
graveyard (I swear!) along Linwood Ave to the sacred store (late one Saturday
afternoon). I heard somebody yelling- it sounded like some tuneless boyband on
the shop speakers- argh! I screamed for help- was no one there? I was searching
and wandering for some decent music - thank God, at last I was free! I found
"The Very Best Of Don McLean" for fifteen bucks (you know that's true!). Did Don
know I'd been searchin'? The album smacked me with a thousand highs - I heard
16 songs, and it gave me satisfaction. Suddenly, it WAS a beautiful life!

Don has since taken me on an incredible musical journey, from by the waters of
Babylon to this brand new world of ours- ever more threatening to become the
mushroom fires of earthly hell he once described. The contrast of ancient
history with his terrible prophecy (will no one listen or learn?) serves as an
example of Don's boundless range, his indescribable magic (there's so much
magic he can do, too!). Round and round, his voice (he sounds like such an angel- such a friend!) lifts us far away from the nasty city sound into a blissful
paradise: not that of a fool, for this love won't come tumblin' down- THIS love is
true! Perfect is our paradise, unto those gorgeous melodies which dispel any
extraneous planet noise: I drown in a river of love, of life flowing on since creation
(or more specifically, since 18th September 1999)- while most of the world stands
on the beach, unaware of this music, of the gold lying beneath the sand!

So why does Don send me straight to a blue diamond heaven? Need I explain?
Reasons don't mean anything to me... and besides- if I could say the things I feel,
it wouldn't be the same. He walks- musically speaking- in a different direction
from any other musician I've heard, combining pathos (even my metal eyes run
with tears) with fabulous wit (I'm talking smiles three-feet-wide here!), imbued
with a keen social conscience- his lyrics cut into life. Thankyou Don for your
music: such a lovely gift to give. You sure made the lovin' easy!

I am always stunned by the sight of music store racks here in NZ with an endless
void when Don should be- we may have mountains touching the sky and all that,
but it seems a stagnant and rancid disgrace that he is so relatively unrecognised.
However, surely it is a symbol of my gain, "discovering" these matchless words &
music amongst all the other teenage broncin' bucks and buckerinas having their
transient fad and fix on this vile national craze, popular music? It is only their
constant loss. But the Don torch will be passed, it will glow! That is my belief. I'd
be weepin' and moanin' if I thought this music was approaching the sea of
anonymity with each new generation (waves of it all around his small canoe!).
But, I believe that we will find a way. Don McLean will not suffer the same fate as
the madmen who plunder this world for their fame!

Smash your bottles on the gravestone and live while you can!
Sarahjane!!

PS. The new albums that Don is letting out of the box! I KNOW they'll be the
sweetest prize; just the thought of him singing with his children (who obviously
know the score!) creates anticipation. We can only hope that very soon he'll
really have them made (and released!). Don's proven that he has still a long way
to go in his career yet. Let's count our blessings for that!