Vincent Van Gogh is probably one of the most famous painters in the world today. But in his own lifetime he lived a life of poverty. He often had to starve becuase he'd spend the little money he had on paints and canvas. He was a man who felt deeply and passionately about the world around him and his art meant everything to him. In the end, at the age of 37, filled with misery and profound loneliness he shot himself in the chest. He died two days later - unrecognised and with only his brother by his side. That was over a hundred years ago. Today his paintings are coveted by art dealers the world over and sell for over $80 million.Don Mclean wrote a beautiful song in which he pays tribute to Van Gogh's genius and his vision. I was deeply moved when I first heard it, because it captures the pathos, the loneliness, and the glory of Van Gogh's life and his work. People wonder why poets aren't popular today. I believe poets are immensely popular - we just call them songwriters instead.
To watch the passions of one man captured on canvas before he died and given tribute a hundred years later in song click here: "Vincent"
30 comments:
I really liked the song. I guess it goes without saying Don McLean was one of Van Gogh's greatest fans. It was quite genius of McLean to express who Van Gogh was through the "descriptions" of his paintings: Starry, starry night: he made a painting of a starry night, and stars represent hope and beauty.Also, summer's day: at the beginning of his "not so famous" career, there was hope, optimism. But then he proceeds gradually till he writes: weathered faces lined in pain to express his loss of hope, and faith in life before he tried taking his own life.
When McLean writes "now I understand what you tried to say to me, how you suffered for your sanity," I suffered a bit to get this part straight, but my interpretation would be that McLean portrays himself as the audience whose appreciation Van Gogh longed for. "They would not listen, they didn't know, perhaps they will now", is meant to explain to the late Vincent that his works have not gone in vain. Maybe at the time, he was never appreciated, but the chances are that now he will. Some people will appreciate him as others might not.
Good analysis Nadine.
Beautiful song. So very beautiful.
I remember, following Michael Jackson's death, telling my mother how surprised I was that some people realized what a musical phenomenon MJ was only after he died. She replied with something that I doubt I will ever forget, "Death is the best publicist".
It's a sad thing, really, that this man's genius was only recognized after it was too late for him to reap it's benefits. It was a pity he killed himself, but I doubt he can be blamed for it.
Just goes to show that appreciation is the best gift one can give to another.
He did not kill himself, be cautious
of lies.
I can't say more that what has already been said, other than it was a nice video, can't say I, honestly, liked it, but, I admired it, for the effort and potential I have seen.
The song has a heavy meaning, it represents more than just the paintings, something far larger. Nevertheless, it was great.
Mo,
Van Gogh shot himself. It's a fact. If you have evidence to the contrary please provide it. But there's no need to be contrary in every single comment you make.
The song was fabulous. It depicts his life and Don Mclean did an amazing job to comprise it into a song. His paintings are filled with his emotions and thoughts from every stroke to every focal point. His earlier work was usually about poor people and peasants and it was not because he felt sorry for them but he admired them as they worked in the fields. His last painting the Wheat Fields with crows is one painting that is talked about a lot. People think that it was his interpretation of a suicide note as the whole painting depicted a sense of loneliness. The paths symbolised the choices he had to make. To live or die? It also showed how lonely he felt making this decision. The stormy skies symbolized the dark and confused state of mind he was at. The crows represented harbingers of death. All this comprised could have been a suicide note.He felt that hope and optimism in the beginning but it slowly faded away as people didn't care about him alive but when he was dead.
Van Gogh reminds me of someone I greatly admire, Kurt Cobaine. He suffered pretty much the same fate, for almost the same reasons.
Only difference between them, Kurt was extremely successful in his time.
All im saying is, absence makes the heart grow fonder! (Remember Jade Goody, Farah Fawcett, Heath Ledger) So where was all this appreciation for Van Gogh when he was alive! No one seemed to have appreciated his work during those times Just when he shoots himself, they immediately they become masterpieces?
While I did appreciate McLlean's work, its really sad that almost EVERYTHING he has ever achieved has been Posthumous!
the lyrics were quite amazing because they were so simple yet so meaningful. i also enjoyed how the lyrics matched with the paintings in the background
i like the line "weathered faces lined in pain are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand." it's like as if don mclean is trying to say that artists have that gift of making things seem better
it's quite sad that vincent's work wasn't appreciated
“This world was never meant for someone as beautiful as you.”
A very very beautiful line.
Touching lyrics……..exquisite paintings.
Too bad Vincent’s work wasn't appreciated.
Wow, a very nice song. Very touching too. I love the way McLean has related to almost half of Vincents life and emotions in a 4 minute song. I also like the way he associates Van Goghs paintings with the lyrics of the song.
"How you suffered in your sanity" - I love that. It's sort of an oxymoron and it says so much about Vincent. It really is harsh how he was never appreciated in his time and how he would have been a millionare now.
I agree with Daniel, I love Kurt Cobain.
It sucks that people only seem to realise other people when it's too late. For example, if you read quotes from Kurt Cobain, they all very deep and emotional. As is the song. You can tell that Don McLean was / is a great fan and understands the pressure that Van Gogh was under to try, in a way, to "prove" himself.
Many people seem to go down this route of depression from "failure". People can be so judgmental. Same as Micheal Jackon. When he was alive; people would talk about him as until they were blue in the face, and it was never good things. Now? He has thousands of new fans. Why? He's dead. As Neiha, or her mum, said death is the best publicist".
This song was beautiful! the kind of stuff that should be played in coffee shops instead of that dramatic jazz stuff, its overplayed. Anyways, i was quite drawn to the part where he said "how you suffered for your sanity how you tried to set them free. They would not listen they're not listening still perhaps they never will." It portrays a good message about how some things don't get the appreciation they deserve.
The song is simple and the lyrics, while being easy to interpret, seem to entwine with Van Gogh's work which makes it all the more enchanting in a discreet way.
The song was beautifully written. It was also so very accurate. It's disheartening how Van Gogh's artwork was only truly appreciated after his tragic suicide. The song is honest and gives everyone a touch of who Van Gogh truly was. Don Mclean sang 'How you suffered for your sanity'. It was as though he knew Van Gogh personally.
It amazes me onto how some human beings even after a hundred years of their death, we still have their names in our minds. These kind of people are legends. :)
loved the song and i kinda agree with daniel,he did remind me of kurt cobaine after i read his post,
but for some reason i really dont understand the hype of becoming a celebrity if when u do become one,you just get depressed n burried in problems that you just kill yourself....i guess the saying 'the grass is always greener on the other side' is true
McLean does a fantastic job on the lyrics in this song,as he puts thought into every word in the lyric(or atleast i feel that way)
i really enjoyed the song, i have heard it before though. it really touched me how well each line fitted with each painting and how remarkably well Van Gogh's life was depicted!! although i guesss no word could ever express the amount of pain, loneliness and rejection he suffered in his life time but it was nice to see that people care!!
They did not listen, they did not know how, perhaps they will listen now" that is my favourite line it really gives a sense of hope and in a way it seems that it is calling out to Van Gogh that his work will not go to waste!!
this line also reminds us of how back in the day people would not really think for themselves and just followed whatever their king, queen or ruler said without objection, like Van Gogh many artists, great scientist etc are all only appreciated now, hundreds of years after their inventions!!
Well, once again I've heard it before. I studied Van Gogh in Primary and we were told to listen to this song. At the time I thought it was only about his "Starry Night" Artwork but to my discovery just then it covers most of his artwork!
The most effective part of this song is when he says "They did not listen they did not know how", which summarizes his work when he was alive. The world at that time really didnt want a different perspective to life, nor did they want one from a poor man. The artists (its funny how we call singers 'artists' nowadays) then goes on to sing "Perhaps they'll listen now"...
Totally reminiscent of the fact that his paintings are worth millions and his name is well known throught the world.
There's a saying
"The Greatest Artist are the one's who are remembered and missed when they die"
and I totally agree.
Just look at me, I can garuntee I will be prime example ! since I am a amazing poet and a one in a million artist.
And I agree with Poet's now being song writer's in this age despite the large amount of merdiocrity in music we have to face.
I agree with neineisharie, death is the best publicist. The fact that no one was aware of Van Gogh's work during his lifetime and the fact that he ended up shooting himself is really ironic. Now one would only wish he was alive to see that his paintings are worth $80 million.The song is definately very moving and and explains about Van Gogh's life perfectly. "They would not listen, they didn't know, perhaps they will now" is a great line. People are finally aware of his works now, better late than never. However it is really sad that he was not alive to see any amount of fame or appreciation.
That was a beautiful and geniusly accurate song. It really is an eye-opener, especially the the idea of associating the images with the lyrics of the song. Undoubtedly, Mclean was a faithful fan of Van Gogh's. It is astonishing yet quite true, that only when these legends die, do people truly appreciate and remember them. Ironic! But this is just like when people always say,'you don't really know what you have untill you've lost it.'
Most don't appreciate the subtler things in life until they are wiped off the face of the earth. Van Gogh tried to express his emtions and feelings through his beautiful, meaningful paintings, yet not many noticed until it was far too late.
I love the line, 'the world was never meant for someone as beautiful as you.' It generates a deep and emotional impact, which highlights Mclean's love for Van Gogh.
HEY! i was just watching the simpsons and they played this song! :P
Haha! Nishika i saw the same episode!
And thought how they really did a good job of relating Lisa's troubles and determinations to Van Gogh's troubles in his time.
At the end "How you tried to set them free, they would not listen, they're not listening still... Perhaps they never will". Was such a perfect summarization of how both people did (Or at least tried) to do something to benefit the public, but they didnt care turned a blind eye, and went back to their normal uninspired lives.
Mr. Roberts, you can tell that this blog is influencing peoples' thoughts when we start analyzing a Simpsons episode...
Ha ha! Hear hear, Duwane :)
Wow! That was a nice, sweet song. It shows how much Don McLean appreciates Vincent Van Gogh's paintings. I loved the paintings, especially how natural and simple the scences were. It's really sad that such a talented painter lived such a miserable and short life.
Wow.. Kurt Cobain?!
haha :)
I know I'm commenting late, i was too lazy to check this out earlier (A). Well, woah - the songs beautiful:D.
Ofcourse, Don McLean seems to admire Van Gogh very much. The words are very meaningful - Van Goghs feelings are quite simply put into a soft song. "They would listen, they did not know how, perhaps they'll listen now" - this kind of reminds me of Michael Jackson, as he cared for the world around him as well, and it's only now that so many people(atleast the youth) are listening to his ideas, and theres SO many last minute fans of his.
Don Mclean has certainly done a brilliant job of letting people know the deep thoughts that ran through Van Gogh's mind.
Just a bit of trivia:
Madonna's song American Pie was originally sung by Don McLean way back in the 70s. And the famous song "Killing me softly with his song" originally sung by Roberta Flack is about Don McLean and his music.
(Too many people do covers these days. And I agree, Kurt Cobain and Michael Jackson were great singers. Jackson is arguably the greatest entertainer of all time).
To begin with i really enjoyed the track..very pleasant. This video gave me a feeling of sadness and happiness at the same time! the lyrics really touched my heart.
His paintings were magnificent and eye catching.
Vincent Van Gogh will be remembered.
:)
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