Vincent (song)

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"Vincent" is a song by Don McLean written as a tribute to Vincent Van Gogh. It is also known by its opening line, "Starry Starry Night", a reference to Van Gogh's painting Starry Night. The song mentions the title of a different painting by Van Gogh in each of its stanzas.

Don McLean wrote the lyrics in 1971 after reading a book about the life of the artist. The following year, the song became the #1 hit in the UK and #12 in the USA. For several years, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam played the song daily. A copy of the sheet music is in a safe beneath the museum, along with a set of Van Gogh's paint brushes, the hat he wore while painting Starry Night, and various other items.

In 2000, PBS aired Don McLean: Starry, Starry Night, a concert special that was filmed in Austin.

Part of "Vincent" is played at the end of a Simpsons episode entitled "'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky".

This song was a favorite of the rapper and activist Tupac Amaru Shakur, who was born the year it was written. He wrote a poem dedicated to Vincent Van Gogh, to whom he felt a deep connection. The song eerily describes Shakur's life and was the last song he heard on his death bed.

[edit] Cover versions

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This song was covered by Josh Groban in 2002 on his debut album.
The punk band NOFX released a version of this song on a rarities and b-sides double album.
The band Spot 1019 released a version of this song on their 2002 CD In Her Satanic Majesty's Secret Service Entrance.
This song was covered by Alan Smith, introduced as "Ya Greetin Faced Sh*te", in 2002, in Glastonbury.^{[citation needed]}
The artist Chloë Agnew, a member of Celtic Woman musical group, released a version of this song on her CD Walking In The Air.
Brian Kennedy sung the song at George Best's funeral.
This song is covered by Declan Galbraith in his 2006 album Thank You.
Tori Amos covered this song live on various dates, during her 2002-2003 and 2005 tours.