CNN
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American singer songwriter Don McLean joked on Thursday that he was planning to sing his iconic “American Pie” with the South Korean president, after the chief entertained US President Joe Biden with a karaoke rendition of the track.
The 2 leaders met Wednesday on the White Home state dinner, a glamorous affair attended by stars like Angelina Jolie and Olympic gold medalist snowboarder Chloe Kim.
After watching a number of musical performances, Biden informed the gang a narrative about how his sons would sing McLean’s 1971 hit “American Pie” when driving to high school.
“We all know that is one in every of your favourite songs,” he informed Yoon, who drew cheers from the gang as he launched into the basic lyrics.
Yoon acquired a standing ovation for his efforts earlier than Biden offered him with a guitar signed by McLean.
The legendary singer later informed CNN that he had huge plans for the South Korean chief.
“I intend to go over to South Korea subsequent 12 months and sing it with the president, in order that’s in all probability going to be one other information story,” McLean joked on Thursday. “He needed me on the White Home to sing the track, however I’m in Australia proper now on tour.”
McLean additionally spoke concerning the lasting legacy of the track, which at 8 minutes and 37 seconds held the file for the longest track to prime the Billboard Scorching 100 chart, till Taylor Swift re-released her hit “All Too Effectively” in 2021.
Of “American Pie,” McLean stated: “It has a melody which is one thing that’s fairly laborious to seek out nowadays, and that’s simply the opening a part of the track – I imply, the track is eight and a half minutes, and it’s a rock and roll track.”
“I get a kick out of the truth that the track remains to be alive,” he added. “Musicians are coping with a factor referred to as alchemy, we deal in magic, and a number of the issues that we do fall on their face, and others if we’re very lucky are magical and dwell perpetually.”
Wednesday’s occasions mark simply the second state go to of the Biden presidency (Biden hosted French President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse Brigitte in December 2022).
On the Wednesday bilateral assembly, the 2 leaders introduced a key new settlement to discourage North Korean aggression, together with a brand new US dedication to deploy a nuclear-armed submarine in South Korea for the primary time for the reason that early Nineteen Eighties.
Yoon additionally addressed Congress in a speech on Thursday, slamming North Korea over its human rights violations and condemning the warfare in Ukraine.
