Vincent ( song ) - wikipedia Vincent ( song ) `` Vincent '' Cover art of UK vinyl release, also used for the U.S., Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and New Zealand releases Single by Don McLean from the album American Pie B - side `` Castles in the Air '' Released June 17, 1972 Genre Folk rock Length 3 : 55 Label United Artists Records, BGO Records Songwriter ( s ) Don McLean Producer ( s ) Ed Freeman Don McLean singles chronology `` American Pie '' ( 1971 ) `` Vincent '' ( 1972 ) `` Dreidel '' ( 1973 ) `` American Pie '' ( 1971 ) `` Vincent '' ( 1972 ) `` Dreidel '' ( 1973 ) `` 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 The Starry Night. The song also describes different paintings by the artist. It was created on the 100th anniversary of the midpoint of Van Gogh 's life. McLean wrote the lyrics in 1971 after reading a book about the life of the artist. The following year, the song became the number one hit in the UK Singles Chart and No. 12 in the US. It spent 12 weeks on the Hot 100. In the US, `` Vincent '' also hit number two on the Easy Listening chart. Billboard ranked it as the No. 94 song for 1972. The song makes use mainly of the guitar but also includes the accordion, marimba, and strings. In 2000, PBS aired Don McLean : Starry, Starry Night, a concert special that was filmed in Austin, Texas. Contents 1 Production 2 Critical reception 3 Chart performance 3.1 Weekly charts 3.2 Year - end charts 4 References 5 External links Production McLean said the following about the genesis of the song : `` In the autumn of 1970 I had a job singing in the school system, playing my guitar in classrooms. I was sitting on the veranda one morning, reading a biography of Van Gogh, and suddenly I knew I had to write a song arguing that he was n't crazy. He had an illness and so did his brother Theo. This makes it different, in my mind, to the garden variety of ' crazy ' -- because he was rejected by a woman ( as was commonly thought ). So I sat down with a print of Starry Night and wrote the lyrics out on a paper bag. '' Critical reception The Telegraph wrote `` With its bittersweet palette of major and minor chords, Vincent 's soothing melody is one of high emotion recollected in tranquillity ''. AllMusic retrospectively described the song as `` McLean 's paean to Van Gogh... sympathiz ( ing ) with Van Gogh 's suicide as a sane comment on an insane world. '' The site also said McLean performs `` a particularly poignant rendition of `` Vincent '' `` on the live album Starry, Starry Night. Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1972 ) Peak position Australia Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 30 Canada Top Singles Canada Adult Contemporary 13 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 21 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 16 New Zealand ( Listener ) 7 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 12 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) US Cash Box Top 100 11 Year - end charts Chart ( 1972 ) Rank Australia 31 Canada 67 UK 11 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 94 U.S. Cash Box 93 References Jump up ^ Brown, Helen ( 24 Feb 2010 ). `` Don McLean interview : why I had to write ' Vincent ' ''. The UK Telegraph. Retrieved 3 August 2011. Jump up ^ Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. p. 274. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. Jump up ^ Jason Ankeny ( 1945 - 10 - 02 ). `` Don McLean Biography ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 27. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2002 ). Top Adult Contemporary : 1961 - 2001. Record Research. p. 166. ^ Jump up to : `` Don McLean interview : Why I had to write ' Vincent ' - Telegraph ''. Telegraph.co.uk. 24 February 2010. Jump up ^ William Ruhlmann. `` American Pie ''. AllMusic. Jump up ^ Bruce Eder. `` Starry Starry Night ''. AllMusic. ^ Jump up to : Kent, David ( 1993 ). Australian Chart Book 1970 -- 1992 ( doc ) format = requires url = ( help ). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0 - 646 - 11917 - 6. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Don McLean -- Vincent '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- DON MCLEAN - VINCENT ''. Singles Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Don McLean -- Vincent '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Jump up ^ `` flavour of new zealand - search listener ''. Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 07. Jump up ^ `` Don McLean : Artist Chart History ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` Don McLean Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Don McLean Chart History ( Adult Contemporary ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, May 20, 1972 Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2011 - 09 - 16. Retrieved 2015 - 01 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 1972 - UK Music Charts ''. Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 07. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1972 / Top 100 Songs of 1972 ''. Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 07. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2014 - 10 - 22. Retrieved 2015 - 01 - 03. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Don McLean Studio albums Tapestry American Pie Don McLean Playin ' Favorites Homeless Brother Prime Time Chain Lightning Believers Love Tracks For the Memories Vols I & II And I Love You So Headroom Christmas The River of Love Christmas Dreams Sings Marty Robbins You 've Got to Share Songs for Children The Western Album Rearview Mirror : An American Musical Journey Addicted to Black Live albums Solo Dominion Starry, Starry Night Compilation albums The Very Best of Don McLean Favorites and Rarities Legendary Songs of Don McLean Christmastime ! Singles `` Castles in the Air '' `` American Pie '' `` Vincent '' `` Wonderful Baby '' `` Crying '' `` Since I Do n't Have You '' `` He 's Got You '' `` You Ca n't Blame the Train '' Related articles Discography `` The Saga Begins '' Carol Sauvion Julio Iglesias Discography Studio albums Yo canto ( 1969 ) Un canto a Galicia ( 1972 ) Soy ( 1973 ) A flor de piel ( 1974 ) A México ( 1975 ) El amor ( 1975 ) America ( 1976 ) A mis 33 años ( 1977 ) Emociones ( 1978 ) Sono un pirata, sono un signore ( 1978 ) À vous les femmes ( 1979 ) Hey ! ( 1980 ) De niña a mujer ( 1981 ) Zartlichkeiten ( 1981 ) Momentos ( 1982 ) Momenti ( 1982 ) Amor ( 1982 ) Et l'amour crea la femme ( 1982 ) 1100 Bel Air Place ( 1984 ) Libra ( 1985 ) Un hombre solo ( 1987 ) Tutto l'amore che ti manca ( 1987 ) Non Stop ( 1988 ) Raíces ( 1989 ) Starry Night ( 1990 ) Calor ( 1992 ) Crazy ( 1994 ) La carretera ( 1995 ) Tango ( 1996 ) Noche de cuatro lunas ( 2000 ) Ao Meu Brasil ( 2001 ) Divorcio ( 2003 ) Romantic Classics ( 2006 ) 1 ( 2011 ) México ( 2015 ) Live albums En concierto ( 1983 ) Compilation albums Da Manuela a Pensami ( 1978 ) Minhas canções preferidas ( 1981 ) Julio ( 1983 ) My Life : The Greatest Hits ( 1998 ) Mi vida : Grandes éxitos ( 1998 ) Love Songs ( 2003 ) 1 : The Collection ( 2014 ) Singles `` Chiquilla '' ( 1970 ) `` Gwendolyne '' ( 1970 ) `` Cucurrucucú paloma '' ( 1975 ) `` Pauvres Diables '' ( 1979 ) `` Begin the Beguine '' ( 1981 ) `` Yours ( Quiéreme Mucho ) '' ( 1981 ) `` Amor '' ( 1984 ) `` All of You '' ( 1984 ) `` The Air That I Breathe '' ( 1984 ) `` To All the Girls I 've Loved Before '' ( 1984 ) `` I 've Got You Under My Skin '' ( 1985 ) `` We Are the World '' ( 1985 ) `` Lo Mejor de Tu Vida '' ( 1987 ) `` Que No Se Rompa la Noche '' ( 1987 ) `` Bamboléo '' ( 1989 ) `` Vincent '' ( 1990 ) `` Ca n't Help Falling in Love '' ( 1990 ) `` Crazy '' ( 1994 ) `` Oye Como Va '' ( 1994 ) `` When You Tell Me That You Love Me '' ( 1994 ) `` El Choclo '' ( 1996 ) `` La Gota Fría '' ( 1998 ) `` Everybody 's Talkin ' '' ( 2006 ) Family Julio Iglesias Sr. ( father ) Julio Iglesias Jr. ( son ) Enrique Iglesias ( son ) Chabeli Iglesias ( daughter ) Isabel Preysler ( first wife ) Vincent van Gogh General Biography List of works Chronology The Letters of Vincent van Gogh Health Death Posthumous fame Cultural depictions Post-Impressionism Auberge Ravoux Café du Tambourin Family Theo van Gogh Wil van Gogh Johanna van Gogh - Bonger Andries Bonger Theo van Gogh ( film director ) Anton Mauve Johannes Stricker Friends Émile Bernard Eugène Boch Anna Boch Fernand Cormon Paul Gachet Paul Gauguin John Peter Russell Agostina Segatori Anthon van Rappard Groups of works Self portraits Portraits Early works Lost early works Sien Peasant Character Studies Cottages Van Gogh 's family in his art Montmartre Outskirts of Paris Still life paintings, Paris Le Moulin de la Galette Asnières Seine Wheat Fields Flowering Orchards Almond Blossoms Langlois Bridge at Arles Saintes - Maries Paintings of Children Décoration for the Yellow House The Roulin Family Hospital in Arles Butterflies Saint - Paul Asylum, Saint - Rémy The Enclosed Wheat Field at Saint - Rémy Trees and Undergrowth Copies by Vincent van Gogh Olive Trees Display at Les XX, 1890 Auvers size 30 canvases Auvers Double - squares and Squares Japonaiserie Sunflowers Still life paintings, Netherlands Meadows near Rijswijk and the Schenkweg Houses at Auvers Paintings Boy Cutting Grass with a Sickle Beach at Scheveningen in Stormy Weather The ' Laakmolen ' near The Hague Girl in White in the Woods Lying Cow A Girl in the Street, Two Coaches in the Background Cows in the Meadow Farmhouses Among Trees Bulb Fields Drawbridge in Nieuw - Amsterdam Landscape with Wheelbarrow Landscape with a Church at Twilight Landscape with Dunes Footbridge across a Ditch Marshy Landscape A Wind - Beaten Tree Farm with Stacks of Peat Farmhouses in Loosduinen near The Hague at Twilight Three Figures near a Canal with Windmill Two Rats Old Church Tower at Nuenen Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen Cart with Black Ox Cart with Red and White Ox Avenue of Poplars in Autumn Avenue of Poplars at Sunset Still Life with Straw Hat The Potato Eaters Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette Vase with Red Poppies Poppy Flowers Wheat Field with a Lark View of Paris from Vincent 's Room in the Rue Lepic Portrait of Père Tanguy A Woman Walking in a Garden Imperial Fritillaries in a Copper Vase Agostina Segatori Sitting in the Café du Tambourin Landscape with Snow La Mousmé The Zouave The Night Café The Yellow House Van Gogh 's Chair Café Terrace at Night Starry Night Over the Rhône Portrait of the Artist 's Mother Bedroom in Arles A Lane in the Public Garden at Arles Falling Autumn Leaves L'Arlésienne The Red Vineyard Memory of the Garden at Etten ( Ladies of Arles ) Les Arènes Interior of a Restaurant in Arles A Lane near Arles View of Arles, Flowering Orchards Arles : View from the Wheat Fields Sunset at Montmajour Crab on its Back Two Crabs La Berceuse Irises The Starry Night Self - portrait ( 1889 ) Self - portrait without beard Self - Portrait with Bandaged Ear A Meadow in the Mountains : Le Mas de Saint - Paul Enclosed Field with Peasant Wheat Field with Cypresses Green Wheat Field with Cypress Ivy Farmhouse in Provence Road with Cypress and Star At Eternity 's Gate Thatched Cottages and Houses Portrait of Dr. Gachet Doctor Gachet 's Garden in Auvers Houses at Auvers White House at Night Landscape with a Carriage and a Train Girl in White The Church at Auvers Daubigny 's Garden Farms near Auvers The Town Hall at Auvers Blossoming Chestnut Branches Peasant Woman Against a Background of Wheat View of the Asylum and Chapel of Saint - Rémy Still Life : Vase with Pink Roses Wheatfield with Crows Tree Roots Other works Drawings, water - colours and prints 87 Hackford Road Marsh with Water Lilies Church Pew with Worshippers Portrait of a Man in a Top Hat Sorrow Woman on Her Deathbed Torso of Venus and a Landscape Old Vineyard with Peasant Woman Museums Van Gogh Museum Maison Van Gogh Public collections Kröller - Müller Museum Musée d'Orsay National Gallery ( London ) Portrayals Portrait of Vincent van Gogh ( 1887 ) The Painter of Sunflowers ( 1888 painting ) Lust for Life ( 1934 novel 1956 film ) Van Gogh ( 1948 film ) Van Gogh ( 1956 opera ) `` Vincent '' ( 1971 song ) Vincent ( 1987 film ) Vincent & Theo ( 1990 film ) Vincent and Me ( 1990 film ) Dreams ( 1990 film ) Vincent ( 1990 opera ) Van Gogh ( 1991 film ) Vincent in Brixton ( 2003 play ) `` Vincent and the Doctor '' ( 2010 TV episode ) Loving Vincent ( 2017 film ) At Eternity 's Gate ( 2018 film ) Cataloguers Jacob Baart de la Faille ( 1928 and 1970 ; `` F '' ) Jan Hulsker ( 1978, revised 1989 ; `` JH '' ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vincent_(song)&oldid=852126574 '' Categories : Don McLean songs Rick Astley songs UK Singles Chart number - one singles Irish Singles Chart number - one singles Number - one singles in Italy 1972 singles Works about Vincent van Gogh Cultural depictions of Vincent van Gogh Pop ballads 1970s ballads Songs about suicide Songs written by Don McLean Songs in memory of deceased persons Songs about painters NOFX songs Hidden categories : Pages using citations with format and no URL Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for UKsinglesbyname Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary All articles with failed verification Articles with failed verification from January 2018 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Dansk Deutsch Eesti Français Հայերեն Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Nederlands Norsk Polski Русский Tagalog Tiếng Việt 中文 5 more Edit links This page was last edited on 26 July 2018, at 20 : 20 ( UTC ). 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Question: when was the song starry starry night written
Answer: 1971