Playlist: Pieces of pi(e)
Graphic by Julia Norkus
By Stephanie Weber
Every March 14 since 1988, Pi Day has been celebrated in the United States as nerds and fans of pie alike combine their love of math and science to throw parties in celebration of the infinitely long number of pi (π). The celebration was established by physicist Larry Shaw, an employee of the San Francisco Exploratorium. The number, shortened to 3.14, repeats to infinity; memorizing its repeating numbers is a party trick that everyone is impressed with. Need a soundtrack for your pi themed party? Check out these songs, not about pi but about pie.
“American Pie” by Don McLean
The 1971 classic, “American Pie” by Don McLean, is a staple for any pie-related party. It’s a song everyone knows; “Bye, bye Miss American Pie / Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry” plays on Bluetooth speakers every Fourth of July, accompanied by other ‘70s folk/country and patriotic songs. The song was number one on the Billboard Top 100 chart for four consecutive weeks in 1972, and it also reached icon status in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand peaking on their radio charts as well. The song draws inspiration from McLean’s childhood of delivering newspapers in the late 1950s, recalling a specific memory: “The Day Music Died” on February 3, 1959. On this day, rock ‘n roll legends Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson were tragically killed in a plane crash in Iowa, marking what many thought would be the end of American rock ‘n roll. The first verse ends with the lyric, “But something touched me deep inside / The day the music died.” McLean continues singing his song, naming American identified themes like faith in God, old Hollywood actor James Dean, and baseball. Despite being released over 50 years ago, “American Pie” remains significant in the American rock music canon.
“Next Time / Humble Pie” by The Internet
Looking for a lesbian song about pie? The Internet has got you covered. Released in 2018, “Next Time / Humble Pie” is smooth R&B on the outside with a great story about love on the inside. The first half, “Next Time”, has strong bass accompanied with lyrics about hitting on a girl, building anticipation about what lead singer Syd will do. She sings, “Next time, I just start by saying hi / Ask her what her name is / If she has the time / Start a conversation,” acting casual and suave. The story progresses: the two have gotten together but things have gone awry as she sings, “I'll probably drive myself crazy / My mind, the cloud is so hazy” if the two stay together. Then the second part, “Humble Pie”, begins with a discordant, deep electronic drum beat. This sonic shift marks a change in the story where Syd and her girlfriend break up, singing “It’s yourself, you’re cheating in the end.” Rather than singing about actual pie (or even pi), The Internet takes up “humble pie” as its dessert, writing “Me, I got a plate (got a plate) / But I don't want a piece of your humble pie (humble pie).” Humble pie certainly doesn’t leave a good taste in your mouth but “Next Time / Humble Pie” does.
“Honey Pie” by The Beatles
A pie filled with honey doesn’t sound very appetizing, but “Honey Pie” by The Beatles is a different story. Released in 1968 on The Beatles (better known as the “White Album”), “Honey Pie” was written exclusively by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon-McCartney partnership. “Honey Pie” is rather unlike the rest of The Beatles discography; its sound feels reminiscent of Old Hollywood and is almost cartoonish. It fits into the vaudeville and ragtime genres with strong clarinet and saxophone instrumentals, creating an homage to British music hall arrangements. The song follows an American Hollywood actress who has an ex-lover English admirer, naming this woman “Honey Pie.” He desperately wants “Honey Pie” to come back to England, singing, “I’m in love but I’m lazy / So won’t you please come home.” But she presumably remains in America, as she is “a legend of the silver screen” and “a big time / In the U.S.A.” “Honey Pie” is a silly love letter for old-time long-distance relationships and pet names.
“Pi” by Kate Bush
It’s fitting that the only song about pi on this list is written by Kate Bush. True to her whimsical and strange fashion, “Pi,” a 2005 release, is an homage to insanity, obsession, and repetition using the repeating number as its muse. It’s a song in D minor, which produces these deep angelic harmonics and binaural noise. It’s actually quite beautiful despite it being about madness. Bush opens the song with “Sweet and gentle and sensitive man / With an obsessive nature and deep fascination for numbers / And a complete infatuation with the calculation of Pi,” signaling to the audience that this is about a love that doesn’t work out. The chorus uses layered vocals to sing the numerical digits of pi, reaching the 137th digit, albeit recounting them incorrectly. By singing these numbers like a mantra, Bush creates a theme of obsession, highlighting why this man was never going to be her one true love.
“Easy As Pie” by Peaches & Herb
What’s better than peach pie? Peaches & Herb! In 1978, they released “Easy As Pie”, a funky and fun song about easy loving. The song is from one of their best known albums, 2 Hot (1978), which also includes “Reunited,” one of their best known songs. “Easy As Pie” is upbeat and danceable, full of pie and dessert puns. They sing, “Sugar and spice / And everything that’s nice / And take a little slice” and “When that old sweet tooth comes around / Know you’re searching all over town / I can whip up some goodies tonight.” The lead singers, Herb Fame and Francine Edna “Peaches” Hurd Barker, sing back and forth as if they’re having a conversation. They use “pie” as a euphemism for something far less wholesome, singing, “You’re dessert all around the clock” and “Nobody else / can put his fingers in this pie / I’ve got this special diet.” This song is a little corny but fun nonetheless, giving pie a different kind of meaning.
“Berry Pie” by Dolly Parton
If you’re on TikTok, you’ve probably heard “Berry Pie” by Dolly Parton. The song has 75,000 videos attached to its name with creators using the lyrics, “I like to cook, and I love to bake / Bread and cookiеs and pies and cakes.” This may be one of the more famous songs about pie, and rightfully so. If there was a Queen of Pie, Dolly Parton would take the cake. She is a good-old Southern girl, America’s sweetheart and national treasure. “Berry Pie,” a 2008 release, is no different. It’s upbeat and happy, cute and fun. Parton sings about wanting to “be the apple of his eyes” and says that “To get to his heart, make somethin’ good to eat.” She talks about making this boy a classic berry pie with a Southern twang, singing, “I wanna impress him, so why don’t I / Just show him my love in a berry pie?” Instrumentality, the song includes fiddles and is closed with country yodeling, a perfect slice into traditional Americana.
“Country Pie” by Bob Dylan
If Dolly Parton is the Queen of Pie, Bob Dylan would be the King. Released in 1969, “Country Pie” draws on similar themes as Parton’s, using the American south as its inspiration. Put plainly, this song is actually about pie as Dylan names different flavors: “Raspberry, strawberry, lemon and lime / … Blueberry, apple, cherry, pumpkin and plum.” In 1987, he is quoted saying, “People try and read so much into songs. You know that song, Country Pie? That’s what it was about. Pie.” He even goes so far as referencing a nursery rhyme with the line, “A’Little Jack Horner got nothin’ on me.” The nursery rhyme includes the lines, “Little Jack Horner / Sat in the corner / Eating a Christmas pie.” By comparing himself to Horner, Dylan makes the conclusion that he loves pie more than anyone else. Set to a hunky-dory tune, “Country Pie” is the perfect song for all pie lovers out there!
“Cherry Pie” by Sade
Cherry pie is delicious on its own but when it is transcended into a serenade by Sade, it becomes even better. 1984’s “Cherry Pie” is a deep cut from Sade but is equally as good as her other, more popular songs. It sits at the halfway point of her first studio album Diamond Life (1984), holding a significant weight in Sade’s artistic success. The song is smooth R&B—Sade style. There is no vibrato nor quiver in her voice as she sings about a boy who broke her heart. Verse one opens with “When I met you, boy / You were as sweet as cherry pie,” but his personality changes with the song; he was “the one who broke my heart in two.” Sade puts her trust in this man, loving him and expecting the same. Unlike cherry pie, which is predictably sweet and warm, Sade names this man as a “Son of A Gun” and searches to “find out what I meant to you.” Like the relationship she sings about, this song presents itself as full of love with its handsome title but tragically changes with the taste of one bite.
“Apple Pie à la Mode” by Destiny’s Child
It seems like pie songs tend to center around themes of love, whether it be heartbreak or extraordinary relationships. If anyone can do a pie love song right, it’s Destiny’s Child. This girl group is too iconic to ever be forgotten, and although the group disbanded in 2006, singers Beyonce Knowles, Michelle Williams, and Kelly Rowland live in our hearts forever. So does the man described in “Apple Pie à la Mode.” He’s described as “husband material,” “extraordinary, kinda scary,” and “sensual.” He’s a sensitive guy in the “corduroys” he wears to the club. Destiny’s Child swoons over him, saying that they could be his “chocolate covered strawberry, apple pie á la mode,” luxurious desserts to win him over. Released in 2001, “Apple Pie à la Mode” is a R&B pop song long forgotten but timelessly delicious.
“Piggy Plum Pie” by Webkinz
To top off this absolutely absurd article, my honorable mention song is “Piggy Plum Pie” by Webkinz. In 2010, the online game published “Pet of the Month” songs and music videos. June was the mouthwatering “Piggy Plum Pie,” which was, of course, pig themed! The music video shows a female pig singing the lyrics, “Piggy Plum Pie, with the ice cream high / Piggy Plum Pie with a cinnamon swirl … Piggy Plum Pie is the best pie in the world.” The video shows a cute girl pig playing with her friends, Chester the cow, Lester the dog, and Lester’s momma who bakes the piggy plum pie just for her. Although it’s all fun and games on the farm, it was artists Susie MacDonald, Michelle Junkin, and Jennifer Hibbs who are the names behind the song. The singing pig has a very good voice despite being an animal and her ability to describe her very own pie is beyond comprehension. The pie in the video has always looked delicious, but what’s in it remains a mystery.
Pi is fun, but pie is even more fun (and delicious). Whether you’re hosting a science-themed party or a girl’s night requiring everyone to bring a different flavor of pie, listen to this accompanying playlist for all your pi(e) needs!