Madonna Covers McLean

12/08/1999 4:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Wendy Hermanson

(12/8/99, 4 p.m. ET) - Madonna has covered Don McLean's 1971 hit song "American Pie" for the soundtrack to her upcoming film, The Next Best Thing. The song is one of two William Orbit-produced songs the Material Girl will contribute to the Paramount film's soundtrack.

The Next Best Thing is due to open in March, 2000. The film is a comic drama about a straight woman, played by Madonna, and her gay friend, played by Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding) who have a child together and the custody battle that develops a few years later when one finds true love and wants to move away. The film also stars Benjamin Bratt, Lynne Redgrave, Kimberley Davies, and Illeana Douglas.

Orbit won a Grammy for his production work on Madonna's 1998 album Ray of Light. Orbit's recently finished solo album, Pieces In A Modern Style, will be released in the U.S. on February 15. The album is a tribute to some of his favorite classical composers, and has already spawned a hit single in the U.K., a remix version of "Adagio For Strings" that also topped the U.K. dance chart.

-- Barry Jeckell, New York

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