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Van Morrison: Songs
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Part Celtic bard, part soulster, and part ecstatically scatting mystical visionary, Van Morrison is a painfully introverted figure who rarely gives interviews and is often at a loss to explain his own lyrics. In the studio, Van Morrison can sing like a soul man getting the spirit; onstage... his brilliance can be undercut by whim or temper, and he has upon occasion alienated audiences by rushing through songs and remaining aloof between them. Nonetheless, his influence among rock singer/songwriters is unrivaled by any living artist outside of that other prickly legend, Bob Dylan. Echoes of Morrison’s rugged literateness and his gruff, feverishly emotive vocal style can be heard in latter-day icons ranging from Bruce Springsteen to Elvis Costello, while the Irish artist’s own restless muse has kept him prolific and engaging through the ’90s.
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On February 14, 1994, Van Morrison was awarded the BRIT Award for his Outstanding Contribution to British Music. [90]He was presented with the award by former Beirut hostage, John McCarthy who testified to the importance of Morrison's song, "Wonderful Remark":
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Morrison's gruffness has long been notorious, but this display of superstar arrogance was unnecessary and unprofessional. He could have done the two big songs as the encore, and the crowd would have left the arena in an upbeat mood. Instead there was disbelief, disappointed muttering, and the sense that Morrison didn't care much about his fans. Indeed, the 61-year-old singer never cracked a smile. He ripped through 18 songs, scarcely taking time to breathe between them, and only addressed the audience once, to name the musicians.
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In 1990, Morrison joined many other guests for Roger Waters' massive performance of The Wall in Berlin. He sang "Comfortably Numb" with Roger Waters, and his friends from the Band, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson and Rick Danko. This version of the song was included in the soundtrack of Martin Scorsese's 2006 film The Departed.
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Back on Top has engendered strong feelings among fans, with some finding a return to pop form, others feeling that Van is simply retreading familiar ground. I'm with the first group, and am refreshed by such liberating songs as "High Summer" and "New Biography." For those who favor the contemplative Van, listen for "In the Midnight" and "Philosopher Stone." But Van's new swing doesn't end, as "Precious Time" continues with an uptempo, horn-oriented sound.
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Extra credit: Morrison's songs appear in the movies quite a bit. 2003's What's Wrong With This Picture? Morrison's 1989 song "Have I Told You Lately" was a hit on the adult contemporary charts, and the 1993 version by Rod Stewart was an even bigger hit, in both the U.S. and the U.K.
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