
Listening to The Very Best of Van Morrison once again today I am hit by several thoughts.
1. Brown-Eyed Girl is one of the most beautiful songs in existence and proof that pop does not always have to be synonymous with shite. When he gets to the line "slippin' and slidin'/along the waterfall with you" I am filled with such complete joy I have to laugh.
2. Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile) does much the same, except where I might be able to fight the need to dance around like a twonk with Brown Eyed Girl I can't do that with Jackie Wilson Said. This is a great achievement by an artist like Van, who is widely acknowledged as one of the grouchiest old gets in music.
3. I will always love the Them version of Gloria more than the Doors' live (and obscene) version. Just realise who's talking right now and understand what a big deal that is for me.
4. Whenever God Shines His Light is actually a good song, one of the best rock songs about religion, which is never dealt well with by rock stars. However, a duet between Van the Man and Cliff fucking Richard will always be one of the weirdest things ever to happen in music. I'd cover it if only to get rid of the Cliff elements.
5. Moondance. A song to be seduced to.
5. I miss out on some of the other songs because I like some of them so much.