:BRIGHTSTUFF:..Personal & Political Musings & Rants by a Liberal Leftist Black & Asian Teacher

Considering that this IS the Arts & Entertainment community on Mindsay, I've decided that it would be appropos for me to at LEAST mention something that had to do with Arts & Entertainment.

I'm currently listening to Van Morrison's "The Way Young Lovers Do".

If there is any proof of the true artistry of Van Morrison, it is this song.

Forget, for a moment, about all that "Brown Eyed Girl" business. Yes, I love it (being a brown eyed lass myself), but in my opinion, there are so many more songs that clearly illustrate Van Morrison's incredible vocal range, ability, and mastery of word play.

The late Jeff Buckley did a rather kick-ass version of this song in his beautiful multi-octaved voice (complete with a great scat), but it doesn't remotely compare to Van Morrison's passionate rendition.

The song is on "Astral Weeks", an album from 1968. Combining a jazz-inspired tapestry of music with his strong, soulful voice, Van Morrison begins by plaintively singing of his love.

His phrasing makes his voice as much an instrument as the bassline, and by the end of the song, the passion rises and falls with the simple changes in his voice.

The lyrics of the song are unfettered by flowery language and pretense as he calls to his lover to recall and resurrect the best time of a romance--- when it is young and free.

If you have never heard this song, I suggest you go out and buy "Astral Weeks" which, "The Way Young Lovers Do" aside, is a masterpiece.



excerpt:

We strolled through fields all wet with rain
And back along the lane again
There in the sunshine
In the sweet summertime
The way that young lovers do...