VAN MORRISON. THE LION IS STILL ROARING.

                                                                       
                                                                         

Van Morrison, born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1945 is considered one of the most important singers all over the world. Having started in the world of music as the lead singer of the R&B band Them in the mid-1960s, he began his solo career with the hit single "Brown Eyed Girl" in 1967.

                                                               

Van Morrison started singing with the band "Them"

           

From that moment on, his reputation did nothing but raise with albums such as Astral Weeks(1968), Moondance (1970), which established him as a major figure, Tupelo Honey (1971), Wavelength (1978) and Into the Music (1979). These critically acclaimed albums contributed to create Morrison's classic era together with many great live performances.

                                                                       

This is the cover of one of his most important albums,
Moondance (1970)

Van Morrison has never stopped to release high quality albums, even though they were not always praised by critics. We can't forget, for example, his albums Days Like This (1995), The Healing Game (1997); Back On Top (1999) or Down The Road (2002).

                                                                       

His great live performances helped to make him a legend

The Belfast born singer is well-known for his innovative style, fusing R&B, jazz, blues and Celtic folk with his unequaled vocal style.

                                               

Van Morrison always had an unmatched voice

He has received six Grammy Awards and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Sogwriters Hall of Fame. Some of his albums, specially Astral Weeks and Moondance are included in the list of the best All-Time albums and his influence on many other great artists has been enormous. This influence includes icons such as Bruce Springsteen or Elvis Costello, the Irish band U2, Rod Stewart, Sinead O'Connor and a neverending list of other singers and musicians.

He sang together with the best musicians in the world

It´s time now to listen to the Lion of Belfast roar. Tell us which one is your favourite.

Written by Van Morrison at only 18, this song, with its simple and memorable chorus "GLORIA", has been sung or covered by countless music giants including Jimmy Hendrix, The Doors, Patty Smith or U2.

"BROWN EYED GIRL", Morrison's catchy pop song has been played on radio more than 10 million times. Did you know that it was originally called "Brown Skinned Girl"?

"INTO THE MYSTIC", a song from the brilliant Moondance album (1970). According to Morrison himself: "The song is just about being a part of the universe".

"CARAVAN", another song from Moondance that has been a concert highlight for decades. This is the song Van Morrison sang in The Last Waltz, the concert film Martin Scorsese made about The Band in 1976.

"TUPELO HONEY", the most sublime, heartfelt and affecting love song that Morrison has ever recorded. It was written in 1971, while he was living with his first wife, Janet Rigsbee, "an angel of the first degree". "She's as sweet as Tupelo honey, just like honey, baby, from the bee".

"CRAZY LOVE", this tender and soulful 1970 ballad has been one of the most covered songs throughout the years. Ray Charles had the pleasure of inducting Van Morrison into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by singing this track with him.

"BRIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD", this song is tribute to his mother, who had been a jazz singer. It is quite catchy and wonderfully upbeat, isn't it?

"DAYS LIKE THIS", "When all the parts of the puzzle start to seem like they fit / Then I must remember there will be days like this". Morrison was 50 when this late and optimistic song was released (1995)

"DOMINO", with this upbeat song Morrison pays tribute again to one of the greats (Fats Domino). "Domino" (1970) holds the distinction of being the singer's highest charting track ever.

"NO RELIGION", another song of the album Days Like This (1995), It is another example of the spiritual meaning of many of Van Morrison's songs.

"WILD NIGHT", written in 1971, this is one of those songs that make you think that without Van Morrison Bruce Springsteen might never have existed.

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

School year 2014/15 has already come!!!
Let us first thank all the students who have been participating in the blog all these years and, above all, those who have finished their studies at Álvaro Yáñez. Good luck to all of you!!!
Secondly, let's thank all the teachers that have been working in the blog. It is obvious that they have done a very good job and we hope that they keep on writing more posts for the school. Thanks Manuel!!
Eventually, as you can see the level in the bolg is high so we must count on you and work hard if we want to "remain the same" or, at least, if we don't want to let you down!!
Welcome back everybody!!!