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From: TimeMagazine
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  • Van - You keep asking me to reconnect, but i don't know how to reach You these days...does anyone know how to get my message through to Van, as He has been summoning me to return, for a long time, and I'm not getting through ever...

  • Van please call me @TheMadamGeorge, yours truly your one and only madam george/boffyflow

  • I want to prove Van wrong. And makehim happy about it.

  • what an ass. I understand things get tough, but come on. lots of people have wayyyy tougher lives than he has had. It's sad that he has this outlook, but then again, I can kind of understand, when you get ripped off a lot and used and abused, but still man, cheer up.

  • WAAAAAAAAAAAAAH going to see him live in Dublin in February...

  • he sounds like and irishman whos been living in new york city for 20 yrs

  • What's sad is his belief that there's no good music being made. I don't know where to begin, and I'm old enough to remember all the great bands, including Van's. But there's always good music being made, somewhere, somehow. You're missing it, Van. Too bad.

  • I sometimes think that Van is pretending to be an asshole, just for kicks

  • vans right. fuck digital

  • well im happy he isnt a dineload act

  • if your a fan,ck out "down the road", an album from 2002. The songs, his voice, nothing short of brilliant. Rare for an artist to go 25 yrs between good records.....

  • I like his old stuff... the guy has become a caricature of himself since the 1980s though. He seems to be a bit of a twat. No more good music anymore according to this interview?

  • I love VM, but he is starting to look like the lady with the face transplant. But dang he's good at what he does.

  • @elvislives81677

    He has never been a beauty. So what should he do? He growing old like you and me.

  • @bowedmyhead -he looked his best when he did Tupelo Honey

  • It's funny how him and his deceased brother Jim look so different and sound so different.

  • @guyNbluejeans Can't tell if trolling or just stupid.

  • @jltc008 J-O-K-E

  • @guyNbluejeans N-O--S-H-I-T-,-M-E--T-O-O

  • @jltc008 *belch*

  • T.B. Sheets, play T.B. Sheet!

  • he has a bitter arogance but a total genious. not to many people alive in his legue

  • hu rah rah fuh hah huh hedges first..

  • @lowlypeasant

    Your comment made my day haha xD

  • Van - Please call (your original)Madam George/Boffy/.Baby Blue/Ballerina/In The Days Before Rock & Roll, Queen of the Slipstream, In The Garden(No Guru No Method No Teacher.....604 578 1956.

    June 26th/2011.

  • June 26/2011.

    * Van Morrison - Please reply !!!... You have summoned me to return and reconnect with You...Your too long lost, old little girl, Madam George...I can verify in many ways,it is really Me, with numerous shared past memories only You and I could possibly know, from long ago, before circumstances separated us.

    Please leave contact information at: (604) 578 1956 Sunshine Coast/ B.C./Canada.....

  • @TheMadamGeorge *Van Morrison, this girl is likely mentally unstable. I advise you stay as far away from her as possible.

  • @TheMadamGeorge hi... thats where im from... any luck?

  • simply the best

  • Great musician, cool dude :D

  • Wow he did not age well, he looks fat as hell

  • Why do people always attack each other in the comments section? Just watch the video. If you have an opinion on what you watched, share it. Don't blast people for no reason.

  • @Flash33181 I agree with this there seems to be a "quiet" civil war going on on the comments section. Lets stop people.

  • If you don't know who Van Morrison is, why did you watch an interview by him? Plus, he's on Rolling Stone's Top 100 Musicians of all time. I guess a lot of people like this "shit."

  • YAY BELFAST!!!!! <3

  • To Quatchkopf I'll bet you think Lady Gag Me is good music!!!

  • @customsuzuki Lady Gag Me sucks ass! You have no fucking clue what I like so I will tell you. 80's music, 90's alternative, Rock. Thats it. Rap can kiss my ass and sucks ass. R&B is total bullshit, Jazz can fuck a donkey, country don't even bother....Opera/classical is good to sleep to.

  • @Quatchkopf dude you're such tool. go fuck off already you troll. you don't know shit about shit

  • @Syst3mDowngrade I know a hell of a lot more than you pussy

  • This guy is so damn famous I have never heard one song from him.

  • @Quatchkopf u must have poor musical taste. there are few better than this mans art

  • @Syst3mDowngrade Shit, my music taste is much better than this bullshit!

  • I Love How He's So Real With Himself Is There Any Musicians or groups Out there today that really excite you : NO NOTHING NONE !!! That Goes To All The New Musicians Get your crap together

  • Why on earth are there ppl on here bagging him for this interview? Just watched it twice trying to see "where & when" he was rude...bitter...cranky or anything else similiar. Are you sure we all watched the same interview????? lol

  • Vans a genuis

  • What a cock.

  • It's strange and sad the way ordinary people resent the famous people who choose to reject hype and popularity.

  • @pinchold

    Right on!

  • I agree he can be a difficult bugger, but Astral Weeks is just a bloody brilliant piece of work.

    I love the references to our old home town of Belfast.

    Get drunk and/or stoned and play it loud!

  • pompous ass who is very much in need of retiring.

  • I think he was brutally honest and that's what you hear when he sings. You feel it deep inside.

  • Van is a true East Belfast Man ;-)

  • I have reservations about a bloke who has to indulge himself with his initials decorating his gear. And he looks like the sax player off the muppets.

  • @MCchisel come on man if you dont appreciate the guys work then dont comment.

  • @MCchisel come on man if you dont appreciate the guys work then dont comment. if you like his music then you wouldnt judge him based on what he's wearing.

  • Going by the "few" negative comments here, I'll say this....Van Morrison really doesn't like to do INTERVIEWS....what he really likes to do is, sing into a microphone, and touch your soul. Life is full of compromises..

  • Can anyone understand what he's singing? He sounds like he's got a mouthful of malt loaf.

  • Love Van, he cracks me up. xx

  • That last question made me laugh. Van Morrison very famously (or infamously) does not handle fame well at all. I met Jerry Wexler a few years ago, he knew everyone who was ever in the music biz, and he had only three words for Van: "He's a prick." That said, I thought this interview was great, Tim didn't ask him dumb questions and Van was Van. He is one of the most talented musicians of the modern age, personally I have no problem giving the man his space.

  • Yeah, Van is difficult to interview, just like Paul Weller. The guy did well..

  • I love Van and his music, but boy, I wouldn't want to interview him. That looked like hard work, lol.

  • its arry redknap but things arnt what they seem.

  • he seems like an ass

  • If he doesn't like fame so much why's he doing this? He's a millionaire!

  • Van Morrison has a tremendous bone to pick with society, and one that is fattier than all our common wealth is combined, lest we become dumber than we are deaf.

    In comparison to drought, disease is hippie. In other words were all dead without music. SEEMS SEAMS SEE SEA “still seems to be a grumpy munchkin" O my upside-down, unequivocal erasable g awe full instead of o never mind-d ahoy exactly

  • Van Morrison, has a tremendous bone to pick with society ,and one that is fattier than all our common wealth is combined, lest we become dumber than we are deaf.

    In comparison to drought ,disease is happi. In other words were all dead without music. SEEMS SEAMS SEE SEA "still seems to be a grumpy munchkin" O my upsidedown, unequivical g awefull instead of o never mind-d ahuh exactly

  • I love you Van!!!!

  • you obviously never played a musical instrument. pinkfloyd darkside of the moon was my first record. I know pinkfloyds music and van morrisons. there is no comparison. none, nil, Van morrison is about the music, pinkfloyd is the presentation about the show.

  • @Sonny76403 That's sounds, exactly just (under lying the word just), like what I was thinking, in a similar fashion.

  • LMFAO it's fun to hear a Belfast and American accent merged together :L any American know where that twang is from??

  • I love to hear that guy speak- so many complicated ideas and experiences...he will go down as the best songwriter to ever live, and he's right: fame's a bitch.

  • Dowwnload the audio from this tune at speedyconversion doht cohm.

  • Living GOD of music

  • God bless him. Van doesn't give a fuck about the music INDUSTRY.

  • wow what a douchebag, just shows how much people can change depending what path you chose.

  • looks like ginger Garry Glitter

  • You rarely hear people say things like this to the press. They are usually so full of shit.

  • 4:25 - "Are there any musicians or groups today that really excite you?" --lol! what a great answer!! What IS new? The arrangements, that's what - back then, I mean. And Van has kept his own signature intact, fresh AND new.

  • I respect the fact that he's being honest rather than sugar coating things like a lot of people do in interviews. I think their is some really good music out there today but he is right in the fact that it has all be done before. Especially in the rock world, nothing new is really pushing the boundaries of music.

  • q: Van, why do you sound like Bono? Have you met bono? He's an Irish guy in this cool band called u2 that sounds just like you

  • @jojopuppyfish

    I disagree

  • he gave us some great music

  • i'm not bored enough to read too many of the comments, but it seems people are making negative judgments on his character based on this interview. i thought he was great! he was direct, and honest, and interesting. i didn't find anything he said to be offensive or even disappointing. he seems like a great guy who genuinely loves music.

  • reyc-hard

  • jim belushi on drums on 0:58. Long live Van.

  • I am one of Van Morrison greatest fans...and I love him singing his songs as they were originally done...he has however changed some of his songs slightly which I do not appreciate but will tolerate the new versions but I must say the originals are the best....please Mr.. Morrison you should know what the public love of your music...your voice is sssssssssssssssooooooooooooooo­oo passionate please dont stop giving us that passion we so long for...

  • does he have some autistic spectrum disorder? he's kind of awkward

  • For Van this is a TAME interview. In fact for Van, this is positively warm 'n' cuddly. Those interested should seek out the unauthorized bio of him written many eyars ago that really examines his relationship with fame and the press and deflates a lot of the myths... some myths which he apparently has created himself. ..

  • Great music from one of the music industry's biggest douchebags.

  • they're not bitter that just real musicians and they are confirming what many of us already know, the fact that today's music is really, really, really, really, bad. Just Listen.

  • I understand Van's reluctance to be idolized, but he covers so many musical styles. Classic rock, blues, soul, jazz, Celtic folk, etc. It's hard not to be inspired by musicians like him

  • "I just listen to the stuff that got me into it in the first place... there's nothing new, you know?"

  • Rock stars of the 1960's & 70's all seem so bitter about the music today. I think they're just pissed off cuz they got old. Nobody seems to like being old. But I never understand why people who became so friggin wealthy off their music are so bitter about it. Try coming up in today's climate Van!

  • I like my coffee like my egotistical reclusive musicians... bitter. Wow, totally sheds a new light on him for me. What a bummer.

  • still seems to be a grumpy munchkin

  • can any of you people speak english? that grammar is outrageous. morons!!!!

  • @zibaboogie ..TOCHE'

  • YES AN HONEST GUY

    HE SAYs it all sucks now!!!!!

    and REALLY MEANIN IT

    he is abso RIGH ON

  • he's gotten way more brooding than he used to! must be the weed?

  • His accent is much like Graeme McDowell's, Northern Irish mixed with American. Though Morrison's is a Belfast accent while McDowell's is a North Coast/Portrush accent. I think that's actually changed a little bit how he sings now as opposed to on the Astral Weeks record which has less of the American influence on his accent. But the power of his voice have lost nothing, his lyrics are still his lyrics, his music is his music =]

  • I love Van, but not being excited about any new music just tells me he has not waded through enough of the throwaway music to find the many gems of truly well-written songs. (I can imagine a blues or soul artist being asked that same question in the 60s and saying the same thing...perhaps we all end up thinking that genius ends with our own or previous generations). Also, that attitude ultimately only harms his own muse, in my opinion. Listen to his 80s output, when he was truly inspired...

  • take off your glasses, youre inside.

  • @Baminthemorning2131 I find it funny that the lemmings dont like individuals

  • Comment removed

  • All i hear Van is cry about the music business. Please ! He should dig ditches or flip burgers for a living. Van cries all the way to the bank. Waaaa !

  • i download you!! you've been 24/7 play time for me lately, Van. thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

  • "it's all been done"

  • are you supposed to understand what hes saying when he sings nowadays?

  • What a fascinating interview. I didn't know Van's speaking voice was that much higher than his singing one.

  • His music is great! His attitude sucks! He has been in the biz long enought to have renegotiated his contract. If he wasn't wasted n dope back in the day he would half fared better!

    Again I love his music ....but "Van' is a hot box full of shit!

    Stupid ass bitter bastard!

    He has made millions despite that!!! Quit being so greedy!!!

  • His music is great! His attitude sucks! He has been in the biz long enought to have renegotiated his contract. If he wasn't wasted n dope back in the day he would half fared better!

    Again I love his music ....but "Van' is a hot box full of shit!

    Stupid ass bitter bastard!

  • This video needs more views. If people can relate to the music of my childhood then the world would be such a less hurtful place.

  • As a fan it hurts me to hear him call "Brown Eyed Girl" a throw-away song. Also I'm baffled by the way he says that there is not one new band that he likes, almost as a slap in the face to the interviewer.

  • @jackmcdaid53 you're saying he shouldn't call brown eyed girl a throw away track? but that's what he feels. you're saying he should lie? what's the point of the interview, if he's only going to go against what he truly believes? and how is it a slap in the face to the interviewer, when he says there is not 1 new band he likes? again, you're saying he should've lied & said 'oh yes, i love lots of new bands'. what exactly do u want from an interview? for the interviewee 2 lie 2 make u feel good?

  • @TheLagunaSunrise I didn't suggest that Van Morrison should lie! I was just giving feedback as to how his comments affected me. I think thats what the comments are here for. I was sorely disappointed by his comments that is all.

  • @jackmcdaid53 brown eyed girl is what it means to you. whether he thinks it's a 'throw away track' shouldn't be relevant to you. it obviously isn't a throw away track. it's a classic, and anyone, whether they're a fan of him or not, should be able to hear that. what he meant was, when he originally started to perform it, he saw it as a throw away track. but as time passes, tracks become more popular.

    you took his comments way too personal.

    and how is it a slap in the interviewers face?

  • @TheLagunaSunrise I understand his feeling about this song. From what I remember he said that the record company promoted it, and it became a hit despite his lack of interest in promoting it. So that is a problem when an artist has other people make his marketing decisions, then it affects the fans. This is one of the things I dislike about the music industry. The interviewer was asking a simple question about bands Van likes now, and got an unexpected response. I was surprised too.

  • @jackmcdaid53 i wasn't at all surprised by his response. because i am of the same opinion of VM... "it's all been done before". It was exactly what I was expecting, something along those lines. it's so refreshing to hear... no bullshit. he isn't impressed in the slightest by any music nowadays, so he doesn't mince his words, he speaks his opinion. of course it depends on how much new music he actually listens to, though...

    it wasn't in any way disresectful to the interviewer.

  • @jackmcdaid53 but its true he has 300 others i think there better :P

  • VAN is without equal as the priemiere BLUES artist os Ireland

  • I love Van and all, but I mean, you can't hear anything but mumbling at 0:07-0:13 :)

  • @flensoest  And i woah staugh a mauhy woy AND JUMP THE HEDGES FIRST.

  • @thenoseymethod I know that is what he is saying, but in the video you can't hear a thing he's saying.

  • @flensoest No, no, no. I could hear the phrase "hedges first". ;)

  • its all been done ....its all been done.......thats an interesting comment .....i feel there are some gud things out today .....he has a point tho

  • "It's all been done". LOL ...I couldn't agree more.

  • Check Out:

    ww w. ana r ch adia. c om

  • Simply beautiful concert! Simply beautiful man! Truth is beauty and beauty is truth. I was blessed to be at this concert to experience the genuis of Van Morrison. I can't wait to see him again at the Greek Oct. 2010. Thank you, Van for bringing me endless joy!

  • I hate to admit this, but this it the first time I've heard Van's speaking voice, and I expected it to be deeper and more resonant. Just an odd little observation.

    Van's the Man!

  • Because Van is a passionate and talented individual, his ability to be successful is not unique to music, but would carry over into whatever he is passionate about. Most people who play music to become famous, usually make really bad music (or they don't write there own music). This is one of the biggest problems with contemporary music.. that many successful artist are merely performing artists, and are incapable of writing their own songs, because they lack sincere inspiration.

  • I have always loved Van Morrison's music and the poetry in his work. The Irish have tended to make language colorful and this really speaks to me. He is a "word weaver" who has a serious knack for a tune, too!!! Van rocks!!!

  • he is one of my very favorites. flew to san fransico to see him and saw him here in glendale arizona.  always be a fan.

  • Legend and one of the greatest singers EVER!!

  • yes you can relate to him, where is his Irish accent?

  • @Jan9902

    Jan9902 - that's a Northern Irish accent but I agree it is a bit modified. Van did live for quite a while in the States and perhaps it comes out again when he is back there.

  • @MrSpudTuber

    he's his own man and you have to respect him for that

  • @MrSpudTuber

    It's Co.Aintrim so yes its an Irish accent :)

  • Take down the highlights from the video and apply what you know and teach them to your students. Pls keep posting.

  • A pint of plain for Van!

  • Take down the highlights from the video and apply what you know and teach them to your students. Pls keep posting.

  • Nice to hear he's staying true to his self. Love the man. I wonder if ppl realize how hard it would be to be famous and your life ripped off and it's no longer yours. Private lives folks.

  • @TheLdudley ...well I know what you're saying but conversely I wonder if these people remember the days of how they were going to pay their rent before their first hit single much like how tough it is becoming for most regular folks now wondering where you're going to get your meal in the new America.

    If you seek a career in popular music as a performer, it comes with the territory, I think I could exchange my privacy for all the adulation, privilege and wealth.

  • I can relate...the more popular songs or bands...the more commercial..the more I dislike them...I don't listen to the radio when I have the choice...I listen to classic music or all the music on my ipod....

  • Amazing video. Let me follow your channel.

    Tks again.

  • Are there any musicians or groups today that really excite you? NO. Lol you tell them Van. I agree with him music today is an absolute joke.

  • This is very useful clip.. Thank You

  • i never really tripped off his music but i like his daughter shana, she is great

  • he sounds proper new york irish bloke man :D but hes a full bred irish. is he?

  • @fivegirlsonevase Yes he's full Irish, born and raised in Belfast Northern Ireland.

  • Great interview. Thanks

  • Great tips for everyone!

    Tks.

  • a great artist, but he is very cynical, not a pleasant person to interview..

  • Wow, I've nearly worshipped his music ever since I was in high school, went back and bought almost all his 70s catalogue on Warner and a lot of his more contemplative 80s and 90s as well but I've never heard him interview.

    He is certainly one of my absolute all-time favorites.

  • You see, I don't really see him as being all the grumpy. He's just tired and voicing his opionion in a non bullshit way that people of my generation can't relate to without having grown up with his poetry in music. This guy is a legend. But he doesn't want to be treated like one.

  • @HufflepuffTheGreat

    Check Out:

    ww w. ana r ch adia. c om

  • @HufflepuffTheGreat You can't condone his shortsightedness, the musical world does not start and end with Van Morrison and his early influences. Music is a continuously growing thing, it hasn't "all been done before." Maybe he needs to look a little bit harder, there is still plenty going on outside of the mainstream. There is still good music being made. Maybe he's just a little jaded by what he sees when he turns on the tv; I am too. Either way... I think it's foolish to shut yourself off.

  • @BobMillahhh I can fully understand your point, but nonetheless I feel empathy for a brilliant musician and songwriter who has lived a very fortunate time in the music industry, when dreams and extasis were far more important than economic benefit. He has given so much, putting his soul on his best records, and such a (naif, if you wish) commitment is hard to find nowadays. He's like an old mystical preacher in an era with poor aesthetic values. I can understand why he's bored and frustrated.

  • @HufflepuffTheGreat

    it's probably a cultural thing the way people interpret his demeanour. to anyone from where he's from he sounds completely normal. they're just a lot more direct and genuine in the way they talk. he's talking honestly and frankly with no pretence. there was no rudeness or sharpness there.

  • I have watched many clip fr youtube.

    This one is very good.

  • Amazing clip. I hear many times.

    Tks again.

  • it's not what it seems...hmm, cool...

  • Pearl of the interveiw: "It's not what it seems, being famous". It's this reluctance of Van Morrison to be idolized that helps make him an all time favorite musician-songwriter-recording artist of mine. His songs tell the story he wants to tell and the asperger's side is left for rare interviews like this. But to really understand the story of the musical genious and the poetry of Van we need just to listen to On Hyndford Street off his Hymns to the Silence record. It's all there.

  • @HandPickedTomatoes I agree with you man. If everyone in the world listened to Astral Weeks just ONCE, there would be no more wars.

  • @HandPickedTomatoes Thank you for your review. I will!

  • I learned a lot from this video!

    Best rgs

  • take your hat and glasses off and stretch out more...and stop thinking about yer feckin money ...it has NOT ALL BEEN DONE!

  • you cant explain a belfast man called van.just beyond superlatives

  • Thank you so much, this is absolutely excellent and is a definite must see for grads. I hear your video and I feel so much more confident now and I was compelled to express my thanks.

  • I'll never grow so old again....

  • I really like the tips and info your giving out. I've already learned a lot from you! more power!