Sweet Thing

[PattyLRM]

Sends chills - never can decide what I like better - fiddle or piano - love how it all builds!

[Thereisonlythemoment]

Very unusual, unique, and heart felt take on Van's song. The Man is a being of pure love and it shines out of him. Nice one Mike.

[255pinto]

Fantástico. Adoro isto. Que pena em Portugal os The Waterboys não serem mais conhecidos. O Mike Scott é um génio.

[aztec3d]

cryin' good.

[bdhcarbon]

this is such a great version of van the man's sweet thing. Accomplished musicians going to town...

[adrianherbert]

ty 4 posting, i never seen this version. a belief & passion for what you do is all here!! & Steve Wickam is just gr8 he is The Rock God Fiddler!!

[juneberrydesign]

I didn't realize that I had known this song from long ago by Van Morrison. It came to me fresh, as a real revelation. Great music, performed by great musicians, id eternal.

[SownTheRose]

Is that Dunford's Fancy at the end? Either way, amazing version of a great Waterboys track (not a fan of Van Morrison) - thanks for uploading it.

[BumblingGenius]

whoops lol

[BumblingGenius]

Okay people I am fan of both Van and I LOVE The Waterboys .. Love, love, love them. I must end this argument, Mike Scott is NOT copying Van .. Mike Scott is singing and playing this song from some place deep within for someone deep within. This came pouring from his heart (from all of them) Absolutely by far, I can say with no bias, that Mike Scott Sings this song better than Van. This version is HOTTTT and this is one of my favorties songs on YouTube. (one of them WINK).

[BumblingGenius]

Okay people I am fan of both Van and I LOOOOOOOVE The Waterboys .. Love, love, love them. I must end this argument, Mike Scott is NOT copying Van .. Mike Scott is singing and playing this song from some place deep within for someone deep within. This came pouring from his heart (from all of them) Absolutely by far, I can say with no bias, that Mike Scott Sings this song better than Van. This version is HOTTTT and this is one of my favorties songs on YouTube. (one of them WINK).

[ziggy1415]

does anyone else share the opinion that this great great man, like many great men b4 him, might have gone totally bonkers? he looks like King Lear having a paddy!

[CailleachBeara]

The Waterboys, the Band, did this song at an exceptional level. This is a buffonnermockery.

[CailleachBeara]

passé. His original version Absolutely metamorphosed this classic into the next level. This is BS and disrespectful. His belly must be full a lotta airs.....The fiddle and ivories were spot on. However, the bloated belching by himself......yeah Waterboys!

[cahala]

I absolutely love this - I love Van Morrison performing this, but the Waterboys cover has a very special place in my heart!

[paulisapringle]

i love this crazy version but nothing compares to the sublime, etherial, whimsical warmth of vans original

[kcgphotos]

.... pure joy ...

[MsAnnestube]

I was invited for a coffee by Van Morrison while leaving the glass doors to the venue he played in Rotterdam in 1986! sorry, but I just tagged along with neighbors that evening..who bought me a ticket for driving them to the gig! and when I mentioned one of my fave band's The Waterboys...Van said "they are all copycats, Everybody copies Me"unquote! This is a beautifully done version Man! and look at Mikes concentration/working at it!!! Precious....isnt it?

[sharck968]

@MsAnnestube Van may be a grumpy old man, but you can tell here that Mike Scott loves Van Morrison

[goindengo]

The Waterboys are the best!!! I Live every day with their music for the last 25 years! Its the same as loving sombody it wi,ll never stop... Love The Waterboys for ever and ever!

[thelovelytalie1]

Simply Brilliant

[thegrandwazoooo]

SHYTE SHYTE AND MORE SHYTE .WHAT DUDE NEEDS A HAIRCUT TOO

[Start3The3Engine]

Put in Sweet Thing.mov to find the album version

[Lazairus]

he is a good singer, i think he trying to breath life into a song he has sung alot.

[jzcc25]

Mike and Steve are the best...

[Rotateitbaby]

Regardless of the fact that he may not be an amazing singer... He has such a charismatic voice, Tom Waits, Dylan to name a few others. I'd sooner listen to someone with a voice like this than the banal, dross you get with today's X-factor spawned sacks of boredom, who just because they can sing in a fake american accent and hit every single note on the head (majorly due to the use of pitch correction and auto-tune) seem to become the next best thing to Elvis or Sinatra according to the press!

[Grabal]

@Rotateitbaby Ive never agreed with anyone so more. The music public of today are starved of real talent cos they dont know how to look out for it, Blame Cowell for brainwashing the young

[artfulH]

I have 100's of songs downloaded from YouTube, all genres, punk, folk, rock, jazz, soul, funk, r'n'b, indie, blues etc etc and THIS is my favourite. Keep on coming back to it. Mike Scott and The Waterboys, love it.

[Start3The3Engine]

@AnyoneKnockingMikeScott.  Listen to it properly. He's completely mad. But bloody hell you can feel the uninhibited happiness that very few can achieve!

[Start3The3Engine]

Gloriously joyful

[budibausto]

Shit...for one moment I thought was a cover by John Fogerty....but this dude really cant sing!!! arrangement is good...but that voice is fearly disappointed

[andrewburnsie]

Worst shyt I've ever heard!

[sammyoneboy]

If you don't like it, in all sincerity, go and spend your time more fruitfully. Watch something you do like and let people know. There's too much negativity about. Share positive things and leave the rest well alone. I think it's passionate and beautiful. There's not enough of that sort of thing in the world. It's a gift. 

[AntzBandit12]

I love this version; like a barely contained explosion!

[hugebooter]

You know.. I found this arrangement while searching for the original. At first I couldn't tell if they were spoofing, or are just eccentric. Took me a few tries. Since then I find something new that's just brilliant about it and I feel lucky that I get it. But I had to listen to it detached of the original in order to start appreciating it. Incredible musicianship. Waterboys!

[lewars1912]

@hugebooter I've listened to it and listened it and never got it lol. Much prefer Van Morrison's orginal.

[Roark66]

@hugebooter Hey, I can totally see how you could of thought that that Waterboys cover of Van Morrison's Sweet Thing was perhaps a spoof or something like that. It's the most animated I have seen Mike Scott ever in all the live recordings I have seen of him. I have been following this band since 1985 and they certainly are truly some of the best musicians out there. They are constantly touring and bringing old songs to new frontiers and new songs onto old frontiers. Ye stumbled good, carry on

[TheMicko7]

Van the man @ mike Scott have a great understanding ova this song excellent by both artists

[Jan9902]

awful and an insult

[Stolarz1987]

I LOVE VAN!

[hornetsnest001]

I feel sorry for you mr. hessel. And I'm sure Van Morrison would be disappointed in you as well for being so shallow minded.

[ryanhessel]

@hornetsnest001 I don't see how that makes me shallow minded. And I'm sure Van Morrison wouldn't care the slightest about my opinion on this song.

[krissie660]

I like this song and arrengement very much. Once on Polish local radio by chance I listened to a unique concert version when The Waterboys interspersed Beatles' "Blackbird" in this song. The effect was grand, but they said that the version is almost unable to obtain. I had no chance to record it then, but I remembered the title. If there's no that special version I'm thankful for uploading this one. Greetings.

[ScrumpyPotatoes]

@krissie660

Yo the version with blackbird in is the one off their album "fishermans blues" tune! : )

[krissie660]

@ScrumpyPotatoes Thanks for the information. Now only it would be good to buy somewhere a CD. "Fishermans' Blues" is agreat song alone, and I think I also know a few songs from that album that are very good.

[ryanhessel]

This is so fucking stupid.  They have made a joke of one of my favorite songs of all time.

[bobcatal]

@ryanhessel

I guess you know little about music & about Van The Man...that stated that Waterboys version of his song overshadowed his version of the song...but as they say...never question tastes...

[ryanhessel]

@bobcatal I don't think my opinion of this song says anything about my knowledge of Van Morrison or music in general. Sweet Thing is my favorite song and this version just makes me laugh. Come on. It's silly. I don't really care what Van Morrison has to say about this version anyway except that he doesn't recognize he did a better job. I'm not even the biggest 'Van the Man' fan. Certainly not big enough to call him Van the Man. He sucked after 1974 anyway.

[MARKALLENize]

10 Masters!

[verakm]

ahh yeah!

[sirpickles]

The singing is unusual..the arrangement is fair...

[NMA12]

Mikes on drugs! great song

[dualsport88]

untold genius in Mike Scott and the boys

[2bsom1]

ruined

[powermichiel]

His lyric and music come so close that i often wonder; is he me or am i him ? That's how real this music feels and his lyrics apply to life as a whole. From the deepest misery to broken relationships and new loves...

Amazing. Listen to his solo-albums too. True gems !

[chicoells]

@powermichiel man i think it is fucking good

[jangler007]

Actually, regarding the Waterboys opening for U2...I'm not sure if this happened, but I do recall sevaral shows, duing The Joshua Tree Tour when the PA blasted a few Waterboys songs before the show to warm up the crowd. These songs are usually chosen by the band and crew.

[mauricechiarella]

Pure magic!

[BumblingGenius]

I don't think you have to understand the "concept" of the Waterboys to 'get' this song; he's taken a good song by Van Morrison and made it a masterpiece. A tormented poetic rhapsody of music and voice, a plea and statement of love and lust :) umm, yes, I love it.

[scotchknight]

Love this song and the Waterboys! This video seems slightly sped up though. On the Waterboys studio version I think Mike Scott adds a verse.

[kc2dtp]

There's Blackbird by the Beatles woven into Sweet Thing. Genius!

[weretrees1]

is this a joke. Awful

[chicoells]

@weretrees1 love it or leave it

[VampHammer1]

Love this song. Great tune for a Saturday Morning. Sweet tune Mike.

[Ngun200]

i am a big van fan,but that version gets a (double wow from me) a real youtube gem.

[BeltwayGreg]

Mike Scott is just so damn talented. Has the man ever written a bad song? U2 should allow him to open some of their concerts. More people should be exposed to his talent.

[marisiriella]

why would he want to open for U2? U2 should open for them.

[BumblingGenius]

rockchick i so agree with you. he is amazing. i have everything i can get my hands on this group has done. incredible group of musicians and he's a master artist with that voice (oh my) is right!!!!!!!!

[rockchick80s]

I have about three versions of this saved - I stumbled upon it by pure accident - This is Amazing, it blows Van Morrisons Version right out of the Water. The Man just eminates such Passion and Emotion. Wonderful Post.

[StevenGA1011]

@rockchick80s Astral Weeks

[rockchick80s]

StevenGA1011 - I threw some water over my face and have recovered. Nice One Ha Ha

[StrangeTripNH]

Better than Van Morrison's....? that's fucking sick and twisted. Passion and emotion? is that what you call that? listen to that fucking clown!. PLEW PLAH PLEW PLAH Ma-mama-mam-mamama! fuck yaself!

[rockchick80s]

Saw this man live numerous times over 20 years ago. He is one of the most Revered and Respected Songwriters to come out of Scotland. Granted this maybe a very unusual version of Sweet Thing - but you would have to understand the "Concept" of The Waterboys to know where the man is coming from. Everyone is entitled to their opinion - But judging by your use of language -what your opinion conveys to me is a distinct lack of Vocabulary and Imagination. As for the comment on the end - Likewise.

[Anitachiarion]

... justice!  Thanks Mike

[yekic]

I can't say this is good.....it is fucking weird. Come on the emperor has no fucking clothes. He's gone waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too far with this bub bububububububuhahahhadadadadad­ad stuff. He sounds like a fucking halfwit and I like most of his stuff. But for fuck sake don't encourage him with shite like this.

[chickenjazz]

yekic,

Perhaps if you actually went to a show you would understand how effective his vox are. This is transcendental...however you would likely have to have a faint modicum of wit yourself to understand that, never mind the mental/spiritual apparatus required to appreciate it.

[yekic]

Well pehaps if you considered how silly it is to presume you know something about someone you don't know much of at all you wouldn't make such presumtions.......I've been to plenty of Mike Scott/Waterboys gigs. I probably got thrown out of more than you went to son.

[chickenjazz]

Well, since you're all knowing..you'd know where he is in this video, what sort of venue it is and why this song and the way he sings it suits the conditions of this acoustic gig perfectly.

...because I was at this gig..

and I'm a girl....sonny

[chichigord]

I agree with yekic...I don't care who went to what how many times. I love the Waterboys, but I'll pass on downloading this daffy duck version of Sweet Thing...I mean to me it just looks as if Mike were bored of doing the same tune for the umpteenth hundred time...

[chickenjazz]

I am most interested to know which part of Yekic's comment you state you're a subscriber of? Given that you can't read his initial comment as it's not there to view. That leads us to his second comment which trumps of how many gigs he's been to,a point of which you say you disagree. "This Daffy Duck version" is a most infernally moronic thing to say..even more so than Yekic's comment. I may as well go and relay all of this to a cow in a field, at least I would be guaranteed an informed response.

[jackemlyn062]

The BEST song EVER, EVER, by the only man, bsides Van the man, with the SOUL to do it justice!!! Fantastic.... Thanks Mike

[BumblingGenius]

I loveeeeee this group soooooo much. I could just K I S S S S S Mike Scott and the violin is wicked .. This song is deliciously sensual.

[jerryfalwellsociety]

A truly magical rendition of a VM classic. Thankyou MS, thankyou VM and thankyou marlym for resurrecting this after VM's purge on his songs on YT - freedom prevail..

[PAULOcbi]

that was fawkin awful vocals geez!

[jackc396]

I think he's doing impersonations... Katherine Hepburn definite, also sounds like Henry Fonda's performance in on Golden Pond. Can't say I know why, just reminds me of their voices at that time in

their careers

[leverbart]

I totally love this song and this version especially, he has a good voice in spite of the strange outbursts at times. I love their fisherman's blues as well

the violin rocks!

[tjpbm]

mike scott is without doubt a bit odd but fantastic to see live.

[StrangeTripNH]

Yes! this guy is a fucking joke. is he serious? plew pleh plew pleh sweet thing! ma-ma-mamama -mamamaa

[Carlbstard]

You need to love the waterboys/ Mike scott to understand, love this version as it is truly his.

He doesn`t mock the original but embraces it, you see and feel his passion for the song and lyrics. It`s Mike Scott genius at its best.

[BumblingGenius]

Well, Carlbstard I so 100 percent agree with you! Those that don't...umm, you bought a cruise ticket and got left at the dock.

[jackc396]

i love it, as if it's excentricities give it unique color and light. the naysayers are just being buttclowns. it's a brilliant performance by masters. i challenge the buttclowns to post better.

[migca]

It seems this attempted cover was either loved or hated, eh? Van has always been notoriously difficult to cover--whatever the song. But the songs from "Astral Weeks" have to be the oddest bunch of absolute classics and/or near-masterpieces to come from the '60's. How could you hope to improve upon them?

It's disappointing knowing Mike Scott is a fine and successful singer/songwriter (if a tad bit eccentric), and the Waterboys are a first-rate band. Sadly, listening to this is almost painful.

[JackStraw65]

Mike Scott is a world-class, extremely passionate performer and songwriter. There's really nobody quite like him. I saw him solo acoustic back in the 90's and it remains one of the most spellbinding concert experiences I've ever had. He takes incredible risks and maybe they don't always work out. I can understand negative reactions to this performance, but posters who trash him on this one performance and otherwise do not know who he is, have never heard the Waterboys, etc. are ignorant.

[migca]

Sorry for the delay. Hey, I'm a Mike Scott fan all the way. You are right--in this world of Britney clones--he is one of the last of the truly unique musical artists. But surely the man is allowed to make a mistake, no? It takes a lot of confidence and courage to radically rework such a beloved song. In my opinion, it didn't work out too well. So what? I doubt Mike is losing any sleep over our opinions.

[nickflit]

This singer looks like a feminine version of Mick Jagger who sings like a coked up Mickey Mouse who is getting poked in the rectum with a stick to a rthymic beat..

[1dan1the1man1]

mick jagger is a feminine version of mick jagger :P

[nickflit]

Your right, people who know nothing of which they speak should not converse on any matter, and it just so happens you have terrible taste of music AND sense of logic.

Also, what kind of ignorant stooge comes to the conclusion that someone knows nothing about Ireland simple because they have great taste in music?

Please explain yourself.

[faherty87]

This cover is a traditional irish/scottish music reinterpirtation of sweet thing. It may not be your cup of tea but there's no need to go spouting venom because you don't like it.

Have enough respect for the people who do appreciate music you don't like not to make childish remarks about the song and the band members appearence, it's childish.

For a person who prides himself on having such "great" taste in music you should be less close minded.

[nickflit]

WHO IN THE HELL IS GIVING THIS TRASHY REMAKE 5 STARS?

I want to ask any one of you no minds who rated this video 5 stars what you were thinking unless the stars were from comedic value?

Who are your favorite "musicians"?

P-Dilly? 20 Cent? Barry Manilow?

Pffft.

[MiddleClassHobo]

Do you realise the waterboys are an irish/scottish band?

I take it from your lack of knowledge of anything Irish you are in fact not Irish?

If so leave things you know nothing about alone, if not learn something about Ireland.

[StrangeTripNH]

I would like to punch that singer in the face.

[stopint]

brilliant

[roundfeet]

i dont any of ye get it..this is wonderful.its a cover ,a cover ,blows van outa the water..boys ha ha

[dave10587]

Milke Scott is a genius. He clearly has his own style and its awesome.

[lassofyork]

I'm in TOTAL agreement with "roncepelotas's" response. BRILLIANTLY done! xxxx' from South Carolina

[17yargnits]

Mr Scott,,,Your padded room is ready

[dazmalski]

A triumverate of greatness from the Waterboys

[CaptQuencher]

Fantastic version of Vans song - well done Mike Scott and the boys!!!

[compactangel]

This is an excellent arrangement of a Van Masterpiece. Mike made this his own

[poppodue]

ageing, what a damn thing...

[LAVEEG9]

I love this song!

[roncepelotas]

I´m afraid I disagree with the negative comments...I love both songs, the original and Mike´s version. Actually, this is, in my opinion, a real version because it´s totally different. I´m tired of listening to bands making exact replica covers which do not contribute at all...

At least this man takes risks and was able to make this song his...and that he transmits...I was lucky to witness this set live and gave me goosebumps!

[lionhead22]

way to ruin the song twitchy tweaker

[mynameissecret94]

This is truly disgusting.

My favourite song of all time, massacred by this man.

WHY? There certainly was a bitter aftertaste. This was a beautiful, poetic song, everything about it was perfect. I wouldn't attempt to make a better version of Van's, I doubt it is possible. But I didn't believe that someone could get it SO wrong. Was he joking? Or does he enjoy ruining beautiful songs?

[caitlin21meeenie]

get over yerself..vans version is cool n all but mike scoot is feckin brilliant like

[watercourse1]

Hardly massacred. Rather masterly redone. I find this a fantastic song sung by another great singer.

[chrismtltube]

I don't totally object to how overboard everyone went with the instruments. I think they coulda used some restraint, but the effort wasn't appalling.

I do object, however, to the singer's... interpretation of the song. This guy at times sounded like he was having a serious case of dry heaves. I felt physically repulsed by this guy.

I can understand another commenter having to get rid of the "aftertaste" of this cover.

[fartyfairy]

yep. it is a bit funny weird what he does before he sings that Sweet Thing....who cares....he's got such powerful and beautiful energy I dont care a damn.....push the boundaries Mike! Go for it! I quite like it actually...hee hee

[green22lantern]

God, this is awful. I had to hear the van morrison live performance to get its audio "aftertaste' out of my mnd.

[porministro1Oguh]

swett thing says everything.i´ll keep it close.

[mountainmanjohn]

I like Mike doing this sometimes, but maybe this isnt the best time.................the most poetic set of lyrics I know. Vans the Man

[FISTxFULLxOFxSTEEL]

A total massacre of an absolutely brilliant song.

[chichigord]

Guess he got bored of doing that song...

[icelandbobby]

still offering his audience a challenge... good for Scott, go for it... WTF WTF

[rotobeam]

Pure genius. Fantastic cover of a wonderful song.

[molemaninthemorning]

Great Cover. That wierd thing he does before he sigs sweet thing is wierd :)

[shaybrad]

great cover especially the album version

[lunox2]

worst cover ever done!! of by the way a great song !!

[gerardowmby]

I agree. Bad. Over the top. No subtlety.

[uksclavain]

played this at butlins with 2 friends in the talent contest....we came third..the song comes first

[Celticus90]

wonferful cover from Van Morrison..

this is a great rock/folk group

[lightningleaf23]

scott's a genius but can t help think steve wickham deserves more credit his fiddling is unbelievable and i much prefer this irish influenced stuff to the whole of the moon and the earlier stuff this was wickhams influnce in the band

[nmack75]

Seperated at birth - Mike Scott and Ian "Monkey man" Brown?? Great version. Music to chase after the person you love to.

[samsarah40]

crazy lovely

[giannis4]

Fuckn Mike always rocks