I’m not suggesting that “Wavelength” is among Van Morrison‘s Top 10 Greatest Songs, but I think it’s his last great one. Oh, I know he had some well-regarded records after that single and collaborations with well-regarded Irish folk musicians, but I found those records kind of boring. I like when Van gets worked up, and he gets worked up about all kinds of funny things on “Wavelength.” First, the lyrics milk the last drops of 1970s pickup lines, somehow avoiding references to astrological signs. Next, there’s the spacey triplets riff on the synth. But that’s not all: there’s a Steely Dan-worthy, jaw-dropping guitar solo. A horn section. A woman sawing away on rock violin. Background singers in ruffled, silky garments. A close-up of Van’s polyester bellbottoms. And it goes without saying that Van scats. Nowadays, a band like Arcade Fire jams 14 band members onstage and manages to sound like the minimalist Cure. Van’s band is the sound of excess!
Does any song skirt more closely with cheesy rock moves than Van Morrison’s “Wavelength” while still retaining a respectable level of greatness?
I’ve never seen Morrison live (he’s never come to Florida), but in every live clip I’ve ever seen of him, he looks a little stiff and uncomfortable. And Van should never, ever sing with a band that has a synthesizer player – those two things should remain mutually exclusive.
The “Wavelength” tour, with Peter Bardens on synth, was the weakest of the 4 times I have seen Van in concert (I wish I had been there for “A Night in San Francisco”). His last great song ? My regard for “No Guru…” and “Poetic Champions Compose” is a personal opinion but this clip from 1980 of “Troubadours” never fails to impress every time I (regularly) watch it.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKfCsEhjAZo
Over the past few decades, I have come to appreciate the song, but for a long time, I just couldn’t get past the cheesy cover for the Wavelength album itself. Talk about looking like a stiff!
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WhYQtnN5L.jpg
I submit Bruce Springsteen – Tougher Than The Rest
https://youtu.be/_91hNV6vuBY
The song opens with the line “Well, it’s Saturday night…”. Ugh, but he sounds sincere, right?
Then there some slo-mo black and white rock gymnastics and stage posing, but it’s kind of cool.
The eye gazing between him and Patti Scialfa is gross but heck they were in love.
The video show couples in love and includes gay and lesbian couples kissing which was unusual to see on TV at the time.
I think Bruce’s credibility is his suit of armor which prevents me from completely hating on this one.
Axl Rose copping Davy Jones’ (Monkees) dance moves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1OnV4kKkU0
Sorry, I think I stopped reading after the silly notion that Wavelength was Van’s last great song was floated…What was the question again?