This is disappointing: Van Morrison to Release Protest Songs Against Covid-19 Lockdown

[catbyte]

Claire Shaffer
Fri, September 18, 2020, 7:46 AM EDT

Van Morrison accuses the U.K. government of “taking our freedom” in three new songs bashing the worldwide lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

In “No More Lockdown,” the most on-the-nose of the three tracks, Morrison plainly lays out his thoughts: “No more lockdown/No more government overreach/No more fascist bullies/Disturbing our peace/No more taking of our freedom/And our God-given rights/Pretending it’s for our safety/When it’s really to enslave.”

In another song, according to the BBC, Morrison references a widely shared Facebook post of a screenshot from the U.K. government’s website, stating that “Covid-19 is no longer considered to be a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) in the U.K.” While it is true that Covid-19 currently does not meet the criteria for an HCID in the U.K., it is still highly infectious the world over, with a possibility of a second national lockdown in the U.K. on the horizon, according to the BBC.

Northern Ireland’s health minister Robin Swann has referred to the new trio of Morrison songs as “dangerous,” telling the BBC: “I don’t know where he gets his facts. I know where the emotions are on this, but I will say that sort of messaging is dangerous.”

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https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/van-morrison-release-protest-songs-114648980.html

[DonaldsRump]

1. Agreed. Just lost a lot of respect for VM.

And I had immense respect for him.

[Mike 03]

2. Oh no. Not Van Morrison.

[bullwinkle428]

3. "Enslave"? So Bill Barr is now writing his lyrics?

[ItsjustMe]

4. I just posted one of his songs

here yesterday.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/103435979

[spanone]

5. love his music....beyond that he sounds like an idiot

[Bobstandard]

6. He's always been a whiner

Many of his songs talk about how people use him, how the record industry has abused him, how people let him down, etc. I like his music and have enjoyed his concerts over the years, but I never took him for a nice guy or someone you’d want to be friends with

He’s now like Woody Allen, an artist who’s work you might like but who’s personal life and views you abhor. JK Rowling also seems to be in that club.

[bigtree]

9. he had a legitimate gripe about the industry

...made little to nothing for recordings through 'Moondance.'

Only recovered after years of lawsuits.

The Woody Allen thing is gross, but I get your point.

good article explaining...

Shelved: Van Morrison’s Contractual Obligation Album
https://longreads.com/2019/08/29/shelved-van-morrisons-contractual-obligation-album/amp/

[maxsolomon]

20. Bookmarked.

I have to say, the Bang Masters CD is probably the Van I play the most after Astral Weeks.

The "choke thing going on" quote is on that CD, right at the start of "He Ain't Give You None". He was right.

[bigtree]

7. he wants crowds for his shows

...and that's utterly irresponsible and despicable.

...I'm a major, major, listener, enthusiast of VM music, influences and everything.

[MagickMuffin]

8. Never liked the guy

That must be why, he's still got no talent.

[maxsolomon]

17. You've listened to Astral Weeks?

"No talent" tells me you probably haven't.

[themaguffin]

10. I'm disappointed too. He's an all time favorite. It's frustrating because

well, it's not well thought out and frankly selfish. He's not political - he wants to perform, but it's asinine.

Also, for an artist who's been all about acknowledging Black influences over the decades... he protests... covid shutdowns.

Not, violence against Black Americans. I know that he's not American of course, but it's frustrating.

[Mendocino]

11. Say it ain't so...

Its like finding out that your great grandfather was a klan member.

[crickets]

12. Well, Moondance will never sound quite the same again. nt

[Greybnk48]

13. I never really liked him anyway, but it's still sad

That he’s turned into an “angry, old, white guy.” What a shame.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

18. Same here.

I mostly loved music from that era when I was young (and still do), despite being a teen in the 80's, but I never liked him very much.

[RhodeIslandOne]

15. Sounds like the same old 60's bullshit n/m

[melman]

16. Not that surprsing

Van Morrison is a great artist but he's also kind of a prick and always has been.

[maxsolomon]

19. Another rich old crank.

What was his last great album, Veedon Fleece? That was 1974. 46 years ago.

No one will care about this latest Jeremiad.

[Gothmog]

21. From the Hoarse Whisperer

Link to tweet

[ismnotwasm]

22. Shit.

Didn’t know he was still alive though