| "Gypsy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 German single cover | ||||
| Single by Van Morrison | ||||
| from the album Saint Dominic's Preview | ||||
| B-side | ||||
| Released | December 1972 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:10 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Van Morrison | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| Van Morrison singles chronology | ||||
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"Gypsy" is a song written by Van Morrison that was first released on his 1972 album Saint Dominic's Preview. It was also released as a single.
Lyrics and music
The theme of "Gypsy" is a familiar one to Morrison. As with " Caravan" and other songs, the song extols the archetype of the wandering gypsy who has the freedom to move around but on the other hand lacks a secure place to settle down. [1] Music critic Steve Sparacio said that it "conjures visions of a caravan with camping camp-fires bright and dancers dancing." [2]
"Gypsy" uses a ballad form. [3] The music has a Middle Eastern feel. [4] [5] The rhythm alternates between double-time and triple time. [4] [5] Rolling Stone Magazine critic Stephen Holden describes these rhythms as "driving and excited" and describes the guitar textures as "exotic." [5] The instrumentation also includes saxophone and piano. [6] Irish Times critic Stewart Parker suggested that the chord progressions of "Gypsy" resemble those of " The House of the Rising Sun." [7]
Reception
Santa Fe New Mexican critic Anne Hillerman considered "Gypsy" to be "better than anything [Morrison had] written before." [3] According to Holden, "Gypsy" "demonstrates that Van is precisely a musical gypsy — cryptic, sensual, and shrewd — a master at casting spells and at leading us through whatever territory he feels like exploring." [5] Music critic Johnny Rogan stated that "Gypsy" is a "reasonable attempt to recapture the excellence of 'Caravan.'" [8] Billboard said of the song that "dark tonal texture combines with an infectious, hard -driving beat, for an eerie anthem to the joys of mobile living." [9] Record World said that "this superb singer- songwriter delivers in powerful style a r&b influenced tune that is sassy & sinuous." [10] Music critic Dink Lorance praised Morrison's vocal performance as well as the saxophone playing. [11] Austin American critic Joe Gracey says that the "lye lye lye" refrain could have made the song trite, but since "Gypsy" is unpretentious it is not disappointing. [12]
The single just missed the Billboard Hot 100, topping the Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart at #101. [13]
References
- ^ Mills, Peter (2010). Hymns to Silence. Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 257, 310. ISBN 9780826429766.
- ^ Sparacio,Steve (August 9, 1972). "Van's Perspective Moves". Berwyn Life. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-07-30 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Hillerman, Anne (September 10, 1972). "Van Morrison Tries Again". The Santa Fe New Mexican. p. 22. Retrieved 2020-07-30 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Hage, Erik (2009). The Words and Music of Van Morrison. Praeger. p. 67. ISBN 978-0313358623.
- ^ a b c d Holden, Stephen (August 31, 1972). "St. Dominic's Preview". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
- ^ Davis, Randall (August 31, 1972). "Musical Notes". Arcadia Tribune. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-07-30 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Parker, Stewart (August 28, 2015). "(Archive 1972) Saint Dominic's Preview - Album Review by Stewart Parker". Irish Times. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
- ^ Rogan, Johnny (2006). Van Morrison: No Surrender. Random House. p. 275. ISBN 9780099431831.
- ^ "Radio Action and Pick Singles" (PDF). Billboard. December 23, 1972. p. 49. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. December 30, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ Lorance, Dink (October 28, 1972). "New Van Morrison Album Just Great". The Dispatch. p. A-13. Retrieved 2020-07-30 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Gracey, Joe (August 5, 1972). "Van Morrison: Great White Hope of R&B". Austin American. p. 38. Retrieved 2020-07-30 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bubbling Under the Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard. January 27, 1973. p. 114. Retrieved 2020-07-30.