"Gypsy" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
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) |
| |||
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.
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]
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]
"Gypsy" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
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) |
| |||
Van Morrison singles chronology | ||||
|
"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.
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]
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]