- Title: Rave on: Irish president helps celebrate Van Morrison's 75th birthday
- Date: 31st August 2020
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (FILE - DECEMBER 10, 2014) (AGENCY POOL) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** IRISH PRESIDENT MICHAEL HIGGINS WALKING TO CHINESE PREMIER LI KEQIANG, SHAKING HANDS AND POSING HIGGINS AND LI POSING FOR PHOTOS AND SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER
- Embargoed: 14th September 2020 20:28
- Keywords: 75th Birthday Bill Whelan Dublin Irish composer James Baldwin John Lewis Phoenix Park The President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins Van Morrison author human rights poet poetry politics race singer songwriter
- Location: DUBLIN, IRELAND / VARIOUS
- City: DUBLIN, IRELAND / VARIOUS
- Country: Ireland
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Europe,Music,United States,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA004CTKYX53
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Irish President Michael D. Higgins joined a virtual celebration of Van Morrison's 75th birthday on Monday (August 31), namechecking U.S. civil rights champion John Lewis and author James Baldwin in a spoken-word rendition of one of the Northern Irishman's songs.
Higgins, a part-time poet and onetime culture minister, is one of 75 Irish artists and musicians to record cover versions of the "Brown Eyed Girl" singer's extensive back catalogue to mark the milestone in a weeks-long online series.
"Rave on Van Morrison. Rave on James Baldwin. Rave on John Lewis. The celebration will be held, racism defeated," the 79-year-old Higgins added into a verse of the 1983 song 'Rave On, John Donne.'
The president recorded the rendition from his official residence in Dublin's Phoenix Park, accompanied by Bill Whelan, composer of the global hit Irish dancing show "Riverdance."
In addition to Higgins, Irish music stars Bob Geldof, Hozier and Sinead O'Connor and fellow Northern Irishman actor Liam Neeson, all contributed with performances to the series organised by local music magazine Hot Press while COVID-19 keeps most music venues closed.
Morrison, who still performs, called on music professionals last week to join him in seeking a return to playing in front of full-capacity audiences, criticising what he described as the "pseudo-science" that has all but shut the live sector.
(Production: Mike Davidson, Michael Fiorentino, Kristian Brunse) - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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