Ever been to a wedding where the air feels just a little bit thicker when the slow dance starts? Chances are, you've heard that unmistakable, gravelly-yet-tender voice of Van Morrison filling the room. But while everyone knows the hits, there’s a specific kind of magic in van morrison someone like you, a track that somehow feels like it was written specifically for your own private memories.
It’s a song about the long haul.
Released in 1987 on the album Poetic Champions Compose, this wasn't just another radio filler. Honestly, Van was in a headspace of "ecstasy, purification, and renewal" back then, at least according to biographer Johnny Rogan. He wasn't just churning out pop; he was trying to capture something spiritual.
The Blueprint for a Classic
You’ve probably noticed that "Someone Like You" feels like a sibling to his other massive hit, "Have I Told You Lately." You’re not imagining things. Released just two years apart, "Someone Like You" basically provided the skeletal framework for the later ballad. It has that same "smooth jazz" meets "celtic soul" DNA.
The recording happened in the summer of 1987 at Wool Hall Studios in Somerset. If you listen closely, the credits are a who's who of tasteful restraint:
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- Van Morrison: Vocals and guitar (obviously).
- Neil Drinkwater: The man behind those cascading piano lines.
- Fiachra Trench: Handled the string arrangements that make you feel like you're floating.
- Steve Pearce and Roy Jones: Holding down the rhythm on bass and drums without ever stepping on the melody.
The song only reached number 28 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart at the time, but charts are liars. The real impact was elsewhere.
Why Hollywood Obsessed Over This Track
You can't talk about van morrison someone like you without mentioning the movies. It became the ultimate cinematic shorthand for "these two characters are meant to be together but it took them 90 minutes to figure it out."
It’s everywhere. It showed up in French Kiss (1995), One Fine Day (1996), and most famously, Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001). There’s even a 2001 romantic comedy actually titled "Someone Like You" (though, weirdly, the song is almost more famous than the movie itself now).
Why does it work so well on screen? Because it’s about the "hard road."
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The lyrics talk about traveling "all around the world" and "carrying a heavy load." It’s not a starry-eyed teenage crush song. It’s a song for people who have been through some stuff and finally found a landing spot. It’s weary, but it’s hopeful.
What the Critics Got Wrong
At the time, some critics were a bit dismissive. Robert Christgau, the legendary "Dean of American Rock Critics," called the parent album "dinner music." He thought Van was getting a bit too comfortable.
But looking back from 2026, that "comfort" is exactly why the song has outlived its contemporaries. It’s not trying to be edgy. It’s trying to be true. In an era of overproduced synth-pop, Van was in a studio in the English countryside making music that sounded like a prayer.
The "Soul Searching" Meaning
If you look at the verses, Van mentions "doing some soul searching" and "marching to the beat of a different drum." This wasn't just filler poetry. By the late 80s, Morrison was famously prickly with the press and the music industry. He was looking for something deeper than fame.
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He once said he produced better work when he was content rather than in a state of conflict. You can hear that contentment in the bridge. When he sings "the best is yet to come," he actually sounds like he believes it.
Kinda rare for a guy known for being one of the grumpiest men in rock, right?
Actionable Insights for the Modern Listener
If you’re looking to truly appreciate this track or use it for your own big moments, here is what you should keep in mind:
- Listen to the Remaster: The 2007 Still on Top version cleans up the "muddy" mid-tones from the original 80s pressing. It makes Neil Drinkwater’s piano pop.
- Check out the Joss Stone Duet: If the original feels a bit too "smooth," the 2015 version with Joss Stone adds a bit more grit and soul-baring vocal runs.
- Wedding Tip: If you’re using this for a first dance, tell the DJ to fade it out around the 3:45 mark. The outro can get a bit repetitive for a live audience, even if the sentiment is perfect.
- Lyric Analysis: Focus on the line "Waitin' for the light to come shinin' through." It connects the song to Van's larger obsession with "the healing," making it more than just a love song—it’s a song about recovery.
Next Steps: Head over to your favorite streaming platform and queue up the full Poetic Champions Compose album. Don't just skip to the hits. Listen to the opening instrumental "Spanish Steps" first; it sets the mood that makes "Someone Like You" hit ten times harder when it finally arrives.