6 reasons why you should love Neil Diamond

So it is time we get things a little personal.  In my house, there is a constant debate about whether or not Neil Diamond is a worthwhile artist. I love him, I think he is a genius songwriter and I like his voice.  The woman of the house completely disagrees and thinks that his voice is bad and that his songs are tacky. So I thought that I would put my side of the argument out there for you folks to read, and you can be the judge.

Let me preface by saying, I first got hooked onto Neil Diamond as a seven year old boy. I was at the Wisconsin State Fair with my family; we also saw Sha Na Na and The Platters that day.  But before we got to see anything I was drawn over to a stage that was holding a Neil Diamond impersonation contest.  I heard the song America almost fifteen times in a row, each time loving it more and more.(I had even hoped someone would give me a scarf) So from that moment on I was hooked. Now the things that I have compiled here are not necessarily supposed to be funny, but it is ok to laugh.

1         1     I’m a Believer

So, where do you start with this song? What makes it so great is the simplicity of it. Diamond wrote it and recorded it, but before he could release it, The Monkees came along with their own version and took it to number 1. It was one of the biggest songs of all time selling more than 10 million copies.  It was released in late 1966 and spent 7 weeks in the top spot. It is considered by some to be the best song of 1967 since it started the year at number 1. (Personally I can’t speak for that, I wasn’t there, but Sgt Pepper and Purple Haze were out in 1967 as well so…?)  I’m a believer has been recorded by over 20 different artists, It was in not 1 but 2 Shrek movies; Once by Smash Mouth and the second time by weezer, the Smash mouth version receiving considerable airplay. It is a great song, below you will see Neil's new arrangement, which is so good it might make you cry. 

2   2.      Sweet Caroline

I don’t need to say anything else, if you don’t know this song, then where the hell have you been for the last 44 years?  I will tell you a few things that you may not know.  The song was inspired by Caroline Kennedy, JFK’s daughter. I don’t know if that is creepy or not because she was a little girl, and I never think about a little girl when I hear this song but whatever. I am sure you know that it is the Red Sox’s anthem, if not, now you do. It started when some guy in the Red Sox offices had a baby named Caroline, then it just stuck.  Diamond is now donating any new royalties from the song to a fund that benefits the Boston Marathon bombing victims. The video I include below is not Neil at his best, but it is from when he showed up unexpected and sang along with the song at the first game after the bombings.  Which is pretty sweet! (no pun intended)

      3.      Will Ferrell as Neil Diamond

So maybe this is a stretch, but I feel that when Will Ferrell does an impersonation of you, then you must be doing something right. Whether it is out of love or jokingly, doesn’t really matter, because as they say, even bad publicity is publicity. I like to think that Ferrell has a fondness for Diamond but I could be completely wrong. Either way it is funny and really good at the same time. Ferrell does it really well and has the look and voice down and just throws in a few off color jokes out of nowhere that make all of it work.  Feel free to search the web for your favorite clip, but I have included mine here. 

4     4.    Tree People

I first heard Hot August Night on record, long before the internet was a common thing, so I had no way to figure out what the hell Diamond was talking about. So to go back; Hot August Night is a live album, and a fantastic one at that. Side 1 of the record is just plain incredible. The record was recorded during Diamond’s 10 sold out shows in the Greek Theatre. During the dialogue section on side 1 Diamond references the Tree People, the first time I heard it I thought he was a lunatic and  talking to aliens. I didn’t really understand until I went to alpine Valley in East Troy, Wisconsin and sat in the grass and trees in the back.  The Greek Theatre is a small venue, that holds around 6,000, but Neil just loved those people in the way back.

5     5.       Jay White

So Jay white is actually a Neil Diamond impersonator but he is a damn good one.  He played a show in Salt Lake City for 18,000 people.  Seriously 18,000 people to see an impersonator?  That’s, like a whole summer’s worth of touring for Creed!  The main thing that I love about Jay White though is that he performed at the 50^th class reunion for the class of 1963 Princeton graduates, and tons of students showed up to the tent on the grounds and actually believed they were really seeing Neil Diamond.  Ok, seriously, I can understand this coming from the drunk kids in Madison, WI. But these Princeton kids are supposed to be smart. Either way it is incredible and I wish I could have been there. Here is the Article about the incident from the Princeton Newspaper

6     6.        Saving Silverman

Did you really think that I would write this whole article without mentioning Saving Silverman?  I of course, saved the best for last.  For those of you who have not seen Saving Silverman, don’t read this because I am about to spoil it, Instead go watch it now.( I know for a fact that they have it at Family Video.)  Ok, so a whole movie about a Neil Diamond cover band, that has Jack Black and Steve Zahn in it; along with that ugly guy from the American Pie movies. (Yes I know his name, but I am sickened by the fact that such a homely man got to be the main love interest in so many of the movies of my generation so fuck him no free publicity here) The icing on the cake is the fact that not only is there a really awesome stereotypical Indian guy singing Cherry Cherry, but Diamond himself makes an appearance.  So I mean, you can’t go wrong at all.

Alright folks there it is, 6 great reasons to love Neil Diamond.  Keep in mind that I didn’t even have to mention (until now) that he wrote almost 40 top 40 hits, his music is played worldwide, he starred in The Jazz Singer, and I never once referenced the great song Holly Holy.  So I recommend you listen to a little Neil in the near future, and before you go to sleep Thank the Lord for the Night Time.