You could easily spend a month doing reactions just to Neil Diamond tunes. I would offer this thought - his album "Beautiful Noise" is one of the most overlooked albums of his extensive catalog, but I think it is one of his best. It is mostly in the style of "Tin Pan Alley" and it is his second most unique album of his catalog (the first obviously being "Johnathan Livingston Seagull"). This is an excursion you would thoroughly enjoy!
Neil started out as a songwriter, he only got in front of the microphone when he felt his work wasn't being delivered as it should be. I think this is a great track. Full of feeling. You've got to do more Neil Diamond stuff. Done too soon. I am I said Holly Holy Cracklin Rose. He was prolific, and it's all great.
One of my favorite singer songwriters spanning many decades. I had so many of his records. He had tons of hit songs. "I Am, I said", "Cherry, Cherry", "Sweet Caroline", "Kentucky Woman", "Red Red Wine", "Solitary Man", "Holly Holy", "Cracklin' Rosie", "Song Sung Blue", "Longfellow Serenade", "Desirée", "Forever In Blue Jeans", "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" etc. He has sold more than 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. I was privileged to see him in concert twice. He was a great showman & his live performances were memorable. Sadly he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2018.
Neil was one of a stable of songwriters who worked out of New York’s famed Brill Building along with Carol Kings and others who decided to try singing their own songs. Great commentary Shawn.
One of my favorites from Neil Diamond. I think this was kind of an underrated song that didn't get quite as much attention or play as some of his other hits.
Play Me is an exquisite love song, definitely in my top 5 fave Diamond tracks. The natural follow-up to "Play Me" is "Stones". Give it a listen, you'll fall in love w it too. ❤
As a 10 year old kid in 1974, I was, starting to develop my own musical tastes beyond the Partridge Family and Jackson 5 etc. I always liked Neil's music when I would hear my mom play it often, then i heard the Hot August Night album my dad had, and i promptly stole it. I'd play that shit ALL the time lol. I used to imagine being one of the Tree People he was shouting out to during that show at The Greek here in LA in '72.. I wore that album out, was always a fan of his music and I'm positive I was the only kid my age rockin the Neil Diamond lol. Brilliant artist, Brilliant songs. The beautiful guitar work by Richard Bennet got me wanting to PLAY it and next thing you know, I'm asking mom to buy me a guitar. I remember even back then starting to think about the production and arrangements and the violins.. this music really opened my mind to wanting to understand how music was being made back then and how all the parts came together to create that unified whole.
One of his most beautiful songs. Truly haunting. Neil talks about how hard it is to write songs and that it took him years of grinding hard work to get really good. Pssst: I think he had higher standards than most.
Songfacts®: This is a beautiful love song describing the development of the singer's relationship with a new lover from its inception through its maturity. First the lover appears without explanation or question one morning next to his bed. The second verse is often ridiculed and parodied for its use of the word "brang," but it is excusable - songwriters make up words all the time for lyrical purposes. The third verse looks back on how the love of this person has guided the singer "on a road that was thorned and narrow." What isn't clear is whether the love is still current or has passed him by, once again. Being Neil Diamond, there is a good chance it has passed him by, yet again. The chorus celebrates how people complement each other to complete each other.
His voice is so incredible. My mom had a lot of his LP's when I was a pre-teen. Loved him. . I loved "a waltz performed in 3/4 time." Do tell. How unique.
One of the great love songs. You should check out the “Hot August Night” live album. A tour de force. I saw him twice in performance several years apart in the 70s. He had the audience in the palm of his hand. But one of the great things was the audience. It wasn’t just thousands of screaming teenage girls. It was people of all ages from teens to seniors. That’s what makes great music.
He has such a huge catalog of wonderful songs I can’t even pick one without adding at least a dozen more to the list. Hope you keep exploring his music! This song remains one of my favorites of his.
Paul McCartney did the same thing for other artists. Neil Diamond is one of my all time favorites and this song was my favorite. It touched my soul from day one. I've listened to his music since I was a young girl, but started the poetry of his lyrics started hitting me in high school.
Songwriters are often teams writing the lyrics, coming up with the poetry, the other, putting into music. What I’m saying is that don’t have to be alone. Creating songs that speak to us. George Harrison was asked in an interview why so long since his last record this response was I didn’t have anything to say.
Didn't know you'd experimented with songwriting, Shawn. So have I, as far as lyrics anyway, and I certainly would have tried more with it if I could play an instrument, so your remarks about that resonate with me. You're not wrong about the beauty of that line from this song's chorus. Simple and yet miles deep. My comment about "brang" was written before you went there in your commentary (or rather the critics did!)...I suppose I shouldn't be surprised I'm not alone there! The irony is it's an easily fixed error. Just make the first couplet conditional: Songs she'd sing to me Songs she'd bring to me... I have a friend who is mad keen on Neil Diamond and likes me to sing his stuff at karaoke. Finally started singing Play Me there after realizing how easy the fix was for the one thing about this lovely song that drove me nuts! (Sure, it breaks up the string of four rhymes, but it breaks them into two pairs. I think it makes that stanza less gimmicky as well as better grammatically.) Hadn't actually heard the original recording of this in a while. Noticing now that it's very Gordon Lightfoot-like, which is doubtless another reason I like it...
Neil was always a favorite since I got an 8-track tape of his in about 1970. I particularly liked his first generation. I was a young rock and roller so he kind of lost for a while about the time of his album Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Got back into him in college days and saw him perform in Kansas City in about 1975, great show. I wish more followers of music reactions would find you. I think there a lot of folks sleeping on your work.
I made sure that every time Neil came to town on tour I went to see him. No opening act just Neil on stage for over 2 hours, never disappointed. Been a fan forever.
💜Great commentary!😊 PS. You are a very good speaker, I can only imagine that your writing would be great! Don't abandon the dream if it matters to you, because you never know until you try!🙂
Wonderful singer! This is one of my favorites of his. I like to think I know all the words to all of his songs, lol. I love him, though, so many hours of my life spent listening to him and singing his songs.
Do you like NEIL DIAMOND, his music and his lyrics? So, I suggest you listen to the theme song from the movie 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' titled: "Be". You and your viewers will undoubtedly be deeply touched by this grandiose composition written and performed by the Jazz Singer (1980 version) himself. A true masterpiece. [And the emotion would be even more complete if you listened to this song via the video extracted from the film.]
Neil has a voice that just makes you relax, sit back and enjoy to the maximum. And his songwriting is phenomenal.
Neil Diamond is simply MAGNIFICO!
My go to music is 60's and 70's prog and hard rock, but I've always liked most of Neil Diamond's songs, and this is my favorite of them all.
Neil Diamond is an amazing artist
You could easily spend a month doing reactions just to Neil Diamond tunes. I would offer this thought - his album "Beautiful Noise" is one of the most overlooked albums of his extensive catalog, but I think it is one of his best. It is mostly in the style of "Tin Pan Alley" and it is his second most unique album of his catalog (the first obviously being "Johnathan Livingston Seagull"). This is an excursion you would thoroughly enjoy!
Neil Diamond wrote & sang many songs that I have loved over the years. One I would recommend is "Longfellow Serenade "
Neil Diamond is a mood man. He had a good sound to him, so many hits.
Neil started out as a songwriter, he only got in front of the microphone when he felt his work wasn't being delivered as it should be. I think this is a great track. Full of feeling. You've got to do more Neil Diamond stuff.
Done too soon.
I am I said
Holly Holy
Cracklin Rose.
He was prolific, and it's all great.
I'm typically a roc and roller...but this tune always turned me into mush! 🤗..yes, it's from 1972!
One of my favorite singer songwriters spanning many decades. I had so many of his records. He had tons of hit songs. "I Am, I said", "Cherry, Cherry", "Sweet Caroline", "Kentucky Woman", "Red Red Wine", "Solitary Man", "Holly Holy", "Cracklin' Rosie", "Song Sung Blue", "Longfellow Serenade", "Desirée", "Forever In Blue Jeans", "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" etc. He has sold more than 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. I was privileged to see him in concert twice. He was a great showman & his live performances were memorable. Sadly he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2018.
Oh I didn't know that. How very sad. Still his music will live on.
Neil was one of a stable of songwriters who worked out of New York’s famed Brill Building along with Carol Kings and others who decided to try singing their own songs. Great
commentary Shawn.
One of my favorites from Neil Diamond. I think this was kind of an underrated song that didn't get quite as much attention or play as some of his other hits.
Neil Diamond has so many songs under his belt, it would take you months to get thru his music.👍♥️
The entire album this is from, Moods, is seriously good. A major masterpiece in my opinion.
Oh, and I’m a diehard hard-rock and metal guy. But this album is an undeniable treasure.
Play Me is an exquisite love song, definitely in my top 5 fave Diamond tracks. The natural follow-up to "Play Me" is "Stones". Give it a listen, you'll fall in love w it too. ❤
My All time Favorite Neil Diamond album is: "Hot August Night Live!!"
As a 10 year old kid in 1974, I was, starting to develop my own musical tastes beyond the Partridge Family and Jackson 5 etc. I always liked Neil's music when I would hear my mom play it often, then i heard the Hot August Night album my dad had, and i promptly stole it. I'd play that shit ALL the time lol. I used to imagine being one of the Tree People he was shouting out to during that show at The Greek here in LA in '72.. I wore that album out, was always a fan of his music and I'm positive I was the only kid my age rockin the Neil Diamond lol. Brilliant artist, Brilliant songs. The beautiful guitar work by Richard Bennet got me wanting to PLAY it and next thing you know, I'm asking mom to buy me a guitar. I remember even back then starting to think about the production and arrangements and the violins.. this music really opened my mind to wanting to understand how music was being made back then and how all the parts came together to create that unified whole.
Yes,this is a very romantic Neil Diamond song! Another song in this vein is Lay,Lady Lay by Bob Dylan.Next up by Neil is Forever in Blue Jeans!👖🎙🎶
One of his most beautiful songs. Truly haunting. Neil talks about how hard it is to write songs and that it took him years of grinding hard work to get really good. Pssst: I think he had higher standards than most.
Songfacts®:
This is a beautiful love song describing the development of the singer's relationship with a new lover from its inception through its maturity. First the lover appears without explanation or question one morning next to his bed. The second verse is often ridiculed and parodied for its use of the word "brang," but it is excusable - songwriters make up words all the time for lyrical purposes. The third verse looks back on how the love of this person has guided the singer "on a road that was thorned and narrow." What isn't clear is whether the love is still current or has passed him by, once again. Being Neil Diamond, there is a good chance it has passed him by, yet again. The chorus celebrates how people complement each other to complete each other.
His voice is so incredible. My mom had a lot of his LP's when I was a pre-teen. Loved him.
.
I loved "a waltz performed in 3/4 time." Do tell. How unique.
One of the great love songs. You should check out the “Hot August Night” live album. A tour de force. I saw him twice in performance several years apart in the 70s. He had the audience in the palm of his hand. But one of the great things was the audience. It wasn’t just thousands of screaming teenage girls. It was people of all ages from teens to seniors. That’s what makes great music.
NeIl Daimond has so many great songs you forget some, like this one.
Great reaction Shawn💙 true!! a romantic beautiful song♥️💖
He has such a huge catalog of wonderful songs I can’t even pick one without adding at least a dozen more to the list. Hope you keep exploring his music! This song remains one of my favorites of his.
Saw him live a long time ago… he put on an incredible show! He has sooo many great songs!
Not many pop songs in 3\4 time. The other that comes immediately to mind for me is Cat Stevens, "morning has broken".
Paul McCartney did the same thing for other artists. Neil Diamond is one of my all time favorites and this song was my favorite. It touched my soul from day one. I've listened to his music since I was a young girl, but started the poetry of his lyrics started hitting me in high school.
Songwriters are often teams writing the lyrics, coming up with the poetry, the other, putting into music. What I’m saying is that don’t have to be alone. Creating songs that speak to us.
George Harrison was asked in an interview why so long since his last record this response was I didn’t have anything to say.
Didn't know you'd experimented with songwriting, Shawn. So have I, as far as lyrics anyway, and I certainly would have tried more with it if I could play an instrument, so your remarks about that resonate with me. You're not wrong about the beauty of that line from this song's chorus. Simple and yet miles deep.
My comment about "brang" was written before you went there in your commentary (or rather the critics did!)...I suppose I shouldn't be surprised I'm not alone there! The irony is it's an easily fixed error. Just make the first couplet conditional:
Songs she'd sing to me
Songs she'd bring to me...
I have a friend who is mad keen on Neil Diamond and likes me to sing his stuff at karaoke. Finally started singing Play Me there after realizing how easy the fix was for the one thing about this lovely song that drove me nuts! (Sure, it breaks up the string of four rhymes, but it breaks them into two pairs. I think it makes that stanza less gimmicky as well as better grammatically.)
Hadn't actually heard the original recording of this in a while. Noticing now that it's very Gordon Lightfoot-like, which is doubtless another reason I like it...
SUCH a SWEET & INTIMATE TUNE!! Reminds me of my late husband.... Thanks for the wonderful reaction!! HUGS!
Neil has about 50 more like this one!❤👍🏻
Studio version of all of these Neil Diamond songs Sweet Caroline, Song Sung Blue, Brooklyn, Roads shiloh Halle Halle
No one writes songs like this anymore. If you actually wrote a song like this now the current music industry would ignore it.
Neil was always a favorite since I got an 8-track tape of his in about 1970. I particularly liked his first generation. I was a young rock and roller so he kind of lost for a while about the time of his album Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Got back into him in college days and saw him perform in Kansas City in about 1975, great show. I wish more followers of music reactions would find you. I think there a lot of folks sleeping on your work.
I made sure that every time Neil came to town on tour I went to see him. No opening act just Neil on stage for over 2 hours, never disappointed. Been a fan forever.
Ime a mtetalhead, I love nieil
💜Great commentary!😊 PS. You are a very good speaker, I can only imagine that your writing would be great! Don't abandon the dream if it matters to you, because you never know until you try!🙂
BPM=beats per minute. So 120 bpm is two beats per second.
Wonderful singer! This is one of my favorites of his. I like to think I know all the words to all of his songs, lol. I love him, though, so many hours of my life spent listening to him and singing his songs.
Any of the songs recommended in your comments is worth listening to. I can’t choose.
Nice one my man, always listen to the Wifey, ..lol Happy Wifey, happy Lifey...lol❤
Truly wonderful piece of real music.
❤❤❤
Other songs from the same album to consider reacting to next.
"Song Sung Blue"
"Morningside"
"Canta Libre"
Do you like NEIL DIAMOND, his music and his lyrics? So, I suggest you listen to the theme song from the movie 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' titled: "Be". You and your viewers will undoubtedly be deeply touched by this grandiose composition written and performed by the Jazz Singer (1980 version) himself. A true masterpiece.
[And the emotion would be even more complete if you listened to this song via the video extracted from the film.]
Anyone who can use the words Sang, Brang, Rang in a line and make it musical . . . My my
If you don’t think you could compete with the best, The Beatles, Why Don’t We Do It In the Road? awesome song
This song always drove me crazy. Why? "Brang", Neil, is not a word...🤪
Occasionally, poetic license trumps proper English. Grant the musical brother a little grace.
Songs don't have to have perfect grammar. Nitpicking indeed.
This guy needs medication