Last night, my daughter Maya and I had what seemed like an interminable wait while the entertainment for the 4th of July celebration at the Hatch Shell rolled on and on. For the most part, I wasn’t pleased with this turn of events; Maya wanted to go to bed. I wanted to go to bed; I was in the midst of a godawful virus my bandmates transferred on to me at some point recently. (still am, which is why this will be a short post this week)
But I also knew this guy was playing:
My parents listened to Neil when I was growing up; between him and Barbra Streisand, that was as close to popular music as they ever let me get. So I do have a significant memory component to my obsession with his voice. But it’s a pretty great voice.
Even lately.
Although I don’t agree with his choices all the time:
It got me thinking about others who may have great voices but with whom I disagree about their choices. Note that I’m focusing on those who I really want to love but simply can’t fall in love with. Here’s a brief list, without comment:
I welcome your comments. And if my love of Neil Diamond loses me my Sunday slot and any cred I used to have, well, so be it.
I’m with you on Neil. I really can’t see why anyone would not at least appreciate his voice and skills as a songwriter, regardless of whatever professional choices he’s made which aside from maybe going a bit too “vegas” i cant think of any that are all that offensive.
Well in my humble opinion you’ll never lose your Sunday spot just on account to turning me on to Auto-Tune the News (Smoking Lettuce and Angry Gorilla Jacuzzi Blues going through my head constantly for the past two weeks).
But are you telling me you are in love with Neil Young’s voice? I guess I can understand it based on the early influence. I happen to like Neko a whole lot but we gots friends in common and I will admit that I don’t feel her on every song. But then again I don’t feel Diamond on any songs.
Frankly this site has gone off the deep end with discussions of things within the mainstream as if some sort of apex of talent is only reachable in that context. I grow irritated and I am hot.
Feel better bro.
Huh, I would have never guessed you were irritated.
I curse you NAP weekends =)
And if my love of Neil Diamond loses me my Sunday slot and any cred I used to have, well, so be it.
Don’t think you’re getting off that easily.
I’m a fan of Diamond too. I didn’t even mind the “I’m a Believer” video you posted and I didn’t think it was any cheesier than anything else he’s done, so I’m unsure which choices you thought were bad ones.
Also, I’m going to need you to justify your dislike of 70s Rod Stewart.
agree that you ought to do some splaining over disliking any 70s rod stewart
I’ll grant you Stewart made a lot of crap but he has his moments too. Neil is coolsauce. But you may try another Neko Case song before writing her off “I wish I was the moon” for example is the one that got me hooked and if you aren’t completely enveloped with the song and her voice then I got nothin’ for ya.
I too wanted to like Neko Case and that other lady, Beth Orton, but just can’t. And I’m a BIG fan of voices, and (seemingly) forgive like the wind most anything. But, just can’t seem to get into either band.
Neil Diamond had some awesome songs and it would be interesting to see him live, but going places is not my thing these days. I am most interested in the saxophone guy playing on the street corner of downtown Austin.