One of the highlights of my holiday season was going with my bride to an afternoon matinee at Hickory’s AMC 15 and taking in a showing of the newly released film “Song Sung Blue.”
Poteat
The movie is not a Neil Diamond biopic. Instead, it is the story of a Wisconsin couple, Mike and Claire Sardinia, who rose to regional fame as a Diamond tribute band known as Lightning & Thunder.
In the film, Mike is portrayed by Hugh Jackman, while wife Claire is brought to life by Kate Hudson.
Jackman is good.
Hudson is over the top fantastic, certainly worthy of her Oscar nomination. That woman can flat-out carry a tune into the stratosphere.
The film, I would give a B-plus. It’s a bit melodramatic, mainly because 12 years in the couple’s lives are condensed into two cinema years. Both bad things and good things happen way too quickly.
The soundtrack gets an A-plus. Jackman may not have Neil’s voice, but he brings energy and enthusiasm to the Brooklyn boy’s 1970s tunes. And Hudson, whether singing harmony or taking the lead, sings with beauty and power.
More importantly, the film served to remind this old man of just how much Neil Diamond’s voice has meant to me for well over 50 years.
Brother Johnny brought the first Neil Diamond record into the Poteat house when he purchased the 45 of “Thank the Lord for the Nighttime” back in 1967. No, that’s not a typo. 1967. I was 12 years old.
The movie also made me wonder whether I could pick a Top 10 list of my favorite Neil Diamond songs. That list might be different tomorrow, but here it is for today:
(10) ‘Glory Road’
From the 2009 album “Hot August Night NYC,” this song captures perfectly the lure of the open road, the freedom of leaving jobs and responsibilities behind, the joy of exploring oneself and the countryside. Beautiful guitar work.
(9) ‘Play Me’
From the 1972 album, “Moods,” this is perhaps the most romantic of all Neil’s songs. Soft, gentle. Like a first kiss in the spring twilight. Sweet memories of my senior year at Drexel High School.
(8) ‘Stones’
From the 1971 album of the same name. I came to appreciate this song later in life, but in many ways, it captures the way I feel about my beloved bride. “Being lost is worth the coming home.”
(7) ‘Evermore’
From the 2005 album, “12 Songs.” A breakup song. The greatest breakup song ever written. Listen to it only if you’re in a stable, long-term, joyful relationship. Otherwise, it will break your heart.
(6) ‘Shilo’
From the 1967 album, “The Feel of Neil Diamond.” The lament of a lonely child who feels oh so lost as he moves into adolescence. Haunting stuff.
(5) ‘America’
From the 1980 album, “The Jazz Singer.” This song recalls a gentler time when immigrants were welcomed to build their share of the American Dream and patriotism had not yet become a petty partisan game of “We love America more than you do.”
(4) ‘Sweet Caroline’
From the 1969 album, “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show.” Hey, my eldest daughter was named after this song, and she has turned out all right. And no matter the occasion, it can get everyone on their feet and screaming, “So good, so good!”
(3) ‘Hell Yeah’
From the 2005 album, “12 Songs,” this is the perfect old man’s anthem. Yes, I’ve made some mistakes and yes, I’ve shed some tears, but as the end draws near, it’s all been worth it.
(2) ‘Holly Holy’
From the 1972 concert album, “Hot August Night.” This song captures Neil Diamond perfectly as a live performer — raw, passionate, giving absolutely everything he has to his audience. Chills up the spine.
(1) ‘I Am, I Said’
From the 1971 album, “Stones.” A deeply touching anthem about how difficult it is to find your place in this world and how fame is no guarantee of happiness. “Did you ever read about a frog who dreamed of being a king, and who became one?”
Of course, Neil Diamond is now 85 years old. 85.
He suffers from Parkinson’s Disease. His last album of new songs was released in 2014. Most young people have only the vaguest idea of who he is or that he had literally dozens of hits other than “Sweet Caroline.”
But I remember.
And I treasure both the songs and the memories.
Bill Poteat is editor emeritus. He may be reached at 828-445-8595 orbill@thepaper.media.
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