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Original poster

Neil Diamond nostalgia

40 replies

Robin843 · 01/04/2022 23:27

I've just spent the latter half of this evening watching a rerun of the BBC Neil Diamond Electric Proms concert from 10 years ago. I've been in tears just remembering my life in the 80s and how Neil Diamond and Paul Simon where the soundtrack to those years. I've just ordered The Jazz Singer on CD, I played it non-stop In 1980 as I drove around in my first ancient Mini. So many beautiful songs, such an incredible voice. How did I get so old?! God I miss the 80s.

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 01/04/2022 23:28

I love Neil Diamond. Is this on iPlayer?

Original poster
Robin843 · 01/04/2022 23:34

Oh I'm not sure. I'm sure you can find it online though. Search for Neil Diamond BBC Electric Proms.

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JoanThursday · 01/04/2022 23:36

Neil Diamond reminds me of my childhood: my mum used to listen to him all the time. His songs make me feel all cosy and nostalgic! And I want to be 10 again

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Original poster
Robin843 · 01/04/2022 23:43

@JoanThursday

Neil Diamond reminds me of my childhood: my mum used to listen to him all the time. His songs make me feel all cosy and nostalgic! And I want to be 10 again
That's lovely. My mum was in to Bert Baccarat and Rod Stewart. I don't know why, but watching that Neil Diamond concert has really hit a nerve tonight. Feeling very sentimental, and I'm not the sentimental type!
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JoanThursday · 02/04/2022 00:09

There was a broadcast of Neil Diamond on stage a couple of years ago - perhaps early in the first lockdown. My mum and I watched it 'together' while on the phone to each other!

Music played such a big part of my childhood: also Simon and Garfunkel, Carol King, Barbara Streisand. A few bars of music and I'm back in 1980! I can feel textures, 'see' a view from a window, or smell things like Sunday dinner cooking. It's so evocative for me.

Gosh, I feel a bit weepy now! Blush

Original poster
Robin843 · 02/04/2022 00:21

Yes music is so evocative isn't it? I loved 70s disco and 80s new romantics, but they were superficial and of the moment, whereas Neil diamond and Paul Simon, for me, are the soundtrack to my life. They're poets really. Neil Diamond's "Hello" evokes my relationship at the time. I fact my boyfriend wrote the lyrics in a card he posted through my door in the middle of the night. I still have that card. 😭

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Amiable · 02/04/2022 00:30

I saw him twice in concert - absolutely fantastic. Some of the best concerts I've been to (and I've been to a lot!)

MrsSkylerWhite · 02/04/2022 00:32

Been watching Midnight Mass with our 19 year old, who is now a Neil fan.

Original poster
Robin843 · 02/04/2022 00:34

I'm very jealous. I would have loved to have seen him in concert. I have seen Paul Simon a couple of times however, who is incredible.

OP posts:
Original poster
Robin843 · 02/04/2022 00:43

@MrsSkylerWhite

Been watching Midnight Mass with our 19 year old, who is now a Neil fan.
I hadn't heard of that, but I'll definitely give it a go. Looks interesting.
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teaandtoastwithmarmite · 02/04/2022 01:02

I saw Neil Diamond at Glastonbury a good few years ago. He was awesome

Shmithecat2 · 02/04/2022 01:08

Love him. Especially song and The Jazz Singer film.

Original poster
Robin843 · 02/04/2022 01:25

@Shmithecat2

Love him. Especially song and The Jazz Singer film.
I love that song too. So many memorable songs.
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GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 02/04/2022 07:26

I saw a documentary about him once, probably on the Beeb - it was very interesting. IIRC he was a classically trained musician (pianist?) and very early on in his commercial career he set out to analyse exactly what made a big chart hit. IIRC the result was Sweet Caroline but it was some years ago so I might have got that bit wrong.,

Shmithecat2 · 02/04/2022 20:24

And one 😭💓

JasperJohnsPaintbrush · 02/04/2022 20:57

Ahh, Neil Diamond! Love him.
First record of his I ever bought was Cracklin' Rosie, but my favourite ever has to be America.
Such a unique voice.

Original poster
Robin843 · 03/04/2022 16:34

DH and I have been singing medleys of Neil Diamond songs non-stop since watching that programme the other night. The ear worms are driving us both a bit crazy now!

"Where it began, I can't begin to know when, but then I know it's growing strong..
Was in the spring
And spring became the summer
Who'd have believed you'd come along?

Hands, touching hands,
Reaching out, touching me, touching you..."

Hands in the air everyone, and ...1,2,3,4!

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mbosnz · 03/04/2022 16:39

Oh. I am now very homesick and Mumsick. Every family shindig would end up with Neil Diamond and all of us dancing (usually four sheets to the wind. . .) Mum always did this kind of backwards shuffle with her eyes half closed, singing along.

TalesOfDrunkennessAndCruelty · 03/04/2022 16:42

His songs are marvellous. I’ve been lucky enough to see him in concert, too. Wish I’d seen Paul Simon …

Oldraver · 03/04/2022 16:44

My Mum loved Neil Diamond and always had him playing in the house much to my Dads disgust, when he toured in 1994 she spent hours on the phone trying to get tickets...it was in the days of no redial on your home phone

We all went to see him and on the day my Dad got arsey and dragged his heels and said he wasn't going (he was the driver) and my Mum was in tears...thought she was gonna kill him

CoffeeWithCheese · 03/04/2022 17:07

My nana and mum were seriously into him - to the point nan got buried to Sweet Caroline. I hated him as a kid and rejoiced when my dad scratched all the LPs playing them when pissed, but now it brings back my childhood.

JoanThursday · 03/04/2022 17:36

This thread has inspired me to listen to the Jazz Singer album. I'm 10 again. #leakyeyes

Whitecushion · 03/04/2022 22:14

I'm in my uni hall of residence again with his songs echoing down the corridor. I wonder where all those "girls" are now.

Mollypolly2610 · 03/04/2022 22:52

My daughter is Caroline after his song

Clawdy · 03/04/2022 22:52

There's a lovely clip on YouTube of him as a young guy singing "Play Me" with Shirley Bassey - the chemistry between them is amazing!

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