Sweet Caroline

[Knows3Chords]

Mid-70s, I had a super hot girlfriend who just loved Neil Diamond. I had to buy, and play, that Hot August Night double album for a whole summer. It almost killed me, but she was worth it…

Sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

 

[P Thought]

Good times never seemed so good


Edit: it's true that "Sweet Caroline" is showing some wear, but it's also true that Neil Diamond is a terrific singer, songwriter, and showman. I imagine he's "sold his catalogue" by now, and I hope he got lots of money for it

 

[Monoprice99]

Been listening to a 60's & 70's FM station. Keep on playing Neil Diamond. Here's another of my favorites I never grow tired of listening to. Just me maybe, but we've witnessed Beyonce & Taylor Swift dropping track after track of mediocre garbage. I'll listen to these oldies over a lot of the new stuff. Don't get me wrong, I like Cannons, can't get enough of what they release just the same.



And I don't have a problem with Air Supply, Barry Manilow, Righteous Brothers or Englebert Humperdinck either. That's an essential Valentine's Day playlist.

 

[NoTeleBob]

Agreed. It needed to die 20 years ago. Yet it survives like some repulsive bacteria for which there's no disinfectant.

Perhaps this is an unpopular opinion, but I find Neil Diamond's voice grating and abrasive. The Pop he sings is bad enough by design but with his voice added it's like 10D nails in your eardrums. Sweet Caroline is like railroad spikes through your head.

Not a fan.

 

[TeleTucson]

I get all the frustration with pop, but the crowd here is typically focused on unique contributions and skills where the public just wants music that makes them happy. In random moments in my life I've found myself in an audience for what I'd typically consider nauseating iconic pop, but when listening to the professionalism of the product I have walked away understanding the artist's success.

Music is many things to many people, and I no longer feel the compulsion to knock those who just want to listen and feel good. Even if the tunes they like irritate me at some level.

 

[Doomguy]

They play it at work now. I hate it. It made me miss the overabundance of Dave Grohl/Foo Fighters songs we've had going on for the last few months.

Dave, please come back.

 

[Deeve]

Good times never seemed so good

Bah, bah, bah

 

[black_doug]

Enough!

Nobody wants to hear it. People don’t sing it in bars. People don’t sing it at sports. Bands don’t play it. Make it stop. Now!

That is all.

So you'd rather hear Brown Eyed Girl?

 

[loudboy]

And where did the "so good, so good, so good" come from? Please don't say Fenway.

Don't play "Mony, Mony" - that call response is NSFW.

 

[HoodieMcFoodie]

I vote for the Don't Stop Beleving' by Journey. Every Red Wing game for the last few decades. Ugh. There is no such place as South Detroit.

Did you know that Don't Stop Believin' topped out on the Australian charts at position 100? That's tight folks it barely registered on the charts for it's year of release, yet we still had to play it in our band back then. AND it still gets airplay on the oldies station in my medium sized country town all these years later.

 

[wulfenganck]

I could easily name a dozen songs that annoy the hell out of me.
Maybe because they have been played to death like "Sweet Caroline", maybe because I disliked them from the start for various reasons like "Blurred Lines" or "Freebird".
Yet there are other songs I can listen to a million times without getting bored like "Sledgehammer".
So what?
If listening to some annoying song - or listening to a sloppy rendition by drunken fans - is the worst thing that happens to me, I'd call it a good day.

 

[notmyusualuserid]

Freebird was irritating 50 years ago, and it still is. 10 minutes of good old boys weedly weedling. Badly.

Give me a break. It's like an ice pick in your ears.

 

[VintageSG]

A much sweeter song involving 'Caroline'
If Kneel 'smegpot' Diamond has become an earworm, allow these gentlemen to cleanse you.

 

[Zepfan]

Whaaaa, whaaaa is all I'm hearing right now.
I actually liked the Hot August Nights album back in the day, my mom played it all the time and it was a lot better than listening to John Davidson, Bread and the Carpenters.

 

[runstendt]

Nobody wants to hear it. People don’t sing it in bars. People don’t sing it at sports. Bands don’t play it. Make it stop. Now!

You must be playing in different bars than I do. Regardless of my own thoughts on the song, it still goes over insanely well with pretty much every audience I meet. In fact, if it doesn't work I know that it's going to be a long night.

 

[ruger9]

Still far better than f'n Wagon Wheel

 

[ruger9]

Whaaaa, whaaaa is all I'm hearing right now.
I actually liked the Hot August Nights album back in the day, my mom played it all the time and it was a lot better than listening to John Davidson, Bread and the Carpenters.

Hot August Night is a great album, Diamond is a great songwriter... and quite a singer as well.

 

[Dave Hicks]

I never much cared for Neil Diamond's songs when they were on top 40 radio, but one of the regulars at the open mic we go to adores him. We hear Sweet Caro every week.

D.H.

 

[omahaaudio]

Enough!

Nobody wants to hear it. People don’t sing it in bars. People don’t sing it at sports. Bands don’t play it. Make it stop. Now!

Spoil sport

 

[omahaaudio]

And where did the "so good, so good, so good" come from? Please don't say Fenway.

Fenway.