What's harder than rock? Diamond!

November 6, 2005 4:34 AM

Neil Diamond on MySpace"I sang Cracklin Rosie at Kareoke last week and was then inited[sic] to a threesome. Thanks Neil. Your songs are magical." Neil Diamond has 9981 friends.
posted by srboisvert (44 comments total)

I hate to admit it but I like Oh Mary. That is all.
posted by wheelieman at 6:17 AM on November 6, 2005

I hear the new album recorded by Rick Rubin is supposed to be really good (ala Cash's American Recordings).

That said, this FPP stinks.
posted by Quartermass at 6:18 AM on November 6, 2005

That said, this FPP stinks.

But if you'd read the link, you'd be able to listen to the whole of the new Rick Rubin produced album, and you'd know whether it was any good or not.

Personally, I hate Neil Diamond, but I quite like his motley collection of MySpace friends.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 6:38 AM on November 6, 2005

inited[sic] ivited[sic]
posted by Zurishaddai at 6:42 AM on November 6, 2005

FREEBIRD! FREEEEBIIIIRD!
posted by loquacious at 6:47 AM on November 6, 2005

The link reminds me simultaniously why I love Neil Diamond and hate Myspace.
posted by piratebowling at 6:50 AM on November 6, 2005

Second, you Neil Diamond fans out there can stop writing irate unsigned letters telling me that I am not worthy to be a dandruff flake on Neil's head, OK? (Not that I am saying Neil has dandruff.) Because you have convinced me: Neil Diamond is GOD.-Dave Barry
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 7:28 AM on November 6, 2005

This is sweet, in that it is the first audio i've heard off his new (acclaimed!) album...and it sounds *awesome.* But i'm a sucker for Neil Diamond...as my framed "Hot August Nights" picture disk will attest to...
posted by tpl1212 at 7:35 AM on November 6, 2005

Any true music fan has to give Neil Diamond respect. Yes, all the Vegasy shtick detracted from his talent, but he's cranked out some undeniable gems like "Cracklin' Rosie," and "Solitary Man." And just for "I'm a Believer," alone he deserves a place in the pantheon.

And Rick Rubin is not the first rock visionary to notice. Robbie Robertson of the Band produced an album of Neil's back in the 70's and he appeared in The Last Waltz.
posted by jonmc at 7:42 AM on November 6, 2005

Thanks For The Add!!

There's something incredibly sad about the thought of Neil Diamond sitting at home in his boxer shorts, in front of his Dell Pentium II system, empty pizza boxes on the floor, adding random people to his friends list on MySpace in the hope that they'll reciprocate.
posted by nylon at 7:45 AM on November 6, 2005

I'll never forget that VH1 Storytellers episode...

Oh, wait... that was Will Ferrell.
posted by thatweirdguy2 at 8:01 AM on November 6, 2005

Neil was the turd in the punchbowl at The Last Waltz. I never understood what he was doing there. Now I know. He didn't fit.
posted by wsg at 8:02 AM on November 6, 2005

Perhaps not, but Robbie and countless others respected the man and enjoyed his songs. And like I said, the kitschy aspects of his stage presence (which Rubin has worked hard to avoid on the latest album) distract from what are in fact excellent songs.

*walks off singing "Sweet Caroline"*
posted by jonmc at 8:05 AM on November 6, 2005

"Yes, Neil, I WILL be a woman soon." Heh.
posted by postmodernmillie at 8:25 AM on November 6, 2005

Not many people know that the song America was inspired by Neil's hatred of immigrants.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 8:26 AM on November 6, 2005

Not many people know that the song America was inspired by Neil's hatred of immigrants

Ah, big deal. I have the utmost respect for any Jew that does a Christmas album.
posted by nylon at 8:39 AM on November 6, 2005

Heh. "Cracklin Rosie" has always been my default karaoke song--though it has never landed me a threesome.

I rely on my large package and lots of disposable income for that.
posted by sourwookie at 8:39 AM on November 6, 2005

BTW: I hope he gives me an add. Cross your fingers! <3 <3 <3 XXXOOOXXX!
posted by sourwookie at 8:39 AM on November 6, 2005

Thanks, thatweirdguy2, for the link!
posted by LarryC at 8:50 AM on November 6, 2005

nylon, that was a joke from the Saturday Night Live sketch.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 8:53 AM on November 6, 2005

I saw a local band called Jon-Rae and the River do a cover of Soolaimon last week that was super badassed. And I am really looked forward to the Rick Rubin album.
posted by thecjm at 9:18 AM on November 6, 2005

Civil_Disobedient: and mine was a joke from Neil Diamond's MySpace page.
posted by nylon at 9:20 AM on November 6, 2005

"Hell yeah" is awesome.
posted by billysumday at 9:34 AM on November 6, 2005

Myspace has a history of putting up pages for famous (and semi-famous) people and pretending that they are actually put up by the people in question. Personally I'll bet that Neil Diamond has never heard of Myspace and that the page was made by Myspace simply to attempt to attract more visitors.
posted by sotonohito at 10:20 AM on November 6, 2005

"Neil Diamond Has 9981 Friends" really ought to be on a t-shirt.
posted by logovisual at 11:18 AM on November 6, 2005

This has nothing to do with marketing his new album. This has nothing to do with the reason News Corp bought MySpace. This is all grassroots and happy-fun-pass-the-link-around. I know it is. Neil Diamond has nothing better to do with himself than play with f-cking MySpace...
posted by chasing at 12:15 PM on November 6, 2005

and mine was a joke from Neil Diamond's MySpace page

D'oh! Right over my head!
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 12:21 PM on November 6, 2005

Do not fuck with Neil Diamond. Or, more accurately, his fans. A friend -- a rock critic at a Canadian daily -- once, in passing, slagged Neil for something. He still gets angry letters from grandmas in Tallahassee accusing him of bad taste, anti-Semitism, etc. etc.

The only act with fans almost as rabid are the Backstreet Boys, my friend assured me.

Weird.
posted by docgonzo at 12:56 PM on November 6, 2005

Myspace has a history of putting up pages for famous (and semi-famous) people and pretending that they are actually put up by the people in question. Personally I'll bet that Neil Diamond has never heard of Myspace and that the page was made by Myspace simply to attempt to attract more visitors.

Now, Myspace is moronic, granted, but that's a moronic theory. All social networks -- Friendster most notably -- have a history of people creating accounts for famous people so they can link to their idols and whatnot. (This is largely because most social networks have abysmal ways for people to actually do this in any other way.) MySpace basically ran with that concept instead of fighting it, like Friendster did, and has been actively signing up bands and encouraging labels to release music there.

If they were out deliberately creating fake musician pages just for traffic purposes, do you think they'd better the odds of an icecube in hell when they go hat-in-hand to the labels?

Finally, all the MySpace kids are smarter than you, because they know full well that Neil Diamond or whomever has no time to play on the site -- it's just marketing. I'm sorry to say that, but yes, the MySpace kids are smarter than you. The label hasn't even activated the blog.
posted by dhartung at 2:25 PM on November 6, 2005

Neil Diamond has 9981 friends.

It says he has 9975 now. Poor Neil.
posted by amro at 3:45 PM on November 6, 2005

so Beck is playing for Neil Diamond? heh heh
posted by kozad at 5:15 PM on November 6, 2005

Is there a MP3 link on that site/page? Where?!
posted by ParisParamus at 5:41 PM on November 6, 2005

Yeah, someone said you can listen to the whole album but I don't see how.
posted by smackfu at 6:25 PM on November 6, 2005

Folks with access to facebook really ought to check out "Jim Morrison" at Florida State. Morrison went to school there, in Tallahassee; and the page presents with a Tallahassee Police Department mugshot of him. "Friends" of "Jim" get to see his "contact" information which includes a link to an FSU film that he, apparantly, made and appears in, short hair and coat and tie!

As for Neal Diamond, I am with the chair:

"I am," I cried!
"I am," I said.
And no one seemed to care,
not even the chair.
posted by swlabr at 6:27 PM on November 6, 2005

at least he has more friends than Rivers Cuomo.
posted by deafweatherman at 7:01 PM on November 6, 2005

ehem... sorry. Rivers Cuomo.
posted by deafweatherman at 7:03 PM on November 6, 2005

posted by Rothko at 7:23 PM on November 6, 2005

at least he has more friends than Rivers Cuomo.

He gets what he deserves!
posted by ludwig_van at 7:42 PM on November 6, 2005

Is there a MP3 link on that site/page? Where?!
posted by ParisParamus at 1:41 AM GMT on November 7 [!]


Yeah, someone said you can listen to the whole album but I don't see how.
posted by smackfu at 2:25 AM GMT on November 7 [!]

It loads automatically with the page. It's a flash music player and it is a bit slow to load but it is there.
posted by srboisvert at 3:58 AM on November 7, 2005

Hahaa.....all you MeFites have boosted his friends to 12667!

You mock him out of one side of your face and add him to your friends when no one is looking. suckers
posted by a_green_man at 11:37 AM on November 7, 2005

Myspace has a history of putting up pages for famous (and semi-famous) people and pretending that they are actually put up by the people in question. Personally I'll bet that Neil Diamond has never heard of Myspace and that the page was made by Myspace simply to attempt to attract more visitors.

Yes, there are multiple "Neils" on Myspace.

Considering this one has new songs that sound very much him, I'd bet it's real.

Listening to it now ... not so impressed yet. (Sure wish I could skip songs ...) I added him as a friend, though.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:23 PM on November 7, 2005

Did that first one really have to be 5 minutes +? Still, one has to respect ND for a certain soulfulness and longevity.
posted by ParisParamus at 2:20 PM on November 7, 2005

Here's an interesting addendum:

Diamond's new CD, "12 Songs" is one of the nasty 20 from Sony that will install the infamous rootkit.

Dammit, I wanted to get that for the Spousal Unit. Guess I'll download it instead.
posted by frykitty at 11:37 AM on November 10, 2005

Diamond's new CD, "12 Songs" is one of the nasty 20 from Sony that will install the infamous rootkit.

Damn! I wasn't gonna buy it anyway, but it's been #1 on Amazon all week.

Sounds like some major security shit is going down now. Bkdr_breplibot.c!

Fascinating analysis of the Sony EULA from the EFF.
posted by mrgrimm at 5:12 PM on November 10, 2005