NEIL DIAMOND - Play Me REACTION - He's a master of these love songs - First time hearing

NEIL DIAMOND - Play Me REACTION
#neildiamond
#lovesong
#musicreactions

[@hazelanglin5907]

Early 70's. I am a great fan of Neil Diamond

[@jolenewitzel7919]

I love this song. Come to think of it I love all of Neil's songs. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@Wellch]

Me too.

[@jaimeparedes9188]

Such a lovely and sensitive review. Thanks for posting!

[@johnmclaughlin8084]

I've had the honor of seeing Neil twice, 1982 in Greensboro, NC and 1998 in Evansville, IN. Fantastic performer!

[@famat161]

His song "Shilo" says so much with very few words.

[@victoriavickery6086]

He was always my favorite. This song and Holly Holy. Also, "I've been this way Before."

[@julietate7806]

"I Am, I Said" is another beautiful song by Neil Diamond. "Red, Red Wine," too.

[@l.t.6180]

This is from 1972, from the hugely successful album Moods which is generally acknowledged to be one of Neil's best and most important albums. It received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year for 1972. Besides the great songs it contains, that fantastic signature sound of the album can largely be attributed to Lee Holdridge, the arranger and producer of the album. More than 50 years old, these songs have aged beautifully, as you pointed out in your review. As for the delicate percussion in this song, it's not that unusual in Neil's music and percussion always played a great part in Neil's concerts, with the great King Errisson and the late Vince Charles. If you like percussion, listen to Neil's Soolaimon or The Last Picasso. Great stuff! For me, Neil Diamond is definitely one of the best singer-songwriters ever.

[@MeSleepy172]

I agree with a lot of what you say, but this version, like many others, sounds so artificial, IMO. To really hear Play Me at its best it has to be the Hot August Night version (my personal opinion of course)

[@capuetxca]

Beautiful song. Neil Diamond has a incredible voice that provides the perfect interpretations of his amazing songs. I can listen to him and Linda Ronstadt all night long. Thank you for sharing.

[@sherribrock2726]

I feel the same way. It’s awful that they both have Parkinson’s disease.

[@mikekaylor1226]

I don't know if you've seen this or not, but a dream duet. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqmUgYCLrb2ZeNE

[@jeanniea3437]

One of my favorites!

[@LouiseMaeAllardBrouder-po1gs]

You will love “ Morning side “ I always tear up when I hear . . . but it’s all good . . . I’m still who I was then and now 👍🏾👍🏻👍🏽👍🏼 🥰🥰🥰 🌎🌍🌏

[@ChuckHackney]

My favorite Neil song right up there with I am, I Said, Solitary Man, Stones and Shilo.

[@cynergy4]

Neil Diamond is timeless

[@dannycasson1551]

One of my all time favorite of his. The man is a living Legend. He has such a a huge repertoire of great songs that I forget some of these gems I hadn't heard in awhile. Thanks!

[@jeffcobb2734]

"Moods" & "Stones" are my two favorite Neil Diamond albums. Such great songs and melodies.

[@susansapp6136]

When you dig down to the bottom of this, accepting all of life (and for many, it may have the lure of a relationship), it begins by luring anyone into what was laying beside him. It was the music. Very, VERY VERY deep. It is the eternal language understood by all ... and it always will be. You don't need to speak a particular language, it still moves you. It haunts you. It springs up like new flowers in springtime, with a new glow for your next encounter. Love, war, pain, religion, joy ... all of it is in the music.

[@rebeccalipps23]

"Solitary Man" is my favorite. Do yourself the favor of watching "The Jazz Singer", is guaranteed to give you goosebumps several times.

[@reallymysterious4520]

My fav Neil Diamond songs are Love on the Rocks, You Don't Bring Me Flowers ( duet with Barbara Streisand ), Hello Again

[@dalesouders4136]

I’ll be 63 in April. Neil Diamond’s music 🎵🎶🎼 has been a huge part of my life. His songs are timeless classics.

[@richardconnolly4835]

Another great hit is Love on the Rocks or the duet of Neil and Barbara Streisand - You Don't Bring Me Flowers - two of the world's great pop vocalists together!

[@TheTish]

My absolute top, number one, Neil Diamond song. I'm crying as I listen to this and type my comment. Thank you so much for covering this.

[@philippesauvie639]

Gosh. I haven’t heard this song in ages. Thank you man! Great reaction as always!

[@kensterling5220]

Just said the same thing to myself.😊

[@barbaraclarke9299]

I fell in love with Neil Diamond since I was 14.Now 66 and listen to his music every week!He is the greatest!❤

[@marybaillie8907]

Brother Loves Travelling Salvation Show Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon Hello Again This another great Neil Diamond song. His voice is so captivating and recognizable. A song of maneuvering through love, albeit good or bad. The strings, percussion, acoustic guitar giving the depth into this song. Perfection. 💎💎💎 from The Diamond. Lol. Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and Craig. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦

[@baskervillebee6097]

Neil Diamond's movie soundtrack Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Popular book at the time, meh movie, but the soundtrack was and is marvelous.

[@joeaguilar1995]

Listen to hello again by Neil Diamond

[@rickr442]

Good stuff! Lush orchestration was common with him in the middle of his career. Now find his HELL YEAH! from a decade ago. Introspective and inspirational.

[@lillianschild17]

This track is from his epic "Hot August Night" album recorded live in concert back in 1972. You should listen to the whole double album; it's electrifying. To this day he regrets the fact that it wasn't filmed but, at least, it was preserved on record. Incidentally, Hot August Night is one of the biggest selling albums of all time in Australia; it spent 29 weeks at number 1 on the album charts (1973-74). This album and the opening act ("Prologue" from his OST for Jonathan Livingston Seagull and "Crunchy Granola Suite") made me fall in love with his music at the tender age of four. Actually, the double album was gifted to me then; it was my very own first "adult" album, and a double to boot!

[@burrneigh8115]

Neil Diamond was big on the radio when I was in my teens. Thank you from northwestern Canada. Keep sharing such cool old songs.

[@ls1959]

This may be my favorite Neil Diamond song. A beautiful song.

[@Dee-JayW]

Beautiful ❤ havent heard this in ages 🇨🇦

[@beeseewill2407]

One of my favorite Neil Diamond songs.The cry in his voice is so real,it's amazing.Love the Strings in this one.The subtle drum beat gives an Island feel to the song.

[@micheleallen]

He did a duet with Shirley Bassey singing this song. Their chemistry was out of this world.

[@attilio7]

So was Neil's outfit 🤣🤣

[@ninamaggs6304]

The best...sizzling!

[@1020LAStep]

I was obsessed with him when I was in high school. Late 70's.

[@gwencrum9473]

Beautiful !!!

[@frugalseverin2282]

Great Neil song. An even better one of his (I think) that's similar to this: Shilo.

[@ravenmccall5486]

Thank you, I enjoyed you enjoying!

[@marymccaffrey8458]

I was in a college music appreciation class in 1972 and the professor asked who we thought was a great composer, of course the greats, Beethoven, Brahms, Bach, and Mozart were all mentioned, I raised my hand and said Neil Diamond and was laughed at. But time has shown what a great composer he was/is and many of his songs have become a part of everyday life. Sweet Caroline is sung at every Boston Red Sox game and one of songs was sung by the audience at the NFL game in London this year. He is amazing.

[@Shelilah41]

His voice is so soothing.

[@turnerdan53]

For more Spanish sound from him try Canta libre and Morningside.For a more Gershwin feel try his Beautiful Noise.

[@sonia4641]

Hearing Canta Libre on the HAN album has had a big impact on my life. It was a factor leading to me taking Spanish classes at age 16 ; not very common in the U.K. Midlands in 1975 ...! That's led to travels in South America, involvement in a Latin-American festival in Mid-Wales (El Sueno Existe) over the last 20 years, supporting refugees from El Salvador, and important friendships in Spain. Thanks Neil!

[@michaellombard894]

Definitely early 70s Harry. I recall this beautiful song, I am thinking 1971?

[@ChuckHackney]

This is by far my favorite Neil tune. Highly personal. The guitar solo in the middle of this tune is so haunting and ethereal.

[@ChuckHackney]

It is almost transcendant and otherwordly. This tune was playing just a month or two before i went off to college for the first time. Forever will bring back those bittersweet memories of leaving home for the first time.

[@becksullivan4796]

Such lovely lyrics. Have you heard I Am I Said? Another lovely song. Enjoy

[@nollaeel5697]

He was touched by song writing greatness in the late 60s and all through the 70s.

[@judycole854]

My favorite Neil Diamond song. First time I heard it was 1972 in of all places, the grocery store! I stopped my cart in the isle and just listened. There after whatever I was doing, if it played, I stopped and listened.❤️

[@sonia4641]

Neil has an incredible talent of being able ro connect to the soul with the honesty and sincerity of his beautiful voice. He's sung to tens of thousands at a single concert, he's sung to billions through his records over 50 years. Yet, somehow, he always seems to be singing only to ME! I really can't think of another performer who a managed to combine SUCH intimacy with such massive performance.

[@sonia4641]

I was too young to engage with Neil 's early albums at the time. I knew his music through his U.K. hits, starting with Cracklin' Rosie, then later bought the Hot August Night ( live concert) and Longfellow Serenade albums. Every song is a masterpiece storytelling and musicality; I have them now on CD and downloads and still play them regularly now, nearly 50 years on. And while they , though the breadth of Hot August Night, are a major subset of his work, they're still only a subset. His output of quality songs, not album 'fillers', was phenomenal. Even in the few comments so far to this reaction, people are mentioning songs as their favourites that I haven't heard before, as they weren't hits and are on albums I've not heard ....

[@sonia4641]

Having got to know Neil through the intimacy of his records, and heard him speaking rather hesitantly and evasively in interviews, I somehow for decades imagined him as a reluctant performer ....! NOT SO! He LOVED performing his songs! Very early TV recording show his inherent shyness as a person, but once singing, he's in his element. And his live concerts were thrilling! I got to see him live in the U.K. in 2011 and he was in great voice even in his early 70s. Could hardly believe I'd been blessed with such an opportunity, 35 years after I'd bought his records and been bopping round my kitchen to the dance tunes and enthralled by the ballads .... It was a very special evening.

[@JorgeGomez-gk2oc]

Neil Diamond is a great singer-songwriter! Right now I'm remembering the wonderful "Rainy Day Song" (1981).

[@rhondadananay2106]

Neil hasn’t done anything that wasn’t spectacular. He just has that something..something!🔥❤️💎

[@marygriffiths2950]

I wasn't much of a Neil Diamond fan but after not hearing this for years was wonderful.

[@freewheelcog7206]

Neil Diamond is a class act with few peers when his time comes, as it will come to all of us, his absence will be proof of his greatness and it will become abundantly clear to many to ignore it whether they like to or not. His elegant style of composing is absent as we speak, we seem to be inundated with clones.

[@susanpeterson9947]

I haven’t heard Neil in so long! Thanks, Harry!

[@rhondadananay2106]

You should react to the duet with Neil Diamond and Shirley Bassey. Shirley was asked if she fell in love with Neil. She said she fell in love with his Diamond necklace! She could have the necklace! The gazes between them will melt your heart!🔥❤️💎

[@MeSleepy172]

His Hot August Night version of this song is the best one, IMO

[@davelewis6093]

Amazing

[@allisonlopez5089]

Beautiful, such talent. My Mom used to buy his albums for me, I think she liked his pictures on the covers!!!

[@robjohnson5872]

Amazing talent ! Neil's pretty good too Hari ! You'd have a hard time playing anything from Neil Diamond that would be incredible. His Taproot Manuscript Album particularly stands out for me, with one side having deep African vibes including Soolaimon. Looking for to more - let's get some !

[@donnasheraden6371]

Hari, please give a listen to Neil's Tsp Root Manuscript. It took 110 folks to put the album together. 65 musicians, 35 singers, including 23 children & ten production folks. He should have gotten at least one Grammy, but unfortunately, didn't. It's a beautiful album.

[@joelliebler5690]

Yes the strings really enriched the whole production. Sound system and production had improved by certain companies by the early 1970’s!

[@lindaleebahr6651]

Beautiful song with the simplest of lyrics. It shows that you don't need a whole book to convey a heartfelt message. Like a love-lost letter. The guitar bridge is fabulous. A great song writer. He did get some criticism with his use of the word "Brang" as in "Brang to Me", but we can excuse that.

[@j.h.3777]

Thank you for playing songs that have not been done ad nauseum on the other channels.

[@dagmar.6954]

One of my favorite singer songwriters spanning many decades. I had so many of his records. He had tons of hit songs. I was privileged to see him in concert twice. He was a great showman & his live performances were memorable. Sadly he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2018.

[@ChuckHackney]

Well said..

[@ChuckHackney]

Song begs for an orchestra.. especially in the middle of the song.

[@ChuckHackney]

Me, too, saw him twice in concert in Chapel Hill NC

[@michaelvarble4392]

Nothing can make the world seem ok like Neil diamond. After my wife passed I listened to , the story of my life it helped

[@marshallsmith8975]

You should listen to, “The Story of My Life”. Probably one of his lesser known songs, but possibly one of the best ever written.

[@roryschultz3788]

Neil has percussions in all his pieces. I have known his work since the 1960's and had the opportunity to do some work for him in the 1980's which was his portrait featured behind him in an interview done by 60 Minutes. Actually Neil was famous back in the 1960's.

[@jerrybourland3346]

Thank you, THANK YOU! I think this is my favorite Neil Diamond song!

[@MarcBridie]

Love that you love this.

[@ChuckHackney]

So haunting, the guitar, his voice....reminds me of winter nights by the fire with the one you love...

[@ChuckHackney]

Summer, 1972!!!!!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@davidbentley145]

when gifted people allow the "music' to play them ,great things that can move souls happens!

[@carolynschweitzer7901]

Check out him dueting with Shirley Bassey on this one. The chemistry between the two is spine tingling.

[@scm021374]

You should check out his song "Be" from the movie Jonathan Livingston seagull. It is beautiful and flowing like this one

[@ChuckHackney]

Some of the most haunting acoustical guitar of all time in this tune.

[@brianmccullough5764]

I don't know if he was in the studio on this, probably not, but you mentioned the percussion and it reminded me that Diamond's stage band included the amazing Ronnie Tutt on drums. Neil got him after his long service in Elvis's TCB band. Ronnie was also quite prominent behind Roy Orbison in the Black and White Night video.

[@OperaJH]

If you like percussive rhythms, listen to Neil’s “Suleiman” from his Taproot Trilogy album. Neil’s music is timeless and classic. The works of a genius.

[@mikemiller3069]

This is one of my karaoke go-tos.😀

[@rosacerda4275]

¡¡ QUE ROMANTICISMO.!!...¡¡ QUE COMPOSICION MAS SUBLIME,QUE MUSICA MAS DESBORDANTE DE HERMOSO SONIDO,JUNTO CON SU ENVOLVENTE TONO DE VOZ TAN CARACTERISTICO EN ÉL.!!!!!

[@ronpotter9810]

He was the best solo Live performer I ever saw. He had the audience in the palm of his hands, start to finish. Give a listen to Shiloh for another beauty. The song charted in Sept. 1972.

[@Wellch]

I loved Shilo too.

[@keithmaltz4936]

Ive been to see him 4 times. Fantastic

[@rhh3582]

A great Neil Diamond song that has not gotten much attention but is one of his best is a song "Morningside" - it turns me to mush every time I hear it - Neil has such a great way of drawing you in when he sings and this song certainly drew me in and left me with lasting memories.

[@michaellynch9550]

I don’t know if you’ve heard or have done his song America, but it is awesome

[@adrianacarrillo7011]

I adore this song, my late husband and me will listen to it over and over! He was a real moon man y was sun and words !

[@bc58]

Incredible work

[@denisetinto1828]

I love Neil Diamond. 🇨🇦🔥🔥🔥🌟💯👍💖

[@donaldgrande4535]

Love your channel, if you appreciate Neil, you may react to his African Trilogy a bit long but a fantastic compilation of music

[@johnnie2638]

One of my favorite Neil Diamond songs (though I love them all) is Morningside. Please give that one a listen at your leisure. Rarely can I get all the way through to the end without tearing up.

[@deanpapadopoulos3314]

Beautiful.

[@ChuckHackney]

Harri here is my favorite Neil Diamond song ever...I was a freshman heading off to college for the first time and heard this song for the first time, as I left my first love to go off to college. I am crying right now, gosh darn it Neil.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😂

[@judycole854]

I love this song but then again I love anything Neil Diamond. This one has almost a calypso beat!

[@rhondadananay2106]

Neil Diamond’s voice is like no other!🔥❤️💎

[@jogman262]

I know he was slightly criticized for the lyrics, "Songs she sang to me. Songs she brang to me" as there seems to be no such word as "brang" (spell check even tried correct me). But whoever said songwriting is an exact science. He sang this from his heart. 50 years later I never get tired of hearing it. It's the ultimate Neil Diamond love song.

[@chrisstiffler2185]

The absolute tune vocally w/ the dacale of the tune was spot on because Ritchie went down 1/2 a scale mid chorus- it changed the audience reception and forever more it became history! %25 listen - try again, this band crushed it!

[@jdw5678]

For a great Neil Diamond tune with plenty of rhythm, listen to "Soolaimon," a part of his African Trilogy from "Tap Root Manuscript," released a couple of years before this song.

[@donnasheraden6371]

I love the Miss & African Suite from the African Trilogy. Anyone who studies music in any form needs to listen to the African Trilogy, especially the African Suite. There are 28 time changes in that song. The Miss is beautifully sung in Swahili acapella. It is beautiful & haunting at the same time. Great music from someone who feels the music.

[@mattosullivan9687]

He did not just sing and play the guitar he did all of the scoring etc

[@joevil6259]

What a classy singer songwriter. You'll also notice that he sings a lot about loneliness.

[@christopherslane7830]

Play Soolaimon for some wonderful percussion…hell, react to it. It’s from his Tap Root Manuscript album

[@RayDavies-zv5ic]

As someone else has suggested, Neil Diamond's duet with Dame Shirley Bassey singing "Play Me" is not only brilliant but very, very ............I will leave you to find the correct word.

[@mattosullivan9687]

Seeing people hear Neil for the first time is way cool

[@ChuckHackney]

This song spoke of leaving home for the first time, going off to college, becoming an adult, and knowing i would soon have to deal with my sexuality. The memories that flow from this song are almost overwhelming.❤A timeless tune from the songwriting master, Neil Diamond

[@rosacerda4275]

¡! SOY CHILENA Y DESDE MI PAIS,SIEMPRE DIRÉ QUE SI HAY UN LUGAR DONDE HUBIESE PODIDO PAGAR LO QUE NO TENGO PARA VER HABER PODIDO CUMPLIR MI SUEÑO DE VER Y ESCUCHAR A MI HERMOSO NEIL DIAMOND,EN ESE MEGA Y SUBLIME CONCIERTO QUE DIO EN AUSTRALIA "UNA NOCHE CALIDA DE AGOSTO DEL AÑO 72".!!!.😢😢😢

[@paulineosborn5502]

He is amazing in that concert. I often put it on to sleep

[@loishodges2868]

i would like to see a reaction to you got yo me