A beautiful noise

Tonight, to Earls Court to see Neil Diamond. I booked six months ago, and in the interim I have slightly wondered whether I was wise. Sure, a great songwriter, but, really, not that great a singer, and not as young as he was.

So it was great to read Mike's review from Manchester. But returning to it to post a link made me realise that I ought to change my post title. But I’m not going to…!

I found it an entirely enjoyable evening. He isn’t a singer, at least not strictly. Nor is he a crooner. Nor is he entirely a speaker in the Leonard Cohen mould. But he has a voice that is unique, and idiosyncratic and it’s a sound that I love!

I was a little surprised at the demographics of the audience. Few children and teens, and a lot of pensioners, but whereas I had been expecting a mainly forty five plus audience, I was surprised at the large numbers of twenty-somethings, including quite a few groups of three or four young men. I was chatting with a woman beforehand and we were remarking on this, saying how it just shows that people actually don’t want to be classified like sheep and told what to like and what’s fashionable. She said her hero was Cliff. I was very good and just said, pleasantly, “He’s not really for me.” And I didn’t even mention my hero...

Neil Diamond performed for over two hours without an interval - there was no support act. He didn’t really have a break, except for leaving the stage once or twice between songs, but that was hardly a break, because the music was continuous. He did start by dancing around a little, although he calmed down, and did some songs sitting. I overheard someone comment on the way out – “He just went on and on! At his age!” (Although I heard someone on the radio last week talking about Death of a Salesman, and he commented that when it was written, someone in their mid Sixties was considered old, but that simply isn’t the case nowadays).

I have to say that he really isn’t glamorous or stylish. I was at the back of the arena. Being in a tiered seat I had a great view, but it was a distant view, so I was grateful for the video screens showing close-ups. He looks almost like a parody of a middle-of-the-road singer, or like a stereotypical American tourist.

He is however a consummate professional and a natural performer. I wouldn’t describe him as charismatic, but he knows how to play an audience. It was wonderful to hear live that voice that has graced my record collection for quarter of a century and to hear so many wonderful songs. The entire show was slick and professional, starting with the band rising one by one from beneath the stage. A very competent group of musicians, with some fabulous shoo-wop girls. The lighting was good, and changed with the mood of the songs, but it wasn’t gimmicky and over the top.

From time to time I got on my feet and danced but I was in a section that wasn’t much into dancing. I think the highlight for me was You Don’t Bring Me Flowers. I don’t know who the woman was who came on to sing, but she was much better than Barbra Striesand. It’s a very profound song, and, perhaps, the one that really got me into Neil Diamond. That or Forever In Blue Jeans, which sounds as fresh today as it did back in 1979. America is a great anthem, and the crowd were happily singing, swaying, clapping. Until the bit where he sang “My country tis of thee, Sweet Land of Liberty Of thee I sing…” and I could swear that the audience went very quiet. I’m A Believer, Sweet Caroline, and Cracklin’ Rosie were great crowd-pleasers.

Soolaimon is a stand out as a song I was previously somewhat indifferent to but just adored live, closely followed by Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show. As well as You Don’t Bring Me Flowers, my favourite song was I Am I Said. I also enjoyed Beautiful Noise, Desiree, Red, Red Wine. Biggest disappointment was Love on the Rocks, which seemed less live than on the album. And I was disappointed that he didn’t sing Song Sung Blue, one of the very few pop songs I knew before I was into pop music.

I took my camera. The stewards were being a bit zealous going up to people and telling them to put their phones away. So I thought I’d be very careful, and get my camera set up inside my bag. I switched it on, and it came up with the message ‘No CF card’. My memory card is sitting in my card reader on my desk at home… So no pictures, sadly.

To conclude, an enjoyable and memorable concert, and part of me wishes I had a ticket for tonight as well. It has become the sixth item on my list of most memorable concerts of 2005, but it’s not top of the list, a list that I suspect will more than double before the year is out.