Song Sung Blue: Proving There's More to Neil Diamond Than "Sweet Caroline" (And It's Not Even a Biography)

 

SONG SUNG BLUE: Inspired by a Legend. Bound by a Dream.
Starring Hugh Jackman & Kate Hudson

"Lightning and Thunder, a Milwaukee husband and wife Neil Diamond tribute act, experience soaring success and devastating heartbreak in their musical journey together."

When I first saw the poster for this, I thought it was a biopic, and I thought, "What a perfect choice for someone to play Neil Diamond!" Then, when I saw the trailer and realized it wasn't actually about Diamond but about, in the words of Kate Hudson's character, "Not a Neil Diamond impersonator, but a Neil Diamond interpreter," I was a little disappointed but still no less enthusiastic about the casting.

In terms of the overall effect of the movie, it is really "just" another love story with obstacles to overcome and troubles to live through until love conquers all, but the added spice of Neil Diamond's music and Jackman and Hudson's musical chops made it more fun than that description sounds. There were moments of pure joy and also times when my tears almost broke through.

And then, on top of that, add the fact that it's all based on fact.

Cool.

Weird Thing: I don't know if it was like this in the theaters, but watching this through Fandango at Home, there were times when the lip-syncing to the pre-recorded vocals was PDB: Pretty Dang Bad.

4 out of 5 stars

Books I Read in 2023, Vol. XII

 

MY 2ND CHAPTER: The Matthew Ward Story
Matthew Ward

Known for such classics as "Easter Song," the Second Chapter of Acts was one of the major music groups at the forefront of the Jesus movement. But what happened, in the wake of personal tragedy, to bring together a brother and his two sisters to sing so boldly for their Lord? And what was life really like for a major contemporary Christian band in those early days? In [this book], Matthew Ward tells his part of the story  -  full of intriguing and humorous behind-the-scenes anecdotes and observations: growing up in a large family, orphaned at age twelve, finding the Lord in the California Jesus movement, becoming a music star, traveling the world, battling cancer, and much more  -  all revealing God's faithfulness in every circumstance.

Having been part of the crowd of record purchasers and concertgoers that helped make 2nd Chapter of Acts the huge success they were, I was eager to hear Ward tell his inside story. His humility and humor come through loud and clear and there wasn't a single page that disappointed. Matthew's singing voice is one-of-a-kind and so is his life's story.

First line: Writing a definitive autobiography in seventy thousand words or less is impossible, unless perhaps you've only lived eight or nine years.

Page 56, Line 5: So when people had physical complaints, we asked God to heal, and He did.

Last line: The trick for me  -  for all of us  -  is to remain in that place where I'm willing to listen to God for guidance, to be obedient to what He asks of me, and to be prayerfully ready to carry out that mission.

Behind the Scenes with a Musical Powerhouse

 

If you've ever had any experience with alcoholism or an alcoholic...

If you're a Jesus Music kind of person...

If you like documentaries...

Allow me to call Russ Taff: I Still Believe to your attention for your edification and education.

"This gripping documentary chronicles the multi- GRAMMY® and Dove Award-winning star’s musical journey and behind-the-scenes battle with alcoholism. Re-live Taff’s iconic career, and the childhood trauma he suffered at the hands of an alcoholic father and abusive mother."

Russ Taff has a set of pipes on him that any singer would covet, and they took him to the heights of fame as a gospel singer...all while suffering from a toxic self-image and a crippling battle with alcohol dependency.

Russ and his wife, Tori, are transparent as they talk through their life together in and out of the spotlight. It's fascinating and heartbreaking and, I think, an encouragement for everyone to take off the masks and get real with whatever baggage they've carried into whatever relationship they have, human or spiritual.

And the really good news is that you can watch this FOR FREE on YouTube. Here's the link, along with my hardy recommendation.

https://youtu.be/fpHdjcCfrSg

Art Garfunkel in Concert at the Pantages Theater

 

Beloved and I had a great date night with dinner at a downtown restaurant and an intimate concert by one of the most iconic pop vocalists of the Sixties and Seventies, Art Garfunkel.

Backed by just a guitarist and a keyboardist, with occasional synth percussion, the concert was wise in featuring Artie's clear, sweet tenor. Admittedly, at 75 years of age, there's more breathiness on the higher notes, and he either has to use his falsetto more often than I remember, or the jump to it is more noticeable in the more-intimate theater setting than the arena I heard him and Paul Simon in a few years ago (during their "Old Friends" tour). I found myself wondering "How in the world is he going to be able to sing "Bridge Over Troubled Water"?

Scattered throughout the evening were surprise, and surprisingly moving, readings from a book being released in September...a compilation of things Mr. G. calls prose poems...short pieces he has written throughout his career, with humor and poignancy. I look forward to reading the book.

As expected, most of the songs were from the Simon & Garfunkel era, but he also included a greatly edited version of his Adult Contemporary semi-hit "All I Know", "Bright Eyes" (from the movie, "Watership Down"), his own composition "Perfect Moment", and "Emotional Girl" by Randy Newman, who Garfunkel lists as one of the 5 best American songwriters (along with Stephen Sondheim, Paul Simon, Jimmy Webb, and James Taylor).

And what about "Bridge..."? A slightly altered arrangement made allowances for his more-limited range, including completely dropping the third verse and its throat-splitting finale. 'Twas much more subdued, but somehow, more believable. Gone was the strident, youthful, "I will ease your mind!"...replaced by a more-solemn, wiser-because-of-the-years submissive "I will lay me down."