MovieChat Forums > The Last Waltz (1978) Discussion > Everybody hating on Neil Diamond

Everybody hating on Neil Diamond

posted 15 years ago by wcsj
12 replies | jump to latest

I've always thought this, but having recently bought the bluray version of The Last Waltz, this is fresh in my thoughts...

I've read, and not just at IMDB, that quite a few people express their opinions about how Neil Diamond was very out of place at this concert. And while I agree that his style didn't lend itself to the rest of the show, I can't help but wonder why no one says anything about Joni Mitchell. I'll admit I've never been a huge fan of her music, but her performance has always been the one that stuck out the most to me as not belonging in the show.

Every time I watch the movie or listen to the boxset, I almost always find myself skipping over her songs, and I just wondered if this is a personal thing or if others shared my sentiments.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MachoManRandySavage 15 years ago

I have only seen the DVD, so don't know about any of the other songs either performer may have sung, but I love both in The Last Walz.

Neil Diamond has a lot of great songs, some are very rootsy. I don't know too much Joni Mitchel, but like I said, I think her song is great in The Last Walz

[–] ghtx 14 years ago

Neil Diamond is awesome.

[–] rickert 14 years ago

I always skip Joni Mitchell. BUT I also think that Neil Diamond didn't quite belong in the lineup. The reason he's in the show, is that Robbie was producing Neil's album at the time and was trying to promote Neil. Levon and the rest of the band wanted to get Doc Pomus, but Robbie insisted...thus you get Neil Diamond in a powder blue jumpsuit with all these rock and rollers.

I'm not hatin' on Neil, I think he's great, and own a few of his albums, but he doesn't fit in this concert. (and neither does Joni Mitchell)

[–] xmonn 14 years ago

As the Band (sans Levon) is all Canadian, Joni is a perfect fit. ND is NOT. ND was a fine singer/songwriter in the '60s but when he started doing sh*t with Babs Streisand in the '70s, he forfeited his Rock cred.

You can be rich and play to the blue-hair set OR be respected within the Rock community - you can't have both. Diamond made that decision decades ago.

[–] horatiohellpop 13 years ago

At first glance Neil Diamond doesn't match up with the rest of the line-up. The main reason he's there is that he's friends with Robbie Robertson who produced his recent album, Beautiful Noise. Beautiful Noise was his least commercial but most critically acclaimed album of his career. The song he sang for the film, Dry Your Eyes, actually did fit within the theme of the evening. Diamond's outfit was a bit flashy, but he gave a good performance. I actually liked Neil Diamond until that time. Afterwards, his music became too adult contemporary and he lost much of his credibility.

[–] asburyparkwest 13 years ago

Dont be hating on Neil with his suit... take a look at Van Morrison and the ridiculous purple jumpsuit.

[–] LovelyDeadAdam 13 years ago

Neil Diamond wasn't bad but I didn't feel like he fit in. I did think Joni Mitchell fit in just fine, though. She's another Canadian like Neil Young and The Band (well, except for Levon). I do think she overstays her welcome on the extended cd version, though.

[–] edgemarty-152-556428 12 years ago

I am watching the Neil Diamond performance on the film as I am posting this. Neil Diamond is a great singer and does a good job. God bless him and Boston.

Stay Gold
Marty

[–] houstonhacker 10 years ago

Porcupine Pie!

[–] tgemberl 9 years ago

I think Neil Diamond had a few too many hits in the 70's. People got tired of him. He is clearly a very talented person, but I'd have to say not usually my cup of tea. A little too sentimental. He needed someone else to write lyrics for "I am, I said." If you just listen to the tune, it's quite impressive, but the lyrics are awful. Quite embarrassingly so. But I know he has some very loyal fans. I expect to get sharply criticized for this posting.

"Extremism in the pursuit of moderation is no vice."

[–] RickVee 9 years ago

Musically, Neil Diamond and Joni Mitchell were the most "out of place" BUT there's simply no comparison whatsoever between Joni Mitchell and Neil Diamond. Joni is a musical genius who is seriously respected by all of her peers. Neil Diamond has never been considered a musical genius, nor should he be. Most of his music is fairly schmaltzy, sappy stuff. At least with Joni, The Band was playing the songs of an amazing songwriter and musician. Plus, Neil Diamond, in a cultural sense, was never part of The Band's world. Joni definitely was. She was part of that world. She was invited to play at Woodstock. She wrote one of the definitive songs of the 60's musical generation - "Woodstock". Many of Neil Diamond's fans aren't even rock n roll fans in the first place. Neil Diamond is not really a rock n roller himself outside of a few songs.

Another place to look regarding this issue is Levon Helm's autobiography. In it, Levon expresses anger and dismay that Neil Diamond was asked to be a part of The Last Waltz. He did not like Neil Diamond's music and did not think he belonged on the bill. (Levon said Robbie Robertson replied that ND represented the "Tin Pan Alley" part of pop music.) As for Joni, Levon thought that her music was too complicated and nuanced to perform properly. And Levon said indeed The Band pretty much butchered Joni's songs. He said they would've needed a lot more time to practice those songs.