Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond

rgcraig · #1 11-20-2007, 10:42 AM

Diamond reveals `Caroline' inspiration

11/20/2007 9:54 AM, AP

Neil Diamond held onto the secret for decades, but he has finally revealed that President Kennedy's daughter was the inspiration for his smash hit "Sweet Caroline."

"I've never discussed it with anybody before — intentionally," the 66-year-old singer-songwriter told The Associated Press on Monday during a break from recording. "I thought maybe I would tell it to Caroline when I met her someday."

He got his chance last week when he performed the song via satellite at Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg's 50th birthday party.

Diamond was a "young, broke songwriter" when a photo of the president's daughter in a news magazine caught his eye.

"It was a picture of a little girl dressed to the nines in her riding gear, next to her pony," Diamond recalled. "It was such an innocent, wonderful picture, I immediately felt there was a song in there."

Years later, holed up in a hotel in Memphis, he would write the words and music in less an hour.

"It was a No. 1 record and probably is the biggest, most important song of my career, and I have to thank her for the inspiration," he said. "I'm happy to have gotten it off my chest and to have expressed it to Caroline. I thought she might be embarrassed, but she seemed to be struck by it and really, really happy."

The enduring hit recently reappeared on the singles chart, thanks in part to the Boston Red Sox. "Sweet Caroline" is played at every home game.

"I think they consider it good luck," Diamond said, adding that the Red Sox have become his favorite baseball team.

The tune's return to the charts leaves Diamond "speechless," he said: "That song was written 40 years ago, so I am just overwhelmed by the fact that it has returned and that, more importantly, people have taken it into their hearts for so many years."

webe123 · #2 11-21-2007, 09:28 PM

"The tune's return to the charts leaves Diamond "speechless," he said: "That song was written 40 years ago, so I am just overwhelmed by the fact that it has returned and that, more importantly, people have taken it into their hearts for so many years."

The tunes return to the charts does not surprise me at all!

It simply seems that today, there is an absence of any original creativity in secular music.

I think instead of the music from the period of 2000 being something unique...like the 50s, 60s, 70 or even 80s and 90s....2000 will probably be remembered best as years of "rehashed songs"!

Sad really.

rgcraig · #3 11-21-2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webe123

"The tune's return to the charts leaves Diamond "speechless," he said: "That song was written 40 years ago, so I am just overwhelmed by the fact that it has returned and that, more importantly, people have taken it into their hearts for so many years."

The tunes return to the charts does not surprise me at all!

It simply seems that today, there is an absence of any original creativity in secular music.

I think instead of the music from the period of 2000 being something unique...like the 50s, 60s, 70 or even 80s and 90s....2000 will probably be remembered best as years of "rehashed songs"!

Sad really.

Well, one thing that I heard lately was that advertisers are using songs from the 60's 70's because it's familiar for the baby boomers that have all the MONEY$$$$$!

Rev · #4 01-13-2008, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Well, one thing that I heard lately was that advertisers are using songs from the 60's 70's because it's familiar for the baby boomers that have all the MONEY$$$$$!

I have been in some businesses lately that have those old songs playing!

MawMaw · #5 01-13-2008, 02:37 PM

Thanks Sis for the info on how the song came to be.

I always liked Neil Diamond songs.

Cindy · #6 01-13-2008, 03:06 PM

Boy my older sister was a Diamond fan. I like some of his songs too.

Ron · #7 02-02-2008, 02:26 PM

Interesting story.
When I hear that song I am immediately taken back to Trout Lake Community Centre Ice Rink & this song used to play when I was learning to Ice Skate.

Sadly, that Rink is being torn down as we speak to build a new Olympic sized Rink to be a training facility for Olympians.

Now what is played at family ice skating would make you barf!