Why Neil Diamond's music will be his greatest legacy...an introspective.

Hi everyone. For those of you who don't know me well & for those that do, I want to express my thoughts and experiences with you. I am a professional musician (pianist) and arranger and have been performing all my life. But this is not what this commentary is about. I bring it up for one reason and that is to try and explain the "music in us" from a performer's point of view, specifically Neil Diamond.

Neil has been performing/composing/touring most of his life having touched many people from all walks of life...he has even reached those who only have an average affinity for music. Now why is this you ask? Well he is one of those rare musicians who's "Soul's Purpose" in life is to bring music to the masses and affect them in a positive way. He has been touring for a long time and 2 hour performances are exhausting but well worth it as a great performance not only raises up the performer but it raises up those who are listening and the performer feels a "natural high" for which they do not want to come down from. When the performance comes from the soul (for that is where music resides) it can't help but reach the souls of the audience. I speak from experience about this as many have said things like "your music really moved me" or "you touched my soul" etc. Neil has, no doubt experienced this many times over.  You see when a musician feels the music in the soul and shares that feeling with others everyone is raised to a "higher level" that reaches the level of Nirvana or perfection. This is a gift and it is rare...Neil most definitely has the capacity to reach people in a way that makes them want to dance, clap or "sing it out loud" and "sing it out strong"! And others that are more soulful find their way into the hearts and souls of everyone and the experience is profound!!!! There is a communication between Neil and his audiences that can't be described. I just want to share with you this piece of info...today our Gerry uploaded a video montage that carried with it one of the most gorgeous, soulfelt songs I've ever heard. It affected me at the soul level and moved me to the point where I had to send a message as it took many words to explain how much I appreciated hearing that music. Neil Diamond has done this over and over again and he will live on forever and his music will never stop!!!! His Songs of Life that reveal his own soul that he shares completely with everyone is what makes him "special" and sets him apart from the others; as he doesn't hesitate to open himself up completely. He merely gives himself up to the music and therefore has a "love affair with the melody, the lyrics,the audience!! And he is completely honest about it and never selfish or self-serving!!Therefore,at the end of the day, one can say (and Neil did) he has a "love affair" with the music & the audience!

As for his style. Well, it is unique indeed so just bare with me a bit longer.  Neil can be compared to the writings of the author Walt Whitman. His style of prose or poetry had no rhymne scheme...it was free form and so are the compositions of Neil. His style of writing is unpredictable not giving in to trite verses where every word has to overtly rhyme. But rather he uses the literary style of the poets called "assonance". This tool basically means the juxtoposition of similar sounding words...a resemblance if you will, even though the words don's exactly rhymne perfectly. Neil is a master at this!!! For example, the words song and swan don't exactly rhymne but in the right context or lyrical movement, they work perfectly!!!! I've not heard this in any other vocalist...this is unique to Neil and what makes his music great!!  As far as the "bridges" of the songs go...well every song has to have a bridge as it adds contrast but Neil's use of it is unpredictable which makes it all that more interesting and even sophisticated. He is a master at both. His music simply put is NOT predictable and his songs are not trite with each one being very different. He is singing from his heart and opening himself up for all to hear and see. He is masterful indeed.

So the next time you hear a song by Neil maybe try to listen to his use of "assonance" and how very different each song is.  But most of all just feel the music and let it carry you to a place that gives you peace and harmony...for I'm sure that this is Neil Diamond's goal and he has served his "soul's purpose" well!!! His music will live on long after we are gone. This is his legacy so he may have won many awards this year but the most important thing of all is that he truly has this grand legacy "for all the world to hear"; and this, my friends, doesn't get any better than that.

Thanks for reading and I hope I didn't bore you. I just "thank the lord for the music ...for giving it to me and the rest of the world!!!  Regards & best wishes!!! Gloria or GLorygirl...lol :-)