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The Singer And Me
My age is going to show here, but I’m totally and completely in love with Neil Diamond. Not the songwriter himself because I don’t see the point of unrequited love, and I seriously doubt he’s going to seek me out, sweep me off my feet, and carry me into the recording studio with him. Besides, my own dh wants me around to fix a few meals.
But I’m going to be honest here, totally honest. I wouldn’t be the writer I am without Neil Diamond singing in the background. That man has a way of triggering emotions in me that absolutely have to crawl out of me and onto the computer screen. He’s pure guts and soul. I’ve worn out two Hot August Nights albums and once blew out a car speaker playing I Am I Said. Holy, Holy rocks my office and Cracklin’ Rosie wakes the neighbors. Traveling Salvation Show brings me to tears as does Song Sung Blue.
What is it about the man and his creativity? He’s been around since dirt was new and you’d think he’d have mined all the emotions he has to mine, but he keeps coming up with magic. I just bought his latest album and played it loud enough to shake the car on the way home yesterday. If not for the price of gas, I would have kept on driving and listening until morning.
Neil got me thinking about this thing called creativity, this burning need to express oneself in unique and powerful ways. I start each book with a fire in my belly and determination to make it as strong as I’m capable of. Each time I fail myself, maybe because words aren’t enough. I need to add rhythm, drums and guitars. I need a morning sunrise and spectacular sunset, but all I have are words.
But I keep on trying. I can’t imagine ever retiring from this gig I love as much as I do life. It’s a compulsion, an addiction. If I didn’t write, what the hell would I do with that fire in my belly cause it ain’t gonna go away? Like Neil, the best I’m capable of pours out of me. My art form is writing, Neil’s is music. I envy him because he touches places I can’t touch, but I work with what I have and its better than anything else I could imagine.
Neil, thank you for keeping the fires burning.
Vonna
www.VonnaHarper.com
Vonna, my neck aches from nodding furiously all the way through reading your post. Another “Diamond Girl” here! He’s currently over here in the UK and I’ve embarrassed myself on more than one occasion doing my fan girl act. I’m even braving the mud and gore of Glastonbury this year because Neil is topping the bill.
I am, I said is one of my faves too, along with Home is a Wounded Heart, Save Me, Brooklyn Roads, and Play Me and of course there’s Sweet Caroline which holds extra special memories of my late father, another huge Diamond fan.
His Taproot Manuscript and Serenade albums are amazing and Lady Magdalene never fails to make my throat tighten.
Interestingly, he mentioned in an interview that I am, I said was an early attempt at navel-gazing, where he questioned whether his song writing had any worth … thank heaven he decided it did.
Great post, Vonna – may Neil continue to inspire you and your writing!