A DIAMOND may be a girl's best friend, but this Diamond's
got the rest of us.
Or at least the 13,000 fans who made the trip to the Corel Centre for Neil
Diamond's two-hour plus concert last night.
Despite penning some of the most syrupy and lyrically
boggling songs in the history of pop, there's still no one who writes a
bigger, more radio friendly ballad in the business.
Diamond's longevity and mass appeal were evident as far away as the 417
and Bayshore as one of the largest concert crowds I've seen at the Corel
Centre, spanning three and four generations of fans, testified to his
universal charisma.
Backed by a 17-member entourage including string quartet, a brass section,
a mini-choir of gospel singers, a pair of keyboards and house band,
Diamond, dressed in ruby red sequined jersey and black slacks,(whatever
happened to Forever in Blue Jeans, Neil?) worked his magic.
IN PRIME FORM
After 35 years in the business, the fact that Diamond's still a polished
and in-control performer came as no surprise. What was pleasantly
surprising was that, at 62, he was in such prime form.
"You are the squeaking door and I am the lubrication. You make the noise
and that's where I go," Diamond teased, causing a couple of thousand
females to shriek "I'm the loudest, Neil."
From the get-go, the fans were on their feet, clapping, cheering and
deliriously eating the whole schtick up. Diamond had a lot more where that
came from.
Not just jokes and easy manners and charm but an alarming number of hits
from which to choose.
From his early mid-1960s hits Solitary Man, Cherry Cherry, and Red Red
Wine to the '70s Play Me, Shilo, Love on the Rocks and Forever in Blues
Jeans, he then delivered a goose-pimpling gospel version of Holly Holy, a
take of Sweet Caroline that had everyone happily singing along and a
version of You Don't Bring Me Flowers worthy of Barbra Streisand.
Of course, Diamond's a master of building the emotional crescendo. "I
think it's important that we do a song for our real heroes, the police,
the firemen and the men and women in the military," Diamond said to
introduce He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother.
Still, the fans couldn't get enough, calling him out for an encore of
Cracklin' Rosie, with someone resembling Sun scribe and big Diamond fan
Earl McRae leading the chorus of "we got all night!" and a rousing
send-off with Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show worthy of a Baptist
preacher.
Maybe it is true what they say, that a Diamond is forever.
NEIL DIAMOND
Corel Centre
'DIAMOND IS FOREVER!'
Sun Rating: 5 out of 5
