Every year, a big movie premieres in theaters on Christmas Day. Usually one that the whole family can enjoy to escape the in-laws for a few hours. This year, that flick is Song Sung Blue.
Hugh Jackman in
a musical biopic about one of the greatest pop singers of all time? Count me in!
How does this all relate to baseball? Well, one of Neil’s standout tunes became a staple at MLB’s oldest ballpark…
On May 28, 1969, Diamond released Sweet Caroline as part of his Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show album. Written by the Jewish Elvis himself, the catchy chorale peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100—certified Platinum with 1,000,000+ sales.
But as even the catchiest of songs are known to do, it fell by the wayside in favor of the next month’s ear-worm. That is, until—legend has it—a Fenway Park staffer in charge of tunes randomly spun it one night in 1997 in tribute to a baby Caroline she knew who just entered the world.
The song got a big crowd pop, so it got played again…and again…and again! By 2002, it became official policy for Neil to flow through the Beantown loudspeakers in the middle of the eighth inning. The now-infamous “bah bah BAHHHHHH!” crowd response in the pause after Diamond’s “sweeeeeeeet Caroline” crooning was added in somewhere along the way.
Over the years, Sweet Caroline has become as much of a Fenway tradition as the Green Monster or Pesky’s Pole. It was featured in the film Fever Pitch and the man himself has even serenaded New Englanders.
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 20: Neil Diamond sings “Sweet Caroline” during a game between the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox in the 8th inning at Fenway Park on April 20, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
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Sadly, the 84-year old Diamond was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2018 and has retired from touring. But that hasn’t stopped him from making occasional public appearances to belt out his greatest hits!
Ironically, I discovered Neil due to my Dad having recorded his 1992 holiday TV special on a VHS tape—right before “Rocky”, which I watched a lot as a youngster. If there’s a better Jingle Bell Rock, I haven’t heard it yet…
Happy Holidays, Twinkie Town! As Neil himself croons in this inventive festive tune: “Let’s raise a toast of Red, Red Wine…we’ll even sing Sweet Caroline…while the whole world sings along!” We’ve been doing that since 1969.
