Song Sung Blue - The Movie.

[hamerhead]

My wife put this on while I was sitting there and I was thinking, 'What is this cheesy shit?', then find out it's a real story that really happened in Milwaukee. And the more I watched, the better it got - the depictions of small-town Wisconsin 'fame' and the people who strive to attain it were dead on, cheese and all. Plus the fact that Wolverine and Kate Hudson did their own singing - and did it really well - added a lot to it.

Neil Diamond is a great talent, both as a writer and a performer. Not my go-to by any stretch, but I grew up with sisters who had his records, and 'Hot August Night' is pretty damn good. This movie was a surprise, but waking up with Niel Diamond earworms sucks. I need a rock and roll Q-tip.

[BoogieMKIIA]

It's amazing the crowd response you get to "Sweet Caroline". Lucky for me I don't get an earworm when we play it 

He had a ton of pop hits.

[velorush]

The kids are fascinated (or at least they're pretty good at pretending) with the tales of TV in my childhood - everyone had a variety show (Shields and Yarnell, Shields and Yarnell!, even had a variety show) and Neil was a staple. A great talent even though he probably won't find himself on any of my playlists (he doesn't care). 

ETA: thanks for the prompt. I saw it come up but didn't think much of it. I don't mind watching anything with Kate Hudson - been watching "Running Point" on Netflix of late.

Edited Thursday at 03:02 PM by velorush

[alantig]

Hugh Jackman was on Bob & Tom last year and talked a lot about the movie and spending time with Neil Diamond.

 

[kizanski]

Excellent movie.

My wife and I sat down to watch it, and I reluctantly agreed to, thinking it was a Neil Diamond documentary.
Boy was I pleasantly surprised.

When we were finished with it, I wondered how much of the story was true and how much was influenced by Hollywood story-telling.
Turns out it was damn close. 

Here is the real story with the real people.

 

[Saul Goodman]

Hot August Night was a GoTo of mine when it came out. I loved the opening: you could hear people in the audience chatting, one lady coughing up a Marlborough Red, then that majik cello playing softly. The talk died down and the crowd payed more attention as more instruments joined in. Then came the "Rock out WYCO," as it seemed for 1973. Neil Diamond's voice was nothing like the studio recordings and I liked that. It was raw and mellow at the same time. And, from that you may think I have good taste in music. Not so fast fuckeroo. You ain't seen nothin' yet.

I am interested in watching, "Song Song Blue." Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully it's on something I already am subscribed to.

ETA: Found it on NetFlix. So far I really like it.

Edited Thursday at 06:52 PM by Saul Goodman

[bry4321]

I, as well, appreciate the tip!

[ArnieZ]

I saw it. liked it, and was really impressed with Kate Hudson. She is a damn good singer!

arniez

[Saul Goodman]

I finished it last night. I really enjoyed it.