RoseyOneOne

Hi Neil,

I'm a huge fan of your music. I have a question, but first a story about how we get to the question.

My brother and I inherited our love for your music from our mom, who has been listening for years. I've watched her collection evolve from vinyl, to eight track, to cassette, and now, finally, onto the iPad we just bought for her.

We've taken her to see you in Calgary every time you've been through for the last decade or so.

When we were young, around 7-8, we would drive from our home in Canada, down to Montana, or Washington to do a little shopping. Our parents put reclining patio chairs in the back of their pickup truck and my brother and I would sit back there, under the topper, with our supply of books and snacks. They would open the little window between the cab and where we sat.

Every time we got out of city limits, on the highway headed south, through the Alberta foothills, we would insist they play your song "America". And we would sing along like madmen. We would ask it to be played 10-12 times on the 6 hour drive. It was our anthem and it gives me goosebumps to this day.

I can remember one concert, just after 9-11. We found our seats and my brother and I ducked out to grab one of the especially potent beers at our stadium. We'd planned to get some food, too, only that lineup was way too long. So beer, and only beer.

We arrived at our seats again. Mom insisted we get some food, and slid us $20 to go get it. We lit out again only to see the same monster lineups at the food kiosks. No worry, the beer lineup was open, so more beer was had. Beer, and only beer.

Well. We arrived back to our seats yet again and we were feeling very kinetic and mirthful at this point. I started chatting with my mom about what song you'd open with. She was telling me, quite confidently, that it would be "Hello Again".

I countered that, while that was a perfectly logical song to open the event with, and that we had watched you open with that very song before, I had a strong feeling that you would open with my favourite anthem, "America."

We went back and forth, bantering and joking, my brother and I drinking our potent Saddledome beers, when, suddenly, the sound of those violins lit out into the air and a floodlight flared up onto a giant US flag. I LEAPT straight up out of my seat, fists clenched in joy, yelling as I rose, "YYEEEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"

Everyone looked at me...like, EVERYONE. At this point it was just those poetic violins filling the stadium. Well, and me.

My mom was laughing and frantically trying to pull me down.

And I did it again.

"YYEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! WOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOO....YEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!"

And then <BOOM> the song kicks in with that driving beat.

So good.

Such a memory.

Whenever my mother talks to friends about Neil Diamond she always says, "Kevin quite likes his music, too!"

Anyway. Thank you. A long way to get here, and I really hope you read this.

I just wanted to share what you've helped me to share with my mom. It is very special.

So: Do you have certain 'go to' songs that you like to open with? Did you use "America" to open on a more regular basis after 9-11?

Much appreciated, Neil. Thank you again for the music and the memories.

Will there be an Ant Man 3?

I hear ya, buddy. Keep a good heart 'n pick the right one. Well, keep the ice fresh and your Timmies fresher, they always say.

Sweet gig, buddy. I know that over in my local rink a lotta the girls go around lookin to get a rid on the 'ol Zamboni. Tell us, how them puck bunnies? Any wild stories?

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