# Grab your hat, sucka, 'cause I like Michael Bolton AND Kenny G AND Neil Diamond **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 8, 2005, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grab-your-hat-sucka-cause-i-like-michael-bolton-and-kenny-g-and-neil-diamond/320620 "2005-09-08T04:38:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grab-your-hat-sucka-cause-i-like-michael-bolton-and-kenny-g-and-neil-diamond/320620/21 "2005-09-09T02:30:58Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > ( **Mr. Blue Sky** , not sure if that was a whoosh, but **Lisa-go-Blind** was quoting [Office Space](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0151804/).) It probably was a whoosh. I’m so glad I didn’t respond to that, 'cuz I almost did! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grab-your-hat-sucka-cause-i-like-michael-bolton-and-kenny-g-and-neil-diamond/320620/22 "2005-09-09T02:36:59Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > ( **Mr. Blue Sky** , not sure if that was a whoosh, but **Lisa-go-Blind** was quoting [Office Space](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0151804/).) Whew! ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grab-your-hat-sucka-cause-i-like-michael-bolton-and-kenny-g-and-neil-diamond/320620/23 "2005-09-09T02:56:40Z")
Hello, my name is Ruby and I like ‘em all. You have to be careful who you say that to around here, though. It’s like when you admit you like Spam. Uh, it’s not like I’ve ever eaten Spam or nothin’. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grab-your-hat-sucka-cause-i-like-michael-bolton-and-kenny-g-and-neil-diamond/320620/24 "2005-09-09T02:58:49Z")
My take on all three of them is that they are all very talented, and all can occasionally rise above their own shmaltz and create something that’s really good. Neil Diamond’s “Cracklin’ Rosie” is a very good song, and he’s got a handful of other very good songs. Kenny G. can occasionally manage real emotion, and occasionally Michael Bolton shows a lot of soul. He sings with great emotion and energy. But then, just as you’re about to become a real fanboy, they come out with some incredible dreck, and you feel shame. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grab-your-hat-sucka-cause-i-like-michael-bolton-and-kenny-g-and-neil-diamond/320620/25 "2005-09-09T03:01:24Z")
I like all these guys, plus Billy Ray Cyrus. [Pink runs and hides] ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grab-your-hat-sucka-cause-i-like-michael-bolton-and-kenny-g-and-neil-diamond/320620/26 "2005-09-09T03:33:31Z")
I don’t like Bolton (though my husband does), or Kenny G, but Neil Diamond? Love him. Gordon Lightfoot? Him too. Barry Manilow? You betcha. Of the three, probably Lightfoot the most, but come on! “Solitary Man”? “Cracklin’ Rosie”? “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show”? “Cherry”? These are _good_ songs. “Weekend in New England,” “Tryin’ to Get That Feeling Again,” “Could it be Magic,” “Even Now,” nothing wrong with 'em. Sentimental? You bet. So what? ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grab-your-hat-sucka-cause-i-like-michael-bolton-and-kenny-g-and-neil-diamond/320620/27 "2005-09-09T04:12:20Z")
Personally I would not put Gordon Lightfoot in the same category of corniness as the others, but I’ll have to admit that I do enjoy at least a few songs from ALL of them. I consider myself to have pretty broad tastes as far as music goes, so I am not ashamed to admit I enjoy many songs that other people would think were goofy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grab-your-hat-sucka-cause-i-like-michael-bolton-and-kenny-g-and-neil-diamond/320620/28 "2005-09-09T19:13:07Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I don’t like Bolton (though my husband does), or Kenny G, but Neil Diamond? Love him. > > Gordon Lightfoot? Him too. > > Barry Manilow? You betcha. > > Of the three, probably Lightfoot the most, but come on! “Solitary Man”? “Cracklin’ Rosie”? “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show”? “Cherry”? These are _good_ songs. > > “Weekend in New England,” “Tryin’ to Get That Feeling Again,” “Could it be Magic,” “Even Now,” nothing wrong with 'em. Sentimental? You bet. So what? Married? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ChaChaHeels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@ChaChaHeels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChaChaHeels)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grab-your-hat-sucka-cause-i-like-michael-bolton-and-kenny-g-and-neil-diamond/320620/29 "2005-09-09T21:52:20Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Please, tell me **ChaChaHeels** ’s post was also a quote. :eek: Nope. I stand by that. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grab-your-hat-sucka-cause-i-like-michael-bolton-and-kenny-g-and-neil-diamond/320620/30 "2005-09-09T23:11:52Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Whew! Don’t worry. I live in the same town as Percy Sledge. I know what “When a Man Loves a Woman” is supposed to sound like. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grab-your-hat-sucka-cause-i-like-michael-bolton-and-kenny-g-and-neil-diamond/320620/31 "2005-09-09T23:26:38Z")
Bolton? He’s a no talent ass clown G.? My record store proudly displays a no Kenny G. sign Diamond? I will confess to a soft spot for Sweet Caroline and Solitary Man. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grab-your-hat-sucka-cause-i-like-michael-bolton-and-kenny-g-and-neil-diamond/320620/32 "2005-09-10T00:03:44Z")
Michael Bolton is an insult to the great R&B artists he steals from. He’s an even bigger insult to mullets everywhere. I like a lot of Neil Diamond’s stuff up to through the late 70’s: Solitary Man, Sweet Caroline, Longfellow Serenade, Cracklin’ Rosie, Forever in Blue Jeans, Love on the Rocks, & I’m a Believer. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grab-your-hat-sucka-cause-i-like-michael-bolton-and-kenny-g-and-neil-diamond/320620/33 "2005-09-10T00:15:07Z")
Neil Diamond and Gordon Lightfoot will always be cool in my book. Michael Bolton and Kenny G, however, must die. Painfully. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grab-your-hat-sucka-cause-i-like-michael-bolton-and-kenny-g-and-neil-diamond/320620.md?page=1)