# Join me in throwing off the stigma! (Barry Manilow and Neil Diamond) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 9, 2008, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673 "2008-05-09T08:19:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/41 "2008-05-09T20:33:20Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] I heard just this morning that Neil Diamond never had a #1 hit but he is very likely to this week. I don’t know the song but had instantly strong sales in the past few days. [/QUOTE] [Post #31](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9784562&postcount=31) ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/42 "2008-05-09T20:44:04Z")
[QUOTE=Dung Beetle] Well, doesn’t _everybody_ like Billy Joel? 😕 [/QUOTE] Absoulutely not. ---
**Author:** ![JackofHearts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8c91f0/32.png) [@JackofHearts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackofHearts)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/43 "2008-05-09T21:15:46Z")
Not a Manilow fan but Diamond has his place on my ipod. I wasn’t a huge fan (grew up pretty much a punk/rap fan) until I was in college in Minnesota. A local favorite musician, Martin Zellar, would alternate his regular shows with a “NEIL!” show where all he performed were old Diamond songs. This was, simply put, amazing, and definitely caused me to re-evaulate his music… ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/44 "2008-05-09T21:20:46Z")
I like “Bermuda Triangle.” But that’s pretty much it. OTOH, I’m not quite old enough to have heard the majority of either Diamond or Manilow without actually trying to find their songs, so I don’t know much. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/45 "2008-05-09T21:22:36Z")
I love both of them. They both bring back great memories. For one, when I was growing up, you could choose which album you wanted to hear when it was your birthday (every other day, Pop chose). I always had John Denver but mom always had Neil Diamond. Plus our next-door neighbor kind-of dated him when he was a waiter and she was a waitress in neighboring Borscht Belt resorts. My father didn’t own any Barry but he was on the radio back in my day and I loved his stuff. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/46 "2008-05-09T22:37:11Z")
I can deal with a few songs here and there by either of them, but it would be a stretch to say that I _liked_ even those songs. Mostly I find Diamond and Manilow to be almost aggressively boring. But then, I own two Phil Collins albums, and actually have a vinyl record of Zamfir on his pan flute, so who am I to judge? ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/47 "2008-05-09T23:03:06Z")
I like Neil Diamond a lot better than Barry Manilow…I remember listening to _Cracklin’ Rosie_ on the radio when I was in 7th grade…I also heard his song _Delirious Love_ on _Scrubs_ and fell in love with that. (Doesn’t _Scrubs_ have a great soundtrack?) Plus, Neil’s an awesome songwriter–he wrote two Monkees songs— _I’m a Believer_ and \*A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You \*. I also like Deep Purple’s version of _Kentucky Woman_ Barry Manilow–meh, I like his song _Weekend in New England_–that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/48 "2008-05-09T23:11:06Z")
Not much of a Neil Diamond fan (though I do like “Coming to America”) but I love me some Barry. I grew up in the 70s and had his greatest hits album which I played to death on my old stereo. Even now I still listen to and like a lot of his songs. I’m not ashamed to admit it at all. Of course, I also like disco and C. W. McCall (any other McCall fans out there?) so I’m definitely a product of the '70s. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/49 "2008-05-10T02:23:58Z")
I like some early Neil Diamond, for the music, but also because my sister was a Diamond freak. She died in 2004, and Neil always reminds me of her. I like his song, “Beautiful Noise” a lot. I can’t stand anything after about 1980 by him, though. Manilow makes me puke. I cannot listen to him, although, like WhatExit, I like (some) of the Carpenter’s stuff (not so much since she died the way she did), John Denver and I like one early Celine song–cannot recall the name of it, but she whispers in French at the end. Barry to me is pure schmaltz; I cannot listen. I dislike Sinatra with a fierce, irrational digust. But I loves me some Dean Martin, and some Bing Crosby (not just White Christmas, either). People roll their eyes at his crooning, but he was as radical as Devo when it came to what passed for “selling a song” back in the day. I even like Linda Ronstadt–that album, _Hasten Down the Wind_ packs a punch. I like the soundtrack to _Saturday Night Fever_ and some disco, but I don’t play it to listen to, if you follow me. If it comes on, I’m happy to listen, but I don’t seek it out. I’m in a Johnny Cash frenzy right now. I’ve been familiar with his music my whole life, but suddenly it’s like I’ve never really heard it before… ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/50 "2008-05-10T03:04:16Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] I’m in a Johnny Cash frenzy right now. I’ve been familiar with his music my whole life, but suddenly it’s like I’ve never really heard it before… [/QUOTE] I never appreciated Johny Cash until I watched the Walk the Line movie. I finally understand and I listen to his music almost every day now. His voice is very distinctive and he was a music pioneer. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/51 "2008-05-10T04:27:27Z")
Barry Manilow-BM-one good song: Tryin’ to get the feeling again. I used to listen to “Could it be magic?” daily before school. Most of his stuff hasn’t weathered well, for me. We always called him “Barely Man Enough.” Neil Diamond—his old stuff was good. September morn, You don’t bring me flowers, nah! My sister was a huge fan but she read he had really stolen a lot of his stuff. Gotta give him props for the voice, though. If you’re looking for Tin Pan Alley, he can deliver. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/52 "2008-05-10T04:31:38Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] I even like Linda Ronstadt–that album, _Hasten Down the Wind_ packs a punch. [/QUOTE] How now, don’t you be dissin’ Linda. She’s good people. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/53 "2008-05-10T04:34:33Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] How now, don’t you be dissin’ Linda. She’s good people. [/QUOTE] Hehe. I love Neil Diamond. Weirddave’s mother-in-law weaned me on it. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/54 "2008-05-10T04:35:52Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] How now, don’t you be dissin’ Linda. She’s good people. [/QUOTE] Linda didn’t get the respect she deserved for a long time, did she? Just b/c she was a babe, I think people figured she must be just eye candy. She could belt 'em out with the best of them yet had a gentle, soulful touch when needed. Later on she got some cred when recording with Nelson Riddle. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/55 "2008-05-10T04:37:57Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] Hehe. [/QUOTE] Hush you 😛 ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/56 "2008-05-10T04:38:56Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] Hush you 😛 [/QUOTE] Come on now, explain your position. And link that picture. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/57 "2008-05-10T08:19:48Z")
[QUOTE=DocCathode] I love Neil Diamond. I cannot stand the cloying treacle that is Barry Mannilow. [/QUOTE] Two things I like most about Barry Manilow. He covered Meat Loaf (Read 'Em and Weep) and Ian Hunter (Ships). As for Linda Ronstadt, not only is she great in her own right, the backup band for her second album became the Eagles, for which I’ll eternally be grateful. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/58 "2008-05-10T08:38:04Z")
[QUOTE=lobotomyboy63] Linda didn’t get the respect she deserved for a long time, did she? Just b/c she was a babe, I think people figured she must be just eye candy. She could belt 'em out with the best of them yet had a gentle, soulful touch when needed. Later on she got some cred when recording with Nelson Riddle. [/QUOTE] At the time the recordings were released, my friends and I didn’t really think so. But I love the Great American Songbook, and on the whole, I have to give props to Ms. Ronstadt for the role she played in making it a good business decision for record companies to return to recording those marvelous charts, and releasing them to us. As for Diamond and Manilow, the OP is in good musical company. Nothing wrong with liking these fine gentlemen. Truth be told, though, as good as Manilow’s _Songs of the 50’s_ was, his _Songs of the 60’s_ was not well-thought out. If he had taken a little more time with song selection, and done something with the arrangements to make them _homages_ instead of parlor tricks, it would have been a lot more satisfying. I fully expect _Barry Manilow covers Songs of the 70’s_ to be a lot more satisfying in this regard (especially because most of the songs of the 70’s are already Manilow songs. 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/59 "2008-05-10T14:35:36Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] I never appreciated Johny Cash until I watched the Walk the Line movie. I finally understand and I listen to his music almost every day now. His voice is very distinctive and he was a music pioneer. [/QUOTE] \ yes. It’s the sound. I find I am not very interested in Cash the Legend one bit, but I cannot get enough of that sound. I am hoping to get a gift card for graduation so I can buy the huge CD Johnny Cash collection (forget the title of it–it’s a multipack), my budget not running to such indulgences at present. Frankly, Elvis (who I’ve always been neutral about) pales in comparison to Cash, as does Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison. Cash has a grit and thrust to his lyrics, but it’s the sound (and the harmony) that I can’t listen to too much. \ I LIKE Linda Ronstadt, well, not her stuff after Nelson Riddle (and even that, having heard those standards via my parent’s old records, well… she’s not the torchiest singer out there). She’s got a great voice and her early stuff is a nice mix of country, folk, blues and rockabilly, even some gospel. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673/60 "2008-05-11T03:34:31Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] Come on now, explain your position. And link that picture. [/QUOTE] Not guun do’it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/join-me-in-throwing-off-the-stigma-barry-manilow-and-neil-diamond/448673.md?page=4)