Five Best...Terribly Awesome Cover Songs

#5. Neil Diamond's "Kentucky Woman" by Deep Purple

#4. Wings' "Live and Let Die" by Guns 'N' Roses...or...Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Guns 'N' Roses.

#3. Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours" by the California Raisins

#2. Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by the Maynard Ferguson Big Band

#1. The Village People's "YMCA" by Gregorious

Here's an actual good one: I confess that I thought "Good Lovin'" was a Young Rascals original, but little did I know that it was first recorded by the Olympics. Here's there version, which is sort of like a cover for me, thinking the way I did. It's a great song, no matter who sings it--even the Dead.

Five Best...Jerusalem Songs

I only got back from Israel a few hours ago, and am too tired to write much about my trip, but here's a themed post still:

#5. "With a Shout" by U2

We're gonna be there again
Jerusalem, Jerusalem

#4. "Jerusalem" by Matisyahu

Jerusalem, if I forget you,
Fire not gonna come from me tongue.
Jerusalem, if I forget you,
Let my right hand forget what it's supposed to do

#3. "Jerusalem" by Neil Diamond

Well I was rollin'
On the way to Jerusalem
I was headed for the Promised Land
And nothing make me go against the tide
But I took a little turn, yeah
Was on the way to Jerusalem
What's another day more or less
You pay your money
And you take your ride

#2. "This Year" by the Mountain Goats

There will be feasting and dancing in Jerusalem next year
I am going to make it through this year, if it kills me

#1. "Blind Willie McTell" by Bob Dylan

Seen the arrow on the door post
Saying, "This land is condemned
All the way from New Orleans
To Jerusalem."
I traveled through East Texas
Where many martyrs fell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Hello Again, Mr. Diamond

My friend, William, sent me a video the other day entitled “Neil Diamond Goes Wild.” The clip is from a Neil Diamond TV special in which the crowd looks like it’s about to attack the stage because of its close proximity and how devoted to Diamond they are. It “Goes Wild” because Diamond is performing “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show” and it looks like he’s about ready to speak in tongues at any second. He also has the crowd so under this thumb that it reminds me of a sermon Jerry Falwell or another evangelist would give to the needy thousands looking for salvation.

Very few artists can induce this kind of trance upon their listeners and, although I don’t exactly feel the need to throw my underwear at him, Neil Diamond has this musical-masochistic quality. By that, I mean that by no ways do I believe he’s a great songwriter, singer, actor, etc. but I still listen to his material on a pretty regular basis.

For instance, just the other day, I listened to Hot August Night II. The album has all the hits on it you’d ever want: “Cherry, Cherry,” “Sweet Caroline,” “Thank the Lord for the Night Time,” “Kentucky Woman.” And I absolutely love it. I know it’s not good, but I continue to listen to it in the same way that a masochistic enjoys hurting themselves even though they know it’s wrong.

Of course inflicting pain on yourself and Neil Diamond are rather far apart from one another, but I’m sure I can find plenty of people who disagree—and also give a comment about their ears being pain when hearing “Love on the Rocks” for the 357th time.

I mean, you’ve really got to love Neil Diamond in order to enjoy “Dry Your Eyes.” And, sadly, I do.