Every once in a while, I really get into music, especially comparisons of various artists. In 1966, Neil Diamond released his debut single, Solitary Man. It has been covered by a number of artists, each with a different approach to the music.
The basic song is about a man who had two prior loves, one who cheated on him and one who just didn’t work out. He is resigned to being a “Solitary Man” – a very sad song which shows how the man has been hurt in the past and how he is wary of what the future holds. What the song doesn’t say, but which seems obvious to me from the general tone of the song is that the ’solitary man’ is so leery of being hurt again that he won’t reach out enough to find “a girl who’ll stay and won’t play games” – thereby condemning himself to staying alone…
Since Neil Diamond’s recording, the song has been covered by Johnny Cash, Chris Isaak, and the Finnish band HIM. I personally prefer the Isaak version, but that’s probably because I really like Isaak in general.
First, Neil Diamond’s version (live, 1971).
In 1993 it was recorded was by Chris Issak (Tonight Show, 1993).
Next, Johnny Cash’s take on the song (2000).
Then the Finnish band HIM (The Domme, 2004).
Let me hear what you think…
Bonus song – Chris Isaak, King Without a Castle:
I’m going to have to vote for the Finnish band HIM. It has a lot more energy and the emotions are obvious.
The Neil Young version is the best. Love that song!
Duane
I’m a huge fan of all three of the first guys, Neil, Chris and Johnny. Chris has something incredibly poignant about his tone and delivery that makes this song work for him best. I couldn’t even listen to the whole version by HIM. Call me a folk/county purist I suppose.
I do think it interesting that none of the versions ever made a blip on the charts, considering the subject matter, and how common the emotional experience expressed in the lyrics is, for both men and women.
Maybe it fits into a pattern I’ve seen, which is that most people don’t stay solitary for very long, even if they say they will. When I got a divorce 10 years ago, I was required to attend state mandated parenting classes [required of all Tennessee residents filing, who have children]. The only thing of any value I took away from the class was a statistic that shocked me. The instructor said 80% of us in the class would be remarried within 2 years! I couldn’t even imagine that, and determined I wouldn’t be one of them. True enough lots of opportunities came along, but by the time I’d been single for 5 years I decided that I was probably too hooked on my own independence to ever give it another whirl.
Sometimes the greatest respect you can show for marriage is to stay out of it. I understand the sentiment of Solitary Man, well.
Thanks for lightening up the day, bubba I’ll listen to your bonus Chris and then put the tissue away and move on to get some work done.
I like Johnny, but not as much on this song (of course, he won a Grammy for it, IIRC, so what do I know?)…
Chris just has something unique about his delivery – can’t quite pin it down, but it works for him…
HIM’s version got as high as #9 in Britain, but didn’t do anything to speak of over here.
Neil’s version only hit #21 here, but I don’t know what (if anything) Cash and Isaak hit.
Show tunes? Neil Diamond? Oh go on, confess, yer gay!
LOL, I guess up north that might be the case, but in Texas one can still appreciate good music without worrying about his masculinity…
But hey, if that type of thing worries you, don’t listen to it…
LOL – that’s one of the best laughs I had this week…
Oh come on, not even just a <>little bit.<>
You’re so “Saving Silverman” Blues.
Pharisee,
It’s not a show tune. Have you ever heard Johnny Cash sing a “show tune”?
Careful Blues, it looks like he’s fishing for a new boyfriend.
Ditto on the great laugh!
Neil’s version is the best for me.
BTW – What kind of man is giving up already after two failures?
Blues ain’t gay ..
<><>< HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ild8w0rHQU" REL="nofollow">….not that there’s anything wrong with that<><><>
Oh, a few posts back, Blues was comparing versions of a “Show Tune.” From Les Miz.
Hugh,
Taking a lady to a show does wonders for you if you want to go further…
Let me know when you are ready for lesson two…
LOL
True story. I once dated a bubba that had lifetime season tickets with reserved, engraved seating. He had a twin, and I learned to call them “the boys”.
My very first trip to the fourth row lifetime seats went something like this:
We arrived and I looked stunning in a long black velvet dress, cut up to you-know-where, in heals I had no business being in. Within the first 10 minutes of the production, the boys had knocked a margarita all over me. I was cold and sticky, but stuck it out.
At intermission, they both jumped up, looked at me and said, “Would you like to go to the ladies room”?
I’m a woman, of course I did. My date proceeded to grab my hand and literally started dragging me behind him, in a most oddly caveman way. Before I knew it we were following his brother, the other boy, out a door behind the curtain marked “Emergency EXIT ONLY”.
From there we flew down the streets of down town San Antonio. The heals were not working so well for me. I had no choice but to keep up because I was still dragged by the hand behind the bubba. I’m not sure how many blocks we ran, before entering the garage of a big hotel, where I was whisked through another door marked “Emergency EXIT ONLY”, to find myself in the plush lobby of the hotel.
Finally releasing my hand, the boys stood side by side smiling from ear to ear, “Isn’t this great? No waiting in line!”, as they pointed at the ladies room door. They were so proud of themselves. “Hurry up now, we have to be back before the curtain goes up!”
I limped into the bathroom, took care of business, attempted to run something through my hair, which was looking like carpet mill seconds now. I tried to get some of the sticky margarita off my uh…chest, schmeared on some lipstick and went back out to meet my fate.
A few minutes later, going back exactly as we came, running through the streets, through the emergency doors, and I was back in my engraved seat.
I actually went out with that bubba again. Theater does go a long way.
:::SNORT!:::
I momentarily thought that I might actually agree with Duane on something. But then, sadly, I reread Duane’s post. Wrong again Duane, it’s Neil Diamond. And we were about to get so close.
Gotta vote for Neil. How smooth and heartfelt!
Next, the Finnish Group.
Cash sounded horrible IMHO. I think the Grammy was a prize to make him go away.
– Stamp
PS anon May 23, 2009 5:27 PM who posted that Seinfeld clip LMAO!