more Caroline...

Sweet Caroline is the only tune I can think of where an audience has sang along to a horn part. Amazing. Arranger should get a lifetime grammy for that alone. In the past fifty years of pop music history, there's been alot of songs, alot of hits...and somehow Sweet Caroline comes out on top...mystifying...

Sweet Caroline

Sweet Caroline. Written and performed by Neil Diamond. A song written in a Memphis hotel room the night before a recording session in 1968 that went to number 4 on the charts. Will some one please explain to me why this tune is the most popular sing along today?

I confess I have googled and been unable to find out enough about the origins of it's resurgence to asuage my obsession. Wikipedia says it's popular in Ireland and the UK at weddings. The Red Sox play it between innings. College marching bands. Movie soundtracks.

Here's my basic working theory of the moment. An innocuos, easy listening, mid-tempo, late 60's, throw away ditty that is a little catchy goes viral after a few frat boys and/or Irish football fans latch onto it in a druken stupor. A testament to how something can innocently spread. On one hand a sound theory but on the other completely ridiculous. Why this song? I could get specific about why it is a poorly written song and fill page after page. Is it because a bad song lends itself to this role? I feel compelled to delve into the sociological and mystical aspects of popular music, mob-mentality and group consciousness, ritual, modern culture trends, etc. when trying to unravel and resolve this puzzling phenomena...how silly...just a tune, no big deal...nope,not there yet...please help me...more later...