Play Me
"Play Me" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Neil Diamond | ||||
from the album Moods | ||||
B-side | "Porcupine Pie" | |||
Released | August 1972[1] | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Label | Uni 55346[2] | |||
Songwriter(s) | Neil Diamond | |||
Producer(s) | Tom Catalano | |||
Neil Diamond singles chronology | ||||
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"Play Me" is a 1972 song by Neil Diamond from his album Moods. The song, the first single from Moods,[3] was recorded in February 1972 in Los Angeles.[4] It was released as a single in May 1972 and peaked at #11 in the United States[1] in September of that year.[5] It was listed by Billboard as #27 of his best 30 songs.[6]
The "catchy pop-rock"[7] song is a medium-tempo waltz performed in 3/4 time at a standard tempo of 102 bpm.[8] Play Me features broken chords played on the acoustic guitar, courtesy of Diamond's long-time collaborator Richard Bennett.[8] While Bennett had played on a few songs on Diamond's 1971 album Stones, Moods was his first full collaboration with him, establishing Bennett as one of Diamond's essential players, playing on every Diamond album until 1987 and touring with him for 17 years.[9]
Reception
Female praise
Singer/songwriter
Critical acclaim
It is widely praised by critics and musicians as well; it is among the top-ten favorite songs of American writer and critic
Lyrical criticism
The song also has its detractors, and "Play Me" is not the only Diamond song criticized by some for its lyrics. Janice Kennedy said the song was "an exercise in fingernail-on-blackboard painfulness: 'Song she sang to me, song she brang to me.'"[17] American humorist Dave Barry also cited those lines, claiming that they made him like the song.[18] Martin Pearson also criticised that line, commenting "Ugh! It's "brought", you horrible little American!"
Academic Criticism
This song has also created significant debates in academic circles regarding the development of language and meaning within language, especially within the context of popular American songwriting. "If "moose" pluralizes to "moose", but "goose" pluralizes to "geese", then why can't the word "brang" be used as the past participle of "bring" instead of "brought"?. Who says that "brought" is sacrosanct in that case?" argued singer-songwriter
Chart history
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Notable covers
- Gene Ammons[25] appears on album Got My Own.
- Jose Feliciano[26]
- Josh Groban[27][28]
- U2[8]
- In 2008, Kate Ceberano recorded a version for her album So Much Beauty.
References
- ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (9 December 2006). "Neil Diamond's Top Singles". Billboard. p. 57. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "Top 40 Easy Listening". Billboard. 26 August 1972. p. 36. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ISBN 978-1-55022-707-9. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "Talent in Action". Billboard. 19 February 1972. p. 16. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-8108-5129-0. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-8230-7738-0. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-87930-653-3. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-306-81835-6. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Childs, Zac (3 May 2007). "Features— Artists: Richard Bennett". Vintage Guitar. Archived from the original on 8 March 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Powers, Ann (13 December 2000). "Pop Review: A Tribute by So Many to Interpret a Solitary Man". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Block, Debbie Galante (9 December 2006). "Playing Favorites". Billboard. pp. 38ff. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Johnson, Caitlin (29 April 2008). "After 40 Years, Neil Diamond Is Still Shining". MSNBC. Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Neil Diamond offers concert audience a refund". Reuters. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Radio Action and Pick Singles" (PDF). Billboard. August 19, 1972. p. 50. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. July 29, 1972. p. 22. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. August 12, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
- The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 1 May 2010. [dead link]
- ISBN 978-0-7407-0600-4. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ a b Dr. Lee Shultz Creative Writing Series. March 1989. David Persons: Writing Songs From Creative Writing Models.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Neil Diamond - Play Me". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1972-10-07. Retrieved 2019-02-24.
- ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 7, 1972". Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
- ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
- ^ "Programmer's Potpourri". Billboard. March 31, 1973.
- ^ Bessman, Jim (9 December 2006). "Mining Diamond's Catalog". Billboard. pp. 58–65. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Donahue, Ann (7 February 2009). "Stars Salute Neil Diamond At MusiCares Event". Billboard. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Boehm, Kristin; Marisa Laudadio (7 February 2009). "Inside the All-Star MusiCares Tribute to Neil Diamond". People. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2010.