Neil Diamond Covers Adam Sandler’s “Chanukah Song” for New CD
September 29, 2009 9:52 p.m. by Tony Sclafani
Give Neil Diamond credit for having a sense of humor. Lately, he seems to be reveling in the fact that a new generation of fans like his music for ironic or campy reasons, thanks to things like that Neil Diamond cover band in the film “Saving Silverman.”
And he also seems to be making it a point to connect with people under, oh say, age 50. He’s apparently down with both Limp Bizkit and the Jonas Brothers, and now he’s gone and covered Adam Sandler’s comical “Chanukah Song” for his forthcoming Christmas CD, “A Cherry, Cherry Christmas” (the “Cherry, Cherry” is a reference to his 1966 hit single).
An MP3 of the tune appeared today as a download courtesy of AOL Spinner, which has a short article on Diamond. And you know what? It’s not half bad. It’s pretty refreshing to hear Diamond’s baritone on a song that’s not totally earnest. There’s something lost, though, since you don’t get to hear the audience’s laughter like you do in Sandler’s rendition. Diamond apparently still retains some of his uncoolness, though: he changes the song’s “smoke your marijuanica” line to “don’t smoke your marijuanica.”
But it’s more musical, if that matters to anyone — there’s even a bitchin’ guitar solo at the end. And sticklers for details should know Diamond covers the first version of the “Chanukah Song.”