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“Sweet Caroline” has a new chorus geared for the era of social distancing. Neil Diamond, 79, tweeted his timely update of his legendary 1969 singalong anthem Sunday on Twitter. “Hi everybody, this is Neil Diamond, and I know we’re going through a rough time right now, but I love ya, and I think maybe if …
“Sweet Caroline” has a new chorus geared for the era of social distancing.
Neil Diamond, 79, tweeted his timely update of his legendary 1969 singalong anthem Sunday on Twitter.
“Hi everybody, this is Neil Diamond, and I know we’re going through a rough time right now, but I love ya, and I think maybe if we sing together, well, we’ll just feel a little bit better. Give it a try, okay?” says the singer-songwriter in a two-minute clip, tweeted with the caption “Stay safe out there!”
He then sings the track’s well-known lyrics, before getting to the coronavirus-inspired chorus: “Hands . . . washing hands . . . Reaching out . . . don’t touch me, I won’t touch you.”
As of Monday morning, the tweet has garnered over 46,000 retweets and more than 120,000 likes.
The internet beat Diamond to the joke late last month, with viral memes about the song’s hand-related lyrics altered to be about washing and not touching weeks before the artist’s tweet.
Before releasing the funny “Sweet Caroline” remix, Diamond — who recently announced his retirement after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease — offered encouragement to those at the front lines of the pandemic on Saturday.
“Thank you healthcare workers, first responders, supermarket employees, food service and utility workers, delivery drivers and everyone out there who is on the frontlines to keep everyone safe. We applaud you!!!” he tweeted, encouraging people to cheer health care workers from their balconies.
Diamond isn’t the first superstar musician whose work has been co-opted in the name of COVID-19 awareness. A version of The Beatles’ “I Want To Hold Your Hand” was also given a viral update, as was Pink Floyd’s “Hey You.”
Jon Bon Jovi is also using music to bring people together, asking strangers to help him finish writing a song. “These are uneasy times we’re dealing with, but we’re all in this together. I wrote the first verse and the chorus. Write me a verse. Let’s tell your story,” he tweeted on Sunday.
Gal Gadot’s attempt at releasing empowering, coronavirus-related musical content last week went less well.
“We’re all in this together,” says the 34-year-old “Wonder Woman” actress in a star-studded but much-maligned video she posted to her Instagram page on Wednesday. The three-minute clip shows a montage of Gadot, Mark Ruffalo, Will Ferrell and other celebs singing the world peace-promoting track — but critics say they should’ve just donated money instead.
“Imagine all the people . . . Eating all the riiiich,” responded one viewer to the tune of 22,000 likes.
A cover of John Lennon’s famous tune done by a Barcelona, Spain-based pianist from quarantine has gotten much more internet approval.
