Will Ferrell in VH1 Storytellers: Neil Diamond

If you've read any of my guides, you probably know of my love for Will Ferrell (Ultimate Ferrell Guide and More Cowbell!!) and Neil Diamond (Neil Diamond Concert). So it should come as no surprise that one of my favorite Saturday Night Live (SNL) sketches is the VH1 Storytellers: Neil Diamond sketch. In it, Will Ferrell plays Neil Diamond - one of the great songwriters and singers of the last 50 years... and also one of the most straight-laced and clean musicians in the industry. Thats where the sketch takes off - playing Neil Diamond, Will Ferrell explains the stories behind some of his great songs - which surprisingly all have dark pasts and roots. Below are some of the stories behind the great Neil Diamond songs:

Sweet Caroline

Neil Diamond (Will Ferrell): "Thank you. That, of course, is "Sweet Caroline". I wrote that song after a big show at the Forum. Gary and I had been drinking pretty heavily, and we were driving.."

Bass Player (John Goodman): "Oh, I can't believe you're gonna tell this story.."

Neil Diamond (Will Ferrell): "Ha ha ha ha ha! Yeah, well, we were driving down this dark road, and I hit a kid. [the crowd reacts with stunned silence.] So, we got out, and sure enough he was dead. So, we just took off. Pretty fast. And two hours later, I wrote "Sweet Caroline". Sweet Caroline. Good times never seemed so good. Thank you.

Coming To America

Neil Diamond (Will Ferrell): "This next song, you all might like. Few people know that I am fueled creatively by my massive hatred of immigrants. [intro to "America"] Gary and I have gone on for hours about how much we hate foreigners. Right, Gary?"

Bass Player (John Goodman): "Leave me out of this, man."

Neil Diamond (Will Ferrell): "NO, I WILL LEAVE YOU IN!! Well, my love of this great and beautiful nation, and my hatred of all [non-American people] led me to write this. On the boats and on the trains. They're coming to America. Never looking back again. Just do the best you can!"

The band members start telling him to shut up, Neil screams at them.

Neil Diamond (Will Ferrell): "I'll smack you in the mouth, I'm Neil Diamond!"

Unfortunately this great skit isn't included on either of the Saturday Night Live Will Ferrell Greatest hits (Will Ferrell Vol 1 or Will Ferrell Vol 2). This is because Neil Diamond turned furious at Saturday Night Live and Will Ferrell for this impersonation. On those DVDs, however, you will get some excellent impersonations by Ferrell including Robert Goulet.

Note: Neil Diamond is currently still on his 2005 Concert Tour - if interested, check eBay for Neil Diamond Tickets


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