Neil Diamond, tuloy sa pag-awit
NAGRETIRO na nga si Neil Diamond sa pagtu-tour dahil sa Parkinson’s disease, ngunit nagsisikap siyang makapagtanghal ulit sa entablado.
“Well, I’m doing pretty well. I’m active. I take my meds. I do my workouts. I’m in pretty good shape. I’m feeling good. I want to stay productive. I still have my voice. I just can’t do the traveling that I once did, but I have my wife there supporting me (and) friends,” aniya nang kapanayamin ng Associated Press.
“It does have its challenges, but I’m feeling good and I feel very positive about. I’m feeling better every day,” dagdag pa niya. “Just dealing with it as best I can, and just keep the music coming.”
Kinansela ng 77 taong gulang ang plano niyang concerts kasabay ng kanyang pahayag na na-diagnose siya na may Parkinson’s disease noong Enero. Gayunpaman, mapapanood pa rin ng fans na magtangal ang icon sa Hot August
Night Ill, isang live concert CD/DVD ng kanyang pagbabalik sa Greek Theatre sa Los Angeles sa Agosto 2012.
Ang two-hour-plus performance niya, tampok ang 33 kanta, para ipagdiwang ang ika-40 anibersaryo ng kanyang orihinal na Hot August
Night live album, ay ini-record din sa Greek sa Agosto 1972.
“It brings back memories — very deep, loving and warm memories,” sabi niya sa kanyang performance. “Playing there and doing music relating to the audience, it was special. It’s a special experience for me.”
Aniya, pinanood niya ulit ang 2012 footage kamakailan, para sa new release, at tinatawag niya itong “one of the best live performances that I’ve done and I’m proud of it.”
“I love the chemistry with the audience and myself. That’s part of the thrill of the whole thing. There’s a little magic involved in it,” sabi niya. “I’m just going to keep on keeping on, and that’s about it.”
“The thing I love most about live performing is that it’s very much in the moment. It’s just something that you really can’t describe,” dagdag pa niya. “You just have to be there and let the moment happen. Let yourself connect with the audience. Let that relationship with the audience express itself. It’s a powerful tool.”
Diamond is one of music’s best-selling singers with a number of hit songs, from Sweet Caroline to
America to Love on the Rocks.”
Isang kanta lamang ang puwede niyang kantahin mula nang ma-diagnose ng Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Sabi niya, hindi niya sigurado kung kaya niyang umawit ng higit pa sa isa, ngunit sabi pa niya: “The only way I could find out is to actually do it.”
“But I think I can and I will give it a try at some point,” he added. “I’m glad to still be around. The fact that I’m still singing well is a bonus and I hope to continue doing it, but in a format that I can handle.”