Neil Diamond reworks Sweet Caroline to promote hygiene amid COVID-19

Neil Diamond has reworked his jubilant anthem ‘Sweet Caroline’ to reflect the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

As we should all hopefully know by now, hands should not be “touching hands” in this current climate. Diamond has recognised that, in this age where personal hygiene and social distancing is essential, we must have a soundtrack to reflect those societal values.

“Hands/Washing hands/Reaching out/Don’t touch me/I won’t touch you.” he sings in a video, that features his very excellent dog. You can watch it below.

https://twitter.com/NeilDiamond/status/1241584423927074818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1241584423927074818&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpitchfork.com%2Fnews%2Fneil-diamond-rewrites-sweet-caroline-to-promote-hand-washing-watch%2F

Diamond retired from touring two years after revealing that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Neil Diamond is just one of the many musicians using their time in self-isolation to bring music to the people. The past few weeks have ushered in an era of live-streamed concerts, and it’s just about the only thing that has kept us sane.

Over the weekend, 72 Australian musicians banded together for a “socially (media) distanced music festival”.

‘Isol-Aid’ saw the likes of Stella Donnelly, Julia Jacklin, Angie McMahon, Didirri and a bunch more of the most beloved artists in the country execute 20-minute sets on Instagram live. The festival was part of an effort to raise money for those feeling the devastating financial impacts that COVID-18 has had on the Australian music scene. According to I Lost My Gig, the total lost income from cancelled events has been tallied up to $280 million as of March 21st, 11 am.

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