Neil Diamond – “Holly Holy” Live

Best Live Version of “Holly Holy”

“Holly Holy” was written by Neil Diamond. It was quite a hit following “Sweet Caroline” after being released as a single on October 13, 1969. It peaked on number 6 in the U.S. pop singles chart and was certified gold and eventually, reached platinum status. This song was heavily influenced by gospel music and later became part of Neil’s 1969 album, “Touching You, Touching Me.” It has also been included in several compilation albums.

In an interview with the BBC, Diamond said of this song: “What I tried to do was create a religious experience between a man and a woman, as opposed to a man and a god.” This features a Gospel choir and a string section arranged by Lee Holdridge. — David Wild

Because it was a success, this song was covered by several other artists namely Jr. Walker & the All Stars, Nancy Sinatra, UB40 and Charice. It was also a soundtrack for “Holy Smoke!”

It begins quietly with acoustic guitar against a bass line, with the sparse lyric stretched with elongated vowels. Gradually the arrangement builds up with a tempo shift in the bridge and a backing choir against strings lasting throughout.

Aside from the song itself, what I also love about this video is the audience. They showed so much passion for Neil and his music and it’s undeniable how he can still mesmerize his fans with his classic songs. It amazes me that though many years have passed, Neil’s fire is burning brighter than ever!