I saw a movie with David Spade where he performs "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show." Can't remember the name of the film. Spade played a caterer who was trying to convince a bank president that he's innovative enough to deserve a small business loan to start a new restaurant. He catered some society event where Neil Diamond was supposed to appear but couldn't make it at the last moment. In order not to disappoint the bank president's wife on her birthday, Spade jumped onstage and lip-synched the number himself. A rival character pulled the plug on Diamond's vocal track and exposed Spade for lip-synching, but he continued the performance in his own voice. Happy ending: got the loan, the restaurant, and some French girl with a little dog, too.
I don't follow Neil Diamond's political activities, so I can't comment on anything but his music, which has definitely stood the test of time. There have been other interesting cover versions of his work over the years in movie soundtracks, too. It's 4:00 am as I'm typing this, so I keep drawing mental blanks, sorry. I wish I could remember the name of the group who did "Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon" and what film it was in -- "Pulp Fiction," maybe? Please correct me if I'm wrong.
My own favorite Neil Diamond song is "Solitary Man."
Pleasant dreams, y'all...
"Urge Overkill" was the group and, you're right, it was Pulp Fiction. I don't know why Tarentino did not use Neil Diamond's version, as the two versions are very similar.
My own favorite Neil Diamond song is "Solitary Man." --- I respect Diamond as a writer, but do not particularly enjoy his vocals. But "Solitary Man" is a great song and his version is excellent.