Introduction
โSong Sung Blueโ is one of Neil Diamondโs most enduring and beloved works. Released in May 1972 on his album Moods, the song became his second solo No. 1 hit in the United States, topping the Billboard Hot 100 in the week of July 1, and spending twelve weeks in the Top 40. In addition, it held the No. 1 spot for seven weeks on the adult contemporary chart. In the UK Singles Chart, it reached No. 14.
What makes โSong Sung Blueโ particularly interesting is how Diamond conceived its melody: he drew inspiration from the second movement (the โAndanteโ) of Mozartโs Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467. As critics have noted, the wistful, lyric simplicity of Mozartโs movement translated surprisingly well into pop form โ supporting Diamondโs lyrical theme that music itself has the power to transform sadness.
Musically, โSong Sung Blueโ is built around a gentle guitar strum, soft Fender Rhodes electric piano, pastoral strings, and harmonica touches. Diamond later said he never wrote a bridge for the song โ it was a โvery basic message, unadorned.โDespite its apparent simplicity โ or perhaps because of it โ the song resonated deeply with listeners. In live concerts, it became one of Diamondโs staples, often performed with audience sing-alongs.
โSong Sung Blueโ also earned Grammy nominations in 1973 for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year (though both awards went to Roberta Flackโs *โThe First Time Ever I Saw Your Faceโ). Over time, the song came to symbolize the bittersweet universality of feeling blue: Diamondโs lyric invites us to turn melancholy into melody, suggesting that singing a sad song may itself be a form of solace.