Latest news with #NeilDiamond
CBC
11 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
Behind the Surrealists' obsession with Indigenous masks
Watch the documentary So Surreal: Behind the Masks on CBC Gem and YouTube Indigenous masks from B.C. and Alaska influenced the work and world view of some of the most well-known modern artists and writers. In the 1930s and '40s, European Surrealists were obsessed with masks from the northwest coast of North America, many of which had been stolen, seized by the government or sold by people who didn't have the right to sell them. In So Surreal: Behind the Masks, Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond investigates how the pieces ended up in the hands of some of history's greatest artists, influencing the work of Max Ernst, André Breton, Joan Miró and others. Diamond begins his quest in New York, where a century-old Yup'ik mask is selling at a high-end art fair alongside works of modern art. Always fascinated by the intersection of Indigenous and mainstream cultures, Diamond attends the fair and learns the mask was once in the hands of the Surrealist Enrico Donati — and that Donati wasn't the only Surrealist who collected Indigenous masks. Intrigued, Diamond sets off to find out how the pieces ended up in Surrealist collections to begin with. Image | SoSurreal-2 Caption: A collage of photos from So Surreal: Behind the Masks shows Surrealist artists and anthropologist (and part of the Surrealist entourage in New York) Claude Lévi-Strauss, bottom right, with their collections of Indigenous masks and other items. (Rezolution Pictures) Open Image in New Tab Diamond's journey takes him to Yup'ik territory in Alaska and down the coast to the lands of the Kwakwa̱ka̱'wakw on B.C.'s southwest coast. These were hot spots for collectors, who came to trade and purchase ceremonial masks at the turn of the 20th century under the guise of salvaging artifacts of "the Vanishing Indian." But some of the masks had been stolen. As Diamond traces the movements of the masks in the early 1900s, he learns of a missing ceremonial raven transformation mask, which was taken from the Kwakwa̱ka̱'wakw on Canada's West Coast more than a hundred years ago. Image | SoSurreal-4 Caption: The Kwakwa̱ka̱'wakw raven transformation mask, top centre — surrendered under duress in Alert Bay, B.C., in 1922 — is currently in the hands of the Duthuit family. (Royal BC Museum) Open Image in New Tab Juanita Johnston of U'mista Cultural Centre and art dealer Donald Ellis have been trying to recover it. Although currently held by the family of French art critic Georges Duthuit, the mask's exact whereabouts are unknown. (The family has not responded to the community's requests for its return.) In search of the Surrealist collections, and with an eye out for the missing mask, Diamond goes back to New York, where the Surrealists and their entourage had stumbled upon the masks during their exile in the Second World War. Then he follows the trail of the masks across the Atlantic Ocean to Paris, where the Surrealists returned after the war, with their acquisitions in hand. Image | SoSurreal-3 Caption: Ceremonial masks were bought, traded and stolen by museum collectors. In some cases, the items were purchased from people who didn't have the right to sell them. Many remain in museums and private collections today. (Rezolution Pictures) Open Image in New Tab In Paris, Diamond meets with Yup'ik storyteller and dancer Chuna McIntyre, who's in Paris to reconnect with the Yup'ik masks that were formerly in Surrealist collections and now hang in museums like the Louvre. Along the way, Diamond meets art scholars and contemporary Indigenous artists who explain the profound impact of these masks on the art and world view of the Surrealists. And throughout his journey, he continues to look for clues about the missing mask. Will the community finally bring it home? So Surreal: Behind the Masks is a detective story, which delves into the complex world of repatriation and access while exploring the meaning and importance of the masks and how they came to influence an iconic art movement.
Daily Maverick
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
SA Chamber of Commerce in the USA ‘aims to strengthen ties between the countries'
In an age where public narratives are often shaped by snippets, headlines and interpretations, I feel compelled to provide a fuller account of the work I do and the principles that guide me. I do so in response to a recent article in Daily Maverick titled, 'Neil Diamond, the man with a list of 67,000 Afrikaner refugee wannabes, is an old ANC comrade.' The South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA (Saccusa) is a non-partisan, independent organisation committed to strengthening economic, trade and investment ties between South Africa and the United States. It was originally established in New York in the mid-80s by expats who worked for South African companies in the United States. For several years, I have been privileged to lead Saccusa. Our mission is grounded in a belief that collaboration, not conflict, is the best path to opportunity for entrepreneurs, professionals and communities across both countries. The recent portrayal of my work and affiliations, particularly in this publication, does not reflect the reality or the intent of what Saccusa represents. Instead of offering readers a balanced view, it framed my role through a limited and often politically coloured lens, suggesting that associations with certain individuals imply allegiance or intent. This is simply not the case. As part of my duties, I interact with a broad spectrum of leaders, government officials, ministers, diplomats, entrepreneurs and civil society figures across political and ideological lines. These interactions are not endorsements; they are part of a necessary and constructive process of economic diplomacy. Saccusa does not operate along political fault lines. Our work is focused on commercial outcomes, policy engagement and bridging a gap that exists due to the absence of formal South African trade representation in the United States. It is unfortunate that, instead of highlighting the broader impact of our work, such as supporting access to Agoa, facilitating bilateral dialogues and promoting investment in job-creating industries, recent coverage has chosen to focus almost entirely on historic episodes, without reference to the progress or contributions made since. Public service, business and leadership in the diaspora space are never one-dimensional. Like so many South Africans, my journey has included its share of both triumphs and lessons. What has remained consistent is my commitment to purpose, to professionalism and to leaving a meaningful impact wherever I have the opportunity to serve. The article misrepresents key facts about me, painting an inaccurate picture of my affiliations and business dealings, and represents them in a way that suggests impropriety on my part and omits crucial facts. Furthermore, the article greatly distorts and/or inaccurately records the chronology of events insofar as it relates to my personal and/or public endeavours, in what one can perceive as an attempt to revive matters that have been conclusively adjudicated in the appropriate legal forums. My public service and/or endeavours do not diminish my right to protect my reputation. Any assertion to the contrary is deceptive. I do not write this piece in anger, but with the hope that it creates space for greater fairness. The story of economic diplomacy between South Africa and the United States is not a personal story, it is a national imperative. It deserves to be told in its full context, without omission or distortion, and with the public interest as its guiding light. As President of Saccusa, I remain committed to building partnerships that uplift businesses, connect communities, and restore confidence in the potential of international collaboration. I hope that we can move beyond character judgments and instead focus on the real work at hand, bridging economies, generating opportunity and representing South African excellence on the global stage. DM
The Guardian
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Harry Kane sings Sweet Caroline as Bayern Munich celebrate Bundesliga win
The striker belted out the Neil Diamond classic as the Bundesliga champions celebrated their league win. The trophy is the first bit of major silverware for Kane
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sixties classic named Britain's No 1 singalong song, ahead of Dancing Queen and Angels
It's a tune so familiar that many of us only need to hear the first few notes before feeling the need to belt it out. And Neil Diamond's Sixties classic Sweet Caroline has now been voted Britain's No 1 singalong song. More than four in ten think the song is perfect for launching into with friends, family – or even strangers in the pub. Abba 's Dancing Queen came second in the survey of 2,000 people, with the Swedish group's Mamma Mia also coming in at No 4. Robbie Williams 's Angels at No 3 and Bon Jovi's Livin' On A Prayer rounded out the top five. Eight in ten said a good sing-song was good for their mental health – while an ambitious 37 per cent are convinced they have a great voice, with 17 per cent even believing they could have made it as a singer with the right training. The research, by menthol lozenge brand Jakemans, found our favourite places to sing are in the shower (45 per cent), the kitchen (36 per cent) and on the way to work (35 per cent). Jakemans brand manager Elizabeth Hughes-Gapper said: 'This research shows how much we as a nation love singing out loud, and the positive impact that it has on our well-being.' Britain's favourite sing-a-long tracks 10) Someone Like You, Adele (21%) 9) Don't Stop Me Now, Queen (21%) 8) American Pie, Don McLean (22%) 7) 500 Miles, The Proclaimers (23%) 6) I'm Still Standing, Elton John (24%) 5) Livin' On A Prayer, Bon Jovi (24%) 4) Mamma Mia, ABBA (24%) 3) Angels, Robbie Williams (25%) 2) Dancing Queen, ABBA (28%)
North Wales Live
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
Sweet Caroline voted Britain's favourite singalong track
Neil Diamond's iconic Sweet Caroline has been voted Britain's favourite song to belt out with friends, family and even complete strangers, according to new research. The famous 1969 track picked up an overwhelming 41% of the vote according to the poll of 2,000 music-loving Brits, with ABBA's Dancing Queen (28%) and Robbie Williams' Angels (25%) placing second and third. Also on the list of the nation's favourite singalong tracks was Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi (24%), I'm Still Standing by Elton John (24%), Someone Like You by Adele (21%) and Wonderwall by Oasis (19%). One in six (17%) say nothing beats belting out Come On Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners, while 16% love to sing-along to Mr. Brightside by The Killers. Other tunes to make our hearts sing include Umbrella by Rihanna (13%), Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon (12%) and Shake It Off by Taylor Swift (11%). In fact, the research by menthol lozenge brand, Jakemans, found that as a nation we love singing so much that 80 per cent think it has a positive impact on their well-being, with 45 per cent admitting that music moves them deeply and 38 per cent saying that it can give them goosebumps. In the shower (45%), cooking in the kitchen (36%), on your commute or in the car (35%), while listening to the radio (33%) and watching TV at home (28%) are the main places that Brits let their singing voices loose, while one in five (16%) can often be found belting out a tune at work. Four in ten (37%) think they have a good singing voice, with almost half (48%) admitting that they listen to singers and think they could do a much better job. A confident sixth (17%) even go so far as to say they could have made it as a pop singer. And according to the study, six in ten (57%) say there's nothing better than showing off their singing skills by coming together as a group to sing, with one in four (25%) saying it uplifts them. 22% feel empowered singing as one, while 18 per cent love the camaraderie. Jakemans spokesperson and celebrity vocal coach, Annabel Williams, said: 'A great sing-along song has that magic mix of a catchy melody and feel-good lyrics that you just can't help but belt out. But it's more than that, singing together actually releases feel-good hormones like oxytocin and endorphins, which boost happiness and bring people closer together. That's why we can feel so marvellous after singing the classics like Sweet Caroline and Don't Stop Believin' with a group.' As a result, this summer 26% are planning to belt out a tune on a family holiday, 21% will be singing along at a concert, 18% will put their singing voice to good use at a sporting event and 18% will be testing their vocal cords at music festivals. Despite planning to flex our vocal cords, two thirds (65%) admit they aren't planning to prepare their throats for action as it isn't something they've thought about (23%), and they believe their voice will recover naturally (23%). It's no surprise then that half (50%) have suffered from a sore throat after singing, with 60% having to stop singing altogether due to a strained throat. Williams added: 'Making sure that you're looking after your voice whilst singing is really important, so you don't do any damage to your vocal cords. Whether you're warming up for a stage performance or belting out your favourite tunes at home, you need to be giving those vocal cords some TLC.' Jakemans' Elizabeth Hughes-Gapper, Brand Manager said: 'This research shows how much we as a nation love singing out loud, and the positive impact that it has on our well-being. Whether, like me, you're part of the 36% who love belting out tunes in the kitchen, or hoping to sing along to your favourite artists at a concert this summer, don't let anything hold back your voice.' BRITAIN'S FAVOURITE SINAGLONG TRACKS Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond – 41% Dancing Queen by Abba – 28% Angels by Robbie Williams – 25% Mamma Mia by Abba – 24% Livin' On A Prayer by Jon Bon Jovi – 24% I'm Still Standing by Elton John – 24% 500 Miles by the Proclaimers – 23% American Pie by Don McLean – 22% Don't Stop Me Now by Queen – 21% Someone Like You by Adele – 21% Don't Stop Believin' by Journey = 20% Hey Jude by The Beatles – 19% Wonderwall by Oasis – 19% Come on Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners – 18% Let it Be by The Beatles – 18% Rocket Man by Elton John – 17% Rolling In The Deep by Adele – 17% Simply The Best by Tina Turner – 17% It's Raining Man by the Weather Girls – 17% 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton – 17% Mr Brightside by The Killers – 16% Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams – 16% Uptown Girl by Billy Joel – 16% Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison – 15% Umbrella by Rihanna – 13% Take On Me by Aha – 13% Like a Prayer by Madonna – 13% Islands in the Stream by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers – 13% Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon – 12% My Way by Frank Sinatra – 12% Shake It Off by Taylor Swift – 11% Murder On The Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor – 11% Night Fever by The Bee Gees – 11% All Night Long by Lionel Richie – 11% Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars – 11%
