Today is the 25th Anniversary of John Lennon’s assassination. For a while, the party line was “At least he didn’t live to be such an embarrassment, like Paul.” Well, maybe not the party line, but it’s been said. But here’s the thing- Paul’s still making good albums.
Over at Slate, there’s an article about the new 983-page biography of The Beatles that basically says, “What is there that we don’t already know?”
It makes some good points. Anyway, here’s one of my favorite Lennon solo songs. It sucks that he’s dead, and sucks more that he’s dead because a lunatic shot him.
John Lennon – “God” (MP3 Link Expired)
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That song, coupled with a nice dose of mescaline, helped turn me from a good Methodist church kid into a radical, liberal atheist. It still moves me today.
I guess of all the things I remember about Lennon’s death, the one I can’t get over is that Howard Cosell was the one who told me John was dead. I was sitting in my cramped boarding house bedroom in college watching Monday Night Football on a nine-inch B/W TV. I immediately walked down to the school newspaper to scour the wire services. Several of us then headed for a bar and over took the stereo. The song I picked? “God.”
Hi,
At http://www.kcsn.org/ you can listen on-line form anywhere. On Sundays from 10am to 1pm (Pacific Time)they have a program called “Meet the Beatles” I am telling you!! this guy plays Beatle stuff you’ve never heard. This past Sunday he was of course honoring John Lennon. He played a “demo” version (acoustic guitar only) and a first cut of Strawberry Fields. It was so very awesome! Check out the station, they have great eclectic progrmas. Go to the website and look at the program schedule. Then, there on the home page is a listen now button. – Robert
I still think that song is one of the most soul baring, moving, confessional pieces of music ever recorded. I was listening to Plastic Ono Band the other day while driving and I got chills. Truly one of the most tragic moments in modern music.
John Lennon is so overrated, particularly as a person. This is a guy who yapped non-stop about love and giving peace a chance and imagining no posessions, etc., and yet somehow was an absolute jerk to to everyone who was ever close to him. He pretty much abandoned his son with his first wife, cheated on both of his wives, did all kinds of terrible drugs, publicly ripped Paul basically for being happy, etc.
Meanwhile, Paul is a douchebag just because he wrote sappy songs and actually managed to love and take care of the people in his personal life.
YAWN! Classic rock sucks bro, no one cares anymore… the beatles are for old people.
so what dudes dead, get over it.
post more indie hottness now!!!!
Every December 8 I light a candle and listen to “Imagine.” Just seems like the right thing to do.
mike swiderski seems like a real pleasant person to be around as well…
John Lennon was punker than you.
If by punker, you mean a man more cruel, tempermental, and hypocritical than me, then yeah, so fuckin’ punk, man.
Last year was on Paul McCartney concert and be very pity about it’s no John’s concert.
The “God” song – need to listen, not remember, my memory need refreshing.
R.I.P. Dear John.
yoko is the bee’s knees….
God, I am ready to fight.
is that what punk means, davey? wow! you figured it out. why aren’t you rich?
until you have something as culturally relevant to share with the world as John Lennon did, i suggest you stay at home behind your computer screen, stop judging people you never met, and shut the f up!
pansy ass
Hey, thanks for the post. There is a demo version of the fabulous Lennon song “I Know” up at my blog, too, if you are interested.
lennon started rock n’ roll for white people. the true spirit of it at least. posing nude on “two virgins”, more for honesty than shock. what rock n’ roller would go un-airbrushed these days? along with dylan, these guys wrote about shit that was relevant. lennon is for old people? that’s your opinion. i think his music speaks to this generation a lot more than most bands today. your “rockers” today are more concerned with thier slick look and “hot” videos.
hey!!!!! i luve all rock and roll 50s orginal music such as larry willams and stuff ther all good im only 11 me anit like outher noobs but i luv it all h8 rap h8 football all i like is 50s rock and roll the orginal ones no outher jerk singing it ok noob
hey!!!!! i luve all rock and roll 50s orginal music such as larry willams and stuff ther all good im only 11 me anit like outher noobs but i luv it all h8 rap h8 football all i like is 50s rock and roll the orginal ones no outher jerk singing it ok noob
hey!!!!! i luve all rock and roll 50s orginal music such as larry willams and stuff ther all good im only 11 me anit like outher noobs but i luv it all h8 rap h8 football all i like is 50s rock and roll the orginal ones no outher jerk singing it ok noob
A lunatic shot him? Look a little deeper.
http://www.mackwhite.com/lennon.html
http://www.john-lennon.com/washingtonkilledlennon.htm
I wouldn’t say Lennon started rock ‘n roll for white people. I don’t think even he would say that, as he was such a Buddy Holly, Elvis et. al. fan.
I like his work with the Beatles best of course. I think he was produced better when he was with George Martin, especially his vocals.
Yes, as a person he was flawed. Angry, fearful, arrogant etc.
But nonetheless, his family loved him and he left the world a better place than he found it.