Has it been 25 years?
Saturday, December 10, 2005 by fervc | Discussion: Music
I can clearly remember where I was when I heard that John Lennon was shot. Yes, it is understandable to remember where you were when a President has been assasinated or terrorist has attacked a country, but when a rock star has died? It just goes to show how much of an impact The Beatles had on society and on the world as a whole. First, let me backtrack a little. When I was in Jr. High back in 78/79 I stumbled upon my parent's copy of "Meet the Beatles". I had heard "I want to hold your hand" but nothing else off that album. I put on the album and I must have listened to "I saw her standing there" over and over for more than an hour. I was hooked. I spent my weekly allowance at the record store buying every Beatles and solo album I could get. I rarely listened to anything else during that time. Forward again to December 8, 1980. About 11:30pm or so everyone was crashed for the night, usually my dad will be watching something on TV till the late hours, but not this night. The phone began ringing, but no one woke up to get it. Turns out it was my cousin frantically calling me, he was watching Monday Night Football and heard Howard Cossell announce Lennon's death. Well, around 5:00am I woke up and could not go back to sleep, so I turned on the radio, and the announcer said,"This is for the late John Lennon. " and began playing Springteen's "Jungleland". I couldn't believe it at first, "Did he just say the late John Lennon?" I knew that if they played (Just like)Starting Over" after this song then it was true. As soon as "Jungleland" ended the opening bells of "(Just like)Starting Over" came on. My heart sunk. I couldn't believe it. I ran to turn the TV news on and a huge crowd had gathered overnight in front of the Dakota apartment where Lennon was shot. It was pretty much the only news story the TV stations were running. When I went to school that morning people were coming up to me asking me if I was OK, like I had lost a close family member. That's how hooked I was on The Beatles.
Twenty-five years later what stands out to me about Lennon's legacy is probably the most overlooked part of his life. After years of searching for meaning in life, from art school, to rock-n-roll, to LSD, to the Maharishi, to Yoko, to the avant garde, to Timothy Leary, to Primal Scream therapy, to heroin, to druken binges in Hollywood, to political activism, Lennon seemed to be the most content in his life when he stayed at home, baking bread, raising his son, and talking long walks through Central Park with Yoko and Sean. In other words it was the simple and sometimes mundane things in life that, in the end, had the most meaning to him. Something I think we all need to remember.
Twenty-five years later what stands out to me about Lennon's legacy is probably the most overlooked part of his life. After years of searching for meaning in life, from art school, to rock-n-roll, to LSD, to the Maharishi, to Yoko, to the avant garde, to Timothy Leary, to Primal Scream therapy, to heroin, to druken binges in Hollywood, to political activism, Lennon seemed to be the most content in his life when he stayed at home, baking bread, raising his son, and talking long walks through Central Park with Yoko and Sean. In other words it was the simple and sometimes mundane things in life that, in the end, had the most meaning to him. Something I think we all need to remember.
terpfan1980
Reply #2 Saturday, December 10, 2005 5:26 PM
Reply #2 Saturday, December 10, 2005 5:26 PM
I definitely remember where I was when Lennon was gunned down so needlessly. I was heartbroken by the news. Lennon had just put out a new album. One that was getting mixed reviews, but which contained some of his best work in many ways.
I was a bit young to be a big Beatles fan, but I definitely knew their works, and was a fan of most of it. I later really came to appreciate the genius in a lot of the works I had missed over time. Let it Be and some of the other late albums were truly impressive. Not to mention the early works that set the stage for a lot of what followed.
There's a lot of other artists I wouldn't have shed a tear over, but Lennon is one that I still miss.
Thanks for the reminder on the anniversary, sad though it may be.
I was a bit young to be a big Beatles fan, but I definitely knew their works, and was a fan of most of it. I later really came to appreciate the genius in a lot of the works I had missed over time. Let it Be and some of the other late albums were truly impressive. Not to mention the early works that set the stage for a lot of what followed.
There's a lot of other artists I wouldn't have shed a tear over, but Lennon is one that I still miss.
Thanks for the reminder on the anniversary, sad though it may be.
fervc
Reply #3 Saturday, December 10, 2005 10:57 PM
Reply #3 Saturday, December 10, 2005 10:57 PM
Thanks for the nice comments terpfan and PAN tree.
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Reply #1 Saturday, December 10, 2005 3:55 PM