I was 15 in 1980, when John Lennon turned 40.
It was exciting, as one of my favorite Beatles was releasing a new album. I say "one of" because, from time to time, each have been my "favorite". But I was a kid and I was a Beatles fan, so I was sure that since John was coming out of retirement, it meant there was a chance they would get back together.
I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt that way. And since I was 15, I didn't understand anything about the reasons they split up, or what they had each done on their own during the 70's. It just seemed obvious to me that this was a new beginning, and that we just might be close to new Beatles music!
Again, I was 15. And even though, as a teenager, I knew everything, I really didn't know anything.
"Double Fantasy" came out, and I was a little disappointed. John was really on only every other song, while Yoko had the other ones. I didn't know that, at the time, John had had enough of all the harassment in the press about him and his wife, so he'd decided that they would always be photographed together and that his albums would also be half hers.
It was exciting, as one of my favorite Beatles was releasing a new album. I say "one of" because, from time to time, each have been my "favorite". But I was a kid and I was a Beatles fan, so I was sure that since John was coming out of retirement, it meant there was a chance they would get back together.
I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt that way. And since I was 15, I didn't understand anything about the reasons they split up, or what they had each done on their own during the 70's. It just seemed obvious to me that this was a new beginning, and that we just might be close to new Beatles music!
Again, I was 15. And even though, as a teenager, I knew everything, I really didn't know anything.
"Double Fantasy" came out, and I was a little disappointed. John was really on only every other song, while Yoko had the other ones. I didn't know that, at the time, John had had enough of all the harassment in the press about him and his wife, so he'd decided that they would always be photographed together and that his albums would also be half hers.
There weren't CDs back then, so listening to the album meant listening to the whole album. Or getting up every three or four minutes to skip songs, which risked scratching the record.
My feelings toward that album changed a lot a couple months later, when we lost John. And even though it's been thirty-two years, I still feel a little sad at the sound of those first three tings of the triangle at the beginning of "(Just Like) Starting Over".
I don't want to turn John into some kind of saint, though I know that's the tendency when we lose someone young, with so much promise and potential never realized. Certainly there would have been more music. Would there have been that fab reunion? Would we have had the chance to see John on tour? Would he have made the shift into the MTV generation of the 80's?
And what about today? Would he still be recording? Maybe performing with one or both of his sons? Would he be a judge on "American Idol"?
There was no Facebook in 1980. No Internet. Even so, John has a presence here. There's an official website, where you can read about John, watch videos and even buy stuff.
My feelings toward that album changed a lot a couple months later, when we lost John. And even though it's been thirty-two years, I still feel a little sad at the sound of those first three tings of the triangle at the beginning of "(Just Like) Starting Over".
I don't want to turn John into some kind of saint, though I know that's the tendency when we lose someone young, with so much promise and potential never realized. Certainly there would have been more music. Would there have been that fab reunion? Would we have had the chance to see John on tour? Would he have made the shift into the MTV generation of the 80's?
And what about today? Would he still be recording? Maybe performing with one or both of his sons? Would he be a judge on "American Idol"?
There was no Facebook in 1980. No Internet. Even so, John has a presence here. There's an official website, where you can read about John, watch videos and even buy stuff.
There are also official Facebook and Twitter pages. He even has his own YouTube channel!
There's also a website with a live video feed from the Imagine Peace Light Tower in Iceland. While John may or may not have been involved with an online store or social media site, this seems like something he would have done. Not only does that site have the video feed, but there's a rotating image of the Earth, showing spots where others are viewing that page, all over the globe.
John would have been 72 today. That's a little hard for me to wrap my brain around. I'm already older than he ever got to be. And so is Julian.
I'm doing my best to celebrate John today, and not mourn. He gave us such amazing gifts during his career, with and without the Beatles.
Happy Birthday, John.
So here's what shuffled out today from my John Lennon playlist...
"Working Class Hero"
"Hound Dog" (live)
"#9 Dream"
"Power To The People"
"Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out"
"Instant Karma (We All Shine On)"
"I Saw Her Standing There" (live with Elton John)
"Mind Games"
"Ain't That A Shame"
"Nobody Told Me"
Ken
I'm doing my best to celebrate John today, and not mourn. He gave us such amazing gifts during his career, with and without the Beatles.
Happy Birthday, John.
So here's what shuffled out today from my John Lennon playlist...
"Working Class Hero"
"Hound Dog" (live)
"#9 Dream"
"Power To The People"
"Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out"
"Instant Karma (We All Shine On)"
"I Saw Her Standing There" (live with Elton John)
"Mind Games"
"Ain't That A Shame"
"Nobody Told Me"
Ken
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