Remembering The Late John Lennon On His 72nd Birthday
By Stoogeypedia
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Tuesday, October 9th, 2012 at 11:01 am
Today marks what would have been the 72nd birthday of the late John Lennon, musician, songwriter, iconoclast, humanitarian, tireless champion of trying and raising awareness to find harmony and peace on the planet and immortal icon for millions upon millions of loyal, almost rabid fans.
Lennon had sparkling wit of the Groucho Marx camp, and was very cheeky and gregariously charming in many interviews during The Beatles’ formative years. He sported a sharp mind which sometimes seemed to act as a safety net to when things could get hot with his outspokenness; one of the earliest instances was when he proclaimed that The Beatles were bigger than Jesus. While it arguably may have been true, it was one of the perfect examples of how the words of John Lennon could change people, open their eyes, bring them to terms with themselves. A lot of the words of Lennon, be it in his lyrics for so many of his memorable songs — “In My Life,” “Help,” “Don’t Let Me Down,” “Across the Universe,” “Strawberry Fields,” and “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” and so many more with The Beatles, and solo and collaborative recordings such as “Instant Karma,” “God,” “Imagine,” “Whatever Gets You Through The Night,” “Watching the Wheels,” and “Starting Over,” among others — or the writings in the whimsical and sarcastically cutting-edge books he penned early in his Beatles career (In His Own Write and Spaniard in the Works), or the many, many printed words for scores and scores of interviews done from when he started in the early 1960s right up till his untimely death via senseless assassination in 1980, reflect some of John Lennon himself and it provided a window into the man’s inner psyche, physical, and beyond, and it became a large part of his appeal.
I’m generally not that interested in celebrities, but I’ve had a special feeling about John Lennon since 1964, when I was 9 years old. I always remember him on Oct. 9th, and regret that he isn’t still with us. One can only imagine what more he would have done with all of the time since 1980, had what’s-his-name remained in Hawaii. He was a one of a kind individual. There were some things he did that I don’t admire (like cheating on Cynthia), but also many more he did that I DO admire!
Sometimes I try to imagine what he might look like as an old man. His looks changed much more dramatically over the course of his 40 years, than the vast majority of people. In fact, the doctors and nurses at the hospital he was taken to, after he had been shot, didn’t recognize him. They only knew who he was because his ID said so, and a shocked, grieving, Yoko arrived soon after.
I’ll remember him every year on this date, for however long I am still here to do it!
Excellent article, and I think you!
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I’m generally not that interested in celebrities, but I’ve had a special feeling about John Lennon since 1964, when I was 9 years old. I always remember him on Oct. 9th, and regret that he isn’t still with us. One can only imagine what more he would have done with all of the time since 1980, had what’s-his-name remained in Hawaii. He was a one of a kind individual. There were some things he did that I don’t admire (like cheating on Cynthia), but also many more he did that I DO admire!
Sometimes I try to imagine what he might look like as an old man. His looks changed much more dramatically over the course of his 40 years, than the vast majority of people. In fact, the doctors and nurses at the hospital he was taken to, after he had been shot, didn’t recognize him. They only knew who he was because his ID said so, and a shocked, grieving, Yoko arrived soon after.
I’ll remember him every year on this date, for however long I am still here to do it!
Excellent article, and I think you!
Comment by Monicatoby — October 9, 2014 @ 9:27 pm