John Lennon's been dead for 28 years today. He's been gone 5 years longer than I've been alive. And yet, everywhere I went today there was a somber air to everything still. Stores playing Lennon tunes instead of the usual ear-splitting Girlicious/Fiddy bullshit, even the most talkative of professors quiet, my mother calling unprovoked just to try to explain that feeling that evening of forced and sudden loss.

I remember 3 years ago when the 25th anniversary of his death rolled around, there were people openly tearing up in public as if it'd just happened.

I love John Lennon's work, and respect what he stood for even in light of his hypocrisies. But December 8th has always been an odd day for me. It's like people are really, genuinely sorry for the loss of Lennon -not as a celebrity or even as a human being, but as a symbol. And this sorrow isn't something I can really hope to understand, because I wasn't there.





R.I.P. John

December 8, a date which will live in infamy in the music world.

I think Lennon's impact is greater than any other on the world of music. Now people can debate that all they want, but, in my lifetime i have never seen the "still" outpouring of fans to Strawberry Fields on this day, something i do every year, its just not like that for any other. Sure people still go to graceland im sure, but Lennon's impact was far greater, because it was much more than music, each person alone has their own influence they have had from Lennon in some respect. As for the hypocrisies they really were no different than any other artist, or human being. Lennon sang of peace and love and yet didnt have it in his own life, but there alot of artists that dont practice what they preach about, that doesnt mean they dont understand them. On a day like today i think more of the ones left behind, Julian, Sean, Yoko and i still feel his closest friend and brother Paul McCartney.

yeah, I'm always thinking of him and listening his music on this date.

I REMEMBER WATCHING THE MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME THAT NIGHT BETWEEN THE MIAMI DOLPHINS & THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, AND HOWARD COSELL SOMBERLY ANNOUNCING THE DEATH OF JOHN LENNON.....WHAT A SAD NIGHT INDEED. THE GAME DIDN'T EVEN MATTER AFTER THAT.....

John is one of our greatest musicians ever! I get very sad each year at this time thinking about how he died. His contribution to music is almost untouchable and his love of humankind even more so.

He will be missed forever.

Imagine what he could be doing today if he were still here with us.

I didnt' really understand the impact Lennon had until I watched that "The US Vs. John Lennon" movie. Because today, our musicians and celebrities take the easy road by not telling the truth in an effort not to offend anyone. Lennon offended people, and told the truth, often to his own detriment. He could have apologized to the US govt. and become a US citizen easy as pie, but instead, he decided to fight the ball busting he was getting by taking them to court because he knew he was right.

It kinda reminds me of that Marvin quote Timmy84 has in his sig, "The artist pays the price so you won't have to pay." That's exactly what happened with John Lennon. He paid the price so society could move forward and evolve. I think part of the reason our society is as fucked up as it is is because our artists aren't telling the truth and taking a stand anymore.

This one's for john...god bless..

john lennon just - like starting over
http://uk.youtube.com/wat...IXX5gFBkfY

This video is great!
Beatles - Don't let me down
http://uk.youtube.com/wat...JAo3k&NR=1

lastdecember said:

I never really understood how fiercely oppositional some people get in their criticism of Lennon in this regard. I don't know that I've ever met a single person who couldn't be called a hypocrite for some reason or another.

guitarslinger44 said:

Plenty of artists these days talk a good lot about peace or love or charity or whathaveyou, but for most of them it comes across more as a PR stunt or a tax write-off. John Lennon got himself in serious trouble with the U.S. government by standing up for what he believed in. That's not something many people would be prepared to do.

That's a great documentary, btw. I bought without even having seen it and I'm glad I did. It's an excellent way IMO for someone like me who wasn't there to get a better understanding of what Lennon meant to people.

I often wonder what the following decades would have been like socially if he hadn't died at the beginning of the 80's.