"You say it's your birthday. It's my birthday, too, yeah."
No, it's not my birthday. But it would be his, were he still with us. Happy birthday, John.He was a giant, and his career cast a long shadow over music, over his generation, and over me personally. John was never one of those artists who was afraid to let his world view inform his art. He was aware that there were those out there who just wanted him to stay a "mop top" forever, to do fun music that didn't make them think. But he understood that the role of the artist always has been to challenge the status quo. I loved him for his uncompromising courage in this area.
Just because he knew how to articulate what he saw around him and set it to music doesn't mean that's all he did. Not by a long shot. Now that I've given him his props for his message music, I want to shine a spotlight on one of my favorite (and lesser known) Lennon CDs, Rock'n Roll. If this CD has a message, it's simply that early rock can fill us all with joy. I still miss the old boy, but I'm grateful I can still hear these 13 songs through my iPod headphones whenever I feel like celebrating his life.
1. Be-Bop-A-Lula
2. Stand by Me
3. Medley: Rip it up/Ready Teddy
4. You Can't Catch Me
5. Ain't That a Shame
6. Do You Want to Dance?
7. Sweet Little Sixteen
8. Slippin' and Slidin'
9. Peggy Sue
10. Medley: Bring It on Home to Me/Send Me Some Lovin'
11. Bony Maronie
12. Ya Ya
13. Just Because
I was 12 years old when the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan for the first time. I never became a Beatles fan, though (like most of my generation) I know the words to most of those early songs. I did later love John and mourned his death. Not a Yoko fan at all. I will look up that album and get it saved on my Spotify.
ReplyDeleteI have often wondered what he would be like in this world of social media. I imagine him a wise sage Tweeting.
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