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On That Note: It Was 40 Years Ago Today

MeanDean

MeanDean

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Jan 5, 2009
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Welcome to the weekly music focused column we call On That Note. It's hosted weekly by myself, @cyclones500 and @CycloneRulzzz

Tonight marks exactly 40 years since John Lennon was killed outside his home at the Dakota apartments in New York City.

Please share anything related to John Lennon. A favorite song, a memory of that night or anything pertaining to the late Beatle that might have touched your life in some way.

I'll share a couple of my favorite John songs to kick things off

***



 
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I’m sticking mostly to Lennon’s solo work. I might delve into some of his Beatles input later (what I consider his “underrated” contribution w/ Fab Four, relatively speaking).

Starting with 2 of my favorites ... each on his mellow/dreamier side



 
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CycloneRulzzz said:
I was only 6 weeks old at the time so I can't add any personal experiences.
Click to expand...
It seems absolutely impossible to think it was 40 years.

I was a newly graduated kid (just turned 25) from ISU in the fall quarter of 1980.
There was a downturn in the economy and few in our class were finding employment. I had been sending out letters since the spring. A few interviews but nothing offered.
So was back home living in my parents' basement (You millennials didn't invent that!)
It was a Monday night. I was actually in my basement room listening to music.
My youngest brother came down and knocked on my bedroom door and told me John Lennon had been shot. I asked if he was dead or what. He didn't know.
Of course I turned on the radio and found out the bad news. Turned to the local rock station and they had already started playing Beatles and Lennon songs.
One of the first ones played was "Anytime At All" It has the lines

If you're feeling sorry and sad
I'd really sympathize
Don't you be sad, just call me tonight

Any time at all, any time at all
Any time at all, all you've gotta do is call and I'll be there

It was at that point that I lost it...

I called my two best friends from ISU who both were fans too.

I basically stayed up all night - a luxury not available had I been employed, of course.

I did finally get a job offer later in the month. December 31st to be precise and started my 30 year career 20 days later.
 
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I consider this an underrated song from Lennon catalog. His only solo No. 1 single in the United States during his lifetime. Backing vocals & piano by Elton John -- there's further story w/ Elton betting John about its chart potential, you can find that story fairly easily. ... Regardless of that I think it has aged well and is simply a solid pop tune.

 
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At that time I was working at a donut shop behind the customer counter. I had to be at work at 4:45 am. I tried to go to bed early so I could get up at 4:00. I didn’t know anything until some customer came in and told us about it. I just remembered being stunned at the news
 
John's best effort: Imagine.
John's worst effort: Yoko Ono
 
I'm a big fan of a capella music, and one group that I really like did an evocative cover video of "Imagine"...which (to me) really brings home what John was trying to say with the song
 
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I was two. All I remember was my mother and or grandmother waking me up in the middle of the night to pee in a coffee can. My Mom was a big Beatles fan so I do kind of remember listening to them in the very early 80's. Oh, I was told I wet the bed until I was three or four years old. :rolleyes:
 
Wow, be careful if you google John Lennon. I had no clue about his personal life besides being married to Yoko.
 
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