"John and Paul exchanged blank looks for a moment. With a distinct lack of enthusiasm, John finally said, ‘Oh, OK, I’ll do something for that.'"
50 years ago today, a grand occasion that didn't much excite The Beatles.
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26 comments:
Very few Ringos in the world, but John, Paul, and George are three of the most common names in English history.
See, It's comments like that that can make the internet a source of great knowledge, inspiration and wonder. You're welcome, but I really can't help it. It's just what I do.
All You need Is Love is a crown jewel? Good Lord! God Save The Queen is a crown jewel.
John, Paul, and George are three of the most common names in English history
So too I'm sure is Richard. But Ringo does fit him better.
And God created the earth in 1960 according to Ann's bible.
There are only two Beatles songs worthy of note, "You say Yes, I say No" sung by a cute girl, and George Harrison's guitar in "Here Comes the Sun."
Don't get me wrong, love is great, love is necessary, love is noble. I'm a big fan of love.
But is it really all you need? What about self-discipline or courage or resilience or patience or a sense humor?
I guess I deny the premise of that silly song. Furthermore, it's not even in the top 30 of the best Beatle songs. Musically, they kinda mailed that one in, sorry.
For Clarity "You say Goodbye and I say Hello" sung by said cute girl, probably listened to on NPR.
Was in London for that broadcast. Big deal at the time. Beautiful song. Listened to it yesterday on Yellow Submarine CD.
John, Paul, and George are three of the most common names in English history.
After the 1st Pope John Paul (named after the two previous Popes, John and Paul) died after only a month, the next Pope took the name of John Paul II.
Not long after, on a Saturday Night Live "Weekend Update" (probably Dennis Miller) announced that the second John Paul died and the new Pope was taking the name (you can see it coming) Pope John Paul George & Ringo.
I guess you had to be there.
"All You Need Is Love" was a dry run for "Imagine".
"Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time" begets "Imagine all the people living for today".
"Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be" begets "Imagine there's no heaven / It's easy if you try / No hell below us / Above us only sky".
"Nothing you can make that can't be made / No one you can save that can't be saved" begets "Imagine no possessions / I wonder if you can / No need for greed or hunger / A brotherhood of man."
"All you need is love, love / love is all you need" begets "Imagine all the people sharing all the world" and "And the world will be as one".
Of course, "Imagine" was a dry run for "Woman Is the Nigger of the World", but that's for another time.
I am Laslo.
From the John Lennon Diaries….
June 24, 2017
Fifty years since “All You Need Is Love”: I’m not sure I even remember that guy as being me. Naive, wasn’t I? A lot has changed since December 8, 1980…
People say I was lucky to survive, and I guess I was. But I still remember that look on Yoko’s face when I came out of the coma: it was like she was disappointed I came back. I think she was looking forward to the role of the Grieving Widow — and the money — and I kinda ruined that by living…
It’s coming on thirty years since the divorce, and yet she still keeps yapping to the press about ‘her days with John.” Sorry, dear: those days are over. Yeah, I fucked Stevie Nicks, but the truth is, we had drifted apart for a long time before that…
Thirty years, and Sean still won’t talk to me, but he DOES cash the checks I send him on his birthday. Yoko traded controlling one Lennon for another, but I still hope he’ll come round…
Paul called the other day: Ringo is short on money again, and wants us to do another tour like we did in 2000. You know, it was a lot more fun than I expected it to be — sometimes my cynicism makes me trip over my own feet, I realize that…
No one listens to my new stuff anymore. Sure, the reggae album was shit, but I’m an artist: I feel I still have something to contribute. But the kids today don’t give a damn about me — I’m just some old fuck he still patters along. Damn: I never cared much for the song, but hell if Paul didn’t see it coming:
Lift up your hearts and sing me a song
That was a hit before your mother was born
Though she was born a long long time ago
Your mother should know / your mother should know.
I am Laslo.
Laslo should Know
Laslo DOES know
Laslo is Da' Man. Classic riff that.
"Trust in God, but keep your gunpowder dry."
--Oliver Cromwell
From the John Lennon Diaries….
September 19, 2001
I’m still in shock about the attacks: the world IS this broken. This is MY NYC, and I still smell the ashes…
They keep trying to get me to participate in a Memorial Charity Concert. I think I’m too old: it’s just pop music. It doesn’t change the world anymore. It never really did…
Of course, they all want me there to sing “Imagine.” Sorry, loves, but I don’t quite believe that way anymore. I meant well, but I’m not immune to the cries of hypocrisy that have been thrown my way. Anyway, Yoko has that piano, now: if it;s THAT important just let Yoko sing it…
I LIKE my life. I’ve been lucky, and I’ve worked my fooking ass off. I live behind doormen and assistants and bodyguards. I know there are people who will try to kill you for no real reason at all. Now people knock down buildings: ‘Imagine’ was dream from a dreamer. Guess what folks? I woke up years ago…
Everyone still wants Peace-and-Love-Lennon. I should say, all the older folks want that. The young don’t care what I say, and why should they? Let someone young carry the burden now…
Meanwhile, my City has been attacked. MY City. Excuse me if I’m not expecting ‘A brotherhood of man sharing all the world; anytime soon...
I never thought I’d say it, but I think we need a little less “Imagine” and a bit more of Paul’s song right now…
“When you were young and your heart
Was an open book
You used to say live and let live
(You know you did)
(You know you did)
(You know you did)
But if this ever changin' world
In which we live in
Makes you give in and cry
Say live and let die
Live and let die”
I am Laslo.
Love is pretty important, but so is beer.
Keith Richards' comment on the song was " it doesn't put food on the table, does it?"
I remembered his comment wrong, what Richards said was "try eating it".
John Lennon wrote quite a few great songs and some bad ones, and was arguably the best singer of rock'n'roll songs ever.
As a political philosopher, he was an idiot.
He was, it appears to me, a weird mix of simple-minded naivete and sharp cynicism.
Sometimes, I think, charitably, that had he lived, he might well have learned better.
They've been going in and out of style,
But they're guaranteed to raise smile.
If only Lennon had lived, he would've won a Nobel Prize.
"If only Lennon had lived, he would've won a Nobel Prize."
For literature (Dylan) or Peace (Obama)?
Read enough interviews with Lennon, and you realize that his opinions depended on the time of day, the types of drugs he ingested, and what Paul said on the phone to him last night.
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