It's December 8 here in Australia, a very sad day for Beatle fans, music fans,and, I guess, many other people.
I was 18 at the time and can recall hearing the news quite vividly now. Hard to believe it's been that long.

RIP John

Look on the bright side... Now you get to hear his music celebrated in wonderful holiday adds with a shitty pop band supplying the feed.  You also get to see how commercially successful the Beatles would've been had they sold out for video games and other things like running shoes and Ipods.  

It's funny... People say U2 are this and that... but you know what, they're smart.  Really smart.  Regardless if Larry Mullin and Adam Clayton go along with Paul and David's shit... U2 has remained relevant with selling out "IPOD withstanding" and they've done so by lobbying themselves into the fold of relevant for the times acts like absurd RAP and HIP HOP and other mindless shit splatters.

It's brilliance, really.  U2 letting Marry J Blige do ONE, and then putting her name first was brilliant.  It let a whole wealth of people who didn't like U2 or never gave them a listen, mainly blacks, a chance to be exposed to them.  

What does this rant have to do with John Lennon?  I'd hope that had he lived a long, long life... He wouldn't have ever taken that route.  I'd like to think that George Harrison and john Lennon would've stopped the absurdity that is the Beatles rockband and all these absurd pointless ads we see today exploiting their music for monetary gain.

Hi Balt!  i wasn't gonna reply cos i wasn't sure what to say. Then i thought, fuck it...

I see your point about the commercial side of the Beatle's legacy. But their empire is very strictly controlled since they broke up. They have never had a song on any compilation, eg, the hits of '68 or something like that.
The idea for Rock Band cam efrom Geroge's son, Dhani. I haven't played the game but the trailers I've seen show it to be very faithful to the Beatle mystique. imagine a shoddy version that had some karoake band playing the songs?!!
At least the kids of today are hearing the originals. I don't have a prob with it.

On the subject of U2, I meant to post stuff the other week, on the music thread.
Ok, straight off, I don't think they are relevant anymore, much the same as Madonna and perhaps, the Stones.
I remember when 'The Unforgettable Fire' came out in '84 - damn brilliant! I loved 'Pride' and it still stands up. That album was their highpoint, IMO, but the next few years they were bringing out good stuff.
I think 'Zooroopa' was when they started trying to make hits instead of emotive statements. The song from 'Batman Forever' in '95 was a sign of trouble even though i liked it. please note I didn't buy any of theirs albums in this time, just going from the songs I heard.
'Beautiful Day' in '01 was ok but 'The Sweetest Thing' was pure cat squirt! A paltry shit pop song with a kindergarten hook.
Since then i have loathed their music more and more, but then, as you point out, Balt, the music industry as a whole is fucked. Don't get me started on coldplay, Nickelback, etc...
If no new music was produced at all, it wouldn't matter - cos ALL THE GOOD SONGS HAVE BEE WRITTEN!
This analogy could apply to movies as well.

Anyway I 've had my say. Cheers to all.

Ah yes. I didn't think you'd let it pass without mentioning it Stevie. God bless you.

Twenty nine years ago now. Jesus, makes you think what might have been.

R.I.P. John.

I lived in a small apartment in Marpole, Vancouver when John passed away. I remember crying. I still have a newspaper insert with he and Yoko that came from a Rolling Stone's cover I believe.

He's definitely one of my favorite artists and his spirit hangs out in my world always.

Love to you John, and loving thoughts to you Yoko and John's dear ones,

Sandra

Quoted from stevie Hi Balt!  i wasn't gonna reply cos i wasn't sure what to say. Then i thought, fuck it... I see your point about the commercial side of the Beatles legacy. But their empire is very strictly controlled since they broke up. They have never had a song on any compilation, eg, the hits of '68 or something like that. The idea for Rock Band cam efrom Geroge's son, Dhani. I haven't played the game but the trailers I've seen show it to be very faithful to the Beatle mystique. imagine a shoddy version that had some karoake band playing the songs?!! At least the kids of today are hearing the originals. I don't have a prob with it. On the subject of U2, I meant to post stuff the other week, on the music thread. Ok, straight off, I don't think they are relevant anymore, much the same as Madonna and perhaps, the Stones. I remember when 'The Unforgettable Fire' came out in '84 - damn brilliant! I loved 'Pride' and it still stands up. That album was their highpoint, IMO, but the next few years they were bringing out good stuff. I think 'Zooroopa' was when they started trying to make hits instead of emotive statements. The song from 'Batman Forever' in '95 was a sign of trouble even though i liked it. please note I didn't buy any of theirs albums in this time, just going from the songs I heard. 'Beautiful Day' in '01 was ok but 'The Sweetest Thing' was pure cat squirt! A paltry shit pop song with a kindergarten hook. Since then i have loathed their music more and more, but then, as you point out, Balt, the music industry as a whole is fucked. Don't get me started on coldplay, Nickelback, etc... If no new music was produced at all, it wouldn't matter - cos ALL THE GOOD SONGS HAVE BEE WRITTEN! This analogy could apply to movies as well. Anyway I 've had my say. Cheers to all.

Meh, U2 are, I believe, still very relivant to their time and cause.  I believe they've got 3 albums left in them and I'm anticipating all of them.  I don't agree with a lot of the things they do or lobby for, but as musicians go... U2 is a cohesive unit that can work on 4 cylinders or, if need be, on 1.  That is what made the Beatles so prolific.  The fact they could work diligently together and power through anything.

Zooropa, to me, incredible... POP... brilliant.  Absolutley mind blowing.  I always said if you know music.  If you know, know music... and you listen to POP and walk away from it saying it sucked... You don't know music.  POP was U2's most ambitious album ever.  It was an album where Edge got to actually "PLAY" his guitar. I encourage everyone to listen to that album and then tell me they have no respect for U2.

So, yeah... I am a huge fan of U2... I'm a huge fan of the Beatles.  I'm a huge fan of music in general.  I've played in a band for about 5 years now - played guitar/drums for 15, if not more.  I have an ear for it and I love music more than anything I can think of off hand...  

On a side note...

I remember seeing this DVD when George Harrison released Brainwashed... and it had him walking thru his Garden and he was clearly cancer riddled, but he was talking about dying and how the world moves in cycles and I always think about that and how powerful that speech was.  I'm a staunch jew, so my views are a tad different than his but his devotion and belief always got me a bit emotional.  

Quoted from Baltis. I remember seeing this DVD when George Harrison released Brainwashed... and it had him walking thru his Garden and he was clearly cancer riddled, but he was talking about dying and how the world moves in cycles and I always think about that and how powerful that speech was.  I'm a staunch jew, so my views are a tad different than his but his devotion and belief always got me a bit emotional.

Strange. I've always had this emotional thing that happens when I watch George Harrison. Well, it's much the same as with the rest of The Beatles really, but here you had me thinking when you said,

"I'm a staunch Jew."

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by that or if you mean it as a metaphor.

For myself, I feel like I could just as well say that I'm a

Staunch Jewish Christian Catholic Protestant...

And you know what?

I wouldn't be lying.

I have had so many friends from different faiths and they are all the same and I feel like they are my brothers and sisters and your post just made me think of that.

You probably only meant it as a more casual remark, but I'm just raising that up for discussion because "staunch Jew" has that heady kind of feel to it.

Sandra

Quoted from Sandra Elstree. Strange. I've always had this emotional thing that happens when I watch George Harrison. Well, it's much the same as with the rest of The Beatles really, but here you had me thinking when you said, "I'm a staunch Jew." I'm not sure exactly what you mean by that or if you mean it as a metaphor. For myself, I feel like I could just as well say that I'm a Staunch Jewish Christian Catholic Protestant... And you know what? I wouldn't be lying. I have had so many friends from different faiths and they are all the same and I feel like they are my brothers and sisters and your post just made me think of that. You probably only meant it as a more casual remark, but I'm just raising that up for discussion because "staunch Jew" has that heady kind of feel to it. Sandra

Meaning, I live, as will I raise my daughter, very orthodox in my day to day life.  I try to, anyways. It can get tough and I do slip... On Sundays more so... The whole writing bit and not working and all that.  I believe in it, I just can't commit to that side of things just yet. I could just as easily have said staunch republican, though. I think they're one in the same.    I was meaning on a holistic side of things...

Quoted from Baltis. Meaning, I live, as will I raise my daughter, very orthodox in my day to day life.  I try to, anyways.  I could just as easily have said staunch republican, though. I think they're one in the same.    I was meaning on a holistic side of things...

My holistic to your holistic--   Your daughter will grow up in good vibrations and with an openness of mind, I have no doubt.

Love,

Sandra

I too recall it vividly. I was 15.

Where have the years gone?

I don't care what anyone else in the business ever does in their life, there will never be another to equal John Lennon.  Never.

This was number one shortly after Lennon's death all over the world. Lennon did many cover versions but very few manage to cover his songs as well as Roxy did with this.



RV