Monday, December 8, 2008

Remembering John Lennon

On this anniversary of the darkest day in Beatles History, we remember John Lennon. It's hard to believe that 28 years have passed since people in the U.S. heard that horrible announcement by Howard Cosell on Monday Night Football.

Lennon had appeared on Monday Night Football with Cosell in 1974.



I realize that for some of us, those 28 years have gone by in a flash and the tragic memory is still a source of emotional pain. For others, it is ancient history that can be chronicled, satirized and even exploited in conspiracy theories.

I have not read the whole book yet, but from the published excerpts of Philip Norman's new book, "John Lennon, The Life," it appears that people close to Lennon feel that it has been long enough to start revealing some of the more sordid details of John's life. Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney were both interviewed for the book, but expressed strong disapproval with the finished product. Lennon's two sons must feel that it has been long enough to start saying some pretty negative things about their dad. Julian had spoken negatively about his dad before, but Sean has only recently accused John of damaging his hearing.

This article contains damaging quotes from both Lennon sons.

Paul McCartney's numerous reactions to the tragedy were not completely understood by the public. Here are just a few:

1)"It's a drag." [His actual words were, "Drag, isn't it?"]
2)"Jerk of All Jerks" [Paul discusses the poem on the Larry King show (transcript)]
3)But I think the clearest indication of Paul's feelings regarding John's death can be seen in this heart wrenching clip of "Here Today."

Some videos have appeared on YouTube as a result of this anniversary. Most are tributes, but a few address one side or the other of the various conspiracy theories attached to John. This is a sampling of what is out there:


December 8 by YouKnowMyName231 takes a philosophical and emotional look at John's death.


December Dream by PaulTheRevelator takes a wistful Klaatu song and creates a tasteful tribute to John.

Merry Crimble (and a happy Goo Year)! by J0HNWINST0N0N0LENN0N appears to be at least inspired by the Mr. Pilgrim chapter of the Iamaphoney saga. I don't think it actually comes from the Iamaphoney camp, but there is no way to know for sure. It's just that someone seemed a little too anxious to plug it on this blog.

Tribute to John Lennon- 2008 by maccalennon uses homemade versions of "Working Class Hero" and "Love" as backing for a Lennon tribute.

Here Today by Sunsol features a remix of the song in support of a slide show.

There are many other video tributes out there. If you see any good ones, please leave them in the comments.

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

once there was a way...

Anonymous said...

I was working in an ice cream parlor as a teen when I heard the news. That was a long time ago. I have the same reaction today. Total disbelief.....

Tafultong said...

I was living in a hell hole of an apartment when the phone rang. It was someone who knew I was a fan and collector. He happened to be watching the football game and called me as soon as he heard.

I turned on the radio and just went from station to station. I just listened all night and never slept.

It bothers me to no end that the thing I remember from that all night vigil was a woman who called one of the stations and said, "I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but wasn't he on drugs?"

It took a while for me to reestablish faith in humanity after hearing that, but I eventually did.

Anonymous said...

oh, that was me Taf. Sorry to taint your permanant memoryies..... I've softened my outlook since then.

But he still was on drugs. I had nothing to do with that.

Forgive me?

Tafultong said...

Absolutely forgiven. After 28 years I can finally move on.

Anonymous said...

when john comes back in two days, do we all get three wishes?

is this gonna be like W.W. Jacobs' "The monkey's paw"?

Anonymous said...

You forgot to mention that December 8 seems to be YKMN's last video. He pulled all the other ones, and ended this last one with a simple "adieu".

Tafultong said...

Anonymous said...

You forgot to mention that December 8 seems to be YKMN's last video.

I didn't interpret it that way, but you could be right. I thought he was just saying goodbye to John.

Anonymous said...

Wishful thinking on my part attributed that last part to our discussion of "Le Jeu de mourre". Does YKMN read this blog?

Tafultong said...

Anonymous asked:

Does YKMN read this blog?

He used to. I don't know if he does anymourre.

Anonymous said...

<:X

...that was Awfultong.

Anonymous said...

Good article Tafultong!
Thank you!

Anonymous said...

When John Lennon was murdered I was 8 years old and had no idea who he was or who the Beatles were but I knew it was big news because it was on TV. At school that day none of the other kids mentioned it for those same reasons. It was only years later when I was a teenager and discovered that there was rock-n-roll before Guns-n-Roses that I got a sense of what a tragic loss it was. I like John for his talent and his sense of humor. Same reasons I like Paul as well.

Anonymous said...

mike said that there should have been an iaap video on december 8.

well....

Anonymous said...

big revelation delayed till next year or the year after next year.

but:
S
0
0
N

:-D

Anonymous said...

I offer a 24 hour reprieve to Iamaphoney bashing. I'm glad he didn't do a video today.

MikeNL said...

Anonymous said...
mike said that there should have been an iaap video on december 8.

well....

December 8, 2008 10:51 PM

i never said that.

Anonymous said...

Mikey, this is what you said:

first:

"Something significant will happen real soon,
And then it´s time for kick off."

then:

"something real soon...
dec 8?
dec 12?"


i think that counts, doesn't it?

Anonymous said...

Tafultong, YKNM231 removed every single one of his videos. Same with JohnCharles2007. Now do you see what I was saying? YKMN has left the building.

Tafultong said...

Anonymous said:

Now do you see what I was saying? YKMN has left the building.

Yes, I said "you could be right" the first time you suggested that. As I have said before, no one has ever been harmed by walking away from a conspiracy theory. I wish him well.

Tafultong said...

Anonymous said:

"something real soon...
dec 8?
dec 12?"

i think that counts, doesn't it?


Judges can we have a ruling? I think that changed when Iamaphoney put that backwards "schedule" back on his YouTube channel that I thought indicated something would arrive on December 11, 2008. However, either I misread it or it changed again because now it says "80021221." There is an entry above it that says "wal," whatever that means. [Yes, I know it is "law" spelled backwards but I don't know how it fits the schedule] So I don't know what his plans are.

Anonymous said...

Who said he walked away?

I saw him floating down the river. Didn't you?

Anonymous said...

My God, some of the comments left on that 'Merry Crimble' video!

I hope they're just playing devil's advocate for fun and not actually wondering if John Lennon has really posted a video on youtube.

Anonymous said...

you mean he didn't?

Anonymous said...

Whatever the case, it seems "John" said goodbye shortly after midnight (see the main page).

Anonymous said...

my! people come and go so quickly here!

Anonymous said...

Sean Lennon seems like a pretentious dick.

Anonymous said...

Vince, here.
In happier news, my precious GO HOME PRODUCTIONS has returned from the dead.... with a new 're-working' of his mash-up of "Wonderful Christmastime" meets "Jenny On The Block". This time, he's added elements of "Pipes Of Peace" & Blondie's "The Time Is High".

You can get it for free right here:

http://www.markvidler-gohomeproductions.co.uk/

Anonymous said...

This is what is boils down to, vince hawking his street wares.

Anonymous said...

Theres an old man that lives in my ass,

He knows all of iamaphoney's secrets,

He'll crawl out of my anus and tell them all if you send me money in the post.

Anonymous said...

who? Ai - ass?
tell the old bugger i said hello and Happy Holidays!
PS what's your address, Anon? I have a check for 25 K for you if your ass tells us EVERYTHING1

Anonymous said...

Theres an old man that lives in my ass,

He knows all of iamaphoney's secrets,

He'll crawl out of my anus and tell them all if you send me money in the post.

December 9, 2008 11:35 AM


Or, we could just find you and wait for him. He will have to pop out eventually...for a breath of fresh air.

Anonymous said...

Vince, here.
In happier news, my precious GO HOME PRODUCTIONS has returned from the dead.... with a new 're-working' of his mash-up of "Wonderful Christmastime" meets "Jenny On The Block". This time, he's added elements of "Pipes Of Peace" & Blondie's "The Time Is High".

You can get it for free right here:

http://www.markvidler-gohomeproductions.co.uk/

December 9, 2008 10:21 AM

VINCE!

The song is "The Tide is High"

C'mon, I thought you would know something like that!!!

Well I guess I'll see you later man, don't forget to add me back on facebook!!

-Donny James aka Daddy James


P.S.

You need to put some B.J Thomas on that ebay list!! I love that guy!!

Anonymous said...

Vince, here.

Hey Daddy, there's no way you're getting your hands on my mint vinyl collection of BJ Thomas records! In other news, did anyone know that I'm totally fabricated?

Anonymous said...

sorry to hear about your fabrication!

Anonymous said...

Does it hurt much? I here that can be painful.

Anonymous said...

It's very, very painful, so I've heard.

Anonymous said...

The sad thing is the Merry Chrimble video is being taken seriously by the John Is Alive guys at NIR who believe John (back from the dead) posted it. I wonder if IAAP will jump on this bandwagon next since this...ahem..theory seems to be gaining momentum.

Anonymous said...

the vid was a building with a window. I don't get it

Anonymous said...

Heppy Crimble Fools' Day!!!

Anonymous said...

" the vid was a building with a window. I don't get it"


apparently you can't read, because there was words to go with it.

Anonymous said...

oh? read?

oh and is there a link? For the newbies, of course, which upon reading said writ word, we are to believe something inprobable or something profound?


ga head:

please transcribe. Even this vid will be pulled. Future Yoda generations will deprived .

Sean?

Ringo?

Paul?

Julian?

Jude?

Apollo?

Jebus?


For,

the visually impared

Anonymous said...

Learn how to spell, Vince. It's "Jesus", not "Jebus".