Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Rock Legend & Pop Culture Icon John Lennon Assassinated 30 Years Ago Today.



Lennon lived in New York City and often walked its streets. He never had an entourage or bodyguards, and he became quite adept at graciously dealing with the inevitable members of the public who would approach him to talk or to seek an autograph. Once such person was Mark David Chapman, for whom Lennon once signed an autograph outside Lennon's apartment building. It was that same Chapman who turned out to be a maniac and who murdered Lennon in cold blood outside that apartment building on this date in 1980 (link to full story at bottom).

In the years prior to 1980, Lennon had been very much out of the limelight as he stayed home to raise his young son. But in 1980, he had returned to his music, and his wonderful artistic creativity was once again flowing like never before. All of that was cut short by one crazed and cowardly slimeball with a gun. I have little doubt that Lennon, if still alive, would still be putting out relevant, thoughtful and memorable music to this very day.

Thinking back today over Lennon's body of work, here's a list of ten of my favorite Lennon songs from various points in his career (alphabetized and not ranked) -- somehow, Revolution 9 didn't quite make the list:

1. A Day in the Life
2. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)
3. I Am the Walrus
4. I'm Only Sleeping
5. In My Life
6. (Just Like) Starting Over
7. Nobody Told Me
8. Revolution
9. #9 Dream
10. Strawberry Fields Forever