December 8, 1980
It was 25 years ago today that Beatle John Lennon was shot dead in front of his New York appartment. Though I don’t remember the event, I know that it must have had major impact on much of the world’s population. Who didn’t listen to the Beatles back then?
I am still getting familiar with the Beatles myself. The more I hear the other tracks on their albums, the ones you might not already have heard on the radio or TV, the more I appreciate them. There really aren’t any tracks I don’t like.
I turned on the TV earlier and saw a segment on the anniversary on CBC News. They replayed the original broadcast from that day in 1980 as well as the following day. They showed the mass of people that gathered outside Lennon’s home immediately upon hearing the news, listening and singing along to Beatles songs, crying. It’s amazing how positively this band was received.
Have there been any bands like it since? I really don’t think so. Today’s massively popular bands are mostly commercial products, and they hardly bring as positive a message as the Beatles. The great bands today all have their audiences, and I doubt they approach the audience the Beatles had.
I’m sure their music will never be forgotten, their songs will live through anything. There will be some strange civilizations on earth in a few thousand years singing “Hey Jude“, “Across the Universe” and “Yesterday” as folk songs, not knowing what he lyrics really mean or where they came from. In fact, over 3000 covers of “Yesterday” have been recorded so far, enough to make you wonder whether this isn’t in fact some catch folk song from the days of lore.
