Outside of the Beatles, this is what I remember Lennon for the most. It's perhaps the ultimate example of a celebrity using their notoriety for an unquestionably good cause.
Well, for some. 1969 while this is happening, most of us were sweating our asses off trying to get by. Vinyl was shared and there was no money left for extravagance, and so we despised it at all levels (except the hard rocker's). Although we respected the music, we ridiculed the blatant commercializing and self-aggrandizement and saw no good of it beyond that. As ordinary folks we felt the same of all heraldry. Yoko Ono was considered a lunatic gold digger, and her career never met with public acceptance. Sorry.
No need to apologize, David. John and Yoko were certainly disappointed with the reception they were getting from the media and the public because they were hearing exactly the kinds of reactions and feelings you have articulated.
I suspect (but don't know) that they got financial support from Apple in covering their travel expenses to conduct this peace campaign in return for promising the label a single to market that would recoup expenses, which ended up being this song.
I know most people thought Yoko was the one who pursued John for his wealth and fame, but if you read her biography, she actually came from a wealthy, extremely well-connected and prominent Japanese family and went to very elite schools (she went to school with the future emperor of Japan), so my guess is that her family felt that she married down. Before meeting John, she was a well-known avant garde artist who collaborated with people like John Cage. Her father was a banker and she was the one who handled John's money and apparently built it into a real fortune (as the Beatles' finances were apparently quite a mess for a while after they broke up).
So my guess -- and I'm no expert -- is that she was attracted by John's humor, creativity, and of course personal attractiveness to her. I know most people think she lucked out bagging one of the Beatles, but things don't quite stack up when you look at the fact that she was already a member of the international elite.
But, that aside, back to your original point, I remember all the blowback about what John and Yoko were doing, and it's understandable for the reasons that you cite. People didn't want a wealthy musician telling them what to think or feel, and many people have that reaction every time a musician or actor supports a cause or a political candidate. You put your head above the parapet, someone's going to take a potshot at it!
I can't say where I stand on this, but I do know that I really like the song. Which is why it's included in these posts.
And thanks for posting -- I welcome different views on what tends to be a controversial topic.
These were the views of young know-nothing stoners on the margins of the Woodstock generation and arrival of the Beatles (late comers to the party). We didn't take it too seriously but were swept up by the court of public opinion. Avante Garde (which became New Age) wasn't on our radar. We were niche, and we wore it proudly. Today they would be considered more than a little on the Left. But all is forgiven. A little tough to march for peace and love when the World is burning, and like today the peaceful demonstrations typically ended in violence.
By the 80s access to musicians had become tightly controlled by PR handlers. You have to wonder if John would have been allowed to do what he did if it were even 10 years later!
Thanks, Patricia. I should've mentioned that song or included it since it actually tells the story and how he was feeling! Also because it's quite humorous. It is an earworm, for sure.
Outside of the Beatles, this is what I remember Lennon for the most. It's perhaps the ultimate example of a celebrity using their notoriety for an unquestionably good cause.
Yes, have to agree. He set a very high bar.
Well, for some. 1969 while this is happening, most of us were sweating our asses off trying to get by. Vinyl was shared and there was no money left for extravagance, and so we despised it at all levels (except the hard rocker's). Although we respected the music, we ridiculed the blatant commercializing and self-aggrandizement and saw no good of it beyond that. As ordinary folks we felt the same of all heraldry. Yoko Ono was considered a lunatic gold digger, and her career never met with public acceptance. Sorry.
No need to apologize, David. John and Yoko were certainly disappointed with the reception they were getting from the media and the public because they were hearing exactly the kinds of reactions and feelings you have articulated.
I suspect (but don't know) that they got financial support from Apple in covering their travel expenses to conduct this peace campaign in return for promising the label a single to market that would recoup expenses, which ended up being this song.
I know most people thought Yoko was the one who pursued John for his wealth and fame, but if you read her biography, she actually came from a wealthy, extremely well-connected and prominent Japanese family and went to very elite schools (she went to school with the future emperor of Japan), so my guess is that her family felt that she married down. Before meeting John, she was a well-known avant garde artist who collaborated with people like John Cage. Her father was a banker and she was the one who handled John's money and apparently built it into a real fortune (as the Beatles' finances were apparently quite a mess for a while after they broke up).
So my guess -- and I'm no expert -- is that she was attracted by John's humor, creativity, and of course personal attractiveness to her. I know most people think she lucked out bagging one of the Beatles, but things don't quite stack up when you look at the fact that she was already a member of the international elite.
But, that aside, back to your original point, I remember all the blowback about what John and Yoko were doing, and it's understandable for the reasons that you cite. People didn't want a wealthy musician telling them what to think or feel, and many people have that reaction every time a musician or actor supports a cause or a political candidate. You put your head above the parapet, someone's going to take a potshot at it!
I can't say where I stand on this, but I do know that I really like the song. Which is why it's included in these posts.
And thanks for posting -- I welcome different views on what tends to be a controversial topic.
These were the views of young know-nothing stoners on the margins of the Woodstock generation and arrival of the Beatles (late comers to the party). We didn't take it too seriously but were swept up by the court of public opinion. Avante Garde (which became New Age) wasn't on our radar. We were niche, and we wore it proudly. Today they would be considered more than a little on the Left. But all is forgiven. A little tough to march for peace and love when the World is burning, and like today the peaceful demonstrations typically ended in violence.
It’s all we were saying…
By the 80s access to musicians had become tightly controlled by PR handlers. You have to wonder if John would have been allowed to do what he did if it were even 10 years later!
Loved this article, but I have to admit, now I've got "The Ballad Of John and Yoko" hanging around as a rather persistent earworm... :D
Thanks, Patricia. I should've mentioned that song or included it since it actually tells the story and how he was feeling! Also because it's quite humorous. It is an earworm, for sure.