People of a certain age will tell you that they remember exactly where they were when they heard the news that President Kennedy had been shot. I was only three years old then, but I do remember where I was when I heard about John Lennon.
I had just emerged from the bathroom in the lower level of the suite I shared with my housemates. It was junior year, college. One of my roommates was coming down the stairs with a friend, having just gotten out of a class. They were speaking quickly. They had seen a woman in Harvard Square with a big cardboard sign, hastily painted with John Lennon’s name and his birth and death years. What is this, a joke? I asked. We went back upstairs to check for news on the television set, thinking how randomly odd this was, if it were true.
That was 28 years ago. These days, it seems that John’s music and influence are as present as they ever were, even eclipsing some of his musical idols such as Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent and Buddy Holly.
“Not Fade Away,” indeed.
And here is a wonderful video clip of John in the studio, recording “Oh My Love,” with my usual favorite Beatle, George Harrison (we share a birthday), giving an assist on guitar.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Cuz // Dec 8, 2008 at 11:59 PM
I found out while walking into the dorm after a night class – I peeked into my friend’s room where people were gathered – everyone looked sad – I said, “What is the matter? You look like someone has died…”
Imagine…
2 Evelyn // Dec 9, 2008 at 7:32 AM
Interesting that you and Cuz were pretty much in the same situation.
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