I remember it pretty clearly, despite the intervening 28 years, and my youth at the time. I am not entirely sure I really understood who the Beatles were when I was seven. But I remember it.
On this day in 1980, John Lennon was shot outside the Dakota Hotel in Manhattan. He was returning from recording and working on a song called Walking on Thin Ice, and was shot four times by Mark David Chapman – a purported fan.
Someone once told me that a sure sign of becoming an adult was when your favourite Beatle changed from John to Paul. What does it mean when it switches back?
John was the dreamer, who I believe truly longed for a better world. He recognized his influence and tried to show a gentler way through his music. (George too) Paul was similar, (not so much a dreamer) but certainly more savvy in the business end of music, and could be considered a sellout in many ways. Would John Lennon have accepted corporate sponsorship for a tour? I doubt it. There was larger sense of the man in Lennon’s music. Paul made pop hits. I’ve enjoyed McCartney’s music over the years, I love most of what John did. This in no way answers the question posed, just my opinion. Do I still listen to Paul’s music by choice? Seldom. Lennon’s ? Always.
John was the dreamer, who I believe truly longed for a better world. He recognized his influence and tried to show a gentler way through his music. (George too) Paul was similar, (not so much a dreamer) but certainly more savvy in the business end of music, and could be considered a sellout in many ways. Would John Lennon have accepted corporate sponsorship for a tour? I doubt it. There was larger sense of the man in Lennon’s music. Paul made pop hits. I’ve enjoyed McCartney’s music over the years, I love most of what John did. This in no way answers the question posed, just my opinion. Do I still listen to Paul’s music by choice? Seldom. Lennon’s ? Always.