Let's have your favorite John Lennon song

[malaise]

on this very important day - as we say in these parts Happy Earthday John.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-10-08/harvey-weinstein-and-martin-lewis-honor-john-lennon/

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/09/arts/music/09lennon.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

[babylonsister]

1. 'Imagine' and it's message...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okd3hLlvvLw&feature=player_embedded

[malaise]

10. Definitely my favorite

but there are so many other great songs by Lennon. :hi:

[babylonsister]

11. I also am fond of wheels (go round and round)...don't know why,

but I think it's catchy. :hi:

[hvn_nbr_2]

67. A serious question about "Imagine" and corporate media

Is my memory failing on this or is it accurate? My recollection is that during the Cheney-Bush war years, no radio station (even 100% classic rock stations in the liberal San Francisco area) ever, ever, ever played "Imagine," except during their once-a-year listener-selected top 500 of all time, where it would have been obvious that they cooked the books if they didn't include it.

The boycott of "Imagine" and all other anti-war music continued for the first year of Obama. Then suddenly, they started playing "Imagine" again.

My theory is that CorpoPravda decided after a year that the wars were now Obama's wars so they could play anti-war songs as if they're anti-Obama songs.

Does anyone else remember ever hearing "Imagine" played on the radio during the Bush years?

[babylonsister]

90. I never heard about any boycott. nt

[TBF]

94. Not sure if it was on the radio, but I know a contestant

sang it on American Idol (Blake Lewis). That was April 2007 so Bush was still in office.

[hobbit709]

2. Working Class Hero

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njG7p6CSbCU

[Lyric]

32. +1

[Warpy]

3. Clinton at the UN, with Arab and Israeli children

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0F_6plYyTM

He muffed the words a bit, but it's still beautiful.

[jaxx]

83. I had forgotten about that.

It was wonderful and they ought to be playing the video daily because that peace has got to come to the people on both sides.

Thank you for the best 4 mins of the day!!

[madokie]

96. Lump in my thoat

If nothing else President Clinton was and is Loved by most everyone

[H2O Man]

4. Oh, there are so many.

Help.
Strawberry Fields Forever.
Give Peace A Chance.
Instant Karma.
Luck of the Irish.
Imagine.
Jealous Guy.
God.
Working Class Hero.
#9 Dream.

I bought the "new" collection this week. It is so good!

[malaise]

7. I asked my sister in Miami to get my

'new collection' today.

I also love 'Give me some truth'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn85BeeiwZo

[H2O Man]

13. Yep.

Revolution.
I Want You (She's So Heavy) -- the first Beatle song I sang to my wife!
Don't Let Me Down. -- the Beatle song I most frequently sing to my wife!

Serve Yourself -- one of his greatest songs!

[Zoeisright]

5. Imagine

Beautiful song.

[oberliner]

6. How about the Happy Rishikesh Song?

It's all a fraud man!

[lisa58]

8. I couldn't possibly - if he's singing, I'm listening

[lame54]

9. Here is a BEAUTIFUL Jeff Beck interpretation...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPBqk-0gWfQ

[Cirque du So-What]

12. Mind Games

Not just its lyrics but the melody as well.

[Botany]

20. John in Central Park .... doing videos long before MTV

[H2O Man]

22. Good point! John & Yoko

started doing music videos back around '67 and '68.

[Botany]

24. music video 1964 ... can't buy me love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7yd4-aHJSA&feature=related

[karynnj]

80. Great link - but that's Paul singing lead

[malaise]

31. Nice link

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11503410

[JustAnotherGen]

14. Two

Woman and and Watching the Wheels. Woman because my boyfriend sings it to me off key! :rofl: Watching The Wheels because it speaks to the space and place I moved to in my life a few years ago. I literally walk around work laughing my fool head off at the pompous asses who don't really enjoy their lives, chasing the next big car, the next big house, the next big 'things' - instead of just enjoying life and really looking at the people and the world around them.

[Botany]

15. Girl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UqFiQl0qR0&feature=related

[H2O Man]

18. Great song.

First time the group introduced a subtle bit in a recording.

[Botany]

23. Norwegian Wood was very complex too

We will never see the likes of the Beatles again .....

Damn it the boys should be sitting around Paul's farm in Scotland and laughing
about it all right now.

[pipi_k]

16. Ballad of John and Yoko n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

17. OK... besides the ones mentioned.. during his Beatles era these

Nowhere Man-
made me wakeup and look at myself as a no where man in high school.

Across the Universe
took me years to really understand it.

Happiness is a warm gun...
because when I put my finger on your trigger.

[malaise]

26. That's an absolute classic

Here's one of my favorite Beatles love songs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeQGKqDfdU0

[Ichingcarpenter]

29. Total McCartney but good

I was lucky enough to have meet both Ringo and George
when I lived in Hana Hawaii.

Ringo at a restaurant

but George
lived in Huelo (Hole in the Rock) right outside of Hana and came
into the small town once in a while where I worked as carpenter rebuilding the
Hana Hotel for two years.

George was all that

[rug]

19. Beautiful Boy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uldu_1-JCJE

[H2O Man]

21. A Day in the Life

(w/Paul's contribution)

[VioletLake]

25. Are you familiar with the feud he had with Todd Rundgren?

Mark David Chapman idolized Rundgren. It's an interesting story.

[Ichingcarpenter]

28. My 'girlfriend' in 71 dated Todd

OK.... she was a groupie....LOL
She stared in a short film my friend I did for a film class
and was a total Todd freak in 71 so we got to meet him at a party.

OK
Give me your gossip

[malaise]

30. You were so lucky

:hi:

[VioletLake]

34. Wow, neato.

Here's some info:

http://www.spinner.com/2009/12/08/todd-rundgren-discusses-connection-to-john-lennons-assassin/

For lots more info, Google "Todd Rundgren John Lennon feud" (keep the quotes)

[Ichingcarpenter]

35. Though I liked his music I didn't like Todd after I met him

He came across as rather pompous and self important.
But being self important is being pompous.

He thought he was the cat's meow but was really a nowhere man.

Thanks for the link.... I'll read up on it, on this day because
of the memories that you are dragging up out of my youth.

[NoGOPZone]

27. Gimme Some Truth

As relevant today as ever. George Harrison plays guitar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlzrNKN3rZI

[political_Dem]

33. "Woman" and "Watching the Wheels" are my favorite songs of his.

Although, I've mostly liked all of his work. :)

[The Uncola]

36. Imagine

It's what the world could and should be, but own human weakness gets in the way.

Rest in peace, John, my brother. You live on in many of us.

[the other one]

37. Happiness is a Warm Gun

Bang Bang Shoot Shoot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE2Vdcv9Q_o

[Joanne98]

38. Hair Peace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQdyEw6jfGQ

[progressoid]

39. Tomorrow Never Knows

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTMOSCh7aJU

[Upton]

40. GOD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jknynk5vny8&feature=related

[Ichingcarpenter]

43. God .... was a mind blower at the time

That album was so dark it made me wake up that the Beatles were over but from a heart and mind that revealed what was there with Lennon. He was going through Gestalt therapy
at the time. which explains part of the wonderful screaming....... Mother, Working Class Hero and God........ that made me move on with my life.

[SargeUNN]

41. Imagine definately

of course that world will never exist but it nice to strive for it.

[SidDithers]

42. Instant Karma hasn't been mentioned yet...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEjUQ15lyzk

Happiness is a Warm Gun is my fave, but IK deserves a post :)

Sid

Edit: Oops, saw H20Man had it in his list.

[malaise]

44. Wish I was in New York for the Birthday Party in Central Park

and the launch of Lennonyc which we'll see on PBS on November 22nd.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/51942/217590

[mulsh]

45. Meat City- hist guitar playing at its best

I've always thought Imagine is a dirge inspite of the message.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yXSU7nkvzE

[oberliner]

48. What is Meat City?

What did he see for himself?

[oberliner]

64. Also what's with the alien sound effects?

Any insights?

[MorningGlow]

46. Whatever Gets You Through the Night

No. 9 Dream

Instant Karma

Across the Universe

Dear Prudence

It's Only Love

Don't Let Me Down--especially in Let It Be (movie) when he muffs the words. "I know dis reejie gobme bloojeegood..."
:rofl:

Rain

This Boy

I'd better stop now...could go on forever...

[Joe Fields]

47. Why Don't We Do It In The Road

[oberliner]

49. Pretty sure that was Paul

I know he sings it on The White Album.

[Ichingcarpenter]

51. Paul... he did Linda in his car.

On the road....and wrote about it in a song

[Joe Fields]

59. No, John Lennon wrote the song

And it is most definitely his style.

He has the writing credit.

[oberliner]

63. What is your source on that?

Just curious - thanks!

[Joe Fields]

68. The white album credits him, as well as this link

Plus I have a ton of info on the beatles in my personal collection.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:hifrxqw5ldse~16~T31C

On edit: since the beatles are my favorite music group, not to mention one of my enduring passions, there is very little about them that has been revealed to the public that I don't know.

[oberliner]

70. Aren't all their songs credited to both Lennon and McCartney?

Both of them are listed on that website.

[Joe Fields]

71. lol no...there are many songs that only one or the other are credited with

If you click the link to song credits you will see John Lennon only as credited with writing the song.

But if you don't wish to believe me, that's fine, too.

[oberliner]

74. Are you sure about that? Even when they were in The Beatles?

The link you sent me leads to this:

Composed By: John Lennon/Paul McCartney

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:ap6exz80ldke

Are there really many songs while they were Beatles that are only credited to one or the other of them?

I could've sworn I read that they were all credited as Lennon/McCartney.

[CBGLuthier]

78. Sorry expert but you are wrong.

Every song written by either Lennon or McCartney during the period the Beatles were together is credited with both writers. All of them. Does not matter who actually wrote what. All the songs are credited with both names.

We don't believe you because you are wrong.

[H2O Man]

86. Paul wrote it.

I agree with you.

Anyone who might wonder could check, for example, Nicholas Schaffner's wonderful boo, "The Beatles Forever" (page 114); Mark Lewisohn's "The Complete Beatles Chronicle" -- with a nice foreword by George Martin -- to see exactly who not only wrote the song, but was in the studio when the cut for the White Album was made (see Oct 10, 1968 etc).

Or, for the heck of it, read the complete Playboy and Rolling Stone interviews with John. John knew Paul wrote the song, entirely on his own.

[lunamagica]

82. No, it was written solely by Paul. You can pretty much tell who wrote the song by who sang it

Paul sang the songs he wrote, and John sang the songs he wrote. I can't think of an instance where this didn't happen. When they both collaborated on a song they usually shared vocals.

From Wikipedia:

"Why Don't We Do It in the Road?" is a song by The Beatles released on their 1968 album The Beatles, commonly referred to as The White Album. It was written<1><2> and sung by Paul McCartney,<3><4> but credited to Lennon/McCartney. "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?" is short and simple; 1:42 of twelve-bar blues that begins with three different percussion elements (a hand banging on the back of an acoustic guitar, handclaps, and drums) and features McCartney's increasingly raucous vocal<5> repeating a simple lyric with only two different lines.<6>

McCartney wrote the song after seeing two monkeys copulating in the street while on retreat in Rishikesh, India, with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. He marvelled in the simplicity of this natural scenario when compared to the emotional turmoil of human relationships.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Don't_We_Do_It_in_the_Road%3F

[H2O Man]

84. Definitely Paul's song.

[donheld]

98. Wikipedia says Paul

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Don't_We_Do_It_in_the_Road%3F

"Why Don't We Do It in the Road?" is a song by The Beatles released on their 1968 album The Beatles, commonly referred to as The White Album. It was written<1><2> and sung by Paul McCartney,<3><4> but credited to Lennon/McCartney. "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?" is short and simple; 1:42 of twelve-bar blues that begins with three different percussion elements (a hand banging on the back of an acoustic guitar, handclaps, and drums) and features McCartney's increasingly raucous vocal<5> repeating a simple lyric with only two different lines.<6>
McCartney wrote the song after seeing two monkeys copulating in the street while on retreat in Rishikesh, India, with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. He marvelled in the simplicity of this natural scenario when compared to the emotional turmoil of human relationships. He later said:
“ A male just hopped on the back of this female and gave her one, as they say in the vernacular. Within two or three seconds he hopped off again and looked around as if to say, ‘It wasn't me,’ and she looked around as if there'd been some mild disturbance ... And I thought ... that's how simple the act of procreation is ... We have horrendous problems with it, and yet animals don't.<1>

[H2O Man]

56. Right.

There is a studeo version with John doing lead vocals.

I spoke to a sister-in-law today, who is friends with Yoko. There's a copy of John, alone, doing "Help" on acoustic. There's also a short piece of film of him doing it on piano, that is found on youtube, but I'd love to get a copy of the slower, acoustic version.

[Joe Fields]

60. He sings it, but it is not his song.

[marmar]

50. Instant Karma

nt

[deutsey]

52. Strawberry Fields Forever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A4r2RU1u3g

I love lots of his stuff, both in the Beatles and solo, but this is my all-time favorite.

[Bennyboy]

53. Just Gimmie Some Truth...

’m sick and tired of hearing things
From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocritics
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth
I’ve had enough of reading things
By neurotic, psychotic, pig-headed politicians
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth
No short-haired, yellow-bellied, son of tricky dicky
Is gonna mother hubbard soft soap me
With just a pocketful of hope
Money for dope
Money for rope
No short-haired, yellow-bellied, son of tricky dicky
Is gonna mother hubbard soft soap me
With just a pocketful of soap
Money for dope
Money for rope
I’m sick to death of seeing thingsFrom tight-lipped, condescending, mama’s little chauvinists
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth now
I’ve had enough of watching scenes
Of schizophrenic, ego-centric, paranoiac, prima-donnas
All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth
No short-haired, yellow-bellied, son of tricky dicky
Is gonna mother hubbard soft soap me
With just a pocketful of soap
It’s money for dope
Money for rope
Ah, I’m sick and tired of hearing things
From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocrites
All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth now
I’ve had enough of reading thingsBy neurotic, psychotic, pig-headed politicians
All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth nowAll I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth nowAll I want is the truthJust gimme some truth
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/l/lennon+john/#share

[Skidmore]

54. Beautiful Boy...

Came out the same year my son, Sean, was born.

[edbermac]

55. Mother.

"Mamma don't go...Daddy come home..."

That 'primal therapy' album was one of his best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTkc1aKAVYY&ob=av2n

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JGX2MIRXnFI/S6pEmooM_KI/AAAAAAAAAsw/3C-FiS0pJQk/s400/Julia+Lennon.jpg

[mitchum]

57. Another vote for "Mother"

and it is indeed from a great album

[Ichingcarpenter]

58. Gestalt therapy went through to write what America needs

They need to scream, because their mother country has deserted them..

Ok... that's harsh and not true.... but we still need to get the angst out
in a healthy way.. Gestalt is an interesting idea though it has
fallen in favor over the years, it still got Lennon through those times..

Gestalt therapy



Gestalt therapy is an existential/experiential form of psychotherapy that emphasizes personal responsibility, and that focuses upon the individual's experience in the present moment, the therapist-client relationship, the environmental and social contexts of a person's life, and the self-regulating adjustments people make as a result of their overall situation.

Gestalt therapy was developed by Fritz Perls, Laura Perls and Paul Goodman in the 1940s and 1950s.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestalt_therapy

The Primal Scream can out of this.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

61. Bookmarked

Have to break out the headphones for this. :hippie:

[Ichingcarpenter]

62. The one he wrote on the house fire in Tennessee

Watching the wheels go by.

Can't have a thread on DU without that joke.

[AngryAmish]

65. Wiggle It (Just a Little Bit)

[spanone]

66. i can't narrow it down to one...i've been tryin.

[malaise]

69. It is very hard

But the first Lennon that comes to mind for me is always Imagine. :hi:

[KurtNYC]

72. Julia

Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you Julia...

[Diclotican]

73. malaise

malaise

Imagine, withouth doubt, the best song John Lennon was made. Both the song, and the lyric is great... And also a hope for mankind, after all...

Diclotican

[mdmc]

75. whatever gets ya through the night

all right, all right..

[TBF]

76. Imagine, Happy Xmas, and Jealous Guy nt

[PassingFair]

77. I'd add: "I'm Losing You" to that trio.... n/t

[TBF]

95. "Woman" is really good too - hard to narrow it down isn't it. nt

[LWolf]

79. Imagine.

I like many, but none top that one.

[Nedsdag]

81. "Oh My Love"

Who said Paul wrote only love songs?

"Watching the Wheels" and "Instant Karma" are my runners up.

[Sheltiemama]

85. Impossible to narrow it down to just one.

I was in the eighth grade when he died. At least one local radio station played "Imagine" in a loop all day, and I knew all the lyrics by bedtime.

[GSLevel9]

87. Across the Universe!!!!!!!!!!!!! nt

[voteearlyvoteoften]

88. in my life

from rubber soul

[Fire1]

89. "Imagine," hands down. n/t

[AtomicKitten]

91. hand down "Across the Universe"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yEItbal4ac&feature=related

my favorite Rufus Wainwright cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAe1lVDbLf0

[tilsammans]

92. "Jealous Guy" n/t

[Autumn]

93. All of them n/t

[femmocrat]

97. I have two: "In My Life" and "Imagine" n/t

[krawhitham]

99. How do you sleep & I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama

[Contrary1]

100. Don't know if this one is McCartney or Lennon...but my favorite:

The End:

And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.

[GReedDiamond]

101. One amongst my favorites, "She Said"...

...scanning the replies, hadn't seen it mentioned here yet...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXj6fZu-Q-I