STORIES
Musicians
DONATE

John Lennon: A Legend

by Isabella Sarralde from San Diego, California in United States

"If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there’d be peace."

 

"All we are saying is give peace a chance."

 

"There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance."

A Legend120827Lennon Singinghttps://playfm.cl/playfm/noticias/lista-las-6-mejores-canciones-sobre-el-perdon-de-todos-los-tiempos/2016-04-25/174717.html

Imagine being famous enough to claim to be “more popular than Jesus Christ.” The one and only John Lennon, worldwide famous singer-songwriter, infamously made this statement back in 1966 in the prime of his fame. Although controversial, the statement was a hint at Lennon’s humor, which was a trait he commonly used to make harsher topics more lighthearted and appealing to the public. But regardless of his laid-back humor, Lennon’s life had a grim beginning. Born in Liverpool in 1940 during a German air-raid, John began his journey. He grew up with an absent father, and right when he reached adulthood, “an off duty police officer knocked down and killed Lennon’s mother” (Encyclopedia of World Biography). Despite his dark origins, Lennon refused to let it dampen his spirits. With a mutual interest in pursuing music, in 1956 John met Paul McCartney. This newfound bond marked the blossoming of his booming musical career. Eventually, the Beatles formed. Within the flourishing success of Lennon and his band, heroic traits arose. A hero is someone who is inspiring and influential; sending out positive messages to the world. John and his band’s pro-peace aesthetic and revolutionary sound inspired a whole generation. John Lennon was a hero, fighting for peace and revolutionizing the power of music itself.

Lennon was a peace activist. The decade of Lennon’s prime, the 60’s and early 70’s, are stereotypically known as a time where a peace trend swept over the nation. Lennon was an obviously influential person in this time period, and he was well known for being a proud advocate for this movement. Lennon himself voiced his intentions. “‘What we’re really doing is sending out a message to the world, mainly to the youth, especially the youth or anybody, really, that’s interested in protesting for peace or protesting against any forms of violence…There’s many ways of protest, and this [music] is one of them. And anybody could grow their hair for peace or give up a week of their holiday for peace or sit in a bag for peace’” (Whitehead). Here Lennon is referring to his “message”, which is then explained to be his want for peaceful protest. During a time of war and violence; Lennon saw what was wrong with the world and decided to do something about it. Through his greatest influence, adept lyrics and catchy tunes, Lennon strived to touch the hearts of his fans with his message of peace. Lennon also realized how he could make his ideas more permanent. In the quote he mentions targeting “the youth”120222John Lennon and Yoko Ono at their "Bed in for Peace" movement during their honeymoon.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bed-In_for_Peace,_Amsterdam_1969_-_John_Lennon_%26_Yoko_Ono_13.jpg; which happened to be his primary fanbase. Lennon was setting up the new generation with his message. Through his influence to a whole generation; the world was one step closer to having a peace oriented society. Lennon did not only influence society through music. Certain events that he organized also contributed to his peace initiative. “Following their wedding in Gibraltar in March 1969, Lennon and Ono staged a "bed-in" peace demonstration during their honeymoon in Amsterdam, eliciting seven days of constant global news coverage” (Timmons). Marrying Yoko Ono, a Japanese singer-songwriter and peace activist (A&E Television Networks), further demonstrates John’s love for peace. Their relationship began during the Vietnam War, a very political and controversial time. Yoko Ono and Lennon’s likewise activist attributes in this time period likely contributed to their platonic attraction/relationship. Since they shared pro-peace morals, they worked together in this time of bloodshed to strengthen them. The quote states an example of such activism. They completely contributed their honeymoon to their pro-peace objective; giving up the privacy and intimacy of a honeymoon to discuss their beliefs with the world. Their commitment to constant coverage for a solid week shows their dedication to their crusade, for this constant exposure is not something common or easy to accomplish. This seven day journey was watched by millions and became an exemplary case of peace activism. There was always a way to peacefully dissent social and political problems in Lennon’s eyes. Lennon’s pacifism is historic; he permanently marked his contribution to a better world through his ideas, music, and iconic events.120229Lennon performing at the Chrysler Arena in Ann Arbor https://theamazingkornyfonelabel.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/battle-of-the-bootleg-labels-4-john-lennon-one-to-one-concerts-at-madison-square-garden-new-york/

In addition to his pacification, Lennon also brought a whole new level of influence to music, changing society’s attitude on a worldwide scale and bringing societal problems into the spotlight through his fame. The Beatles, particularly Lennon, were wildly famous, and still are commonly known throughout the world. All their fame is primarily because of their favored sound, and the raw and advanced messages and aesthetic that came along with it. "’they were among the first major public figures of our time to break down the barriers dividing the sexes, with their long hair and vivid attire; champion the use of `mind-expanding' drugs and the innovations in sound, language, design, and attitude these substances inspired; and, in general, show the way to a lifestyle that defied so many of the conventions taken for granted in 1963’”(Stefani). The overwhelming fame of Lennon and his band led to a worldspread change in aesthetic. This new aesthetic brought about a new attitude, changing the way some people acted and maybe even thought. This “attitude” he inspired was pro-peace, pro social justice, and overall freedom and harmony inspired. This global change in attitude means Lennon’s music had to have touched enough people to make a noticeable change in society. Only someone significant could accomplish this, and through talent Lennon did. The attitude Lennon inspired was also sparked through his music.“1970’s album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, was a commercial and critical success that included the song “Working Class Hero,” a seething indictment of wealthy elites’ exploitation of the middle class…..Some Time in New York City (1972), touched on the topics of women’s rights, racial tensions in the U.S. and Britain’s contested role in Northern Ireland”(Magness). By defending the mistreated through song, Lennon had taken grasp of his global fame and began shifting his pop-music to a more political standpoint. His songs were beginning to question the authorities, question society, and question things society wasn’t used to questioning. This demeanor of his was being more incorporated into the thing the fans loved the most; his music. Through that, he could put a spotlight on things he saw as wrong. The reason his controversial and more political music was so considerable was because Lennon was so significant and loved in his prime. Anything he did, said, or sang would have a major effect, and Lennon took that and used it to try to make the world a better place. Lennon could have used his influence for bad, or as egotism, but he instead incorporated a positive ideal into the lives of his fans.

All in all, Lennon was gallant and heroic, determined to speak out against what was wrong and gave peace an influential voice. He reached out to millions spreading his aesthetic, his tunes, and most importantly his pro-peace image. He touched the hearts of a whole generation, changing their physical appearance, but especially their ideas. The quality and powerful messages portrayed in his music are still listened to globally. They continue to inspire artists and listeners alike, reminding everyone to speak out against what is wrong, and to continue the fight for a better world. The world Lennon imagined and strived for is not quite a reality yet, but if we continue to try as a society; perhaps someday his dream will become actuality.

120236Lennon posing in-front of Statue of Libertyhttps://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2007/12/john-lennons-me.html

Works Cited

 

"John Winston Lennon." Encyclopedia of World Biography, Gale, 1998. Biography in Context,

https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1631003892/BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=b751d4cc.

Accessed 29 Jan. 2018.  

Magness , Josh, et al. “LASTING IMPACT: The Legacy of John Lennon.” Edited by Christine Condon 12:37 AM et al., The Diamondback, 11 Oct. 2015,

www.dbknews.com/archives/article_f5130d66-706d-11e5-898e-af26d7c8c4da.html.     

“Stefani, Susan A. "John (Ono) Lennon." Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2002. Biography in Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/H1000058960/BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=79190d38.

Accessed 29 Jan. 2018.”

Timmons, Nathan. "John, Paul, Jorge, and Ringo: Borges, Beatles, and the metaphor of celebrity

crucifixion." Journal of Religion and Popular Culture, vol. 23, no. 3, 2011, p. 382.

Student Resources in Context,

https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A292993200/SUIC?u=powa9245&xid=a3d9192b.

Accessed 4 Feb. 2018

Whitehead, John W. “John Lennon: The Last Great Anti-War Activist.” John Lennon: The Last

Great Anti-War Activist, The Rutherford Institute, 8 Oct. 2012, www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/john_lennon_the_last_great_anti_war_activist.    

“Yoko Ono.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 29 Nov. 2017,

www.biography.com/people/yoko-ono-9542162.    

Page created on 2/14/2018 4:26:58 PM

Last edited 2/18/2018 6:33:42 PM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.

Related Links

John Winston Lennon - More information on Lennon's early life, The Beatles, and his road to success.
LASTING IMPACT: The Legacy of John Lennon - More information on Lennon's lasting impact on us today.
Lennon: The Last Great Anti-War Activist. - More information on Lennon's peace activism.