Beautiful Boy

      It seems like every time musical icons are brought up, or a definitive artist of the 21st century is decided upon, it is John Lennon (or maybe Bob Dylan).  Yet it seems very little is known of his work outside The Beatles, which is really a separate, unique entity.  He is revered as a martyred peace-pushing romantic idealist, with modern transmutations reaching into Apple computer's advertising and the Obama election campaign.  I am not trying to disavow Lennon of his message or be anti-humanitarian for questioning it, but I just think that perhaps we act like we know more about him than we do.  I don't think most people can name another solo Lennon song other than Imagine, but that might not necessarily be bad, because the lack of specificity boils down his persona into one of optimism and progress, which gets most people on board (thus making for an effective campaigning platform).

    I am still trying to dig into Lennon through his music, but I would say that everyone should know this one other song:

      To analyze the gravity of The Beatles is a daunting task, oft attempted, which really requires an examination of their full catalog, all relative to the course of history.  Their music is something that is so generally accepted that it considered treason if you cannot appreciate some part of it.  It is my belief that they are the most important band ever.  It is worth learning about for reasons beyond the music because, whether you like it or not, it really carved a path for the world in many different ways.
      However, just as the whole is more than the sum of its parts, they all began with and developed their own individual musical talent.  Their talent as a group was contagious and expansive, and when they went about their own way they had honed their own skills.  I am still getting around to John Lennon, and believe that what he is remembered for may not be precise, and exaggerated in lieu of this evidence, but basically true.  I will leave that with one more clip which provides a glimpse into the iconoclast (feat. Harrison in studio), which to me exemplifies just a brilliant, beautiful sounding musician if nothing else.