John Lennon

Early Family Life

• Born October 9th 1940 in Liverpool, England• Lennon’s father abandoned him as an infant• Mom is unstable parent and Lennon lives with

Aunt Mimi and Uncle George• Lennon’s mom was killed by drunk driver

when he was 17• Lennon married wife Cynthia and had a son

Julian

Early Musical Life

• Lennon starts The Quarrymen at age 15• Band members come and go until the Beatle’s

solidify• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8eqtpLxF

O0• The Beatles officially started in 1960

The Beatles

• Lennon was considered the most outspoken and intellectual band member

• 1965- World tour was cut short because of a controversial comment from Lennon

• Recorded music only in the studio until 1969 when band broke up

Most Famous Works

• “A Day in the Life”• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-Q9D4dc

Yng• “Let it Be”• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajCYQL8o

uqw

After The Beatles

• Lennon left the band for Yoko Ono in 1969• McCartney wrote “Hey Jude”• Ono and Lennon began recording music

together• 1970- Plastic Ono Band released first solo

album• 1971- Lennon released “Imagine”

Different Band Different Music

• Lennon’s music becomes more minimalist as compared to more elaborate music of Beatles

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKXfqpg-Q-k (Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDVkkwl6aJo (Mother)

Lennon in Society

• Lennon moves to US in 1971• Politicians felt threatened and he went

through several years of trials to obtain green card

• Finally given green card on July 4, 1976• Told he would be eligible for citizenship in

1981

Ono and Lennon

• Lennon and Ono married in 1975 • Son Sean born soon after• Lennon wrote song “Beautiful Boy” for Sean• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_j-tpmdP

lI• Lennon became a “house husband” and Ono

was his music manager

Death

• Lennon and Oko were recording new album in 1980 when Lennon was assasinated

• Lennon was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman on December 8, 1980

• There was no funeral• He was cremated the day after his death and

no one knows where the ashes were spread

Fame After Death

• Lennon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Beatles on January 20, 1988.

• He was inducted as a solo artist in 1994. • He was also voted the 38th Greatest Rock and

Roll Artist by Rolling Stone magazine. • The Beatles voted the Greatest Rock and Roll

Artists of all time in same list.

Fame After Death Cont.

• Liverpool Airport was renamed the John Lennon Airport.

• 2005, The Beatles replica of a Yellow Submarine was unveiled outside the airport to commemorate Lennon

“Give Peace a Chance”

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhyiqGIJQus

• Song was recorded in 1969 in the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Canada

• Was a political statement to stop American involvement in Vietnam War

Listening Guide• 0:00-0:15- Music starts with Lennon counting the time to start the

music. It sounds like several hands start clapping and a tambourine start to keep the beat Lennon’s lyrics are more conversational and fast paced.

• 00:20- Chorus. Many voices, both male and female harmonizing to sing the lyrics “All we are saying, is give peace a chance.” Back beat of claps and tambourine continue. This chorus symbolizes the united people and the ideal and peaceful society Lennon wants to achieve.

• 00:45- Lennon starts his part again. His voice is harsher and a lot faster tempo than the chorus. His voice has a bitter tone as he talks about society.

• 4:30- Lennon ends the song by thanking and complimenting the chorus and they all break into applause and whistling until that dies down and the song ends.

“Mother”

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkOoZDK7Rz8

• “Mother” was the first song on his first solo album “Plastic Ono Band” in 1970.

• “Mother” was one of the three songs he wrote for his mother years after her death.

• Lennon uses a voice technique in this song called “Primal Scream Therapy” to help him cope with his losses

Listening Guide

• 0:30- Music starts with a slow somber bell ringing. • 1:00- Lennon was a minimalist and the music starts

with a drum keeping the back beat, and a few chords on the piano throughout.

• 2:30-Next verse starts more powerfully and lyrics are accompanied by a piano and guitar.

• 3:30- Chorus- Voice is more harsh and raises to a raspy scream. Piano is very staccato and tempo picks up.

• 4:20- Lyrics continue, as does the screaming, but starts to fade out to end the song.

“Imagine”

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLgYAHHkPFs• This song is considered Lennon’s most popular and

well-known song. • It was on his album titled “Imagine” in 1971. This

album was a little richer than his first album “Plastic Ono Band” which was very minimalist.

• Lennon wanted to depict a utopian society to appeal to society to perfect itself. Lennon was very Zen and a well-known pacifist.

Listening Guide

• 0:30- Music starts with a very peaceful and melodious piano. Voice accompaniment starts at 0:15 and is very soft and ethereal. Verse 1-Voice doesn’t have much range of pitch.

• 0:40- Drums start and the music is richer and more complex in sound with both the drums guitars and piano all playing in harmony

• 1:20- Chorus starts. Music swells and becomes more powerful and dynamic. Voice is soft but has more range and more runs making it sound peaceful and calm.

• 2:20- Drum riff signals the beginning of the final chorus. Repeats the same words and melody. Music varies a little in harmonies. Climax of the song.

Bibliography

• DeCurtis, Anthony. "John Lennon." John Lennon. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2013

• Abb, Paul. "Biography of John Lennon." IMDb. Amazon, n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2013.