I can vividly remember hearing the news of John Lennon's death. I was listening to Radio 1 before getting ready to go to school and was just stunned at the announcement. "Who would want to shoot a Beatle?" I thought in my 13-year old innocence. It didn't make any sense back in 1980 and doesn't make much more sense now.
As ever in these cases it's a strange thing to feel sadness at the death of someone you've never met but John was... well, he was John Lennon. He was a Beatle. The band had become so woven into the fabric of our lives that even a decade after their split the Fabs still had a huge importance. And now it's another four decades since even that fateful day and the world still mourns John Winston Ono Lennon.
He was no angel, true - indeed, he was a mass of contradictions, like most great artists - but he was surely one of the greatest songwriters and singers in popular music. And let's not forget John Lennon was also a loving husband and father.
His old bandmate Paul McCartney Tweeted the following today: "A sad sad day but remembering my friend John with the great joy he brought to the world. I will always be proud and happy to have known and worked with this incredible Scouser! x love Paul"
Up to my usual standards as ever, week three is a day late but ( hopefully ) worth it.
Okay, pop pickers, here we go with this week's rundown...
Day 15 - A song you like that's a cover by another artist One of my fave loud, weird bands ( Pixies ) covering another of my fave loud, weird bands ( Jesus &Mary Chain ) at 100 mph - not your John Lewis ad type of cover...
Head On by Pixies
Day 16 - A song that's a classic favourite This category's open to wide interpretation. I'm going way back with one of my fave songs from one of my fave movies
Singin' In The Rain by Gene Kelly
Day 17 - A song you'd sing a duet with someone on karaoke In the unlikely event this ever happened I'd go with ( Engage sarcasm mode. Sarcasm mode engaged. ) this romantic, classic duet from Husker Du - New Day Rising
Day 18 - A song from the year you were born Virtually impossible to pick just one song from 1966, pop's annus mirabilis ( Latin? at this time of day? ), but I'm going with this masterpiece from Tina Turner and Phil Spector. I mean, I could have picked songs from The Beatles, Stones, Temptations, Dylan, Byrds, Kinks, Supremes, Dusty, Wilson Pickett, Beach Boys, Four Tops... the list goes on...
River Deep Mountain High by Tina Turner
Day 19 - A song that makes you think about life Breathe by Pink Floyd from their emotional Live8 reunion in 2005
Just like Dave Gilmour here, I may have something in my eye
Day 20 - A song that has many meanings to you I'm cheating slightly here as it's technically more than one song. I wrote about Abbey Road and this song ( and my feelings for both ) on my old 15 Albums blog...
The "Long Medley" by The Beatles
Day 21 - A song you like with a person's name in the title Some folkin' folk music crossed with electronica. My first choice was See Emily Play by Pink Floyd but I've already posted a Floyd song. Plus I thought I should go with something more recent before this all turns into one big nostalgia fest
Jon Taylor's Month Away by King Creosote
My apologies for the different fonts on display here - I've copied and pasted some of this from my Twitter page and it doesn't fit too well. I wanted to get this post done today and not let things drag on for too long, so it's a bit rough 'n' ready. Unlike myself. I'm smooth as peaches and cream. That's gone through a blender. ( What am I talking about? Blame the lockdown ) I'll see if I can edit things when I get a minute...
Anyway, if anyone would like to take part and post some of their own fave songs in the comments that would be groovy, baby! See you next week pop pickerzzz.
Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play...
Yep, it's been a whole half century since the Beatles' classic album came out and arguably changed the face of pop music, if not that of popular culture itself. It's hard to imagine if you weren't there at the time what an impact this piece of vinyl had on the world. ( I was 6 months old at the time so wasn't too aware of it... ) Their previous album, Revolver, may have been more innovative, their first step into the unknown, but Sergeant Pepper was The One - the concept album that sound-tracked the Summer Of Love ( baby! ) and brought the world such amazing songs as Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, When I'm Sixty-Four, A Little Help From My Friends and, of course, A Day In The Life. I think I'm contractually obliged to use the phrase "acid-drenched" at this point...
I think I need to take a trip to Pepperland... I've been there before...
"Thanks very much and I hope I pass the audition..."
In a shocking turn of events which may stun the faithful readers of this 'ere blog I have to announce that I have today revisited the site of past glories and chiselled arcane words of wisdom into the very rockface of the blog landscape. Or, to put it another way, my old music blog, 15 Albums, is again open for business. Check it out ( should you want to, of course ) for my take on the classic Abbey Road album by The Beatles.
"Once there was a way to get back homeward / Once there was a way to get back home"
