My 2nd Beatles Christmas

So last year was my "Beatles Christmas" that included a lot of Beatles gifts. I thought that last year was crazy, well this year was even crazier. It's official. I've established myself as a Beatles fanatic amongst those who know me. So, where to begin? I'll start with my sister. She's been to London recently and, for obvious reasons, there are a lot of Beatles things there. She got me a wall clock, Abbey Road tea, and a Beatles magazine in french. I'm in French 3 at my highschool and I've really enjoyed reading it! Thanks Emily! From my parents I got an Abbey Road journal and the DVD of Paul's concert "Good Evening New York City." Wait, I have more! My cousin bought me some Beatles pins with some select albums. My aunt got me a t-shirt that says Love Me Do on it and they gave me a combined gift that was a MASSIVE Abbey Road poster. Whew! We made it. Plus I got a camera. I'll be uploading MY pictures finally and I'll take some of my gifts. I hope I didn't forget anything! It's certainly possible as I got so much. As a side note, my family will be out of the country for about two weeks so don't be expecting posts. I think the Colosseum will be grabbing my attention don't you?!

A SECOND John Lennon magazine!

I always think its cool to read their words (that's why I like Beatles Anthology so much) and this is his last interview. Like it says on the cover, Rolling Stone interviewed him days before he died. I haven't finished reading it but I like what I've read! Get it if you can!

Things that should definitely be on your list to get soon!

This came out in November and is a reissue of a magazine that was released earlier. Remembering the 30th anniversary of John Lennon's death, LIFE re-released this. The Beatles are definitely included in it, but its main focus is John Lennon. For all you Lennon-lovers out there, this is a must buy!

While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Across the Universe Version)

I've decided that if my song of the day was redone in "Across the Universe" that I'd post that version as well. This is that video for "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Sung by Martin Luther McCoy (Jojo) and Jim Sturgess (Jude), it's a VERY slow version of the song that has a ripping guitar solo. This is my favorite song that they did. Love it!

Song of the Day- While My Guitar Gently Weeps 1968 (The White Album)

One of my top favorite Beatle songs, this one was written by my favorite Beatle, George. If I ever learn guitar, I'm definitely going to make sure that I learn this song. It's just such a melancholy song that still has fierce guitar solos in it. One of the best guitar songs of the '60's. I'll post the "Across the Universe" version by Martin Luther McCoy.

His final home

This is one of John's most famous pictures after the Beatles, or arguably, ever. It's so sad to know that John never knew that New York would be the last home that he ever knew.

Imagine

The famous white piano. It's beautiful. This is, hands-down, John's best post-Beatles song in my opinion. A simple song that expresses so much. Unfortunately, it's been contaminated with Lady Gaga. Now, don't get me wrong, I like Lady Gaga and I have some of her songs, but come on! Lady Gaga vs. John Lennon...

Sgt. Pepper

Yes! The glasses have finally arrived! I'm afraid that as part of the Harry Potter generation, I recognize them as Harry's glasses, not John's.

1966

John was into LSD by this time and his music changed drastically with this new life style. The albums Rubber Soul and Revolver are the perfect examples for his experimentation in music and drugs. My favorite songs on those albums are "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" from Rubber Soul and "Tomorrow Never Knows" from Revolver. Both I believe were written by John

John early into the Beatles' career (about 1963)

This image would remain their image until about 1965, early 1966. By the time Revolver came around, their hair was quite a bit longer and their suits were no longer matching and were covered in odd prints. For now though, the world of the early sixties wanted order and organization. The Beatles in their mop top stage conformed a bit there. Although, their whole feel was for rebellion and social upheaval. John was the center of these feelings.

John while a part of the Beatles in their Hamburg years.

It's amazing how much the Beatle's image changed in about two years. They went from greased hair like Elvis and leather jackets to neat suits and the mop top. He was probably the one Beatle who didn't like the image that they later produced. Obviously, he was going to do whatever it took for them to be on the pop music scene's radar, but I think that he thought later that he wrote impersonal songs that were very surface level. Eventually, they would break the mop top image along with their happy, fake songs (which I definitely like by the way) and move into more meaningful songs. But they would never again attempt to go back to this very 50's style stage.

John as a young kid

John as a young kid. I always like thinking that his teachers and people around him had absolutely NO idea how unbelievably famous and huge he would eventually be. Although mainly recognizable because of the Beatles, he was a music genius anyway and never ceased to be that. (I have to say though, that his songs in the Beatles era from 1962-1970 are my favorites far above anything else he did)

30th Anniversary of John Lennon's Death

Today is the 30th anniversary of John Lennon's death. On December 8, 1980, John was leaving a recording session, one of his first in several years, when Mark David Chapman said, "Mr. Lennon!" and shot him five times. An unfair ending to one of music's greatest. I actually recently watched CNN's special called "Losing Lennon." I hadn't really paid attention to his death because I didn't like to think about it, but it was a very interesting story. Heartbreaking and completely depressing but, still interesting. It's coincidental that I just finished reading The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger in my English class because Mark David Chapman was reading it right before John came out. He actually mimicked Holden Caulfield (main character in the book) with his actions. Bizarre. Really bizarre. I would recommend it, but it's a truly sad story, definitely not an inspiring one. I'll post pictures as a tribute to John, like I did with George. Here's to the "witty Beatle."

This day in 1965

The songs "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out" were released in the US on the album Rubber Soul. The EP The Beatles' Million Sellers was released in the UK featuring such famous songs like "She Loves You", "I Want to Hold Your Hand", "Can't Buy Me Love", and "I Feel Fine."

Song of the Day-Getting Better 1967 (Sgt. Pepper)