Today is John Lennon’s birthday. He’s probable the most celebrated songwriter of all time, & easily one of the most famous people of the 20th century. He was assassinated. He died a revolutionary & a somewaht of a martyr. I loved him. I still listen to his music.
Despite what you hear on the radio these days, writing pop music is difficult. The very best pop music is sad & beautiful, both inspirational & existential.
Julia is not a rocker or a message song. It grew out of the guitar lessons John & Paul took from the ethereal- Donovan, during their time in India.
Julia has no soaring melody, no harmonies, no clever arrangement, no discernible chorus, & no instrumentation except Lennon on guitar. The song lacks everything that made The Beatles are known for.
Lennon said that telling the truth in his songs as being more important than anything else. Julia has no social cause or great message, instead it is the lament of distressed man still coping with childhood with no mother. The mood is sad & low-key, & you can feel Lennon’s humanity. That is the loveliest thing a great artist can give his audience.
I have deep passion for Beatle history, & I am looking forward to the release next week of Nowhere Boy, a new film that imagines the 15 year old John Lennon.
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