December 8th

Why is John Lennon on this blog?

John Lennon, the other half of the most brilliant songwriting team in the history of music, died 29 years ago today in New York city. Expect worldwide tributes today for this extraordinary man, and this is my small contribution.

I practically grew up listening to his creations, and developed an appreciation that would later manifest in my musical inclinations. The artists/bands that emulate his music, or that of his group called The Beatles, continually grow, testament to his timeless appeal. People liked his style during his post-beatle new york days, as this writer. But the John Lennon of post-war Britain Liverpewl (pool) of The Beatles, Mimi's hellraiser, and the odd kid that didn't seem to fit, is the John Lennon that I would like to remember him to be. Youth, as with prominent YCGs (youth-cult groups) of England, was his potential, and the events that later led him to cross paths with Paul and George were the catalyst he needed to unleash a force in music unequaled until now. Literature on The Beatles and the groups they influenced is voluminous and accessible in almost any for of media now, and I don't need to expound on it here.

But that fateful event saved us from contenting ourselves with the mindless drivel associated with uninspired, or just plainly put, intellectually insulting music that is prevalent today. As Filipinos proud of our talent in music, let us drive ourselves to improve understanding of the music that we play. It doesn't matter where the music you play originated, what matters is you do your best to share it, and what matters most is that you do your contribution by writing your own music! Let us not "go with the flow", because the "flow" is headed downstream, let us instead go upstream, because the hardest path is the path worth taking.

(picture above) John Lennon, the best there ever will be.