John Lennon birthday tributes from Google and beyond
A Google doodle has been unveiled to celebrate what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday tomorrow. Here's a roundup of other online tributes
John Lennon was offended when Jesus once claimed he was bigger than the Beatles. Photograph: George Stroud/Getty Images
Had he lived, tomorrow would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday, which is why Google is celebrating in advance with their customary doodle. The anniversary of Lennon's birth comes almost exactly two months before the 30th anniversary of the day when Mark David Chapman stepped forward on a New York sidewalk, shot five bullets from a .38 revolver and ended the musician's life.
Last week, the Guardian and Observer writer Richard Williams reflected not only on what Lennon would have made of the world today, but what the world makes do with in his absence. "Next week, the troubled EMI Music will put on a happy face and issue not just remastered versions of eight existing Lennon solo albums, but a bunch of new compilations and boxes, squeezing yet more blood from the carcass of the group whose phenomenal success brought it the prosperity that has subsequently been frittered away." Ouch.
The Daily Mail, on the other hand, has a different concern: what would a 70-year-old John Lennon look like? Grey, apparently, with slightly less hair, but exactly the same pair of spectacles. So, now you know.
The BBC asks, in the somewhat glib manner of an organisation for whom use of the words "is" and "he" is too much like hard work: "John Lennon: still relevant?" But it turns out the article in question has gone some way to actually asking people on the streets of Liverpool this question. "I don't know anything about him, to be honest," said one 21-year-old, while her companion, who apparently never listens to a word that comes out of her friend's mouth, said: "Everybody loves the Beatles." Liverpool's answer, it would seem, as to whether Lennon is still relevant is: yeah, kinda.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame seems to be letting Lennon's relevance hang in the balance: the museum has taken it upon themselves to fill a time capsule with music and memorabilia with the hope of continuing his message of love and peace in the year 2040. Yoko's on board with this one, and we'll leave the final word to her: "I know that John's work, life and dreams will help inspire them to bring a better world for everyone. Children Power!"
Last week, the Guardian and Observer writer Richard Williams reflected not only on what Lennon would have made of the world today, but what the world makes do with in his absence. "Next week, the troubled EMI Music will put on a happy face and issue not just remastered versions of eight existing Lennon solo albums, but a bunch of new compilations and boxes, squeezing yet more blood from the carcass of the group whose phenomenal success brought it the prosperity that has subsequently been frittered away." Ouch.
The Daily Mail, on the other hand, has a different concern: what would a 70-year-old John Lennon look like? Grey, apparently, with slightly less hair, but exactly the same pair of spectacles. So, now you know.
The BBC asks, in the somewhat glib manner of an organisation for whom use of the words "is" and "he" is too much like hard work: "John Lennon: still relevant?" But it turns out the article in question has gone some way to actually asking people on the streets of Liverpool this question. "I don't know anything about him, to be honest," said one 21-year-old, while her companion, who apparently never listens to a word that comes out of her friend's mouth, said: "Everybody loves the Beatles." Liverpool's answer, it would seem, as to whether Lennon is still relevant is: yeah, kinda.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame seems to be letting Lennon's relevance hang in the balance: the museum has taken it upon themselves to fill a time capsule with music and memorabilia with the hope of continuing his message of love and peace in the year 2040. Yoko's on board with this one, and we'll leave the final word to her: "I know that John's work, life and dreams will help inspire them to bring a better world for everyone. Children Power!"
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