Sunday, December 21, 2008

MERRY XMAS! (WAR IS OVER)

I’ve always been a Beatles fan and wanted to share this video with you. It has some great still footage of the fab four. I love this Christmas song which was written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in their New York City hotel room. It’s such a wonderful haunting melody and in my opinion one of the best Christmas songs ever written. John and Yoko were both great anti-war campaigners and spent a lot of time in the late 60’s and early 70’s campaigning for peace. In 1969, they even went as far as putting up billboard advertisements saying, “War is over! (if you want it)”, in some of the world’s major cities. Two year’s later the slogan became the basis for this unique and special Christmas song with John and Yoko’s special anti-war message. I think the song is really relevant to this time of year. “Peace on earth and goodwill to all men”. It would be so wonderful to live in a world where there were no wars.

After the Beatles split up, both Paul McCartney and John Lennon went on to form successful solo careers. Along with “Imagine”, "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" is one of my favourite John Lennon tracks. John's murder came as a shock to a lot of people including myself. Like Princess Diana's death, most people can remember where they were and what they were doing the day it happened. His death was a terrible tragedy and a great loss to his millions of fans around the world. Fortunately we still have the legacy of John Lennon’s music to keep his memory alive. John was shot and killed less than 3 weeks before Christmas in 1980. This special Christmas song was re-released in the UK in December of the same year. Merry Christmas and Rest in Peace John!

6 comments:

SandyCarlson said...

That's a wonderful post. God bless and merry Christmas, Naomi.

Anonymous said...

Naomi we are kindred spirits. "Imagine" is my favourite song and "War is Over" is one of the greatest Christmas songs ever. Thanks for the post.

Kyle and Svet Keeton said...

Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Funny how he comes to my mind almost everyday.

He was a great person.

When you see Yoko Ono she is always standing alone and seems lost after his death.

Kyle

Marion said...

I hope you had a lovely Christmas, Naomi...and I wish you all of the best in the coming New Year. 2009...can you believe it?

Naomi said...

Glad you enjoyed the post Sandy. God bless and Merry Christmas to you too!

Yes both these songs are classics Melissa. Glad you enjoyed the post.

John Lennon was a great person and a wonderful ambassador for peace Kyle. I'm sure he would have had a role with United Nations if he had still been alive today. Yes Yoko cuts a sad a lonely figure without John. They were soul mates. His death was so sad.

Naomi said...

Thanks for your kind wishes Marion. Happy New Year to you and Graham too and good luck in your new home! Last year certainly flew by - can't believe it's 2009 already!