I think John Lennon is over-rated. Most of his solo work is either unlistenable "art noise" created with Yoko, or syrupy, sentimental tosh! With the exception of a couple of albums, and a few singles, he doesn't deserve the unadulterated praise heaped upon him, and is only revered so much because he is dead. The last album he released in his lifetime, Double Fantasy, was panned by the critics, only to be reappraised as a work of genius in the weeks following his death! Meanwhile, Paul McCartneys music, which is probably 50% great and 50% crap, is virtually ignored. Do you dare to go against the tide of the opinion polls, and agree with me?
2006-10-07 11:47:16 · 35 answers · asked by Madfan 3 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
This does not include his work with the Beatles
2006-10-07 12:08:22 · update #1
In a word, yes. I think if we take a moment to reflect on his place as an iconic figure it revolves mainly around two things: 1) as a member of the Beatles, and 2) his untimely and tragic death. Obviously we tend to inflate the legend of those who have lost their lives all too soon, but if we look at the strictly musical aspect of his career, I imagine we begin to really deal with whether or not he is over-rated. The Beatles were in many ways greater then the sum of their parts - no virtuosos to be found for certain. The team of Lennon and McCartney was certainly a particularly fruitful and expressive musical collaboration, but isn't funny who we tend to give more awe to: Lennon. I think we may best determine on whether Lennon was over-rated or not by one simple question: how would we think of the other Beatle members (well, maybe not Ringo) had they passed away so young and under such tragic circumstances. I think there legends would have reached equally titanic proportions.
2006-10-07 12:29:13 · answer #1 · answered by Joe 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No, but I do dare to disagree with you. John Lennon's work does not consist of just Double Fantasy. After the breakup of the Beatles it became obvious that John's writing contributions to the Lennon-McCartney songs gave them weight and substance. Talk about syrupy! When McCartney trotted out his first work without John Lennon it was closer to bubble-gum pop than I or many people ever expected. He has written some excellent music on his own, don't get me wrong. But I think Lennon's "darkness" was needed to dissolve some of McCartney's trite and sugary musical leanings. I'm talking depth here, not chart placement.
Anyway, JMO. I'm 50 and have had this ongoing conversation with people of my generation since The Beatles split up. Most people do lean one way or another, it's all personal taste I suppose.
2006-10-07 12:05:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's a tricky question. I'd agree that he became self indulgent but prehaps that's helped make the Beatles so good. McCartney just surrounded himself with people that told him all his output was fantastic. Lennon kinda dissapeared up his own ar*e but prehaps stayed true to himself. Greatness can be mention in the same sentence as Lennon but only within the bigger picture of his influence throughout the sixties, seventies, his aims for peace (still apt and noble) and with a culture fasinated with the death of celebrity then it only helps immortalize him even more.
2006-10-07 11:54:03 · answer #3 · answered by urbanrt 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
John Lennon was awful on his own...The Beatles ruled-Yoko ruined the Beatles and ruined Lennon. McCartney's music is generally good.
2006-10-07 21:52:09 · answer #4 · answered by Edward S 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
John, Paul, George and Ringo did their best work when they were the Beatles,Most of the solo stuff kinda lost the magic.
But even John would put his own music down saying it was never as profound as the fans and the press made out !!
But !!
IMAGINE - simple but genius
2006-10-07 11:55:36 · answer #5 · answered by Blitz 2 · 6⤊ 0⤋
No he is not over rated maybe under rated he was ahead of his time he was trying to give a spiritual message to the world through his music.
The problem was not everyone understood the message in his music.
Why don't you go and listen to his music and try to work out his message to the world ?
A good song to start with would be "Let it be"
I love and adore John Lennon he gave so much joy and expressed himself through his music : )
Love & Blessings
Milly
2006-10-07 12:00:25 · answer #6 · answered by milly_1963 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
John's genius is mainly the issues he sings about, like peace, and loving each other. I love both his music and that of Paul McCartneys (and the other Beatles) so I guess I'm biased.
2006-10-07 11:57:06 · answer #7 · answered by mitty 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
We have proof of Lennon's genius when he wrote with Paul McCartney. I would agree his music get weird after he met Yoko but then so did he but that does not mean he could not do it just that he did not want too.
2006-10-07 11:52:44 · answer #8 · answered by Maid Angela 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I don't think the man is overrated. The solo work of all 4 Beatles is spotty. But you totally ignore his work WITH the Beatles...most of which is undeniably genius.
Find me a current, living artist who accomplished as much as Lennon did in his 20s.....
2006-10-07 11:51:22 · answer #9 · answered by Fonzie T 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Since it sounds like youre talking about only his solo work. Then maybe slightly overrated. But no one ever said his solo work was all that great. He had Imagine and a few other decent hits, but all his great stuff was with the Beatles. I don't really like much of his stuff post Beatles, and I don't think thats what people remember and value him for anyway. So no I don't think hes overrrated, because the solo stuff was never rated that highly to begin with.
2006-10-07 12:11:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋