The off-rhythm licks on snare AND crash are always a tasty treat in this already fantastic track. I didn't realize it was Alan White, though, thank you!
The drummer in Instant Karma, Alan White, just passed away two days ago, on May 26th. He was best known as the drummer for the spectacular progressive rock band, YES. Would love to see you react to one of their incredible pieces one day. (I don't call them songs because many of Yes' work is structured like classical music, in "movements".) Suggestions VERY outside the box: -Gates of Delirium -Awaken -Soundchaser -Machine Messiah -On the Silent Wings of Freedom These are longer recordings but I think you will be able to appreciate it. Time to graduate if you feel ready!🎓👨🏾🎓👩🏽🎓🎶🎵
Yes, Allen White became a legend in Yes, Gates of Delirium is one of the best prog epics ever! They need to do some Yes, ELP and King Crimson to see just how far rock could take us.
Oh, no!!! RIP Alan. Yes, please. Some Yes from "Close to the Edge" or "Relayer" (his first two albums with the group, after Bill Bruford moved to King Crimson. "And You and I" is a classic love song, and "Siberian Khatru" and "To Be Over" are fine as well. "Close to the Edge" and "Gates of Delirium" are long and complex and won't fit in your standard video, but they're both masterworks, so if you've got the will, it would be a thrill. Damn. Say hi to Chris Squire for me, Alan. And thanks.
Damn. I always find out in YT comments. I was just thinking about him during this vid. Saw him with Yes on last tour with Squire. Emotional. Thanks for posting.
As Brad wondered, this song did popularize the phrase, "Instant Karma." It was recorded and released in January 1970. Lennon has a considerable amount of energy here, as compared with just a year earlier, when he was often late to the studio and somewhat lethargic during the Beatles' "Let it Be" sessions. It is generally acknowledged that he kicked his heroin habit somewhere around late 1969 to early 1970. Also, Lennon and Ono cut their hair in Denmark on January 20, 1970 and auctioned it off in order to support a London home for disadvantaged youth. This guy had enormous talent and the entire world looked to him for answers. That's just the way it was. He was an icon.
Try John Lennon "watching the wheels" for me personally I think it's one of his best 😁.......oh and a big mention for "jealous guy" also a beautiful song by Lennon :)
John Lennon always had something to say on almost any subject you can think of. And then he can set it to music and make a hit song out of it. Talent just flows. December 8, 1980, a very dark day.
The drummer here died 2 days ago if I'm not mistaken. Alan White, drummer to Lennon an d the band Yes. BTW, the CIA was on to him. The short hair on both John & Yoko was a protest against the Vietnam war.
Super song - might be my favorite solo from him if not for How do you sleep which I think was the same release, it also had George and Klaus, not sure but probably Alan and Phil as well. I don't believe Billy was on that song though.
John Lennon wrote this song and recorded and released it ten days later. He recruited George Harrison billy Preston not seen on this video and Alan white and Klaus voormann it was unheard of at the time. They used four different pianos and organs to create the sound with Phil Spector producing. You should look into the Beatles if you want to be amazed.
When 1970 came around, John and Yoko called it the Year One for Peace, and shaved off their hair for peace. It had already grown a bit by this video. If you notice Yoko's hair is short too. Great song by John.
You two just watched a video of one of the greatest songwriters of all time…and the drummer on here is Alan White who passed away yesterday..he was also the long time drummer for a band called Yes.
Thanks for sharing that. I was thinking the drums were awesome, and wondered if they were recorded with the slap back delay or if that was added in post production. I would imagine it might be hard to play right with all that delay coming through, so my guess is that it was added later. Let me know if you know how it was recorded! RIP dummer man!
@@bobwoolerOriGinal I believe we are mistaken sir. I'll double check. Alan white was born in 65 and his brother in 72 ( Oasis drummer) the White who played on John's song 🎵 was born in 1949. My bad.
Two bass players on stage here, one of which is Klaus Voorman who was one of The Beatles' Hamburg friends from the early days and he designed the Revolver album cover. The big guy playing tambourine next to Yoko is Mal Evans from Liverpool who was The Beatles' hard-working road manager. Gentle giant, totally loyal, but suffered a horrible end too early.
The other bass player is Irishman and all round scenester, BP Fallon. He's worth investigating too; a Zelig figure in rock 'n' roll and quite an artist in his own right.
Always LOVED this song. Thank You for the reaction! If everyone had a smile like Lex, this world would be a happier place! ( for the long time Beatle fans, I've seen this video many times and just realized that's Mal Evans playing the tambourine! Good 'ol faithful Mal. You can see him in the Let it Be doc. The Beatles friend and security guy from day one. He used to be a bouncer at the Cavern Club)
James Williams. I can't pick a favourite because I like too many of his songs, but his voice on this one is awesome. John surely had one of the greatest rock and roll voices in pop music history.
John had some gut wrenching songs such as 'Cold Turkey' and some beautiful ballads like 'Beautiful boy' whatever song you listen to next you'll find a message within. Peace
Karma is a Sanskrit word meaning “action.” It refers to a cycle of cause-and-effect that is an important concept in many Eastern Religions, particularly Hinduism and Buddhism. In its essence, karma refers to both the actions and the consequences of the actions.
@@alukuhito Karma has been around in Eastern religions for millennia. But "INSTANT Karma" was never seen or heard of before Lennon's song. I was 15 at the time. What next? Are you going to tell me that JFK wasn't assassinated? You young people don't believe stuff happened before your time. If you didn't personally see it, you don't believe it happened. Next....we introduce you to Hippies and Woodstock...something you also might not believed happened.
@@twalrus1 Karma is just a fact of life. Sometimes you get something right away, sometimes not. So, yeah, instant karma has been around for thousands of years. You're the young one here, bub. Not everything's about modern US culture. The world's been around a lot longer than the USA and UK.
@@alukuhito Maybe the CONCEPT of Instant Karma was around, but NO ONE had UTTERED the term "Instant Karma" before this song. Go ahead, google it and show me one instance of the term "Instant Karma" before 1970 and I will apologize to you. Just one instance of "Instant Karma" before Lennon's song. The INSTANT" part of the song went a long way to selling the song.
You got it. Lennon had an edge. He and Yoko were very politically aware. Alan White, who played with Yes and just died, was the drummer. Listen to Give Me Some Truth which was a song against Nixon.
This song is an iconic classic. I love the subtle distortion on Lennon's shouty chorus and phil spector's spacey production. We did this on my channel and my cohost dug it a lot.
It's hard for a younger person (lest they're a Beatles fan and have dug deep into their music and "get" the reason they were such giants) to conceive of how much of an icon John Lennon was, and how much he was a lover of the world. He was murdered 40+ years ago and when I see stuff of his and or footage about his death, it still makes me feel such shame and sadness that he was plucked off that way. He was arguably bigger than music. Today, he'd probably be the most important person in music as he was in his day. He was arguably the greatest rock lyricist ever (I think he was). Very talented, had songs in his head like a modern Mozart that he could just churn out when he needed to. And he knew he was good, too, he was cocky in that respect. But an interesting concept maker in music. It's no accident Instant Karma became a phrase.
Lennon was a master jingle writer and a visionary ahead of his time. John and Yoko were an amazing artistic performance, advant guard events like this to provoke thought. I suggest the US vs John Lennon as a flick that will take yiu onto a past that too parallels today
When the Beatles first arrived in the USA their hair was short. The hippie movement is when they all grew their hair long for a liberation. Then the times were changing again so did the hair styles. But their songs are based on change, peace, and unity of humanity.
This song changed my life. I was 12 then and it modified all my views on music and even life. Listening to it now gives me the same thrills than when I was a young teen. Initially I thought you reacted because Alan White, the drummer just died some days ago. But his work in Yes would have been a more relevant choice. Great reaction from Lex but all her reactions are great anyway.
I believe that this song was written, recorded, and then released to the public within just ten days which is one of the fastest released records in music history. Lennon quipped to the press that he "wrote it for breakfast, recorded it for lunch, and we're putting it out for dinner". Also the background singers in the chorus of the recording are just a bunch of people they grabbed from a nearby nightclub after they thought the chorus needed more vocal oomph.
Miss Lex, you look like you really enjoyed the song, I grew up in the 70s and it was the best year for self recognition and telling the world of the problems and issues it’s faced since the beginning, The songs were all very deep by the Beatles and other musicians the black soul music was very intense and deep and told the story the music then really focused on the problems of this country in the world I’m glad you enjoyed it you have a great smile and a beautiful soul. Thank you Brad and Lakes for checking out the song it brought tears to my eyes listening to it with you have a great day!❤️
Its title came from Melinde Kendall, the wife of Yoko Ono's former husband Tony Cox. She had used the phrase in conversation during Lennon and Ono's stay with them in Denmark during December 1969 and the following month.
John was the king peace-nik. This song was released as a solo work as the Beatles were breaking up. While with the Beatles, John had felt oppressed from expressing his personal views on the wars raging around the world. As soon as he was able to, he'd start releasing a couple of tracks oriented with to the theme of peace. He figured that if people are going to publish everything he ever does or say, it may as well be about peace. He also performed what would be best described as a 'Bed-in for peace' where he and Yoko would hold press conferences for peace from his honeymoon bed. He had just married Yoko and invited the news media to join them in their honeymoon hotel suite. They showed up expecting maybe they would consummate their marriage right in front of the cameras. John was just the type of person that would do that, too. Instead, the news was treated to lectures and Q&A on peace. In this video, they both have short hair having cut it all off and auctioning it off for the Black Power movement in London.
Love love this song and the message of brotherly love and getting along...React to another message song by the Beatles: All YOU NEED IS LOVE, also written mostly by John Lennon
I Remember well when I heard the news that John Lennon had just "ambushed" shot and killed outside his apartment in New York . A man who protested against war . And promoted "Peace Love and Harmony" to the world through his music . Such a sad sad loss to music and the world .
You guys are great. Loved your reaction, it was hilarious! “Who is this dude with short hair?” Ha! I think John cut it as a protest, or to raise awareness for some such thing. Much love from Canada 🇨🇦
Lennon was passionately anti-war, anti-colonialist, anti-fascist and pro-DADA. His art pieces with Yoko are the purest performance DADA ever to blow the minds of the mainstream. J. Edgar Hoover of the F.B.I. considered JL to be dangerous enough to the status quo that he eventually had him deported. He was able to return, eventually, and we all know what that got him. Keep up the fun reactions, you two are great!
John and Yoko were definitely social activists. And John did have short hair for a long time in the Beatles before he grew it out late in the Beatles. And then he cut it short again. And Lex, I love your idea of Yoko finishing knitting something by the end of the song, because she was an experimental artist and I could totally see her doing something like that!
At the time of the song's writing, Buddhism was very popular with the hippies and the counterculture. Everyone was going on about karma this and karma that, and how you'd best live the "right" way lest whatever you did comes back to bite you. A friend of Yoko mentioned the phrase "instant karma" in conversation one day, and this sparked Lennon's interest. In his mind, it made perfect sense that karma isn't something that only happens at the end of a life, but can happen immediately if it so chooses. And I'm sure we can all relate to wishing instant karma on someone in our lives, at one point or another, so it's not difficult to see the appeal of the idea.
yes Alan White the drummer just died a few days ago, he was 72. John got Alan to play on his live performance entitled Live Peace In Toronto - August 1969 right after the Beatles had finished recording Abbey Road and one month before its release. This was the first hit song from an ex-Beatle in February 1970 and Alan White played that incredible drums on it.
The song was a big hit for Lennon and it was responsible for popularizing the phrase "Instant Karma" although I don't know if Lennon is credited with having coined the phrase. Over the years, John Lennon sported long hair, short hair, long beards, clean shaven and scruffy facial hair. He was one of the most photographed people in the world so it's easy to find different variations of his appearance over the years. If you're interested in more of the raw, post Beatles John Lennon I would suggest checking out the song "Mother" it's very heartfelt and powerful... I think Brad would particularly like it for its sincerity and authenticity. I really like watching your videos, you both have such cool and sincere energy.
Try Lennon solo sending a song reply to Paul after Paul took a little shot at John with his band Wings = "How do you sleep" - it's a really good song and has George Harrison playing a cool guitar riff - it's the demo that has the best version everyone agrees. Takes 5 & 6, Raw Studio Mix Out-take
I will never forget where and who I was with when I heard about his murder on the radio. I was 20 years old when it happened, and it broke my heart and a few of my friends.
Check out "Yer Blues" a song by the Beatles, played by a temporary band called The Dirty Mac. It had Lennon on guitar and lead vocal, Eric Clapton on lead guitar, Keith Richard on bass guitar and Mitch Mitchell on drums. The performance was part of the Rolling Stones' unaired Rock & Roll Circus TV special in 1968.
Yeah, he did. Can you imagine being his son, Julian, and listening to your father sing about "Give Peace a Chance" when he's ignored you your whole life, beat and cheated on your mother, and now he's with some yappy Japanese hag, and even cheating on her?
We all did blindfolded knitting back in the 70's. It was ubiquitous. We'd put on blindfolds, knit, and randomly scream out the names of automotive parts and unusual cheeses. Great memories!!!
hes got so many good songs from this period, what a loss that hes gone, but i guess he said everything he had to say while he was here *other songs to check, "jealous guy", "watching the wheels", "beautiful boy"
Around John Lennon's 70th birthday I had a custom tattoo made for my upper arm. I love this song and John Lennon and remember exactly where I was when he was assassinated.
All of the Beatles, even after they broke up, were kind of famous for constantly changing their hairstyles. I've seen Lennon with everything from waist-long hair to a completely shaved head.
"Watching The Wheels" in the future please, it's really good and one of my favorites out of his solo career and released just a couple of months before his tragic death on December 8th, 1980.☮️✌️💕👌
Great song, for more John Lennon goodness try Cold Turkey or How Do You Sleep at Night, they are legendary numbers from John. Awesome, timeless music. Enjoy! 🎵
This shows why Lennon is the greatest rock vocalist. He just had that grit on his voice that you cannot manufacture. He also knew how to deliver a Vocal performance prob better than anyone else. Even Robert plant. McCartney even said, when Lennon is ready to do the vocals, it’s on.
Phil Spector and his "wall of sound" was the production behind that. Spector's a shitbag who went to jail for murder after decades of being a psychopath, but he was a fucking incredible music producer.
"why in the world are we here... surely not to live in pain and fear."...damn straight John...love ya man.
Yeah, no more masks, no more quarantines, no more forced vaxxing, etc.
Why in the world are we HERE
Surely.....
Why on Earth are you THERE
are you EVERYWHERE
Here There and Everywhere was John’s favorite Paul Song.
right on
R.I.P. Alan White, playing the drums here, later in Yes..passed this week..
Oh wow, I didn't know that. I think I remember reading that they could never quite duplicate the incredible sounds of the drums in this song.
Yep. He was was a session musician, did this with the "Plastic Ono band" and they went to "Yes". R.I.P.🙏
Alwaysed loved these drums, rip brother
The off-rhythm licks on snare AND crash are always a tasty treat in this already fantastic track. I didn't realize it was Alan White, though, thank you!
We all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun.
The drummer in Instant Karma, Alan White, just passed away two days ago, on May 26th. He was best known as the drummer for the spectacular progressive rock band, YES. Would love to see you react to one of their incredible pieces one day. (I don't call them songs because many of Yes' work is structured like classical music, in "movements".)
Suggestions VERY outside the box:
-Gates of Delirium
-Awaken
-Soundchaser
-Machine Messiah
-On the Silent Wings of Freedom
These are longer recordings but I think you will be able to appreciate it. Time to graduate if you feel ready!🎓👨🏾🎓👩🏽🎓🎶🎵
Yes, Allen White became a legend in Yes, Gates of Delirium is one of the best prog epics ever! They need to do some Yes, ELP and King Crimson to see just how far rock could take us.
Thanks for pointing that out. would also like to see them get to some Yes; more or less godfathers of progressive rock
Oh, no!!! RIP Alan. Yes, please. Some Yes from "Close to the Edge" or "Relayer" (his first two albums with the group, after Bill Bruford moved to King Crimson.
"And You and I" is a classic love song, and "Siberian Khatru" and "To Be Over" are fine as well. "Close to the Edge" and "Gates of Delirium" are long and complex and won't fit in your standard video, but they're both masterworks, so if you've got the will, it would be a thrill.
Damn. Say hi to Chris Squire for me, Alan. And thanks.
Hadnt heard that, RIP brother! I was just listening to "It Can Happen" ✌❤☮
Damn. I always find out in YT comments. I was just thinking about him during this vid. Saw him with Yes on last tour with Squire. Emotional. Thanks for posting.
RIP Alan White ❤️
John Lennon is my favorite, Give Peace A Chance is another great one
As Brad wondered, this song did popularize the phrase, "Instant Karma." It was recorded and released in January 1970. Lennon has a considerable amount of energy here, as compared with just a year earlier, when he was often late to the studio and somewhat lethargic during the Beatles' "Let it Be" sessions. It is generally acknowledged that he kicked his heroin habit somewhere around late 1969 to early 1970. Also, Lennon and Ono cut their hair in Denmark on January 20, 1970 and auctioned it off in order to support a London home for disadvantaged youth. This guy had enormous talent and the entire world looked to him for answers. That's just the way it was. He was an icon.
Putting artists on a pedestal like that is dumb.
1970!! Damn I'm old.
@@ArmandoMPR yeah. We can appreciate their music without thinking they have all the answers to life.
Lennon did not create the phrase, he learned it in India in the mid 60's.
@@mikebetts2046 He said people looked to him for answers. Not that he had them.
Try John Lennon "watching the wheels" for me personally I think it's one of his best 😁.......oh and a big mention for "jealous guy" also a beautiful song by Lennon :)
Definitely Watching the Wheels. It's my favorite by him!
My favorite too!
...there are those that think Lennon is a decent song writer
Of those 2 --- it is Jealous Guy by a country mile!
I'm a different Carson. Jealous guy for the WIN!!!!
John Lennon always had something to say on almost any subject you can think of. And then he can set it to music and make a hit song out of it. Talent just flows. December 8, 1980, a very dark day.
I was only 12 but I remember that day very vividly. The Beatles were the first band that really got me into music.
On the other hand, it's probably good he isn't around now. It would be so boring listening to him as if he's above everyone.
@@alukuhito And what makes you certain of that? The man has been dead for 4 decades.
@@alukuhito he is 🕊
@@alukuhito Jealousy is a nasty vice.
"Better recognize your brothers. Everyone you meet"
Thank you John
The drummer here died 2 days ago if I'm not mistaken. Alan White, drummer to Lennon an d the band Yes. BTW, the CIA was on to him. The short hair on both John & Yoko was a protest against the Vietnam war.
“Mind Games” is my all time favorite song from John. If you listen to, have lyrics 😊
Super song - might be my favorite solo from him if not for How do you sleep which I think was the same release, it also had George and Klaus, not sure but probably Alan and Phil as well. I don't believe Billy was on that song though.
@@Prone2Thrill You just gave me a history lesson! Thanks so much for taking the time 😊
Mine, too!
@@Prone2Thrill Nick Hopkins instead of Billy
Mine too.
“Watching The Wheels”, “Just Like Starting Over” & “Woman” would be so lovely! ❤️
ikr, Double Fantasy was such a good album!
Great choices!! One of my other favs of his was a very different sound from him, "Cold Turkey".
@@andrewfrick5312 yes it was! 🌟
Alan White (drums) was on this track, who recently passed away (R.I.P.)... he was John Lennon's drummer before he joined Yes in 1972.
Brad & Lex, you'll love his "Just Like Starting Over", "Woman" and "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night"!!!!
Those are my choice too!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💛
And "Beautiful Boy"
Whatever Gets You Through The Night performed with Elton John singing and playing piano, Bobby Keys on sax
Watching the wheels
They'll love "Woman". The other two aren't that great.
You should try The Ballad Of John And Yoko. A great song with Paul McCartney & John Lennon 😎👍
How right U are!
John Lennon. “Beautiful boy” is a lovely
song.
Always makes me emotional.. He seemed like he was ready to make great music again after taking a decade to find himself… And then he was gone..
Great song. Lennon, one of the truly greats, ahead of his time on a number of fronts.
John was top shelf word smith. Folks will know of him in the 3000’s and beyond🤘❤️
"Watching the Wheels" and "How Do You Sleep" are two good Lennon songs for reactions.
Working class hero is also another great Lennon song.
My favorite Beatle voice. So much character!
One of the greatest voices in music history.
One of the greatest songs ever!!
John Lennon wrote this song and recorded and released it ten days later. He recruited George Harrison billy Preston not seen on this video and Alan white and Klaus voormann it was unheard of at the time. They used four different pianos and organs to create the sound with Phil Spector producing. You should look into the Beatles if you want to be amazed.
When 1970 came around, John and Yoko called it the Year One for Peace, and shaved off their hair for peace. It had already grown a bit by this video. If you notice Yoko's hair is short too. Great song by John.
One of my favorite John vocals. Just as good as his best best work with the Beatles.
You two just watched a video of one of the greatest songwriters of all time…and the drummer on here is Alan White who passed away yesterday..he was also the long time drummer for a band called Yes.
Never knew that - thanks ! All I thought was “ man, that drummer is crushing it “ !
One of the greats. I grew up in 60's and know all these songs and they still give me the chills.
John Lennon songs always fills me up with emotion. Rock on Brad & Lex
Thanks Mr. John Lennon (and band) for this amazing song and recording. The message is so true but collectively not felt often enough.
John Lennon is my favorite songwriter/musician. John Winston Lennon: born: October 9, 1940 died: December 8, 1980.
The drummer in this video Alan White sadly passed away about 2 days ago
Thanks for sharing that. I was thinking the drums were awesome, and wondered if they were recorded with the slap back delay or if that was added in post production. I would imagine it might be hard to play right with all that delay coming through, so my guess is that it was added later. Let me know if you know how it was recorded! RIP dummer man!
He was older brother of Steve White the former Oasis drummer.
@@oreally8605 Alan White, the Oasis drummer, is unrelated to Yes' Alan White. The Oasis drummer was born in 1972 and his brother Steve in '65.
@@bobwoolerOriGinal I believe we are mistaken sir. I'll double check. Alan white was born in 65 and his brother in 72 ( Oasis drummer) the White who played on John's song 🎵 was born in 1949. My bad.
Two bass players on stage here, one of which is Klaus Voorman who was one of The Beatles' Hamburg friends from the early days and he designed the Revolver album cover. The big guy playing tambourine next to Yoko is Mal Evans from Liverpool who was The Beatles' hard-working road manager. Gentle giant, totally loyal, but suffered a horrible end too early.
The other bass player is Irishman and all round scenester, BP Fallon. He's worth investigating too; a Zelig figure in rock 'n' roll and quite an artist in his own right.
Always LOVED this song. Thank You for the reaction! If everyone had a smile like Lex, this world would be a happier place! ( for the long time Beatle fans, I've seen this video many times and just realized that's Mal Evans playing the tambourine! Good 'ol faithful Mal. You can see him in the Let it Be doc. The Beatles friend and security guy from day one. He used to be a bouncer at the Cavern Club)
Working class hero is another y’all should do. My absolute favorite John Lennon song!
Hands down my favorite John Lennon song. He's got a lot of greats but this is him at the peak of his powers
James Williams. I can't pick a favourite because I like too many of his songs, but his voice on this one is awesome. John surely had one of the greatest rock and roll voices in pop music history.
The drummer on this song just died a few days ago. Alan White who played with Yes. RIP.
John was a genius
John had some gut wrenching songs such as 'Cold Turkey' and some beautiful ballads like 'Beautiful boy' whatever song you listen to next you'll find a message within. Peace
RIP John and Alan White.
February, 1970. yes John Lennon had extreme passion always fighting for equality & peace! His Double Fantasy album is classic...
You got it right. The term "Instant Karma" did not exist before this song.
I severely doubt that.
Karma is a Sanskrit word meaning “action.” It refers to a cycle of cause-and-effect that is an important concept in many Eastern Religions, particularly Hinduism and Buddhism. In its essence, karma refers to both the actions and the consequences of the actions.
@@alukuhito Karma has been around in Eastern religions for millennia. But "INSTANT Karma" was never seen or heard of before Lennon's song. I was 15 at the time. What next? Are you going to tell me that JFK wasn't assassinated? You young people don't believe stuff happened before your time. If you didn't personally see it, you don't believe it happened. Next....we introduce you to Hippies and Woodstock...something you also might not believed happened.
@@twalrus1 Karma is just a fact of life. Sometimes you get something right away, sometimes not. So, yeah, instant karma has been around for thousands of years. You're the young one here, bub. Not everything's about modern US culture. The world's been around a lot longer than the USA and UK.
@@alukuhito Maybe the CONCEPT of Instant Karma was around, but NO ONE had UTTERED the term "Instant Karma" before this song. Go ahead, google it and show me one instance of the term "Instant Karma" before 1970 and I will apologize to you. Just one instance of "Instant Karma" before Lennon's song. The INSTANT" part of the song went a long way to selling the song.
You got it. Lennon had an edge. He and Yoko were very politically aware. Alan White, who played with Yes and just died, was the drummer. Listen to Give Me Some Truth which was a song against Nixon.
This song is an iconic classic. I love the subtle distortion on Lennon's shouty chorus and phil spector's spacey production. We did this on my channel and my cohost dug it a lot.
It's hard for a younger person (lest they're a Beatles fan and have dug deep into their music and "get" the reason they were such giants) to conceive of how much of an icon John Lennon was, and how much he was a lover of the world. He was murdered 40+ years ago and when I see stuff of his and or footage about his death, it still makes me feel such shame and sadness that he was plucked off that way. He was arguably bigger than music. Today, he'd probably be the most important person in music as he was in his day. He was arguably the greatest rock lyricist ever (I think he was). Very talented, had songs in his head like a modern Mozart that he could just churn out when he needed to. And he knew he was good, too, he was cocky in that respect. But an interesting concept maker in music. It's no accident Instant Karma became a phrase.
The Beatles were still together when John released this song. It was the first time a Beatle had released a song without The Beatles.
Lennon was a master jingle writer and a visionary ahead of his time. John and Yoko were an amazing artistic performance, advant guard events like this to provoke thought.
I suggest the US vs John Lennon as a flick that will take yiu onto a past that too parallels today
Such a great and profound message. I love it. LOVE.
When the Beatles first arrived in the USA their hair was short. The hippie movement is when they all grew their hair long for a liberation. Then the times were changing again so did the hair styles. But their songs are based on change, peace, and unity of humanity.
This song changed my life. I was 12 then and it modified all my views on music and even life. Listening to it now gives me the same thrills than when I was a young teen. Initially I thought you reacted because Alan White, the drummer just died some days ago. But his work in Yes would have been a more relevant choice. Great reaction from Lex but all her reactions are great anyway.
John’s vocals and White’s drumming make this beautiful record.
I believe that this song was written, recorded, and then released to the public within just ten days which is one of the fastest released records in music history. Lennon quipped to the press that he "wrote it for breakfast, recorded it for lunch, and we're putting it out for dinner". Also the background singers in the chorus of the recording are just a bunch of people they grabbed from a nearby nightclub after they thought the chorus needed more vocal oomph.
Miss Lex, you look like you really enjoyed the song, I grew up in the 70s and it was the best year for self recognition and telling the world of the problems and issues it’s faced since the beginning, The songs were all very deep by the Beatles and other musicians the black soul music was very intense and deep and told the story the music then really focused on the problems of this country in the world I’m glad you enjoyed it you have a great smile and a beautiful soul. Thank you Brad and Lakes for checking out the song it brought tears to my eyes listening to it with you have a great day!❤️
Great song. John had some really good solo songs. Try '#9 Dream'.
Love John....still miss him 😢 ✌🇨🇦❤
Its title came from Melinde Kendall, the wife of Yoko Ono's former husband Tony Cox. She had used the phrase in conversation during Lennon and Ono's stay with them in Denmark during December 1969 and the following month.
Great song!!! lyrics are awesome....and used in a fantastic Nike commercial back in the day...
John was the king peace-nik. This song was released as a solo work as the Beatles were breaking up. While with the Beatles, John had felt oppressed from expressing his personal views on the wars raging around the world. As soon as he was able to, he'd start releasing a couple of tracks oriented with to the theme of peace. He figured that if people are going to publish everything he ever does or say, it may as well be about peace. He also performed what would be best described as a 'Bed-in for peace' where he and Yoko would hold press conferences for peace from his honeymoon bed. He had just married Yoko and invited the news media to join them in their honeymoon hotel suite. They showed up expecting maybe they would consummate their marriage right in front of the cameras. John was just the type of person that would do that, too. Instead, the news was treated to lectures and Q&A on peace.
In this video, they both have short hair having cut it all off and auctioning it off for the Black Power movement in London.
Love love this song and the message of brotherly love and getting along...React to another message song by the Beatles: All YOU NEED IS LOVE, also written mostly by John Lennon
The drummer on this song was Alan White. Alan recently passed away. He was in YES for 50 years.
I Remember well when I heard the news that John Lennon had just "ambushed" shot and killed outside his apartment in New York . A man who protested against war . And promoted "Peace Love and Harmony" to the world through his music . Such a sad sad loss to music and the world .
You guys are great. Loved your reaction, it was hilarious! “Who is this dude with short hair?” Ha! I think John cut it as a protest, or to raise awareness for some such thing. Much love from Canada 🇨🇦
Lennon was passionately anti-war, anti-colonialist, anti-fascist and pro-DADA. His art pieces with Yoko are the purest performance DADA ever to blow the minds of the mainstream. J. Edgar Hoover of the F.B.I. considered JL to be dangerous enough to the status quo that he eventually had him deported. He was able to return, eventually, and we all know what that got him. Keep up the fun reactions, you two are great!
John and Yoko were definitely social activists. And John did have short hair for a long time in the Beatles before he grew it out late in the Beatles. And then he cut it short again. And Lex, I love your idea of Yoko finishing knitting something by the end of the song, because she was an experimental artist and I could totally see her doing something like that!
You guys should react to…
John Lennon - Mother
🎸🤘
John considered himself more of a poet first and a musician second. His emotion came from his poetry.
Tambourine played by Mal Evans, Beatles original roadie
Yeah, he's in the video. Cool! Played the anvil on Maxwell's Silver Hammer too.
At the time of the song's writing, Buddhism was very popular with the hippies and the counterculture. Everyone was going on about karma this and karma that,
and how you'd best live the "right" way lest whatever you did comes back to bite you.
A friend of Yoko mentioned the phrase "instant karma" in conversation one day, and this sparked Lennon's interest.
In his mind, it made perfect sense that karma isn't something that only happens at the end of a life, but can happen immediately if it so chooses.
And I'm sure we can all relate to wishing instant karma on someone in our lives, at one point or another, so it's not difficult to see the appeal of the idea.
Gawd, what a voice. Lennon forever.
LOL @ Yoko in the background being nuts per usual.
One of Lennon's best solo efforts. Yoko looks like a cross between Blind Justice and Madame Defarge.
yes Alan White the drummer just died a few days ago, he was 72. John got Alan to play on his live performance entitled Live Peace In Toronto - August 1969 right after the Beatles had finished recording Abbey Road and one month before its release. This was the first hit song from an ex-Beatle in February 1970 and Alan White played that incredible drums on it.
The song was a big hit for Lennon and it was responsible for popularizing the phrase "Instant Karma" although I don't know if Lennon is credited with having coined the phrase.
Over the years, John Lennon sported long hair, short hair, long beards, clean shaven and scruffy facial hair. He was one of the most photographed people in the world so it's easy to find different variations of his appearance over the years.
If you're interested in more of the raw, post Beatles John Lennon I would suggest checking out the song "Mother" it's very heartfelt and powerful... I think Brad would particularly like it for its sincerity and authenticity.
I really like watching your videos, you both have such cool and sincere energy.
Try Lennon solo sending a song reply to Paul after Paul took a little shot at John with his band Wings = "How do you sleep" - it's a really good song and has George Harrison playing a cool guitar riff - it's the demo that has the best version everyone agrees. Takes 5 & 6, Raw Studio Mix Out-take
I will never forget where and who I was with when I heard about his murder on the radio. I was 20 years old when it happened, and it broke my heart and a few of my friends.
John Lennon shot 12-8-80
Howard Cosell tells the world John Lennon was dead.
ua-cam.com/video/n73GFvAyIjs/v-deo.html
Same.
One of my fave Lennon tunes! ♥
Goosebumps everytime i hear this song
The drummer of John and Yoko's the Plastic Ono Band was Alan White, who later joined the group YES and passed away on May 26, 2022 (three days ago).
Check out "Yer Blues" a song by the Beatles, played by a temporary band called The Dirty Mac. It had Lennon on guitar and lead vocal, Eric Clapton on lead guitar, Keith Richard on bass guitar and Mitch Mitchell on drums. The performance was part of the Rolling Stones' unaired Rock & Roll Circus TV special in 1968.
Two bass players! Klaus and somebody... Rest In Peace, Alan White, also of Yes. Love this sooo much!!
One of Lennons solo songs that I really love. Plenty more.
John Lennon genius of a generation and of all time.
Lennon never beat around the bush with his lyrics, always straight to the point. Such a shame he was murdered in 1980.
Yeah, he did. Can you imagine being his son, Julian, and listening to your father sing about "Give Peace a Chance" when he's ignored you your whole life, beat and cheated on your mother, and now he's with some yappy Japanese hag, and even cheating on her?
Watching the wheels is a great John Lennon song, couldn't believe the day he was assassinated, 08/Dec/1980, iwas 16....
☮️💟 it is one of my favorite songs!!! Thank your covering this & for your reaction.
"Better recognize your brothers. Everyone you meet." Great line.
We all did blindfolded knitting back in the 70's. It was ubiquitous.
We'd put on blindfolds, knit, and randomly scream out the names of automotive parts and unusual cheeses.
Great memories!!!
hes got so many good songs from this period, what a loss that hes gone, but i guess he said everything he had to say while he was here *other songs to check, "jealous guy", "watching the wheels", "beautiful boy"
Around John Lennon's 70th birthday I had a custom tattoo made for my upper arm. I love this song and John Lennon and remember exactly where I was when he was assassinated.
All of the Beatles, even after they broke up, were kind of famous for constantly changing their hairstyles. I've seen Lennon with everything from waist-long hair to a completely shaved head.
I recommend John's hits from his Starting Over album - "Starting Over" (first), then "Woman", and "Watching the Wheels".
"Watching The Wheels" in the future please, it's really good and one of my favorites out of his solo career and released just a couple of months before his tragic death on December 8th, 1980.☮️✌️💕👌
Thank You Allen White for helping out John
Great song, for more John Lennon goodness try Cold Turkey or How Do You Sleep at Night, they are legendary numbers from John. Awesome, timeless music. Enjoy! 🎵
This shows why Lennon is the greatest rock vocalist. He just had that grit on his voice that you cannot manufacture. He also knew how to deliver a Vocal performance prob better than anyone else. Even Robert plant. McCartney even said, when Lennon is ready to do the vocals, it’s on.
Lennon shines on. Forever.
Not sure there's ever been a better lyricist. His use of words was incredible.
ZAPPA!
Do anything from John Lennon, and I'm there for it! ☺♥
Phil Spector and his "wall of sound" was the production behind that. Spector's a shitbag who went to jail for murder after decades of being a psychopath, but he was a fucking incredible music producer.
He who plays drums in the video is the recently deceased (May 26, 2022) Allan White, a fantastic drummer.