More Popular Than Jesus（1） | 不朽摇滚传奇──约翰‧伦农

by Marcus Maurice

John Lennon's life went from ordinary to legendary to tragic in a very short amount of time.

约翰‧伦农短短的一生从平凡走向传奇不朽，然后以悲剧收场。

Excessive drug use, constant jealousy, and creative conflicts led The Beatles to disband in 1969. The following year, Lennon released his first solo album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, which contained a song that was banned in the UK for vulgarity. Soon, Lennon was fighting against the system of the country that once loved him so dearly. Imagine, Lennon's most popular single, was adopted by the anti-Vietnam War movement, and soon, US President Richard Nixon was looking for ways to deport him from his home in New York City. In 1975, Lennon took a five-year break from music to focus on his family after reuniting with his estranged wife, Yoko Ono.

Lennon reached a career apex as a solo artist when critics praised his new album, Double Fantasy. Unfortunately, Lennon's new lease on life was cut short on December 8, 1980, when a fan shot and killed him a few hours after Lennon had autographed an album for him.

Lennon will be remembered as a singer that wrote and co-authored 27 number one hits in his lifetime. His sound, with The Beatles and as a solo artist, revolutionized the way popular music was perceived. Lennon also left a legacy of activism, which many artists used as a blueprint after he passed away. When he stated that The Beatles were "more popular than Jesus" in an interview, many people laughed off the comment, but they eventually realized that in some ways, Lennon was right.

1.  Which is NOT true of The Beatles?

(A) They paved the way for other musicians to follow.

(B) Both Lennon and McCartney wrote songs for the band.

(C) They first became popular in America.

(D) Working together so much played a crucial role in their success.

2.  What caused The Beatles to break up?

(A) They weren't all going in the same creative direction.

(B) Some members were upset that others were getting all the attention.

(C) Some of the members used illegal substances.

(D) All of the above.

3.  What was the high point of Lennon's career as a solo artist?

(A) When he left The Beatles.

(B) Right before his untimely death.

(C) When his first solo album was released.

(D) When his song helped stopped the Vietnam War.

4.  What is the purpose of this article?

(A) To explain to readers how influential Lennon was as a musician.

(B) To get Beatles' fans excited about a reunion.

(C) To show how important Paul McCartney was to The Beatles' success.

(D) To prove that behind every successful man, there is a woman.

披头四乐团在 1969 年因为滥用药物、团员的瑜亮情节和创作理念冲突而导致解散。来年，伦农发行首张单飞专辑『约翰‧伦农∕塑料小野乐团』，里头有首歌因为内容过于粗俗而在英国遭到禁播。不久，伦农开始对抗这个过去对他万般厚爱的国家体制。约翰‧伦农最热门的单曲《想象》被用在反越战运动中，过没多久，美国尼克松总统便想尽办法想把伦农赶出他位于纽约的家。1975年，伦农暂别乐坛 5 年，和已分居的妻子小野洋子重修旧好后便专注于家庭生活。

　　伦农的新专辑《双重幻想曲》赢得乐评一致赞誉，也让他单飞后的事业到达颠峰。不幸的是，他的人生新乐章却在 1980 年 12 月 8 日戛然划下句点，就在他为一名粉丝在专辑上签完名后几小时，被对方射杀身亡。

　　约翰‧伦农这位创作歌手终其一生创作和共谱出 27 首冠军单曲，这成就将永志人心。不论是身为披头四一员或单飞歌手，他的音乐都彻底颠覆了世人看待流行音乐的方式。伦农更留下用音乐改革社会的传统，在他过世后，许多音乐家莫不以他为表率。他曾在一次访问中形容披头四『比耶稣还受欢迎』，当时很多人对此评论嗤之以鼻，但是最后却不得不承认，就某方面而言，伦农是对的。

答案：1. (C)2. (D)3. (B)4. (A)

For Your Information

保罗．麦卡尼与约翰．伦农同为披头四的创作灵魂人物，在乐团解散后他仍持续写出脍炙人口的歌曲，根据金氏世界纪录，麦卡尼是流行音乐史上最成功的作曲者。

在披头四期间，麦卡尼写出 Let it Be 和 Yesterday 等金曲，而 Hey Jude 更是根据他在伦农离婚时，写给伦农儿子朱利安的歌曲所改编。在 2010 年，美国总统欧巴马颁赠盖西文流行歌曲音乐奖给麦卡尼，推崇他对音乐的贡献。（参考数据：维基百科、法新社）