John Lennon

Two summers ago, I was in a bit of trouble. My parents grounded me and kept me indoors for a majority of the break. I had little contact with friends, besides my job and the occasional visits. Though I do not look back at this period of my life happily, I now realize I benefited greatly after surviving through it. My internet access had been taken away, but I still used my computer. I had a stash of mp3's I had downloaded in the past few months, which consisted mainly of Beatles songs. I had downloaded just about every album they ever made, from the pop-influenced "Please, Please Me", to the mellowed out, psychedelic "Magical Mystery Tour". My musical taste shifted pretty much overnight from hip-hop to classic rock. A new era of my life had begun.

All four members of the Beatles are influential. However, John Lennon, through his lyrics, views, and musical genius stood out to me. I started simply by just listening to their music, but found myself researching the life and accomplishments of John Lennon. His character influenced me to change my ways of thinking. By the middle of this summer I noticed my personality had changed from depressed and angry to loving and caring. A true love for everyone had developed inside of me. Maturity definitely plays it's part in these changes, but John Lennon's music jumpstarted this transformation. Songs such as "Imagine" and "In My Life" had me feeling and thinking in ways I had never before.

My musical taste has since moved on from the Beatles, but I will always have a place in my heart for their music as long as I live. Lennon's music would grab my heart and squeeze out emotion. During my alone time I couldn't have asked for anything more perfect to help me through then some of the finest music of the century. It was my own luck to look into the Beatles as a way to vent my feelings. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but in this case, it brought my soul back to life.