December 8, 2016 marks 36 years since the death of legendary musician John Lennon, a member of the iconic British rock band The Beatles. Lennon helped to shape music up until his tragic death on that quiet winter day back in 1980. Crazed fan Mark David Chapman shot Lennon in front of his apartment, ending too soon the influential career of a visionary.
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Lennon and The Beatles had a lasting impact on the music industry. The band never took rock music for what it was. They always searched for ways to expand and change the genre, consistently incorporating innovative new ideas into their songs. They also made waves in the record player industry. An increased demand for Beatles albums led to booming business for inventors and led to the development of better products. The Beatles paved the way for music videos. The group produced a number of short films such as "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" that focused on expressing the ideas of their songs visually. The Beatles used this method once they stopped touring as a way to continue sharing their music with the world. This later led to the creation of the strictly music video channel MTV that was extremely popular in the 1980s.
Lennon continued to influence music during his solo career. Many of the songs on his first albums showed the public a new side of Lennon as he expressed his emotions through music. He used his work to confront his feelings about fellow Beatle Paul McCartney spilling the news of the group's split, as well as emotional hardships that he faced throughout his life. Arguably his most successful single, "Imagine" reached audiences in the most remote parts of the world. His peaceful teachings went international with this song, inspiring those around the world like no artist had done before. He also used his work as a medium for political activism. As he vehemently spoke out against the war in Vietnam Lennon helped to sway the American opinion of the war itself, most notably by creating an anti-war symbol with the release of his song "Give Peace a Chance" in 1969. After using his peaceful 1969 anthem as an anti-Nixon campaign Lennon faced the threat of deportation on an old drug charge. He publicly fought this, helping to create the movement for the legalization of marijuana in America.
The impact of Lennon and The Beatles is still felt today. Their influence led to the creation of new technologies and new depths for not only rock, but all genres of music. Artists continue to use their music videos as extensions of the messages behind their music, and they still use their music as extensions of themselves. Recently, music has included a fight for human rights and general equality for all persons. People have taken notes from Lennon, the man who wished only to create change through his craft. In a time such as this, where social distress and protest are extremely prevalent, the fight for social change can greatly benefit from the peaceful ways of this cultural legend.
"I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one" Imagine, John Lennon
