How Cynthia Lennon’s doomed marriage to John Lennon inspired ‘Hey Jude’

WASHINGTON POST
By Justin Wm. Moyer April 2 at 5:28 AM

John and Cynthia Lennon in 1964. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)

The eighth-greatest song of all time, as Rolling Stone declared it, begins quietly, just with the voice of Paul McCartney and a piano. After the first verse, the song builds — guitars, back-up vocals, Ringo Starr’s drums, percussion. Then there’s the epic outro: A chorus chanting “Na, na, na/Hey Jude” something like 18 times accompanied by a 36-piece orchestra. The song is more than seven minutes long, but it doesn’t feel like it.

“Hey Jude,” even for the first-time listener, is unforgettable. This rock ‘n’ roll gem, its composer says, was inspired by the divorce of John and Cynthia Lennon, who died on Wednesday at 75.

“Jude,” it turns out, is Julian Lennon — John and Cynthia’s son, who was about five when his parents divorced in 1968. McCartney came up with idea when making a conciliatory drive out to see Cynthia, who was cast out of the Beatles’ inner circle after John met Yoko Ono, his future wife.

“I started with the idea ‘Hey Jules,’ which was Julian, don’t make it bad, take a sad song and make it better,” McCartney said, as Howard Sounes wrote in “Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney” in 2011. “Hey, try and deal with this terrible thing. I knew it was not going to be easy for him. I always feel sorry for kids in divorces … I had the idea [for the song] by the time I got there. I changed it to ‘Jude’ because I thought that sounded a bit better.”

As McCartney explained, he intended to take out the song’s most mysterious line — “the movement you need is on your shoulder” — but John wouldn’t have it.

“I was playing the song to John, and I said … ‘I’ll be taking that out,’” McCartney said. “He said, ‘What for? … that’s the best line in it, man.’”

McCartney said he’s come to appreciate the lyric. It emerged as a sort of pep talk for Julian, meaning, “You have the wherewithal to be what you want to be,” McCartney said.

Hey Jude - Paul McCartney, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Sting, Phil Collins, Mark Knopfler, The Beatles

The Lennons got married when Cynthia got pregnant with Julian in 1962. John, who played a show on his wedding night, wasn’t all that enthused.

“I said yes, we’ll have to get married,” John later said. “I didn’t fight it.”

Then the marriage a Beatle didn’t want became the marriage the Beatles didn’t want. A teen idol with a wife and son wouldn’t go over well with the kids, and what Cynthia later deemed her “undercover existence” was kept hush-hush.

“I have read so many books and seen so many films, and it’s like we don’t really exist,” Cynthia Lennon told “Good Morning America” in 2005. “We are like walk-on parts in his life. We did spend 10 years together.”

Though John wrote “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” about a picture Julian drew, he wasn’t exactly a doting father.

“I’ve never really wanted to know the truth about how Dad was with me,” Julian Lennon said. “There was some very negative stuff talked about me … like when he said I’d come out of a whiskey bottle on a Saturday night. Stuff like that. You think, where’s the love in that? Paul and I used to hang about quite a bit … more than Dad and I did. We had a great friendship going, and there seems to be far more pictures of me and Paul playing together at that age than there are pictures of me and my dad.”



READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE HERE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/02/how-cynthia-lennons-doomed-marriage-to-john-lennon-inspired-hey-jude/

John Lennon and Yoko Ono on Dick Cavett

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kXCnKfdGOY&list=PLBF360043A2F98FA9&index=1

Paul McCartney says Yoko Ono had nothing to do with Beatles breakup

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=1937335121001&odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cfeatured

Paul McCartney tribute by MusiCares (Rolling Stone)

The red carpet for this benefit raising funds to help musicians in need inspired many surreal moments. There was Elvis Costello greeting Smokey Robinson with a hug, Neil Young chatting with Yoko Ono, James Taylor dropping by our interview with Raitt to say hello, and on and on. Even Dave Grohl lost it.

"Oh my god, there’s Bonnie Raitt," he said to Rolling Stone as we chatted. "Holy shit, that’s huge."

Yeah, it was a special night. And at the center of it all was Sir Paul, the man who still turns all of music's biggest stars into teenage fans.

During Grammy rehearsals earlier in the day, Tony Bennett told us of his affection for McCartney. "The one I like of all the artists I’m watching is Paul McCartney. He has survived and he just sings beautiful and he does quality product all the time," Bennett said. "And I just like him personally, as a friend. We’re good friends."

For many of the people on hand, the occasion was a reunion. "I’m looking forward to seeing the McCartney family," Yoko Ono told us. "I’ve known [those children] since they were this high," she said, pointing to her mid-section.

For others, it was a chance to pay respect to someone they've long admired. "Paul McCartney is one of the greatest songwriters ever. He’s truly a very, very talented man and he’s my brother and I love him," Smokey Robinson said. "He has brought so much to music, the Beatles changed the face of music from the U.K."

The overwhelming wealth of McCartney's catalog was evident during this two-hour tribute concert in a Convention Center ballroom. As has always been the case at MusiCares events, the guest of honor was feted with cover renditions of his songs by music royalty. While some past artists have chosen only to make a speech or play couple of songs to close the night, McCartney treated the show like it was his own concert.

After a quick intro from Grohl, performers from Cirque Du Soleil's Beatles LOVE troupe took over the ballroom, with costumed performers running up and down the aisles and performing gymnastics on ropes hanging from the ceilings to the tune of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band," among other songs. As the performers were walking out of the room, they commanded so much attention that it took the 2,800 guests a couple of seconds to realize they were no longer listening to a soundtrack. McCartney had taken the stage and was rocking "Magical Mystery Tour." It was an inspired moment, one that brought the whole crowd to their feet.

It's not easy to follow McCartney, but the Foo Fighters, who killed on "Jet," were the perfect choice. "Paul McCartney’s rock songs and Foo Fighters songs kind of live in the same kind of territory," Grohl told us. "He loves upbeat, melodic hard rock music and that’s kind of what we do."

From there, the show turned into an embarrassment of riches. At one point, Norah Jones, Katy Perry and Neil Young took the stage in succession. Later on, Coldplay were followed by James Taylor doing "Yesterday" with help from Diana Krall.

It was a night where almost any artist could have been the most talked about on Twitter. Among the standouts were Alicia Keys' breathtaking "Blackbird," Alison Krauss and Union Station's elegant "No More Lonely Nights," Coldplay's sweet rendition of "We Can Work It Out," and Bennett's jazzy "Here, There And Everywhere." The performance that may take home the title of Most-Tweeted is Katy Perry's "Hey Jude." The song choice seemed a little lofty for one of the youngest artists on the bill, but Perry delivered a powerful acoustic rendition that had the whole room singing along by the closing notes.

Norah Jones, like Bennett, turned the McCartney material into a jazz tune on "Oh Darling," while Neil Young and Crazy Horse went the other way completely, transforming "I Saw Her Standing There" into a raucous scrap heap of guitars, feedback and good old fashioned garage rock. That performance was even singled out by McCartney in his very brief speech.

McCartney used his speech to praise MusiCares’ work, as so many others did on that night. "MusiCares is really working really hard and very well for all musicians and we all respect MusiCares," Ono told us. "They helped so many of my friends."

"I know there are other award shows, but I only go to this one. It’s a great organization," Raitt added.


Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paul-mccartney-rocks-his-own-tribute-20120211#ixzz1m88Re5Ra

Paul McCartney: Legendary Paul McCartney honored at MusiCares (USA Today)

By Edna Gundersen, USA TODAY

Updated 1h 44m ago

 

 

LOS ANGELES – The musicians cueing up to salute Paul McCartney at MusiCares were nervous enough about doing justice to their hero's classics. Then they had to worry about living up to the opening act: McCartney.The legendary musician, the biggest big shot snagged in the event's 22-year history, was celebrated for his music and philanthropy Friday night at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The honoree, accompanied by wife Nancy Shevell, didn't bask in glory. He sang for his (vegetarian) supper.

After the boisterous dance-and-acrobatics pageantry of Cirque du Soleil's Beatles LOVE troupe, McCartney, 69, took the stage and charged into rousing versions of Magical Mystery Tour and Junior's Farm, setting a high bar for an evening of distinctive covers by diverse admirers.

The Foo Fighters cleared that bar with a roaring Jet, after singer Dave Grohl gushed about the surreal coolness of "hanging out with Paul friggin' McCartney."

Alicia Keys, who accompanied herself on piano for an aching, soulful Blackbird, said, "It's a beautiful honor to be here tonight. I never knew how much this song was about me."

Alison Krauss & Union Station, plus Jerry Douglas, brought creamy harmonies and bluegrass shades to an acoustic No More Lonely Nights, performed on a rotating satellite stage. (In rehearsal, Krauss quipped, "What are we, rotisserie chicken?")

Read further:  http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/awards/grammys/story/2012-02-11/paul-mccartney-musicares-party/53046928/1

George Harrison - Living in the Material World

Episode 1. Arena: George Harrison - Living in the Material World

Radio Times

Review by:

Terry Payne

George Harrison was the Quiet Beatle. Posthumously, and poignantly, he finds his voice. Director Martin Scorsese has pieced together a cinematic love letter to Harrison. And, boy, can you feel the love. The surviving Beatles, his two wives and countless friends all form a respectful queue paying tribute in this two-part TV premiere of the recently released film. It’s not, though, a symphony of sycophancy.

Their memories – spliced together with archive interviews, evocative home-movie film and some captivating early Beatles studio footage – are preserved, you sense, by the deep affection they clearly felt for him. But it’s the music – oh what joyous, uplifting music – that provides the stitching in this immaculately crafted tapestry. The moment you hear the opening drumline to Something or the jaunty acoustic intro to Hear Comes the Sun, you realise you’re in the company of genius. The Quiet Beatle is silent no longer.

About this programme

Part one of two. Martin Scorsese documentary tracing Harrison's early life in Liverpool, the Beatles' first gigs in Hamburg, the advent of Beatlemania, his psychedelic phase and his increasing fascination with Indian culture, both musical and spiritual. Featuring contributions from fellow group members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono, producers George Martin and Phil Spector, and musician Eric Clapton. Concludes tomorrow.

Cast and crew

Crew

Director

Martin Scorsese

Producer

Olivia Harrison

Producer

Nigel Sinclair

Producer

Martin Scorsese

Categories

Arts

Documentary

 

Radio Times

Julian Lennon hits out at Paul McCartney over wedding reception 'snub'

Mail OnLine

By Ben Todd

Last updated at 11:03 AM on 2nd November 2011

'Ignored': Julian Lennon hit out at Paul McCartney via Facebook

Julian Lennon has extraordinarily claimed he has been ‘snubbed’ by his father’s former band-mates and their families.

The 48-year-old – the late Beatle’s son with first wife Cynthia – launched a furious attack on the rest of the Beatles.

He claimed he was not invited to a number of social events involving the band in recent months, including Sir Paul McCartney’s two wedding receptions in London and New York.

And he vowed he and Cynthia, now 72, would ‘not be eradicated from History.’
Lennon made the claims in a posting on his personal Facebook page on October 23, the day after Sir Paul, 69, and new bride Nancy Shevell, 51, had hosted a star-studded wedding reception in New York.
At the time, Lennon – who was five when his parents divorced - wrote: ‘Wow... Snubbed at Macca’s Wedding, Snubbed at the Anniversary of ‘LOVE’ in Vegas! Snubbed at Macca’s Wedding reception in NYC, last night.
‘Snubbed at George (Harrison’s)’s [sic] Film Premier... What Have I done to be ignored in such a way?’
He went on: ‘I was not invited to ANY of these events... I thought we had a relationship... Obviously not... Gimme some truth... Maybe now it’s time to tell the Truth... I & My Mother will not be eradicated from History... How Dare They.’

Ceremony: Former Beatle Sir Paul wed Nancy Shevell in London last month

As well as Sir Paul’s two wedding shindigs, Lennon – a musician – was referring to the premiere of the Martin Scorsese film, George Harrison: Living In The Material World, in London on October 2 and the five-year anniversary performance of the Beatles musical Love in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 8.
Intriguingly, Julian’s 36-year-old half-brother Sean – Lennon’s son with widow Yoko Ono, 78 - did attend both Sir Paul’s New York reception and the Love anniversary.

And Ono attended all the events bar the London wedding reception.
George Harrison’s widow Olivia and their son Dhani, 33, attended the London premiere and the London wedding reception, as did drummer Ringo Starr, 71, and wife Barbara Bach, 64.
The posting was removed shortly afterwards – though not before Beatles fans had commented on it.
One wrote: ‘Julian did get cr***ed on so I can understand his bitterness.’ Another wrote: ‘Julian has a legitimate beef.’

Close: Sir Paul holding a four-year-old Julian Lennon during a holiday in Greece

Last night, sources tried to play down the posting saying it had arisen from a ‘misunderstanding.’
One claimed that Julian was not invited to the events because everyone merely presumed he was at his home in Italy.
One said: ‘It’s more a case of c***-up rather than conspiracy. Everyone assumed that Julian was back in Italy – so he wasn’t invited.
‘Yoko and Sean of course were – especially as they both live in New York. It was just one of those things.’
Another added: ‘Julian is a very intense man. He was in New York on the night of the wedding reception but nobody realised - so there was a misunderstanding.
‘Julian put up the posting and, the problem with the Internet is, once it’s out there - there’s no hiding it.
‘Julian, though, has no problem with Sir Paul or Yoko,’ the source added.
In fact, friends claim his relationship with Yoko is on a stronger footing than it has been for some time.

Family: Julian Lennon with his father John and his stepmother Yoko Ono

Sir Paul famously wrote Hey Jude, originally called Hey Jules, for Julian as his parents’ marriage was collapsing.

He has since described Sir Paul – who he said last month he had last seen in June 2010 - as being like a father to him.

Last month, Julian admitted he had inherited a ‘short temper’ from his father.

He said: ‘I recognise myself in him. I have a short temper – I think it’s part of the Celtic background. I used to be a lot more angry, but I was quite discreet with it.

‘However, getting angry, negative and aggressive it does no good. Mum would always take a more loving way to resolve issues. Dad was the opposite. He’d shout in your face and scream.

‘I recognised traits I had that were the same as his and I didn’t like them so I cleared them.

‘Every time I see them, I pull back and breathe. I look at the bigger perspective. It makes the world of difference.’

Julian and Ono had a public reconciliation last year after he claimed to have ‘unleashed hell’ on her in 2009.

He explained recently: ‘I’d been very upset about things she’d done in the past and how she was controlling the estate.

‘We have a better relationship these days and I think she has a better idea of what his memory should be about.’

A spokesman for Sir Paul declined to comment.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2056410/Julian-Lennon-hits-Paul-McCartney-wedding-reception-snub.html#ixzz1caLIpBzP

Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell Bring Their All-Star Wedding Party to NYC

E on-line

Today 8:11 AM PDT by Gina Serpe

James Devaney/WireImage

They did. Now they party.

Just two weeks after Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell made it official and swapped vows in London, the couple did their best to put the par-tay back in their wedding party, throwing a second celebration in New York Friday night for all their Yank friends who couldn't make it across the pond for their original ceremony.

And it would appear that most of those friends were of the bold-named variety. Starting with his most famous former frenemy...

MORE: What made the Beatles reunite this month?
Yoko Ono! What's past is past, as they proved when they walked the red carpet together earlier this month. John Lennon's widow was among those pals who came out to the Bowery Hotel to help celebrate the nuptials of the loved-up former Beatle and his new (previously) NYC-based missus.
She was joined by quite an eclectic guest list that was a far cry from the intimate gathering just a few weeks back: her son Sean Lennon, fellow rockers Joe Walsh and Keith Richards, the latter of whom was joined by wife Patti Hansen, Ralph Lauren and wife Ricky, David Lauren and Lauren Lauren Bush, Aida Turturro, Jon Bon Jovi, head Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Steve Buscemi and James Taylor.

MORE: Get the deets on Paul and Nancy's trip down the aisle!
Also along for the celebration, naturally, was Shevell's second cousin Barbara Walters, who was also present for couple's wedding in London (and who will no doubt take advantage of her RSVP by informing her loyal View watchers of all the goings-on this morning).
The revelers reportedly gathered in one of the hotel's private rooms, where they dined on strictly vegetarian cuisine, of course, and, by most accounts, an unceasing flow of champagne.
McCartney and Shevell themselves, at 69 and 51 years young, respectively, left the party at 1:30 a.m., where they were greeted by a crowd of well-wishers. Congrats

Read more: http://www.eonline.com/news/paul_mccartney_nancy_shevell_bring/271127#ixzz1bjBSOLhL