Singer, songwriter, and political activist John Lennon found his place as a household name after co-founding the Beatles in 1960. As one of four band members, collaboration was a large part of writing music that is still so loved and timeless. However, it is not John’s collaboration with his bandmates that I am here to discuss with you today. Instead, it is the relationship and collaboration with his wife and fellow musician, Yoko Ono.
John and Yoko met in 1966 at Yoko’s solo art exhibit. Two years later, the two released their first collaborative album, Two Virgins, and on March 20th of the following year, they married in Gibraltar. Over the course of their lives together, the two released 6 albums and 12 singles.
In his book Faith, Hope and Carnage, Nick Cave discusses collaborating with his wife, Susie. Both John and Nick note how their wives push them to be better and more creative artists. In an interview with Playboy, John discussed how, unlike most partners, Yoko would “tell the truth and refuse to live with a bullshit artist.” He continued on to say that Yoko would always encourage him to look at the possibility of alternatives. Similarly, Nick Cave notes that Susie has a “tendency to question the original idea,” which he says is initially frustrating, but “turns out for the best.”
These two couples exhibit a connection not found in many other relationships. They have found a way to successfully combine a creative collaboration as well as a strong relationship. As artists and individuals, both John Lennon and Nick Cave are lucky to have found strong, opinionated, creative partners to push them to be even better in their pursuits.
Sources:
https://people.com/music/john-lennon-yoko-ono-relationship-timeline/
Hi Sarah, I found your blog post to be very interesting and shows a different side to John Lennon that I was unaware of before. It's so interesting to see how different collaborative dynamics can push people out of their comfort zones. I'm sure working with your spouse was not easy and like you said, Yoko wouldn't settle for a "bullshit artist". I think that this dynamic is so unique and one that not a lot of people get to experience. It not only pushed John Lennon to be a better artist and writer, but it also probably pushed him to be a better person and husband. Great job!
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah! I found the perspective in your blog post interesting and helps inform the kind of creative John Lennon was. I feel like many people do not take enough consideration into the collaborators and partners of great artists such as Lennon. Having a partner that is also a creative can help push your own creativity and bring new ideas to the table. There have been so many couples throughout history that creatively worked together where the woman does not get the same amount of credit as the man. This phenomenon is seen in early artists from Robert and Clara Schumann to more recent ones like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.
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