THIS ONE IS SO MUCH DEEPER THAN WE REALIZED! Reaction to John Lennon - Happy Xmas!

[@jeffmartin1026]

"If everyone demanded peace instead of a new television set, then there would be peace". John Lennon

[@sharp78htdc61]

​@@CB-xr1eg the song was released in 1971, maybe you're approaching it from a modern perspective. ✌️

[@jaysonpida5379]

LMAO...an empty comment@@CB-xr1eg

[@CB-xr1eg]

@@jaysonpida5379 My comment contains words, how can it be empty?

[@CB-xr1eg]

@@sharp78htdc61 And maybe I'm not??

[@Edawgg1983]

​@CB-xr1eg it was back in a time when not that many people had TVs. Now almost everyone does.

[@JohnBullard]

Many of us can remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when we got the news about John. If he were alive today he would be making songs against the rise of fascism and authoritarian control around the world.

[@w.h.pichler4000]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊

[@tool_fighter]

“we are taking this as seriously as the John F Kennedy assassination.” New York City police officer at the crime scene, Dec 8, 1980

[@DJ-bj8ku]

Only John could combine Christmas and war and make it work.

[@edwardmclaughlin719]

Yet he didn't.

[@DJ-bj8ku]

@@edwardmclaughlin719 oh, you’re one of those guitar pickers who renders judgment on a genius. Gotcha.

[@stevejoshua9536]

Longfellow did it also.

[@lena-mariaglouis-charles7036]

​@@edwardmclaughlin719 Your thinly veiled envy and utter disrespect for someone whose compositions continue to bring joy to millions upon millions around the world is beyond pathetic. Not getting enough attention at home, are we...?

[@edwardmclaughlin719]

Beyond pathetic huh? Is that like beyond hungry? Yes, Happiness is a Warm Gun has brought happiness and joy to millions especially around this time of year.? @@lena-mariaglouis-charles7036

[@joelliebler5690]

It was clear and still is clear all these years later about stopping war especially the Vietnam War. Believe me just about everyone knew exactly what the song represented!

[@ines_uk]

This song is timeless. It applies almost to any year.. Unfortunately, the war is never over 😢

[@bert0522]

The choir is Yoko Ono and the Harlem Boys Choir. Beautiful messege then and now. Stop the violence and bloodshed. Jim

[@visaman]

Yoko swore in front of the kids.

[@NicholasLaBruna-fl7gr]

I believe it was the Harlem Girls Choir.

[@berlinman5409]

John Lennons first group were "The Quarrymen" - and this song you react here....for me it's the absolute Number One of all Christmas songs

[@thomasmcintosh390]

Johnny and the Moondogs fits in there somewhere. Also they were the Silver Beatles at one point.

[@MrTech226]

Both Paul (1957) and George (1958) joined The Quarrymen Then John, Paul, and George left The Quarrymen in 1960 to form The Beatles 1st with Pete Best on drums.....then being replaced by Ringo Starr. Ringo is awesome on drums, but I think Pete Best gotten screwed by The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein.

[@jnagarya519]

@@MrTech226 Pete Best was not a good drummer, AND he didn't "fit" with the other three. Ringo was the drummer in the #1 band in Liverpool when "The Beatles" were barely a band. They met and got to know him in Hamburg; that's why they knew who to call when Best was dumped. And according to John, it was the three who made the decision -- but Epstein who carried it out. So the responsibility belongs to all of them.

[@TheTheedad]

Named after Quarry bank school.

[@gregoryeatroff8608]

@@MrTech226 Pete got fired because he wasn't good enough in the studio -- a series of producers said he couldn't cut it, and George Martin said he wouldn't use Pete at all in the studio, but replace him with a session musician (though he didn't care if the Beatles kept Pete when they played on tour). The Beatles didn't want to play with a different line-up on stage than in the studio, so at George Harrison's urging (but with John and Paul's approval) fired Pete. Brian Epstein didn't particularly want to do it, but John Paul and George insisted that as the manager Brian had to do the dirty work. Brian offered Pete a place in another band, but Pete turned it down and joined Lee Curtis and the All Stars instead.

[@Zentrix-24]

John was all about world peace when he left the Beatles. Beautiful song, beautiful man. He always had a message of peace alibi-et idealistic and maybe not realistic but so glad for the hope he brings to mankind. Peace to all..

[@LVVMCMLV]

Here's something I wrote the other day about a reaction to this song... The best Christmas song ever because it said 'war is over if you want it' and as a 16 year old worried about going to Vietnam it was a welcomed message… Another great song from 1971 the best year in music

[@kevinhennessy1615]

Love This Song Gives Me Chills Down My Spine Everytime I Hear It , John Lennon Was a Genius RIP 🙏😥.

[@vaughnnewman8903]

One of my favorite Christmas songs; melancholic, yet hopeful.

[@matthewdrake4385]

I agree that Christmas is more about togetherness and spending time with loved ones. This has always been one of my favorite Christmas songs. When it was written, the Vietnam war was still going on, John was always a master of sending a message of wanting peace and life in general especially in his solo material. Instant Karma, Nobody Told Me, Watching the Wheels, are all worth a look or listen.

[@notneeded1]

The message is loud and clear. More so today than any time in history. John was very direct and did not try to hide anything. "War Is Over If You Want It!"

[@Pickers1997]

Many songs remind me of what it was like to grow up as a kid in England, but nothing encapsulates the magic of British Christmas during school than this. This is a painfully beautiful reminder of how those memories are fading further into the past as I age, and how distant I’m becoming with everyone I grew up with. I sincerely hope we all meet in these memories from time to time. I miss being young

[@cleonmagabeefy8500]

If you want to hear John Lennon live and unbelievably emotional... Mother live at MSG is pretty heart wrenching.

[@tdgallagher218]

Except when he hits the wrong note on the keyboard--not once, but twice.

[@pairofpints]

John's one of my hometown heroes and this is of course a beautiful song. The sentiments along with Imagine will sadly never be realized.

[@jnagarya519]

"Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee. John Lennon said she had "the perfect rock and roll voice".

[@free..to..air..]

I agree...and always unfavourably compared to Lulu..who stole one of Lee 's big songs and made a career out of it

[@jnagarya519]

@@free..to..air.. Decca Records didn't exactly know what to do with Brenda Lee -- but she had an astonishing voice -- and maturity. Look at the ages she was when recording with adult emotional maturity.

[@rodneycraft1005]

My favorite holiday song of all time.

[@FionaEm]

Most Christmas songs drive me bonkers 😅 but this one is incredibly touching and never gets old. Lennon really knew what he was doing. Cheers from Melbourne Australia 😊

[@knockedoutloaded279]

This song is indescribably Beautiful , Xmas and anti-war together,,,,

[@mojomegaman]

Yoko still places a huge banner over Times Square every year reading "War is Over if you want it! Happy Christmas, John and Yoko."

[@dixiechatty958]

I understand that Yoko Ono is a very controversial person but her contribution to this song can't be overstated. She co-wrote it and leads the Harlem's Children's choir singing the War is Over part. She is not a gifted singer by any means but her performance here is terrific.

[@janebartholomew-w6q]

Another one greatly missed who will never be replaced

[@thewizard6077]

The Quarrymen! Merry Christmas guys!!! Peace

[@cog4life]

Oh this is a great one! One of my favorite [modern] Christmas classics !!❤🎄

[@pedroblancotrenado1440]

Happy Christmas ❤❤❤❤ to everyone

[@charliecochran3035]

That chorus is just devastating... "Have a very merry Christmas, and a happy new year...". It could just do that on loop and still be a great song. There's a little of his usual sarcasm in there..."let's hope it's a good one..." I take as a reminder that, for much of the world, a Christmas without fear is not in the cards. The Beatles had quite a few different names before they settled.

[@orraman5427]

Merry Christmas, everyone! Unfortunately we humans still haven't worked out to end war.

[@MrTech226]

Wars will never end when those who are power hungry such as Putin, Xi (China), and Kim Jung Un.....

[@sharonsnail2954]

Amen, John

[@John_Locke_108]

The most beautiful and depressing Christmas song ever written. Ever since I was a kid it's touched my soul.

[@kweile4339]

Merry Christmas from a life long John Lennon fan. I was in high school when he was silenced. I love that he is still appreciated.

[@removethedinosaurs]

The sound of Yoko singing is something your ears will never recover from.

[@Revolver1981]

Yeah she almost destroys this great song.

[@guyray1504]

No one should ever have to go through that pain. Why John ever let her " Sing" i would never know.

[@keetahbrough]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! xoxo ^_^

[@Gary-zy1nk]

one of the great vocalists

[@scottchapin2323]

The Nerk Twins, Johnny and The Moondogs, The Silver Beatles to name a few

[@PatStone3]

John Lennon released this song during the Viet Nam War in 1971. In 1972, we started a scale down of the War. In 1973, American POWs were released by Viet name and we withdrew all our troops by 1975. The War finally ended after 10 years and 58,220 Soldiers dead, The War Had Finally Ended. The Vietnam anti-war movement was one of the most pervasive displays of opposition to the government policy in modern times. Protests raged all over the country. San Francisco, New York, Oakland, and Berkeley were all demonstration hubs, especially during the height of the war in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This song was a big hit in 71/72 (still is).

[@gman7495]

That was the Harlem Community Choir singing on the Happy Xmas. John chose The Quarrymen as the name of his first band because of the High School he went to....Quarry Bank High School.

[@mikefetterman6782]

before the Beatles John Lennon was in several bands, the Quarrymen, The Silver Beetles, Long Johnny Silver and the Moondogs, The Beetles, and then the Beatles.

[@mikefetterman6782]

1957-1961

[@mikefetterman6782]

His bassist and art school friend STU SUTCLIFFE was the one who came up with the Beatles in that spelling that doubled as a metaphor for music and beat poetry, popular in the late 50s. Beat was a new style of MOD, or French design. The haircuts, suits, and boots were all inspired in France right before they started to get popular in the UK.

[@CB-xr1eg]

After the Quarrymen, all the othe names you mention were The Beatles, before they settled on their final group name.

[@deannelynn]

Makes me cry

[@patticrichton1135]

I NEVER thought it WASN'T "crisp and clear" I always KNEW what they were saying from the first time I heard it when it was first released back then. John called his first band "THE QUARRYMEN" because ALL the members were students at QUARRYBANK (High) SCHOOL.

[@peterallan5687]

Thanks for reviewing this song as it is a song of peace. Your question about the Quarrymen, I'm live in Liverpool and my ex-fiancée's Mother's partner is Colin Hanton's brother who was the drummer for the Quarrymen, Colin's brother was a bit oa a knob

[@joankisloski6972]

Also LOVE Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime

[@emelie5499]

Happy new year with ABBA…😊

[@kenhoyer8601]

When I hear Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Day in a department store, I turn around and walk out. Saccharine city.

[@andrewcole3736]

The first band that John Lennon formed was the quarrymen. Merry Christmas. 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@luisfernandomunoz6315]

Thanks for reacting to my favorite Xmas song. Happy holidays!!!

[@papercup2517]

I can still remember in around 1969(?) as a 17 year-old seeing one of the giant billboards that appeared across London (as well as many other major capital cities across the world), in a huge publicity campaign John and Yoko launched to promote their anti-war message, of which this record was a part. The message in the billboard said simply: WAR IS OVER IF YOU WANT IT Merry Christmas from John and Yoko xx It's hard to explain in these cynical times the feeling and deeper meaning of the counterculture back then, but those of us that identified with it felt like one big interconnected world-wide family: rich or poor, famous or non-famous, all wanting and working in our own small and large ways towards making a better future for our world. John and Yoko, and all the Beatles in fact, as well as being hugely admired musicians, felt like family. Funnily enough, despite all the bad things still going on today, I still feel that optimism for the world. I just understand better that it takes a long time before everyone (or a critical mass of the world's population) feels able to risk making themselves vulnerable and uncover that place in their hearts that knows we are all one human family, sharing this beautiful planet, and that we must all be compassionate and responsible citizens and stewards if we're ever to realise our true potential. here on Earth. Once we all want peace more than we want conflict, War will indeed be Over. Happy New Year, Everyone!!

[@alanmatthews9945]

The Quarry Men was named after the school John attended in Liverpool , Quarry Bank Grammar School.

[@GayJayU26]

One of my hero legends.

[@colinperry8824]

Along with the name Quarrymen, John also named the group Johnny and the moon dogs and it was the Silver Beatles before becoming The Beatles. The dogs in the animated movie The Yellow Submarine are moon dogs

[@wendyryder2708]

Excuse my ignorance, however what are Moon Dogs?

[@colinperry8824]

@@wendyryder2708 the only one who answer that question is John Lennon

[@apollocabrera6710]

Merry Xmas...

[@stephenmosgrove6559]

My favorite Christmas songs are O Holy Night, Silent Night both traditional and The Temptations' version, O Come All Ye Faithful (especially in the Latin, Adeste Fidelis), Little Drummer Boy by Vienna Boys Choir & also Johnny Cash's, and Hark the Herald. However, I also include in my favorites Happ Xmas (War Is Over) and Stevie Wonder's Someday At Christmas. Although both "sad" as they remind us of our humanity's ongoing failures to be selfless instead of selfish, they are beautiful songs necessary to remember the reason for the season, God's message for all of us to strive for peace, unity, and goodness. Powerful songs. In a similar context, if you know the Bob Hope Christmas specials, he would perform for troops stationed overseas; and he would always end the show with Silent Night. It is deeply powerful because of the interplay between the lyrics and the setting they are sung in. Strive for peace everyday. Start with yourself and those around you. It will spread. Let's all do better in 2024. I pray for justice in peace and the protection of the innocent in war.

[@michaelfletcher9640]

What context?! There has never, in Your lifetimes or mine, been an absence of war; unfortunately... This song is proof of our perpetual optimism, nevertheless! ❤

[@TheCornishCockney]

Holidays to us is always in summer.

[@kathyutica]

Kudos to the Harlem Boys Choir!

[@sav18ar55]

Grazie.=) Happy Christmas ragazzi

[@colinshannon3967]

The Quarrymen peace and love from the UK 🇬🇧

[@mikefitznb1]

great tune

[@davidmarsden9800]

They were called The Quarrymen because John and the original members of the band all went to Quarry Bank School in Liverpool which was a Grammar school. Paul and George went to another Grammar school called The Liverpool Institute. In those days of the 1950s you had to pass the 11+ exam to go to Grammar school which John, Paul and George did, but Ringo didn't take the 11+ exam, probably because he was very ill and in hospital a lot as a child. It was so often the other children nicknamed him "Lazarus" after the Saint who rose from the dead. The 11+ exam was discontinued in 2008 although it ceased to be as widespread after 1970 as the government of the day scrapped most grammar schools and brought in Comprehensive schools in the UK.

[@andyallan2909]

This is one of the best Christmas songs of all time, as is "This Time of Year," by Runrig.

[@36814]

The Christmas version of " Imagine ".

[@elainebagpuss6407]

Not sure if anyone's mentioned it but, Paul McCartney 's Pipes of Peace is a good one. The video is about the Christmas Truce in the first world war.

[@Beatle-Impact]

Lennon Legend

[@danielroach1241]

Ya'll are a lot of fun. Keep it up!

[@johncurtis7186]

“Goodnight Saigon”, by Billy Joel, is a GREAT song, related to the Vietnam War. Try and react to the live version, where Vietnam Veterans, sing the chorus!

[@RoSaWa386-33]

It's so smart to use Lyric Videos with Lennon's songs - from the Beatles (for example, BABY I'M A RICH MAN or I'M A WALRUS, DAY IN THE LIFE) or as a solo artist, because his lyrics can be the central value.

[@MW-ni6zp]

Merry Christmas!

[@johnniekight1879]

Merry Christmas

[@jackbarnes8037]

Hope you guys have had a Vely Melly Chlistmas ☃️😃☃️👍

[@stevedahlberg8680]

The Quarrymen. You can see a couple still black and white photos from that era at the very end of that latest and last Beatles release, now and then, with the Peter Jackson video and then it shows shots of them when they were younger before it ends.

[@mapegatkinson92]

This is my favorite xmas song. Yoko led the Harlem Childrens' choir in the chorus.

[@Ken_Dodds_Tickling_Stick]

Johnny and the moon dogs, then the neurk twins, then the quarrymen, then the silver beatles....and off course........

[@stevenseul361]

Merry Christmas to both of you

[@barsandbarbells2022]

Thx Steve! Hope you had a great one!

[@robbiemillar704]

Merry Christmas to you and yours💓🎶🖖🍻🇨🇦

[@ericnordstrom4335]

If you listen to the choir you can hear Johns wife Yoko Ono. This was one of my favorite songs during Christmas. I can suggest another John Lennon song if you have not already reacted to it. It is called Beautiful Boy which John sings about his son Sean. I have another song suggestion for Christmas which is called Snoopys Christmas. It is very good because Snoopy is fighting the red Baron at Christmas.

[@PeterBuwen]

The Quarrymen was John's first group.

[@CB-xr1eg]

The quiz answer is The Quarrymen. So called because the school he attended was Quarry Bank High School.

[@jathygamer8746]

Merry Christmas! 🎧 🎅 💓 🎄 🎶

[@chrisjamieson3452]

For something special, I've suggested for Xmas people try The Roches - Hallelujah Chorus. They once performed it on Sat. Night Live, but that is not available. Early 80's choices.

[@cathyortiz1280]

This is my favorite Xmas song! Anti-war song. They put up bill boards in every major city around the world as a pro-peace campaign. Yes, people all together can end wars & the Vietnam war was stopped by the public! I alway knew what it was about. Came out when I was around 11 years old. Oh, Harlem's children's choir. My 2nd fav is Stevie Wonder's "Someday at Xmas.' Similar theme but different style. The Quarry Men to Silver Beatles to Beatles.

[@jackhargrove4275]

Merry Christmas Fellow Americans 🌲

[@ritagryphon222]

Nice reaction and I wish you would listen to Simon & Garfunkels "7 O'clock News / Silent Night"

[@bdheine2300]

Another to listen to is Silent Night by Simon and Garfunkel. (Silent Night/7:00 news)

[@参河屋喜三郎]

Do not cut out the whisper at the beginning of this song! ! ! Happy Christmas,kyoko (Kyoko Chan Cox is the daughter of the Japanese multimedia artist and singer, Yoko Ono.) Happy Christmas,Julian (Julian Charles John Lennon is an English singer, songwriter, photographer, filmmaker, author, and philanthropist. He is the son of Beatles member John Lennon and his first wife, Cynthia, and he is named after his paternal grandmother, Julia Lennon. )

[@thomastimlin1724]

Released in 1971. Vietnam War was still dragging on. The Harlem Community Choir is singing War is Over, if you want it, war is over, nnnnooowww,,,"

[@SG-js2qn]

The Vietnam War took place within the context of the Cold War and the threat of nuclear war, which people were more concerned about back then. The idea that any war could turn into complete destruction of Earth was fueling the peace movement. Paul did his own version a few years later, "Pipes of Peace." Sting did "Russians" a few years later, and that same year Siouxsie and the Banshees released "Cities in Dust" ... which is technically about something else, but the comparison is obvious. There's probably a few more songs that would be considered inspired by the Cold War situation. IMO, John's song is the best of them all, despite being very simple, and specifically tied to Christmas. However, the others deserve a listen for those interested. As for a "quarry man" ... they "dig rock" ... get it?

[@rickc661]

I'm old. ' quick, the nukes are coming, duck under Yer desks'. absurd. I was gonna go out and shoot hoops. check the flick ' On the Beach' ... Canadian B. Dobson wrote the song ' Morning Dew' after the flick. tune made famous by Grateful Dead.

[@kidpoker007]

Eva Cassidy...Over the Rainbow.....25 Million views!!!!!!

[@paulwalker9421]

Johnnie and the Moon Dogs or the Silver Beatles.. yes The Quarry men (stone workers) ?

[@jnagarya519]

War is bad for ALL people, not only to a "counterculture". In the 1960s it was the so-called "counterculture" that lead the opposition to US involvement in Vietnam. But that wasn't only the young: a prominent opponent was pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock, who'd been politically active since the 1950s, when it was discovered that plutonium was in mother's milk. He was also a defendant in the "Boston Five" case, the charge (subsequently acquitted) being "Conspiracy to Encourage Draft Resistance". Spock was also accused by the right-wing Republican war-mongers of being responsible for the campus protests and "riots," based on his book _Baby and Child Care_ -- which had been the "bible" for parents since the 1940s -- because in it he opposed childhood spankings. Another of the "Boston Five" was Mitchell Goodman, husband of poetess Denise Levertov; they were young during WW II. Another the father of Congressman Jamie Raskin. Another prominent opponent (not of the '"Boston Five") was Norman Mailer, who was in the army during WW II -- _The Naked and the Dead_ was his first, and bestselling, novel.

[@falcon215]

For a good idea of how John's death impacted everyone there are two powerful video suggestions: his song 'God' and Elton John's 'Empty Garden', especially the live version.

[@rickc661]

first band is one thing. I read Paul and George took the same bus to school..... what was in the water in Liverpool ?

[@michaelisles4756]

Guy,s you should checkout Last Night at the Proms Jerusalem from Royal Albert hall London

[@Edawgg1983]

Surprisingly, it's actually Yoko Ono with others singing the backing vocals and chorus. Her only decent vocal performance to this day lol

[@Bekka_Noyb]

If you want to hear a great meaningful christmas song check out Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas Maybe find lyric video or have the lyrics handy

[@ChuckDrennen]

Far better than Paul's Christmas song.

[@bolder2009]

Apples and Pears but this might be my favourite Christmas song of alltime.

[@ChuckDrennen]

@@bolder2009 Not fruit, Christams songs. And this one's better.

[@billbrosey5909]

I'm almost certain he formed the Quarrymen.

[@AngelDawn1982]

The quarry men

[@billbrosey5909]

Wait, wasn't his first group Johnny and the Moon dogs, not sure , not using Google search, just trying to go by memory.

[@stevebroomheadarchive4469]

this is a john lennon & yoko ono song... not just john. also, the actual video is very good..! billboards etc..

[@barbarjinx3802]

Sorry the answer we were looking for was Johnny and the Moondogs. We also would have accepted The Silver Beetles.