22—The Daily Collegian Friday, Dec. 12, 1980
Lennon: leaping while
"Christ, you know it ain't easy,
You know how hard it can be;
The way things are going,
They're gonna crucify me."
John Lennon, 1971
By BRUCE MEYER
United Press International
John Lennon was an artist of living.
In his music, in his politics, in his quest
for peace both public and private, Len
non was special because of his attitude
toward life. He leaped while the world
looked and whether he landed on his
feet or flat on his face, he managed to
point the way.
Not so much a man of his times as one
of those who helped make the times over
to suit himself, Lennon became the ar
chetype of a volatile generation, gleeful
ly outraging his elders as he . delighted
his peers.
It began, of course, as a group effort:
John, Paul, George and Ringo the
Beatles.
From their beginnings as a simple
(some said simple-minded) pop group in
John and Yoko Ono Lennon
'We feel like this is just a start now'
the. early '6os, the Beatles went on to
transform the world's taste in music.
Their innovative blend of American
blues and rock 'n' roll with the
lightweight "skiffle" sound of their
native Liverpool struck a sympathetic
chord with young people first in
England, then in Europe and the United
States and finally around the world.
They developed a following so loyal
they could do what they chose and did,
experimenting' and pushing the boun
daries of rock far past its previous
limits.
And Lennon, more than any of the
four, was a boundary-stretcher,
unafraid in his music, as elsewhere in
his life, to make mistakes and profit by
them. At his worst, he was crude or
maudlin or downright silly. At his best,
he was the best there was.
Lennon did not choose to be a leader
he started out with no higher ambition
than getting out of working-class Liver
pool by becoming a rock 'n' roll star. But
as he did, he kept arriving at places and
states of mind a little ahead of everyone
'Double Fantasy': sharing the artists' dreams
By JON BRIAN PETERSON
Daily Collegian Staff Writer
It's difficult to view John Lennon and Yoko Ono's
latest release, "Double Fantasy," in the same light as I
did last week. At that time I was totally engrossed in
the record's magic, ranting and raving about it to all
my friends.
But now, it no longer needs my praise, or anyone
else's for that matter. State College record shops have
been sold out of the LP since Tuesday, and virtually all
major East Coast distributors have also depleted their
supplies. Apparently, nothing this side of Heaven is go
ing to prevent "Double Fantasy" from rising to the top
of the charts.
The album represents a new phase in the personal
and professional life of the couple. With the exception
of "Somewhere in New York City," Yoko Ono's
presence on previous Lennon albums served inspira
tional purposes only; John went so far as even
crediting Yoko with playing "the wind" on the primal
"John Lennon-Plastic Ono Band" LP.
But "Double Fantasy" is not similar to previous
John Lennon solo works. Described by Lennon as being
a "heartplay," or "a dialog between a man and his
wife," it is a true collaboration between John and
Yoko.
Consisting of 14 new songs, (geven by Lennon, seven
by Ono) "Double Fantasy" speaks for both. But the
main themes for their songs revolves around John
himself a new John.
Lennon is no longer the "angry young man" of rock
'n' roll. For one thing, John is no longerangry or young.
But "Double Fantasy" doesn't portray Lennon and his
we looked
else; his super-celebrity status as a
Beatle took care of the rest.
Lennon's role within the Beatles was
clear from the start. Collaborator with
Paul McCartney on most of the group's
hits, Lennon was the hard rocker to Mc-
Cartney's pop star. While McCartney
banked the teeny-boppers' shrieks, Len
non gathered the loyalty of the rebels
who would later join him in the ranks of
the anti-war movement.
In the public record, McCartney is
shown as the Be'atle who initiated the
band's formal split. But most of those
who were on the inside at the time, as the
'6os drew to a close and the war was
heating up, say it was Lennon.and his in
tense relationship with Yoko Ono, along
with the heavy use of psychedelic drugs,
that prompted The Beatles to crumble
from the inside.
"By his own count, John had taken a
thousand or so acid trips," says author
Geoffrey Stokes in a forthcoming book
on the Beatles. "There were, as one
might expect, consequences. Some of
them were felt in his marriage; Cynthia
new psyche as a "mellow middle-aged man,"
either. John's five-year hiatus from the music scene
has enabled him to step down from his rock superstar
pedestal and take on a new role -one which allows
him to show us the man behind the legend: a fragile,
flawed, sensitive human being.
But devoted Lennonites need not fear. Just because
former partner Paul McCartney turned the family ex
perience into disposable pop schmaltz on early Wings.
LPs does not imply that John must do the same. No
"Mary Had a Little Lamb" for John Lennon. Tunes
such as "Clean Up Time" and "I'm Losing You"
display the perennial Lennon razor-sharp wit and flare
in top form.
Kicking off with "(Just Like) Starting Over," a 'sos
styled mid-tempo rocker, "Double Fantasy" is essen
tially divided into two parts. Side one represents an
evolution in the development of their roles since 1975
John becoming the "house husband," struggling, suf
fering, and learning in a reversal of roles as Yoko sets
out to conquer the business world.
On side two, the Lennons have worked out the pro
blems encountered in their role reversal. In doing so
the couple finally become androgenous and gain a new
insight into their love for each other and their family,
discovering that "the two of us are really one," as John
tells us in "Dear Yoko."
Many who have never heard any of the Yoko Ono solo
albums in the early '7os might accuse her of jumping
onto the New Wave bandwagon after hearing her songs
on the first side. But before making any accusations,
you'd better check out those early Ono efforts. Yoko
has been making New Wave-styled music since
th e
daily
collegian 0r
Lennon (John's first wife) has written
that 'the rot' struck them 'the moment
cannibis (marijuana) and LSD seeped
its unhealthy way into our lives.? "
That "rot" apparently failed to seep
into Lennon's second and more lasting
love affair. From the last days of the
Beatles to the final day of his life, Yoko
Ono remained Lennon's true love, fellow
artist and collaborator.
"I hope I die. before Yoko," he told in
terviewers for the RKO radio network,
just hours before he was shot. "Because
if Yoko died, I wouldn't know how to
survive."
When he met her, Lennon said, "she
was protesting against war in a black
bag in Trafalgar Square (in London).
And when we met. . . what we wanted to
do was carry on, me and my love-love
love, and her and her peace-peace
peace."
Though the break-up of the Beatles
was devastating for millions of music
y:zr4.~ t~ ~..
fans, it was a welconie relief for Lennon,
who moved on with Yoko to a series of
more-or-less successful albums and anti
war stunts, including the famous "bed
in" for peace in Toronto.
Then the Vietnam War was over and,
typically, Lennon was quick to drop out
while other anti-war leaders groped
about for new causes. Anticipating what
became known as the "me" decade of
the '7os, - he settled into a "house
husband" status in Manhattan, leaving
his business affairs to Yoko and the
lawyers and ignoring music while the
glitter bands and Southern rock and
disco and punk came - and went.
He spent five years as a near recluse,
making no records and giving no inter
views. Then, apparently purged by the
time and privacy, he began again. The
single from his and Yoko's new album
was called "Starting Over."
The album, "Double Fantasy," was a
50-50 Ono-Lennon collaboration but the
~tZA .0..4. ft 7 Y iJ'it.
Chrissie Hyde was knee high to a boll weevil.
Propelled by the stinging guitar work of former
David Bowie sideman Earl Slick, "Kiss, Kiss, Kiss,"
"Give Me Something," and "I'm Moving On" sound in
credibly like The B-52's or Lene Lovich. Hard core NdVv
Wavers might want to look into this LP for these tunes
alone.
One of "Double. Fantasy's" top numbers is John's
soulful "Watching The Wheels," which opens side two.
In top vocal form, Lennon belts through the tune with
stunning style and assuredness. "I'm just sitting here
watching the wheels go round and round/ I really love
to watch them them roll/ No longer riding on the
merry-go-round / I just had to let it go."
"Is it possible to still have a wife and child and still
be an artist?" Lennon was asked by an interviewer
several months ago. With "Double Fantasy,' Lennon
and Ono have proven that they didn't need to self
destructin order to maintain' high quality in they
creative endeavors.
John 'Lennon and Yoko Ono managed to survive the
'7os. Their struggles with Ono s 's miscarriages, Len
non's deportation hearings, their 18-month separation
and other problems were all in the past. The storm had
passed, and the Lennons had managed to carve out a
new dream. "Double Fantasy" was the embodiment of
that new dream, one of love for each other and th 4
family, inner harmony, and peace at last.
Although the life of the most important figure in con
temporary culture and music was ended only days ago,
John and Yoko's vision still could not be destroyed.
With "Double Fantasy," the Lennons have allowed us
all to share in their dream.
themes were familiar life and peace
and love. Musically it was, perhaps, not
his best effort. But it was a human
record and full of feeling.
"We feel like this is just a start now.' 0.
I'm talking to guys and gals who had
been what we ',had been through
together, the '6os group that has surviv
ed. . . survived the war, the drugs, the
politics, the violence on the street, the
whole she-bang," Lennon told his final
interviewers.
But John Lennon did not survive. The
"violence on the street" got him.
And for those Who loved him for his
music and for his irreverence and for
just being himself, it is a bitter irony that
even as he emerged from that self
imposed cocoon at last, John Lennon
of all people should become a martyr
to his own fame.
Uncovering the mystery
of Mystery Plays
By PADDY PATTON
Daily Collegian Staff Writer
Half the mystery of a medieval
mystery play is that few people really
know what one is. But the Lutheran
Student Parish will remedy that
situation 'this weekend when it per
forms five of thise works in authentic
15th century style.
"A mystery play usually refers to
some biblical event that theofetically
reveals the mysteries of the scrip
tures. They are among the earliest
written English di.amas but they are
seldom produced!" said John Wen
zke, minister with the Lutheran Stu
dent Parish.
At 8:30 tonight in Eisenhower
Auditorium and l:30 p.m. Sunday at
the Grace Lutheran 4 Church, at the
corner of Beaver Avenue and Garner
Street, a cast of 35 actors will present
"The Fall of Man," "The Parliament
of Heaven," "The Birth of Christ,"
"The Play of the Shepherds" and
"Herod and the Kings."
The five English folk dramas will
ii:!-
* ,
Plus de pas de deux
Gelsey Kirkland and Mikhail Baryshnikov may be smiling through their rerun of "The Nutcracker," to be presented on
CBS-TV Christmas Eve, but lately they've been doing nothing of the sort . Baryshnikov., director of the American Ballet
Theatre Foundation, recently dismissed Kirkland and principal dancer Patrick Bissell from the company, citing the
couple "For their gross Wadi of contract, including their failure to 'appear for a dress rehearsal with orchestra at Ken
nedy Center on Dec. 9."
ThE poofEssioNAl STAFF of THE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER WILL bE OffEßiNq Tim followiNg GROUPS This WINTER. FOR
MORE INFORMATION ANd ASSISTANCE IN dECidiNg ABOUT pARTiCipATiNg, CONTACT US by cAlliNg 863-0395 OR sTopp
iniq AT 217 RITENOUR HEALTH CENTER, MONdAy Thoough FRidAy, 8:00-12:00, 1:00-5:00. MOST gooups will
bEgiN ThE 3Rd WEEk, STARTiNg MONdAy, DECEMbER 15Th. •
GRAdUATE STUdENT GROUP RESOLVINq ISSUES RELATEd TO WORK ANd INTERPERSONAL RElATioroships
OF C I RAdUATE LIFE. MONdAyS, 8:30-10:00 A.M.
MOTIVATION GROUP FOR wookiNc i ON clAoifyiNc i YOUR INTENTIONS ANd dIRECTINg YOUR RESOURCES
TOWARd ATTAINMENT of qoAls. WEdNEsdAys, 3:50-5:00 P.M.
GROWTH GROUP FOR WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERESTEd IN Exploßinq ThEMSELVES, ThEIR bEIiEfS, fEEE
iNgs, RthaioNships. TuesdAys, 7:00-8:30 P.M.
PERSONA' GROWTH Gnoup FOR STUdENTS iNTERESTEd IN EXPLORING ThEMSELVES, THEIR bEIIEfS, FEEL
iNgs, RElATioNships. ThunsdAys, 11:00 A.M.-12:30. ANOTHER TIME TO bE ANNOUNCEd.
MALE-FEMAIE REIATiONShipS - fOCUSiNq ON bEginNiNg REEATioNships WITH TIM opposiTE SEX.
TuEsdAys, 8:30-10:00 A.M.
STRESS REdUCTION LEARNiNq TO RELAX ANd TO dEAL MORE EffEcTivEly wiTh A VARIETy Of STRESSFUL
SITUATIONS. , TuEsdAys, 10:00-11:00 A.M., TuEsdAys, 1:00-2:15 P.M., TuEsdAys, 2:20-3:45 P.M.
MANAGING DEPRESSION ANd SIMILAR "Low - FEELING" STATES will Focus ON STRATEGIES FOR oEduciNg
dEpoEssivE STATES, INCREASING PLEASURABLE STIMULATION, ANd TILE IMPROVEMENT OF MOOd STATES.
ThuosdAys, 2:00-4:00 P.M..
CororoolliNor i SUBSTANCE USE ANd ABUSE focus ON REdUCiNg dEpENdENCiES ON VARIOUS dRUc
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of GRATIFICATION. FRidAyS, 2:00-4:00 P.M.
TEST ANXIETY FOUR SESSIONS Of STRUCTUREd EXPERIENCES FOR REduciNg ANXIETy, INCREASING CON
fidENCE ANd RELAXATION FOR EXAM PREPARATION ANd TAkiNg. MondAy 10:45-12:00 NOON. ANOTHER
TIME TO bE SET. •
WEighT CONTROL 2 TERM gßoup. FIRST TERM, REdUCTiON REAdINE.SS WILL WORk ON PATTERNS
THAT pßOhibiT SUCCESSFUL REdUCTION (E.g. MOTIVATIONAL PROBLEMS, EMOTIONAL EATiNg). SECONd TERM,
WEigla Loss ANd MAINTENANCE WILL TEACH A VARIETy OF STRATEgiES FOR EFFECTIVE wEiglar loss ANd
MAINTENANCE. TIME TO bE ARRANCIEd.
GROWING Up whir AN Alcoholic fort STIUdENTS who NAVE OR ARE ItAviNg TO COPE wiTh PARENTS
OR OThER SIGNIFICANT PERSON who is AN Alcoholic. FOR suppowr, INFORMATION ABOUT UNdERSTANdiNq
ANd copiNg WITH AN ABUSER ANd ExploNiNg pERSONAI impAcT of bEiNg iNvolvEd WITH AN Alcoholic.
TIME TO bE, ARRANcEd.
AdVANCEd STRESS REdUCTION FURThER WORk WiTh RELAXATION TRAINING FOR ThOSE WiTh EX
PERIENCE. Will iNCIUdE USE of IMAGINATION ANd EXAMINATION Of ATTiTUdES. TIME TO bE ARRANCIEd.
ASSERTIVENESS TRAiNiNg will pitovidE AN oppoßTußiTy foR MEN ANd WOMEN TO LEARN TIN skills iN
VOIVEd jN ASSERTIVE bEhAViOR. TkußsdAys, 3:45-5:00 P.M.
BiNgE IEATiNg ANd PuNqiNg will focus ON PROBLEM EATINg PATTERNS ANd THE PERSONAL/EMOTIONAL
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•
If YOU ARE iNTERESTEd IN A gooup ANd ThE SET TIMES do NOT FIT YOUR schEdulE, OR if you wish TO Talk ABOUT
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217 RITENOUR HEALTH CENTER
be presented as they would have been
performed between 1450 and 1500 at
the cathedrals of York, Lincolnshire,
Wakefield and Coventry. Wenzke,
who has been researching the proper
presentation of the plays, has noted
the difficulties of such a
performance.
"Often the only way scholars have
to judge is to look at town records and
see that so-and-so was paid to build
this or that for a set," Wenzke said.
"But we also have pictures. Adam
and Eve were always dressed in
white leather, for example, because
they thought that that would show
their skin, show their nakedness in
the Garden (of Eden). All the colors
were symbolic like that."
Not all the plays are of a serious
nature, however. "The Play of the
Shepherds" concerns a man who has
stolen a lamb, and tries to pass it off
as a baby. The ugly but vigorous fake
arouses so much curiosity that the
neighboring shepherds discover the
fraud.
Poet Lucey illumines
human experiences
There is a vanishing act performed in
certain sorts of writing:
Look hard at the poem - the poem's not
there at all.
A shadow may be glimpsed shaking
hands with the title;
An ambiguous ghost sensed melting
through the wall.
By ANDY O'HEARN
Daily Collegian Staff Writer •
Beyond a "shadow" of a doubt these
words belong to Irish poet Sean Lucy,
who read his poems and those of his
countrymen at a reading Tuesday in the
Rare Books Room of Pa ttee.
Lucy, a ruddy-looking professor of
English from University College in Cork
County, Ireland, read poems which ques
tioned the powerful, dark extremities of
human experience, and the worth of love
and order in the face of inevitable
destruction.
Especially noteworthy in this respect
is Lucy's latest work, "Unfinished Se
quence and other poems," his first
published collection of poems in a
decade. Meant as"a lament but also a
celebration," Lucy said, the collection is
a tribute to his friend, the late Irish com
poser Sean 0 Riada.
Poems from this work, which Lucy
called, "the hinge of my writing life,"
deal with the personal difficulties,
deprivation, and vulnerabilities of en
during such a loss. In one poem Lucy
described how trouble has trailed him:
"clear on my shoulders is the track of
her feet."
Yet the moving part of such poetry is
the author's attempt to persevere, in ex
tending the limits of poetry honestly into
the corners of his own life. One poem,
"Mousey," ' defiantly declares, "It's
dangerous out there, mousey/ Anything
can happen in the light/ And that is ex
actly why I'm going out."
The elements of such danger are evi
dent in other aspects of Lucy's writings.
His poem on the tragedy of northern
Ireland, "Men of Action," ends with the
imagery of cold reality: "from the shat
tered street scrape up the scattered
dead."
Writing love poetry poses an especial
ly difficult obstacle, due to the cynical
Choirs present 'Hodie'
By KAREN KONSKI
Daily Collegian Staff Writer
The Penn State Choir will celebrate an
early Christmas this year by performing
"Hodie," a Christmas cantata, at 7:30
p.m. tomorrow in Eisenhower
Auditorium.
"We're performing this because it's a
very joyous Christmas kind, of thing,"
said Assistant Choir Director Tommie
Irwin. "It's very exciting; some of the
lines of the text are from the Biblical
text about the Nativity."
The cantata is divided into four parts
with 16 movements. The entire choir will
be singing the choruses, while the nar
rative sections will be done by soloists
and a boys' choir.
Irwin himself will perform the tenor
solo. The baritone soloist is Peter
Dunham from Susquehanna University
and Kim Kronenberg (sth-music) is the
soprano soloist.
The Schola Cantorum from Our Lady
of Victory Church in State College is the
featured boys' choir; they are directed
by Chris Kirkpatrick.
"Hodie" also includes two chorales
that will be sung a capella by the Penn
State Singers, a special organization
made up of choir members.
Raymond Brown, professor of music
nature of the times, Lucy said. One must
learn to make fun of himself to observe
humanity, and that directness is
sometimes embarrassing; he added.
With a poet's holistic viewpoint of the
world, Lucy writes in his poem "Casual
ty" of "how I begin to long for the last
migration," and asks in his poem
The Daily Collegian Friday, Dec. 12, 1980-2
Sean Lucy
"Testimony in the Cave" a question fo
the future. . ."Why should we grope i
cold and breaking dark?"
The answer, as any of the audience a
the reading will attest to, is becaus:
poets like Sean Lucy provide the ii
lumination to continue our search.
Photo by Bill Storey