John Lennon

It's now twenty-five years since John Lennon, the former Beatles star, was shot dead. We revisit that sad day and find out why John Lennon is still remembered by so many people today. Listen to Entertainment to hear some interesting answers. 

Words and expressions from the programme 

iconic 
a person, group or item that represents a certain time in history, e.g. John Lennon 

an altercation 
a short, noisy argument 

an autograph 
the signature of someone famous, e.g. on a book or a photograph 

a police squad car 
an American English noun for an ordinary police car 

to be pronounced dead upon arrival 
an official announcement that someone has already died before arriving somewhere, usually at a hospital 

lyrics 
the words of a song 

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Yvonne: Hello, I'm Yvonne Archer - and this is Entertainment.
Twenty-five years ago today, the British pop star John Lennon was shot outside
his apartment building in New York in the United States.
Tom Brook
There were 7 gunshot wounds, one report said, when he arrived at the hospital, but he was in a
very bad state indeed.
Yvonne: That was a part of a BBC report from Tom Brooks twenty-five years ago. In
fact, John Lennon was in such a very bad state – he was so ill – that he actually
died from his gunshot wounds. Of course, John Lennon had been a member of
the very popular 1960s British pop band, The Beatles. The band and John
Lennon help to represent that time in history so they’re thought of as ‘iconic’.
The BBC news report explained that there was a short, noisy argument between
John Lennon and the person who shot him. As we listen on, try to spot the
word that’s used to describe the argument and the reason why John may have
been shot. So, what word does Tom Brook use to describe the noisy argument
that took place and why does he think John Lennon may have been shot?
Tom Brook
Everything is still rather confused, but we gather that he got out of a car and there was an
altercation about an autograph. Shots were then fired – several shots - he was very badly
wounded and the police squad car took him to hospital and he was pronounced dead upon
arrival.
Yvonne: The report told us that there had been an argument about an autograph – that’s
a famous person’s signature, in this case, John Lennon’s. And that may have
been the reason why John was shot. But did you spot the word that the report
used to describe that argument? Yes, the report said that there was ‘an
altercation’. Listen again to the series of events that lead to John Lennon’s
death. This time, note how the words ‘altercation’ and ‘autograph’ are used.
Also, try to catch the formal phrase that ends the report. It’s often used in news
items to let people know that someone died before they could be treated at the
hospital.
Tom Brook
He got out of a car and there was an altercation about an autograph. Shots were then fired –
several shots - he was very badly wounded and the police squad car took him to hospital and
he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Yvonne: So did you manage to follow the series of events? After John got out of the
car, there was an altercation, he was shot and taken to the hospital by a police
car – what Americans call ‘a police squad car’. And to end the report, we heard
the formal phrase that John Lennon ‘was pronounced dead upon arrival’. Sadly,
by the time the police got him to the hospital, John Lennon was already dead
and a formal announcement was made by the medical staff to let everyone
know. Listen out for that formal phrase in future news reports…
Tom Brook
He was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Yvonne: As you probably know, John Lennon left the Beatles but continued to record his
own songs. He wrote “Give Peace a Chance” in the 1960s to protest against
the US’s part in the Vietnam war. He even stayed in bed with his wife, Yoko
Ono, for two weeks during their honeymoon – just after they were married - to
draw further attention to the protest.
But “Give Peace a Chance” has been criticised because it contains very few
words - or ‘lyrics’. Phillip Norman is writing a biography of John Lennon’s life
and doesn’t agree with all the criticism. In fact, he compares the song lyrics of
“Give Peace a Chance” to the type of rap songs that sometimes talk about
violence as though it’s a positive thing – gangster rap.
Phillip Norman
I think it’s better to be saying “Give peace a chance” than, you know, the sort of obscene,
brutal to women lyrics of gangster rap.
Yvonne: And twenty-five years after his death, John Lennon is still remembered for his
his protest against the war in Vietnam as well as for his music.
There’s just time now for a quick recap of some of the language we’ve come
across today:
A person or a band that represents a specific time in history can be described
as…
iconic
If someone famous gives you their signature, it’s their…
autograph
And the words of a song are called the…
lyrics
That's all from Entertainment this week. Goodbye.