Music has an interesting way of attracting opposites. Whether it’s a mutual fondness for the same song or a respect for someone else’s talent or taste, music has the power to bring people together in a way that no other medium can. That being the case, it has unexpectedly brought together two iconic musicians and created a relationship worthy of note. The relationship in question is between Waylon Jennings and John Lennon.
On the surface, Lennon and Jennings couldn’t be further apart on the spectrum of musical and public life. One man is an outlaw country singer from Texas and the other is a pop-rocker from England. In a way, you might have a better chance of coexisting between a dog and a cat. However, put all these nominal judgments aside, as when Lennon and Jennings met, they admired each other.
The first interaction between Waylon Jennings and John Lennon
Although the two were living in different genres, they were the same age. Thus, it is certain that they shared some of the same musical influences such as Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, and Little Richard. Although their first interaction and new relationship had nothing to do with music. Instead, they loved each other as men with a sense of humor and a similar quality.
In a 1996 interview with Terry Gross, Jennings recalls the time he met Lennon, saying: “I met John Lennon, and we were cutting loose at a Grammy party.” Jennings added: “And I said, ‘Man, you’re funny. “I didn’t know you were funny,” and “I thought you were a crazy guy or something.
Lennon replied: “Listen, people in England think you shoot people.” Humor meets humor in this situation and given the dry humor of both characters, they seem to have respected each other’s footage.
Lennon’s message
After their meeting at the Grammys, Lennon went so far as to write a letter to Waylon Jennings. In the letter, Lennon wrote, “It was good to meet you” and “I should have released it as a single myself, but I left it too late… but it’s not for someone else.” Lennon ended his letter with “All the best to you” and “I saw you on TV last week VG (Nice Band.)”
For Beatles and country music fans like myself, we rarely see these types of crossovers. So this moment, and the message that followed, is one to be savored despite its age. All in all, it’s fascinating and makes one think of all the other themes and jokes the two have thrown at each other in their unlikely relationship.
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