THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
456-John Lennon & Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir-Happy Xmas(War Is Over.)
1972-Number 4 single and again peaking at Number 2 in 1980.
Best Bit-At 3.07.Lennon claimed an inspiration for writing the song,(presumably tongue in cheek) was that he was ‘sick of White Christmas.’
Lennon(see also best songs 473-599 and 927) and Yoko Ono spent a lot of time in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s working on promoting peace.In 1969 they put up billboards in major cities around the world that said ‘War is over'(if you want it.)
Happy Xmas(War Is Over) is essentially a protest song against America’s involvement in the Vietnam War and was a way of elaborating upon the themes of social unity and a continuation of the earlier billboard campaigns.
At the start of the song Ono whispers ‘Happy Christmas Kyoko’ then Lennon whispers ‘Happy Christmas Julian,’they are the children from their previous relationships.
The song was produced by Phil Spector,who had already had a lot of previous experience making Christmas songs,(see best songs 820.)
‘A very Merry Xmas and a happy New Year lets hope it’s a good one without any fear.’
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