Draft:Dear Yoko
| Submission declined on 30 May 2025 by HerBauhaus (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of music-related topics). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia.
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Comment: This song may be viable for a standalone article, but it currently falls short of the sourcing depth required under WP:GNG. Two solid secondary sources are cited: American Songwriter and John Blaney’s Lennon and McCartney. The BBC review, while a WP:RS, only mentions the song in passing. To satisfy WP:THREE, 1 or 2 additional secondary sources with in-depth coverage of “Dear Yoko” would be needed. You're welcome to resubmit once such sources are added. HerBauhaus (talk) 13:49, 30 May 2025 (UTC)
| "Dear Yoko" | |
|---|---|
| Song by John Lennon | |
| from the album Double Fantasy | |
| Released | 17 November 1980 |
| Genre | Rock |
| Length | 2:34 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | John Lennon |
| Producer(s) |
|
| Double Fantasy track listing | |
14 tracks
| |
"Dear Yoko" is a song John Lennon that was released on his 1980 collaborative album with his wife Yoko Ono Double Fantasy.
Background
[edit]After the release of his covers album Rock 'n' Roll in 1975, Lennon decided to take a hiatus from making and writing music, besides making the occasional demo, to be a husband to Ono and to take care of his second son Sean Lennon. In 1980, Lennon resumed his career and began constantly writing new music for his next album alongside Ono after a boat ride.[1] In 1980, Lennon was interviewed by Playboy magazine and said the following about the song: "It says it all. It’s a nice track, and it happens to be about my wife. Instead of "Dear Sandra," which another singer might write about a woman who may or may not exist, this is about my wife."[2]
Recording
[edit]Session guitarist Earl Slick was intended to play on the song, but couldn't make it, so Lennon had Hugh McCracken play the guitar, As Slick stated: "Here’s something that I’m not proud of... I didn’t show up at the studio. I called, but I didn't play on it. I was so [messed] up that I couldn't get to the studio. This is part of who I was at the time. That was one of the very few times in all the years, even when I was out of control, that I ever did something like that, and, of course, I did it on a Lennon record."[3]
Release
[edit]"Dear Yoko" has been released on at least five compilation albums over the years, which include: The John Lennon Collection,[4] Lennon,[5] Anthology,[6] Acoustic,[7] and Gimme Some Truth. The Ultimate Mixes.[8] A demo was released on John Lennon: The Bermuda Tapes, a mobile application that included the demo tapes recorded by Lennon while he was in Bermuda, which launched on 5 November 2013.[9]
Reception
[edit]Slant magazine critic Joseph Jon Lanthier stated about the stripped down mix of Double Fantasy that "Likewise, the right-to-left speaker separation in this mix gives the down home harmonicas of "Dear Yoko" enough breathing room"[10] In a review of Double Fantasy for the BBC, Sean Egan states that the sentimentality "doesn't preclude a delightful strutting old-time rock‘n’roll backdrop."[11] Music critic Brian Wawzenek called it a "sweet, bouncy ode" and a "sunny tribute to their enduring love"[12]
Personnel
[edit]According to author John Blaney:[13][nb 1]
- John Lennon – vocals, guitar
- Hugh McCracken – guitar
- Tony Levin – bass
- George Small – keyboards
- Arthur Jenkins – percussion
- Andy Newmark – drums
- Michelle Simpson – backing vocals
- Cassandra Wooten – backing vocals
- Cheryl Mason Jacks – backing vocals
- Eric Troyer – backing vocals
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Womack, Kenneth (2020-07-11). "John Lennon sailed to Bermuda through a storm, "screaming sea shanties and shouting at the gods"". Salon. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ^ Sheff, David (2000). All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Internet Archive. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-312-25464-3.
- ^ a b McDowell, Jay (2024-10-17). "The Story Behind "Dear Yoko" by John Lennon and How David Geffen Landed a Recording Contract with the Ex-Beatle". American Songwriter. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ^ The John Lennon Collection (notes). 1 November 1982.
- ^ Lewisohn, Mark (30 October 1990). Lennon (notes).
- ^ Lennon, John; Ono, Yoko; DeCurtis, Anthony; Stevens, Rob (2 November 1998). Anthology (notes).
- ^ Hogan, Marc. "John Lennon: Acoustic/Rock 'n' Roll". Pitchfork. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
- ^ "Gimme Some Truth (2020 album)". The Beatles Bible. 2020-08-27. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
- ^ Cubarrubia, R. J. (2013-09-23). "'John Lennon: The Bermuda Tapes' App Due in November". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
- ^ Lanthier, Joseph Jan (15 October 2010). "John Lennon and Yoko Ono: Double Fantasy Stripped Down". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 October 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
- ^ Egan, Sean. "BBC - Music - Review of John Lennon and Yoko Ono - Double Fantasy". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
- ^ Wawzenek, Bryan WawzenekBryan (2013-02-18). "Top 10 Songs Inspired by Yoko Ono". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
- ^ Blaney, John (2007). Lennon and McCartney: Together Alone: A Critical Discography of Their Solo Work. Internet Archive. Jawbone Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-1-906002-02-2.
