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John Aizlewood's rating
Sean fails to shake off Lennon legacy
By
John Aizlewood
10 Nov 2006
It's been a strange kind of career for Sean Lennon. On one level, being the privileged son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono means that he can take eight years between albums, before resurfacing on mum and dad's label this year with Friendly Fire. On another, his bat is broken before he reaches the wicket.
He, more than anyone, will never be the Beatles. And if he sounds a little like his father (he would, wouldn't he?) on most of his songs, it merely serves as a reminder that he'll never be John either.
No wonder Stella McCartney designs clothes. Touchingly, his mother - if the Beatles are pop's royal family, she is their Camilla - was there to support him.
Wearing comedy sunglasses which presumably ensured she kept bumping her tiny shins on the pews concealed in the St James's darkness, she sat upstairs and smiled benignly when, in the only reference to his parents, Lennon mentioned they met in this very city 40 years ago and thanked her for sitting far away: "If I see her face it makes me nervous."
Strange or not, even in comparison with half-brother Julian, Sean has failed to set the world alight. No longer the Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) his father wrote of in 1980, the 31-year-old's previous show was at the tiny Barfly last century.
Last night's show might have taken place in the more sanctified surroundings of a church, but it's a small venue and the ecclesiastical acoustics did Lennon's delicate pop no favours. Nor did his attire. Imagine Little Lord Fauntleroy's gone-to-seed cousin: shirt and tie, top hat, scarf dangling rakishly around his neck, hobo's beard and huge tinted glasses.
Like his sweet music, his on-stage persona was designed to reveal nothing of the inner Sean, but as behoves one educated at the finest Swiss boarding schools, he was polite and appealingly shy, although his occasional attempts at emulating dad's wit ("French is that language French people speak") needed a little work.
The music was endearingly pleasant, often taking its stylistic cue from The Monkees' dreamy Porpoise Song. Indeed, Headlights and Parachute were lovely, but for the most part it was so unassuming that, like Lennon himself, it was almost lost when set against his past and his parents.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (5)
'Friendly Fire' is an excellent album, and although I didn't see Sean at this gig, I saw him on March 4th 2007 at Bush Hall and he was brilliant. His voice was strong and the music very tuneful. It's a pity this album hasn't had any publicity in the UK.
- S Jacobs, England, 06/03/2007 08:58
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Sean Lennon's album is excellent. I had the pleasure of catching his Coventry show; again, that was excellent. Please give us an objective review next time and stop these tired references to his parentage. Surely, it should be about the music?
- Beverly Moore, west midlands, 24/11/2006 15:46
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While I may have missed the show, I have listened to Friendly Fire repeatedly over the last ten days. It is plainly clear to me that Sean Lennon has done more for the advancement of music than 9 out of 10 artists on the charts today. His subtle homage(s) to the Beatles, Air, Chris Iaasic, Chet Baker and the Monkees are the stuff music should be made of.
The constant reference to his father is a misfortune he'll have to deal with throughout his life and no one more than Sean, realizes there will NEVER be another John Lennon but judging by his delicate songwriting sensability and courage to be (un)popular I am compelled to support and encourage Sean to continue firing.
- Rodney Itier, New York City, 13/11/2006 22:08
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Based on my attendance at Thursday's show, and having listening to "Friendly Fire", Sean, in my opinion, has no less talent and right to be on a stage than many other currently popular artists and hard as it is to do so (apparently) he should be judged on his own merits.
I disagree with Charlie, I think Sean does have a good voice, lighter in tone than his father's (which may be the issue for some) but similar in range, and rather stronger than the album suggests - this in addition to being an adept songwriter and guitarist, and competent bandleader.
I speak as a musician myself.
OK, he isn't going to be the musical giant his father was, but even the late and much-missed John struggled to be John Lennon for much of his career!
- Jonathan, Hornsey, London, 13/11/2006 13:01
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I can't believe anyone thinks he can sing! He is beyond dull and his voice painful to listen to.
- Charlie, London, 10/11/2006 14:00
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