This song came out of nowhere in the holiday season of 1971.
It was recorded in October and released a few weeks before Christmas. We all knew that John and Yoko were on a peace-and-love mission, but this expressed it in holiday form.
“Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” certainly feels like a song of its time – a protest against the Vietnam War, which Nixon was dragging out to make it seem he was a peacemaker by the ’72 election.
But it also hasn’t dated. Its message remains strong today – think Venezuela, Ukraine and Gaza instead of Vietnam. And it counters the message of a warmongering White House run by a insecure lout.
It’s also good music. The melody is catchy and memorable.
To prove the point, instead of the original, here’s an instrumental version by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and ukelele player Jake Shimabukuro.
SUBJECTISM 