A legendary performance featuring John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and guitarist Chuck Berry has reignited discussions online.
Some hailed the live show from the trio, which has recently gone viral again on social media, while others couldn’t help but chuckle at Ono’s vocal outbursts.
Their rendition of iconic guitar tunes was peppered with Ono’s unique contributions, leading to a divide among viewers: some applauding her artistry, whereas others resort to ridicule.
An edited video from the @historyrock account suggested that Ono “embarrassing” Beatles legend Lennon, alongside rock icon Berry, exacerbated discussions.
A fan pointed out that the viral clip was edited for comic effect, stating: “You should mention that this video has been digitally altered and edited for comedic effect. Yoko Ono is only heard for about three seconds in the actual performance.”
Music enthusiasts jumped to Ono’s defence, praising her historical influence. Despite clarifications, the debate persists as viewers either praise or disparage Ono.
One individual commented: “It was a miracle that Chuck Berry could even play with that rattling his ears. Thankfully a wise tech shut off her microphone.”
Another reminisced: “Lennon must have been in love with her to let her sing. The first Plastic Ono Band album I bought was in a bargain bin for $2.”
A third wrote: “I thought it was the one with Mother, Isolation & Working Class Hero as the cover looked the same. It wasn’t and was full of Yoko wailing.”
Another had a similar experience and recalled: “I remember the John Lennon record where every other song was Yoko. What a pain in the ass. We didn’t have Spotify back then to skip to the next track. Had to pick up the needle after each song.”
Yet, some music fans had high praise for Yoko Ono, noting her significant impact on the industry. A fan asserted, “John Lennon inspired Oasis, Yoko Ono inspired The Boredoms and Sonic Youth. Case closed.”
Another, referencing Ono’s ‘Why’, boldly claimed, “I will go to my grave saying this is better than Imagine I was told my whole life that Yoko Ono sucked, then I heard this and found the template for every good rock band of the past half century.”
And a third person weighed in on the discourse stating, “I’m not gonna sit here and say ‘oh you wouldn’t get it’ but I will sit here and say Yoko Ono is very impactful and very influential and the hate she gets is very tiring.”