Yoko Ono
"I know that when I say this I may be stepping on pins and needles
Just to have you as my very own personal Venus"
But I don't like all these people slagging her for breaking up the Beatles
(don't blame it on Yokey!)
I mean, if I was John and you were Yoko I would gladly give up musical genius—Barenaked Ladies, "Be My Yoko Ono"
Yoko Ono (born February 18, 1933), is a Japanese-American artist and musician who is most widely known for her relationship with John Lennon of The Beatles. When Yoko first met John Lennon, she was an artist exhibiting in the UK. Working with artist group Fluxus throughout the 1960s, Ono was a pioneer in the burgeoning conceptual art movement which included work in sculpture, performance, filmmaking and music.
Ono collaborated with experimental luminaries such as John Cage and jazz legend Ornette Coleman. In 1961, years before meeting Lennon, she had her first major public performance in a concert at the 258-seat Carnegie Recital Hall (not the larger "Main Hall"\x9D). This concert featured radical experimental music and performances. She had a second engagement at the Carnegie Recital Hall in 1965, in which she debuted "Cut Piece,"\x9D a seminal performance within the conceptual art movement.
After John Lennon left the Beatles, the two artists collaborated on music together - working together on very different projects all underneath the umbrella of "Plastic Ono Band." In 1971, Yoko Ono began to release a number of solo records. Fly - a double album that helped make her known for her caterwauling vocals. She also released two other, more conventional, albums during this time - Approximately Infinite Universe and Feeling the Space. Although Yoko's work was poorly received initially, the albums have survived and aged well - proving to be part of the foundation of punk rock and new wave music.
- All That Glitters: A few years ago she made considerable notoriety for taking a priceless 500 year old Ming vase and shattering it into pieces and handing each shard away, as a tribute to losing a friend whom she considered more valuable than an old jar could ever be.
- Cloudcuckoolander: Some of the art and performance pieces she has done have shown her to be a little ... zany.
- Cool Old Lady: In spite of what you think of her, she automatically qualifies because she sang with Lady Gaga.
- Grandma, What Massive Hotness You Have!: Too bad John Lennon isn't around to enjoy her.
- Jerkass: Was very much this to John's son Julian and tried to prevent Them from ever becoming close. Thankfully she has failed.
- One-Woman Wail: Often noted for this.
- Surprisingly Gentle Song: "Listen, the Snow is Falling", released as the B-side to "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" and later covered by Galaxie 500.
- Yoko Oh No: The Trope Namer.
- Zettai Ryouiki: The Wedding Album.
